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.

Please go Away...

Dear Gustav,

You are really not wanted here. We would appreciate it if you would go away or at least take it down a notch before coming to shore. Like maybe a CAT 1 or CAT 2 at the most. Those kinds of storms are fun. We will actually come out and play with you if you are nice. However, when you start pushing 3 to 5 that is just mean. I would appreciate some consideration.

Yours truly,
Ali

THE CHECK LIST...

THE CHECK LIST:

Paper work Mailed off today (thank you Mia)

$$ Application Fee - Check

Formal Application - Check

Medical exams - scheduled

Financial Statement - Check

Criminal Record Background Investigation Form - Check

Discipline Policy Form - Check

Notice of Privacy Practices Form - Check

Adoption Release and Consent - Check

Proof we are on city water - Check

Copy of Marriage License - Check

Copy of tax return - Check

Copy of birth certificates - Check

FBI fingerprint clearance -got finger printed today at the police station will FedEx to FBI and wait 8-10 weeks for the report.

The next step (I believe) will be a joint interview with J and I with the Agency while we wait for the FBI clearance and begin reading the book: Dear Birthmother which is on order and we should have by Friday.

To be continued...

Here we go

A lot has been taking place in our lives the past few months. We are loving every minute of our busy lives. There is just something so great about being busy with things that matter.

Our involvement with youth group has increased. We have been leading the youth hand-in-hand with our friend Aaron as interim until our new youth pastor takes the helm. We are really enjoying our time with the youth and know that it is exactly where the Lord wants us to minister right now. We have weekly youth group meetings on Sunday night, youth Lead team on Thursday nights where we meet with 6 of the youth who have a desire to lead their peers. We try and spend some quality one-on-one time with at least one person from the youth group at least once a week to build some strong relationships. On top of this Johnathon is leads the worship team on Sunday morning and our youth group worship. Very fun times doing something that matters in the Kingdom of God!

Work is growing us (I know I can speak for Johnathon on this). I love being challenged by work. Although, I don't always embrace it as I should - the challenge is good. It seems like nothing grows my character more than working with my family, friends and co-workers. I know that could be taken in a negative way, but that is not at all how I mean it. There are just so many opportunities to choose integrity, honesty and patience or the contrast, and it is in those moments where I either allow my character to grow or my flesh to celebrate in it's selfishness.
So I am grateful that the Lord is still perfecting and teaching me...what better way to know that your relationship with God is alive!

While in the midst of all this Johnathon and I are taking a leap of faith. After 2 years of trying to have biological children we have decided to pursue adoption. I cannot begin to tell you how very, very, very excited we are! We have talked about it for almost a year and researched it quite a bit but never really decided to go for it -now we are! Our plan is to adopt domestically for our first adoption. We are hoping to adopt a bi-racial baby for several reasons, but mostly because they are the least wanted...which breaks our hearts more than we can express. We our in the process of completing a very lengthy application with an agency called Bethany Christian Services. So far so good. Please be praying for us as we walk down this road. Hopefully I will be able to keep any readers that I might have up to date!

I will leave you with some fun pictures from the Bahamas.

O how I love the Bahamas

More to come...

Trying to remain faithful...to my blog

So in efforts to remain faithful to my blog I'm trying to post more. Whether great or not so great I'm going to post more often.

Reading list:
Do Hard Things: a teenage rebellion against low expectations - by Alex and Bret Harris

Dreaming Big: Energizing yourself and your team with a crystal clear life dream - by Bobb Biehl and Paul Swets

360 degree leader - by John Maxwell

The Giver - by Lois Lowry

So far I'm really into Do Hard Things...it is a great book for all people ministering to youth and is a even better for your youth to read!

To do list

1. Accomplish all important work task before I leave for the women's conference in Atlanta (1 week from today)

2. Go to Barnes and Noble to pick up all the books I ordered and plan on reading while on vacation

3. Pull luggage out of the attic

4. Begin thinking "what do I want to bring with me to the Bahamas?"

5. Prepare to relax and receive from the Lord while at the women's conference. PTL

6. Resist the desire to purchase anything else for vacation until I go to Atlanta where I will shop till I drop *note-to-self bring an empty luggage bag for all the shopping goods.

7. Tell Johnathon how awesome he is because he is the greatest husband ever and I love him very much.

8. Stop making this to do list and go work-out at the gym!!!