One Year Later

Last year December 3 was on a Sunday. It was during praise and worship time at church that I heard God speaking to me. He was telling me that in a year I would have my own baby girl.
Here it is, one year later. I have my baby girl!! She is still in Guatemala but God is faithful. My baby will be home soon. I can hardly wait until I can actually hold her in church during praise and worship time and teach her to praise God who brought her to me.
Yesterday one of the songs we sang in church really spoke to me about this journey I have been on. Here are the words . . .

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom
Or the strong man boast in his strength
Let not the rich man boast in his riches
But let the humble come and give thanks
To the One who made us, the One who saved us


Chorus:
I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One Who's worthy
I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One Who's worthy, He's worthy

Bridge:
I will make my boast in Christ alone
I will make my boast in Christ alone
(Repeat twice)

©2006 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
CCLI song #4662350

2 Fortune Cookies

I don't really believe in fortune cookies but I do enjoy reading them for fun. Last night I read one for me and one for my mother. Oh Boy!! Maybe there is some truth in them.

This is what mine said. "Your happiness is before you, not behind you! Cherish it." Okay, that makes sense. I am adopting a beautiful baby so happiness is still to come. I can go with that.

Some background before I tell you what my mother's said. My dad passed away almost 10 years ago. His name is still on a lot of my mother's accounts because it is too much of a hassle to have it taken off. However, some accounts have my dad's and my name on them. We have no idea why that is. The other day my mom called the gas company about her account and they wouldn't deal with her because the account was in Dad's and my names. I had to get on the phone and have Mom's name added so she could take care of business. While I was on the phone I asked the gas rep. to please send the bills to Dad since the account is in his name. She didn't get the joke.

Now, on to Mom's fortune . . . "Your spouse's bills are yours and yours are yours"
Freaky, huh?

IT'S A GIRL!!!

This is my beautiful baby girl. Johanna Faith was born July 23. She weighed 5 lbs., 3 oz. and was 49 cm. long. I think she is the most beautiful baby in the world. My mom is ready to go down and get her now. She may have a harder time waiting than me.

What Will I Do With A Baby?

This morning I had to take my little Yorkie, Maggie, to the vet and leave her. She has a tumor on one leg that is going to be removed and an injury on another leg that is going to get a good cleaning. She was so nervous while we were waiting in the office. She was shaking worse than she ever has. I kissed her and kissed her and told her I loved her before I left. Then I cried most of the way home. This is my dog!! What am I going to be like when I have my baby? My Maggie is so spoiled and is my baby right now. How is she going to take to having a baby? I hope my Johanna is super-healthy and that I never have to leave her like that.

Awaiting Referral

I am now officially on "the list" for a referral. I can hardly wait. It seems even more real now that this is going to happen. "Come on Attorney!! Find me a baby!!" Okay, I will pray about it since I want God to find the right one just for me. MY JOHANNA FAITH.

Please Mr. Postman . . .

. . . please bring my I-171H . . . TODAY!! See my mailbox above? That is where you can put it . . . TODAY
The I-171H is what I need to get my referral. I thought I wanted to wait to get my referral as late as possible. I have since changed my mind. Reading the blogs of friends who are visiting their babies, getting out of FC, getting out of PGN and getting PINKS is making my desire for my referral even greater. Please, Mr. Postman!!!

In My Escape Window

Yesterday there was a baby blue jay in the front yard. Mommy was up in the tree keeping a good eye on him. Today my niece's found three of them in the basement escape window. We put a bowl of bird seed in there and scared them almost to death. I did remove the well-cover. It is great because I can see them from inside so well. I hope they make it. Mommy is still up in the tree and has been in the well at least once, that we know of.

Samuel Joseph

No, this isn't my baby. My nephew and wife had a baby at 2:30 a.m. today. His name is Samuel Joseph. He weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 inches long. He looks like his older brother Jacob. He also has a brother Ethan. I will get to see him on Monday.

The neice that had this baby is the one that I talk about being "pregnant with." Well, she isn't anymore and I am barely. I actually thought we would have our babies around the same time. Guess I am a little slow.

Congratulations Heath, Jenny, Jacob and Ethan. I love you guys!!!

What Am I Doing?

This is a two year old in my daycare that has heard a lot about my adoption and coming baby. Can you tell?

Coming To America!!

I don't have anything new to post about the adoption so I thought I would show some of the things I have already purchased for my baby Johanna. This is her "Coming To America" outfit. It is a size 6 months. That means when I go to Kazakhstan I will have to choose a baby that will fit the outfit. HMMM. Is that the first the most important thing I will use in choosing my daughter? Of course not!! Actually, I am praying that the first baby I am shown will be my Johanna. I want God to make that choice for me like He does for parents who are giving birth to babies. I don't want to have to look at several babies and decide. I don't know that it will happen this way but that is my prayer.

Pregnant Together - How Fun!!

My nephew and his wife Jenny are expecting their third child in June. I was talking to Jenny on the phone this morning and telling her how it is almost like we are pregnant together. We talk about car seats, baby bottles, discipline, diapers, etc. The best part for me is we don't talk about morning sickness, at least not mine. She has two boys who are 3 and 4.5 so, even though she is 14 years younger than me she has lots of good advice. I am always emailing her when I want to know about the best of some product. It will be neat to have our children close in age. They are expecting a boy but that won't matter for several years. I hope Johanna and her boy cousin are very close. It's weird. My nephew Heath will really be her first cousin and he will be 28 before I get her. Her youngest first cousin will be Brooklen who will be 10 in May. It doesn't matter though since their are so many second, third, etc. relatives.

Shopping Fundraiser - Take a Look!!

I have just set up with an online company for a new fundraiser. It is a shopping set and I have my own website. There are lots of different stores you can shop from at the site. Any purchases made from this site will contribute a small percentage to my adoption fund. I am really excited about this. Everyone shops and this is one where I don't have to really do much, just get the word out. Please check it out and see if there is anything you can use from one of the listed stores.
Thanks,
Gail
www.bookcodex.com/123Skipton.htm.

Thank you to my good friend Kim Jury who told me about this fundraiser. Pray for her and her family as they wait for their "Letter of Invitation" to go and get their baby son.