Saturday night

Saturday night we had Brad and his kids over. His sister Vickie and son Brandon came too.  We had a great time doing a stirfry on the deck. Then we played a game called Imaginiff.  Was a fun game and Melanie won. We also did a Mentose and diet Coke explosion.  Then rootbeer floats for desert

Mark

Saturday adoption workshop

We went to a workshop on Saturday. It was an 8 hour long class to help us find a child to adopt.  We found we were doing most of these and the the few things we are not doing are not in our comfort zone.  There are two things we may do, but we need to think about it. The first is a web page, but we have a blog already. The second is to pay money that will get us more viewers to look at our profile.

mark

Thankful Thursday

I know... I said I was going to post last week about how my interview went. I left feeling that it had went "ok.' I didn't feel bad about it, although there were questions that I didn't answer the way I would have liked to. I definitely felt everyone's thoughts and prayers with me, though!

I think that I have shared before... I am NOT good at waiting, not good at the unknown. Tell me what's going on and I can deal with it. I may have a meltdown initially, but then I dig in and manage. After the interview the wait began. I was told that I would probably hear one way or the other this week. So... in spite of knowing better (and knowing that God's plan and timing are perfect), I was impatient Thursday night. Yep... same night as the interview.  On Friday morning, Mark and I were at the dentist. I had just got seated in the chair for my examination and had my mouth wide open when the phone rang.  I KNEW that this was the call. Really, the only person who calls my cell phone during the day is Mark and he was in another exam room so it couldn't be him. That was the LONGEST hour that I have ever spent in the dentist chair.

I waited until we were both finished and out in the car before I checked my messages. Yep, it was HR requesting that I call them as soon as possible which of course, I did. And yes, I am happy to be able to report that I was offered the job!

Another thing that I am thankful for today is F*irmont Medical Center. This is where I have been completing my clinicals. My preceptors and the staff have been wonderful to me. They believe in me enough that they have offered me a position as well. I have come to know and love many of the patients - they feel like my own. Anyway, yesterday was my last day of clinicals - 750+ hours total. Another thing checked off my list. It's getting shorter!  Scary and exciting at the same time.

I am so thankful for God's presence and the support of my family and friends over the past 2 1/2 years - without them, there is no way I could have done this!  

the weekend

This weekend was a full one, Melanie did some homework on Friday & Saturday. On Friday my friend Brad & I went to get the RV so we can get it set fot the cabin. (we use it as a guest house). Saturday again with Brads help I moved some dirt to our flowerbed/strawberry bed/weed garden. depending on what we get planted this year. Sunday after church we went to Melanies mom & dads to set up a pig pen. They have plans to raise two pigs this year.

Next weekend we will be going to an adoption workshop to learn how market ourselves to potential birth moms.

Prayer request - Thursday afternoon April 15

Since the time I was a child, I have had a passion for the elderly. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with this particular age group. Over the past 20 years, I have often dreamed of a nurse practitioner job caring for the geriatric population. My time working in long term care has given me some of the most rewarding moments of my nursing career.

Tomorrow afternoon, I have an interview for my "dream" job. It is in the same department that I currently work in, but the location is one of the area nursing homes. I would be there on a daily basis seeing residents for acute and chronic needs. It is exciting to have this opportunity and I am hoping that this is where God wants me to be.

So... if you think of it and can take a moment, would you say a prayer for me tomorrow afternoon? I meet with the supervisor at 2:15pm, then have a panel (group) interview at 3pm. Pray (or send thoughts, wishes, whatever you are comfortable with) that I will have the right words to say, that I will feel peaceful and calm (not nervous), that the interview panel will be receptive, and anything else you feel led to offer. 

Thank you so much!! I'll let you know how it went tomorrow evening.

Check out the giveaway!!

Nearly twenty years ago, I became friends with two very special ladies, Judy and Sarah. Judy has a wonderful business (and ministry) making noodles! She recently started to sell them on-line. I have to tell you that these are beyond wonderful. If you have never had beef and noodles or chicken and noodles, you are missing out. In fact, just writing about them is giving me a craving - lol!

Anyway, Sarah (who happens to be Judy's daughter) has a great giveaway blog. Her newest giveaway is a gift basket from Judy's store. I encourage you to visit Sarah's site and enter the giveaway - even though it means my chances of winning are less.  Better yet, visit Judy's Etsy store and buy some noodles for yourself! Then, you will really want to win.

Thankful Thursday

I really kind of balked against writing a "Thankful Thursday" post today. I tried to convince myself that it was ok to skip blogging tonight. I wanted to use any number of reasons. I've got a nasty combination of allergies and a cold so am not feeling the best. I should have been in bed a while ago, it's getting late. I received a couple of emails today that really require me to trust that God knows the plan for our lives better than I do (more on that next time) and that I am NOT in control. So, yeah... I wanted to just ignore God when He whispered to me, "You need to make your Thankful Thursday post tonight." But, I knew that I needed to take a few minutes to focus on the blessings that are truly a gift from above.

#1 - Cold medicine - Yep... I know that seems like a silly thing to be thankful for, but I also know how rotten I would be feeling without it. A huge thanks to the researchers who develop medications to treat and prevent illness. 

#2 - A sweet husband who I love very much! I haven't seen him since Monday so I am looking forward to spending some time together this weekend.

# 3 - I've said this in previous posts, but I am thankful that God can see the big picture when I can't. It's hard to understand why some things happen, but He knows why and He knows how to work good out of adversity. I am thankful that God knows the plans for our future. His plans are not my plans and as much as I would like to be in control, the reality is that it's much better for me to listen to His guidance. I am absolutely human and struggle in my faith walk like many others, but I am so glad to have a God that loves me and is steadfast and unchanging in the midst of life's challenges.

#4 - Healing - A co-worker (and friend)'s husband was seriously injured in a recent car accident. Greg's recovery has progressed faster than the doctors were expecting and they are hoping he may be to return home in the very near future. Although he has a long road ahead, God's grace and healing have been evident in the days since the accident.

What are you thankful for today?

Where are things at?

I know you are waiting for news and wondering what's happening. I'm sorry to say that I don't have much to share at this point.

• Impatiently waiting for an email to let us know if a specific little boy is available for adoption.
• Attending a workshop sponsored by our agency later this month to offer tips on how to "market" ourselves and find potential birth moms.
• Thoughtful consideration of international adoption possibilities
• Wishing I was cuddling a precious little one (that my heart already loves even though I don't know who they are), singing him/her to sleep (oh, wait that would keep them awake and crying - lol),  enjoying each moment of parenthood

I read a couple of blog postings over the weekend and they really touched my heart. Made me wonder if God's plan wasn't for domestic adoption, but maybe to make a difference in the life of a beautiful child somewhere else.

The first is a post by Linn about her beyond adorable little Elizabeth - shouldn't every child know that they are beautiful?

The second is a post by Adeye who writes of her first meeting with Hailee - my heart aches to think of a sweet child so tiny and helpless. This is a long post, but worth reading...

Easter weekend

I had a good weekend. Saturday we had an Easter dinner with my family.  I had fun with Gavin and John. Gavin is my sister boy and John is her boyfriends boy. We played with diet coke and mentos.  For those of you who don't know, mentos and diet coke will fizz out of control. Look it up on google.

Sunday we had a great lunch with Melanies family.

Mark

PS. still no baby in sight

friday

I have not put anything on here for a few days.  Today Brad strain and I plan to teach his kids to drive 4 wheelers, that is if the weather holds out.

on the addoption front nothing new, still 27 families waiting for babys and none in the forcast. A little hard on us because I think we would make great parents.

This weekend we will do Easter with the Hansens on Saturday and with the Roth family on Sunday.
Happy easter everyone

Mark