Adoption Update

Well there is not much to update just a few logistics.

We got our finger prints back from the FBI! I was told that it could take up to 8 weeks so when we got them back in less than 2 I was shocked. We both had our physicals done. Tomorrow we go to the health department for: Drug, HIV and TB testing. Once the results are in we will send it all off to Bethany and that will complete all the paper work (for now).

Next steps:

• Joint Interview with Bethany Christian Services
• Complete book reading assignment: Dear Birthmother
• Second Group Meeting (TBA) with other couples and BCS facilitator
• Begin working on Profile and Birth Mother Letter

It has been really great talking to friends and family and receiving so much support and encouragement. I didn't realize how impactful it would be to hear all the positive support. It really helps and makes me feel like we are not alone while trying to navigate through some very uncharted waters.

A BIG thank you to everyone for your encouragement and support!!

Thoughts

Proverbs 31:25-27

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

sounds easy enough, but it's not. I have been meditating on these verses everyday -trying to keep them before my eyes and in my heart. Hoping God's grace will instill in me all of the above. I just can't shake these verses...there is just too much to gain from them. Every word in everyone of these verses is just so powerful.

"Clothed with strength and dignity", "laughs without fear..." "...words are wise..." "gives instructions with kindness" "suffers nothing from laziness"

O' how I would love to have victory in all of these areas at the same time! And if/when I do I think I will purchase a cape and a really cool super hero leotard to go with it. Until then I will remain covered in grace and determination.

New schedule

Today:

Alarm: 5:30am
Out of bed: 5:39am
Brew Coffee in the dark, feed cats: 5:42am
Quiet Time: 5:45 - 6:40am
Out of PJ's into running clothes: 6:45am
Stretch/High intensity walk/jog/stretch/Abs: 6:50 - 7:30am
Shower/get ready/straighten house and off to work 8:20am

We will see how tomorrow goes. =)

Oops...

Telephone conversation today between Johnathon and City Water Department:

Johnathon (J): Hello
Water Department (WD): Hello, Mr. Damiens, this is the City Water Department calling concerning this months bill payment we just received in the mail.

J: Ok, My wife pays all the bills, but I can try and help. Is there a problem?
WD: Sir, your wife mailed us yall's church tithe check for payment.

Paying bills can be a little stressful sometimes...what can I say. =)

Gustav part 2

I was in the middle of posting the following information while at the office on Monday. We stayed at the office for the storm and had a really good time. (The projector in the conference room made a really good theatre.)
While I was waiting for my pictures to upload our power went out and the back up generator kicked on. We decided to unplug our network server (giving me access to the Internet) so that the generator would not surge the system. So the information in blue was my post during the storm.

Well Gustav is upon us. However, we are not getting near the intense weather that LA is getting. It is very windy and there is a lot of rain. We are about 2 miles north of the gulf and staying in the industrial park at our office so we are not experiencing as much wind as if we were closer to the water. Other than a vent cap from one of our industrial AC's blowing off and Johnathon & Dad climbing on the roof to get it there have been no significant events to report on.

Hope you enjoy the pics.



All boarded up. We did not board up the front just the south side and where the big trees are.


Outside the office in the wind and rain.




After the storm was over Johnathon and I took a drive down to the beach hoping not to get caught and take some picture of the surge that was still high. The wind was pretty incredible.

Trying not to fall over.

Sometimes you just have a craving for waffle house. This sail boat is on the Highway. Below is another shot of it.




More like on the seawall.





This sail boat was on a random street.


Chilling on my parents front porch Monday evening enjoying a little bubbly left over from Marcie's wedding. Notice the tree past Johnathon it is now bent to the North. Most trees here look like that now.