Adoption Update

The latest shared list of special needs children came out on Monday evening. John and I received the list at 7:16 p.m. Over the five -seven minutes that followed we, John on the iPad and I on the computer, looked up diseases/disorders and submitted requests for further information on three children; two boys and one girl. We were hoping to be able to have at least one of them blocked and their medical information reviewed. We were disappointed!

By the time that we had made our request, those three children were already blocked from the list by families from another agency. I have to tell you that my disappointed approached the disappointment that I used to feel at taking negative pregnancy tests month after month. I cried, I fumed. John as always was calm and reassuring. Goodness, I love that man!

I decided that I couldn't go to bed without reporting my frustrations to our case manager. This is not the first month that something like this has happened to us, and I expressed to her that we do not feel that we could possibly have looked over the list any quicker than we have been.

She was so kind in her response, and we received an e-mail yesterday letting us know that the procedure will be changed!!! I am so glad. I have come to feel quite a bit of anxiety about looking over the monthly lists. From now on, we will hopefully receive one referral per month until such time as we are able accept a referral. I am thinking that this new method makes it more likely that we will be adopting another boy, but we'll see.

I could not be more pleased with this change in our process! Please be praying, praying for wisdom for John and I. We have had to decline a child once so far in this process, and it was truly heartbreaking.

Road Trip: The Magic House, St. Louis

A couple of weekends ago, John and I decided to take the boys to The Magic House in St. Louis for a day trip. Anyone who knows us knows we're not opposed to driving. The kids napped in the van for most of the way there, and they were ready for adventure once we arrived.

Honestly, the trip reminded me of fun road trips that John and I took pre-kids. Much like those days, we all had LOTS of fun!

The boys had much fun in the bubble room.

There were a variety of activities there to peek their curiosity.

Here, Jeffery is attempting to blow a big bubble.

The museum also had an area devoted to recycling

and protecting the earth. The boys were able to wear

super-hero capes and rain boots throughout this exhibit.

They loved it!

I remember a much smaller version of this novelty item

from when I was a kid. All of my boys had fun

pressing their faces, hands, etc... into the blunt pins.

Can you guess which of my favorite guys are pictured above?

One of the things that our boys enjoyed the most was the

beanstalk that ran through the building from floor to floor.

John and I were forced to take the stairs,

a boring option in comparison with the giant stalk.

Here John Isaac is giving his Daddy "taters" while climbing up.

I was excited to visit The Magic House. I had never been before, but I had heard lots of good things about it. It was definitely the best children's museum that we have visited to date. There were so many neat activities that appealed to my children. I look forward to the next time that we visit St. Louis!

I took this photo with my very first L series lens!!!

John has been so super supportive of this hobby turned small business. I am more blessed because of him, in a variety of ways, than I can say. The kids are very sweet as well. They are always wanting me to take a picture of something or another....most often it is of themselves.

I am learning so much about photography, and the more that I learn, the more I realize that there is so much more for me to learn. Isn't it that way with just about everything?