Waiting List Update

Yesterday marked 2 months of being on the active waiting list with the adoption agency. I got in touch with them just to see if there has been any movement on our profile at all. One of the ladies there emailed me back and let me know that we have moved from #49 to #42. Our profile hasn't been shown at all yet and they have one birthmom right now who hasn't seen any profiles as of yet. It is encouraging that we have moved up the list, discouraging that our profile hasn't been out yet, but we know it all takes time and that God's timing is perfect in it all. I will wait another couple of months and check in with them again. 


How thankful I am that it is summer and we will be busy enjoying the beautiful weather and going to the lake and working in the yard. I think it will be a little easier to wait than it would be if we were stuck inside all winter with not much to do besides thinking of the fact that we are waiting. It is so different than waiting for your baby to come when you are pregnant because at least then you have a deadline to look towards and plan for and get excited about. With adopting there is no deadline, no idea how long the wait will be. Yes we can plan and start getting things ready but we don't want to do too much and then just have everything sitting there waiting. So we will take it a little bit at a time and hope and pray that the time goes quickly!

BRIGHTEN THE CORNER WHERE YOU ARE

We cannot all be famous
or be listed in "Who's Who",
But every person, great or small,
has important work to do.
For seldom do we realize,
the importance of small deeds.
Or to what degree of greatness,
unnoticed kindness leads.

For it's not the big celebrity
in a world of fame and praise,
But it's doing unpretentiously,
in undistinguished way.
The work that God assigned to us,
unimportant as it seems,
That makes our task outstanding,
and brings reality to dreams.

So do not sit and idly wish
for wider, new dimensions,
Where you can put in practice
your many good intentions.
But at the spot God placed you,
begin at once to do,
Little things to brighten up
the lives surrounding you.


If everybody brightened up
the spot where they're standing,
By being more considerate
and a little less demanding,
This dark old world would very soon
eclipse the evening star.
If everybody brightened up
the corner where they are!

Author: Helen Steiner Rice

For You Mom

With Mother’s Day approaching I have been thinking about my Mom and decided that I wanted to write a blog in dedication to her. I have often thought that my Mom needs to write a book, an autobiography. She has such a story to tell of the life she has lived and the experiences she has had and the lessons she has learned. Maybe she will do that one day but for right now I am going to attempt to blog a dedication of love and thankfulness for her and all of the sacrifices she has made and is making for those she loves...

Of all the memories from my childhood the one thing that stands out is being surrounded by the love of a Mom who sacrificed so much for all of us every day of her life. She sacrificed what so many girls at her age were experiencing, making plans and dreaming dreams, and she had to grow up so quickly. She was a pioneer in homeschooling and sacrificed her time and energy in keeping us at home and giving us an excellent education and teaching us so much more than just what was in the books. She also taught us how to respect others, relate with people of all ages, have a good work ethic, be self-disciplined, trust in God, be positive in stressful situations and so much more. There were struggles and tears and fights but she wanted what was best for us and so she persevered and I am sure that she learned and grew through it all as well. I know I will be eternally grateful that I was homeschooled. 

She sacrificed when we had to move from her hometown to the Elk Valley leaving her family and closest friends behind. She sacrificed when my Dad had to travel so much and be on call leaving her to raise us kids on her own much of the time. She sacrificed when she took the trip back to her hometown so very many times to take care of her mother who was slowing becoming more frail, even though there was other family there that could have been taking care of her. She sacrificed when once again she had to pick up stakes and move, this time away from her mountain haven to a bustling prairie city. She sacrifices now as she takes care of her mother-in-law who is becoming more frail and dependent every day.

I have learned so much from my Mom over the years and she is truly my greatest example of what a wife and mother should be. I know she isn’t perfect and I know that she struggles and has her faults and cries her tears and gets angry and has her doubts but that just makes her even more of an example to me because in it all she perseveres, she hopes, she trusts, she loves, she chooses life and laughter. 

She loves her family fiercely, hurts when we hurt, cries when we cry, rejoices when we rejoice, hopes when we hope. She is always there for us even when it means sacrificing yet again and maybe having to go beyond herself. She sticks by Dad through thick and thin and while I know there have been struggles there at times as well she is so devoted to him, loves him so much and is committed to loving him until death do they part.

When you look up the meaning of Mom in the dictionary all you get is “a female parent”. I think a new definition needs to be written and if I were to write it my definition for my Mom would be “gracious, self-sacrificing, loving, supportive, encouraging, strong, trustworthy, gentle, quirky, fun-loving, intelligent, example, dependable, joyful, a Godly woman of character and strength.”

You are all that and so much more to me Mom. You are an example of trusting when it’s hard to trust, loving when it’s hard to love, rejoicing when it’s hard to rejoice, hoping when it’s hard to hope, believing when it’s hard to believe, and encouraging when you are the one who needs to be encouraged. Thank you for being first and foremost my Mom and then my friend. How reassuring it is to know that as old as I get you will always be my Mommy, the one I can turn to when I have an owie. 


Thank you for being my example, for teaching me how to hope and count my blessings and trust that God has all things in control and His timing is perfect. During this period of my life when I am waiting to become a mommy myself I am so thankful to have you and can only hope to be as good a Mom as you have been and are.

On Mother’s Day and every day may you know that you are loved, you are cherished, you are needed, your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed and you have made such a difference in the lives of those who know you.

I love you Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.

Love, your Jewel