The In-Between

Hello friends and family!

Here is a post just to say we are still here, and we are still kicking away at this adoption thing, along with a lot of other things:

 A quick note on adoption: we are in the end stages of our home study and then will be applying to agencies (fingers crossed) sometime in December! We still have fundraising to do, but have raised a little over $10,000 so far!! How absolutely incredible!!  We are still trying to come up with creative ideas for this process. So far, our friends Aaron and Minette put on an amazing poker tournament for us, I am still taking orders for Colorado flags, and of course we are playing our map guessing game! We SO APPRECIATE our friends and family and how they continue to step up.  They have given oh so generously to our adoption!

That being said, I'm going to take a page out of  Jesus Calling by Sarah Young - I was given this devotional by a friend, I had heard of it, but had never read it before.  I am so glad that she placed it in my hands. This is actually the passage from October 27, but it stuck with me:

"As you become increasingly aware of My presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go. This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me. Instead of wondering about what is on the road ahead or worrying what you should do if… Or when…., you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me. When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go, many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they  need to make today. Without any conscious awareness , they make their habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives.They  sleepwalk through their days, following well-worn paths of routine. I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative being imaginable. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths.Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know. Stay in communication with Me. Follow My guiding presence.

Psalm 32:8; Genesis 1:1"  - Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

With all of the excitement happening around us, I find myself being thankful for future blessings and sometimes forgetting the moment I'm standing in. This feeling has let a level of dullness and frustration with the current day creep right in. I needed this reminder we are led on fresh trails of adventure each and everyday when we stay in focus of God's purpose and promises. I hope it can be an encouragement to you, too! 

Now, can you believe it's November? Wowzers! I swear my friends just had babies last week not this spring and summer, Andy just started school, he couldn't possibly have already taken midterms, and I just started working at SF again a couple months ago so I shouldn't be coming up on a one year anniversary here!

Cheers to the last two months of one amazing year- here's to making it count! 

Andy and Mimi 

Here are a few of our favorite photos over the last month :) 

Murder Mystery Party at our house

Andy performs his first wedding ceremony and marries our neighbors!

Poker Fun with Minette & Aaron

Practice makes perfect? I think these babies are just forgetting to smile :)

My Lovely sister visiting 

A little Zombie fun...

Thankful Thursday! Hospital, California, Husband & More

I totally stole this post idea from Ronnie Sharp and his Blog. So Thanks! Anyways, so many things to be thankful for today that I'm gonna do another steal and just bullet them....

• Hospital stay is almost over! That's right - I'm outta this joint tomorrow! Whoo hoo, I've prepped the doctors all week to be ready for discharge EARLY on Friday so this means hopefully I'll get be outta here by 1 or 2pm. Not bad. I've spent a large part of the day on the phone with insurance companies and am oh sooo excited to deal with their junk when I leave here. 
• California knows how to Party! Oh! Well I find myself singing any California song I know because I just booked my ticket for NEXT WEEK. Ok, it's gonna be a little crazy getting out of the hospital and then bam on a plane Sunday to California, but Andy was heading out there for work anyways and after talking with him last night we both decided I should go to. "Why Not," is my big feeling on the matter. I work from my computer anyways and the hotels are paid for. I'm soo soo excited and we get to see my new brother-in -law over the weekend. It's just going to be fabulous -and as always one of those last minute decisions I make. How am I an event planner? :)
• Husband, can't forget him on this list because well he just makes it all happen. Last night he braved the snowy roads to see me and it really did make me feel better. The whole afternoon I had had a cursing headache and from the moment I saw him it was lifted. I dunno what it is about him I just love him.
• Work- like I said I work from my computer mostly these days and feel super blessed to work for family and in a flexible environment. Even though I'm leaving this job in a couple weeks I know God has something in mind for me (just a quick reminder God: I'm still waiting for you to reveal your plan to me) and I'm trying to be active and prayerful in the finding work realm. 
• BFF's- you guys are just great. Thanks for all the chats, group mms's, and pictures. Check out my BFF arieanna's blog here and check out gay gay's blog ..... well when she stops working on her masters and saving children in need. :)
• Brother Bear & Sister Goose & Family-- you guys are an amazing support team! My brother bear apparently is a super hero and has built his own computer (literally built it), speaks Persian & jumps out of airplanes. My SG has tackled a new job working as a CNA, is remodeling her house, and just got engaged and is letting me plan her wedding...wait. maybe not that last part but I'm trying! As for the rest of em? My Mom and Steve watch the Frankerdoodle while I'm in here (and in California?) and bring me treats and presents, Ronzilla (aka Dad) calls me daily to humor me with his latest golf wit or why he believes I'm such a twirp, The InLaws (sue & bill) send texts, care packages and make late night phone calls, and grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles from all over have been nothing but giant blessings these past two weeks

So that's it for my Thankful Thursday! There are obviously many more things to be thankful for but those are just a few on my plate today! What are you thankful for??