Things Are Looking Up!!

Well... the past few months have been interesting to say the least! Im pretty much writing this past summer off! We had a busy summer even with everything that was going on with me. I will say being able to spend time with Cale this summer was awesome. We went to Arkansas, Mississppi and Tybee Island. We were so excited that we had family in town to celebrate Cale's 4th birthday. We had to cancel his party due to my health issues, but it ended up being a great party! I cant believe Cale is 4!!!

Here are a few pictures from our Summer!!

I LOVE this picture!

This was about all the water he wanted to play in... he did not like the ocean!

He sure loves his Mawmaw and Pawpaw in Mississippi!

I love this saying... its so true!

The Birthday boy!!

having fun at Grandma and Grandpas house in Arkansas!

We sure miss them! :(

Cale started Pre-K this year. We had a really hard time putting him in public school this year. We LOVED the school he attended the past 2 years, but we knew with the upcoming adoption cost we just couldnt afford it. He has done great adjusting. I will say I miss him coming home with Jesus on his mind... one of the major downfalls of public schools! But we talk to him about Jesus at home and he has great teachers at church! Cale is also riding the bus! I didnt cry the first day of school like I thought I would... but the first morning he rode the bus... I bawled!!! Seeing that bus drive away with my baby in it was hard! I was able to go eat lunch with him last week, I was amazed at how big he was. I love being able to pick him up from school 2 days a week.
First Day of Pre-K

On the Big Yellow Bus... he was so excited! :)

We were able to finish up our adoption meetings this week!! What a relief that was! We should have our book out to be seen in 3-4 weeks... then all we can do is wait and pray!! We are looking forward to welcoming a new baby into our family. :)

Spring... at last!!

Well it feels more like summer, but it sure beats the cold!! There is just something about beautiful weather that makes you happy!Cale had his first t-ball game this past weekend! We had the best time watching them play! It's going to be fun watching them get better and better! But at 3 years old... just holding their attention is a challenge!! Here are a couple of pictures from his first game.
We went to church Easter morning then went to Clint's parents for lunch and egg hunt! I really miss the days when I got to hunt eggs. I tried to talk mama into doing one for me with money in the eggs, she didnt go for it! :( Maybe next year! Here are a couple of pictures from Easter Sunday.
love,
Kimberly

Cale's First T-ball Practice

Well Cale's first practice was interesting to say the least! He did pretty good... hopefully next week the coaches will be a little more helpful! Here is a couple of pictures of Cale!

Who's the king of the jungle? WHO WHO WHO!

What is the one thing that can make me smile no matter how bad of a mood I might be in??? Hearing Cale singing the songs he has learned at school. Anyone who is around Cale knows he LOVES to sing. It doesn't matter if hes in his bed going to sleep, taking a bath, playing or sitting in his classroom (when he should be listening to his teacher!), he is singing! It blesses my heart to hear him talk and sing about Jesus. I love to listen to him say (sing) his blessing and his prayers. Yesterday he started singing this one...

Who's the king of the jungle? WHO WHO WHO!
Who's the king of the sea? BUBBA BUBBA BUBBA!
Who's the king of the universe?
JESUS!!!!!!!
And He's the king of me!

We had our first home study meeting on March 3. It went great. This adoption is already proving to be much different then Cale's adoption. Its hard to believe it has been almost 5 years since we did our home study for Cale! Where has the time gone?! Things have changed alot since then, new laws, new paperwork and of course more money! This past week got the best of me. Trying to figure out how to get fingerprints done, FBI and GBI checks done and physicals! Who knew the wait for a physical would be over a month! I keep trying to remind myself that we aren't doing this on our own, the Lord has it all under control. But it is hard not to try to make things happen over night yourself! We have our next home study meeting on April 13 and then another seminar on April 23. Lots of trips to Macon... I look forward to the last trip we will make to Macon, the one where we get to bring home our precious daughter/son!

In the midst of all that we are planning a trip to Mississippi the middle of April to see our family! I cant wait to see them, it has been way too long! I think Cale is just as excited as I am! Speaking of Mr. Cale, this Tuesday he has his first t-ball practice! I am really looking forward to him playing t-ball! We all are!

Well I need to start dinner... I will end with, you guessed it... Cale singing! :)

Love,

Kimberly

A New Journey...

Well... We have officially begun the adoption process! We had our first seminar with our new agency last week. There were about 15 other families there. Out of the 15 families, there was only one other family besides us that had adopted before. Some families had biological children and felt lead to adopt, some were in the midst of fertility treatments and pursuing adoption at the same time not knowing how their baby would enter their lives. It was interesting to see how each of us had our own unique story that lead us to the same place, praying for the same outcome, a child to love.

The seminar was very informative. We left with excitement in our hearts and some of our fears eased. We have talked about requesting a girl, and since this could be our last adoption, (sigh), we decided that's what we would do. Although, we aren't completely against having another boy if that is Gods plan for us!

The paper work is a little overwhelming! Im sure we had just as much when we started the adoption process with Cale, but that has been almost 5 years ago. Wow... where has the time gone? We have our first home study visit at the agency on March 3. If all goes according to the schedule we are on, our profile book will start being shown to birthmothers in May! We have alot to before baby Callee or baby Cash get here!! Please be praying for us as we start our new journey.

What a comfort it is knowing it's all in God's hands.

Love,
Kimberly


Here are a couple of pictures from Christmas and the snow we got this past weekend!!

All the kids at Christmas!

Cale had a blast sliding down our front yard!



Buddies!

I’ve come to realize...

*I’ve come to realize that my job. . . will have its ups and downs, but I have been here for 10 years! I am thankful to have a job!

*I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . I need to avoid hitting EVERY pothole! They are like a magnet!

*I’ve come to realize that I need. . .to have a pajama day every now and then!

*I’ve come to realize that I have lost. . .weight in the past and it comes back on a lot faster then it comes off!!

*I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . . money it tight, but the Lord always provides!

*I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk. . .something went terribly wrong, I don’t drink!

*I’ve come to realize that money… is more important than I would like it to be.

*I’ve come to realize that certain people. . .will never be nice no matter what.

*I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . .be thankful for Cale’s birth parents.

*I’ve come to realize that my siblings. . . are too far away and need to move home.

*I’ve come to realize that my mom…is the best. I love you mama.

*I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . .is pretty awesome.

*I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . .that I would rather stay in my warm bed and snuggle with Cale instead of getting out in the freezing weather!

*I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . .that I totally forgot I had a doctors appt yesterday… oops!

*I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . .it shouldn’t be so hard and expensive for us to have another baby!!!

*I’ve come to realize that my dad. . . SKIP!

*I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. ..I realize how thankful I am for so many wonderful friends who keep me laughing!

*I’ve come to realize that today. . . that I take a lot of things for granted!

*I’ve come to realize that tonight. . . . I have nursery, ugh.

*I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . . Its supposed to SNOW!

*I’ve come to realize that I really want to. . . ..be closer to the Lord then ever before.

*I’ve come to realize that the person mostly likely to re-post this is. . . hmmmm.

*I’ve come to realize that life. . . is all in God's hands. His timing is perfect and His way is perfect.

*I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . . I am staying inside as much as I can!

*I’ve come to realize that my friends. . .encourage me everyday!

*I’ve come to realize that this year. . .holds great things for us!

*I’ve come to realize that my husband. . . is a hardworker and wants the best for us. I am also thankful for the heart he has. Cale and I are so lucky!

*I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . . stop worrying so much! hahaha.

*I’ve come to realize that I love. . . my life. Its not always sunny, but the sun will come out tomorrow!

*I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . . that I will not always understand Gods plan.

*I’ve come to realize my past. . . is what made me who I am today.

*I’ve come to realize that parties. . .can get expensive quick!.

*I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . .of our President!

*I’ve come to realize that my life. . .is mine and that I don’t need to worry about what everybody else has. I need to be content with what I have!

Heartache and Joy

The past few weeks have been a little rough. I can honestly say that I have struggled more lately with the fact I will never be able to carry a baby than ever before. In my heart I know that the Lord knows why and that it is His will, but the flesh of me still questions WHY? Why can people who have abortions get pregnant, and what about the people who leave their babies in dumpsters? Why?!

Last Monday we had our ladies bible study at Church. The subject was Joy. Mrs. Michelle did a great job. She asked if we knew the difference between Joy and Happiness. Happiness is a emotion, but Joy is attitude of the heart. Joy is something that lasts; happiness is something that is temporary. When happiness fades away, joy remains. Joy brings us peace in the middle of a storm. I remember her asking if we could think of a time that we asked the Lord for something and He gave it to us? Do you remember the Joy that you felt? I immediately went back to the moment I saw Cale for the first time. The thoughts of all we had been through, the good times and the bad, and where it had brought us that day. That was Joy!! A Joy like I had never felt before. Knowing in my heart that this was God's will for us.

She went on to talk about how during tough times you draw closer to the Lord. I remember that as well. I remember praying all the time for Cale. I remember being on the phone with my prayer partner and both of us pouring our heart out to the Lord for this Child. I don't remember a time in my life that I was walking closer with Him. Our God is an Amazing God!

I often think back on the road that lead us to adoption. I remember month after month being disappointed. Then to doctor visit after doctor visit. It often seemed like one discouraging event lead to another and then to another. I remember the feeling of being told I would never get pregnant on my own, and then the feeling I felt when I knew I would never carry a child at all. Those were some of the darkest times in my life. Something noone could make better.

But then I remembered the day at Victory when we were teaching Children's church. We had Josh Bush in our class. That was the day the Lord began working in my heart about adoption. I remember telling mama that I felt like God was leading us to adopt. At that time we didn't know I wouldn't be able to carry a child. I remember her telling me that I didnt need to give up yet. That the Lord had a plan for us. But the feeling I got that day was always on my mind.

We had gotten to the point where we had so much weight on our shoulders with fertility treatments that we couldn't move. It was so stressful on us. Then the day we decided adoption was the path God had for us... the weight was lifted. We had new hope! We had heard how hard adoption was and how it would take years. And how it was an emotional roller coaster. Well let me tell you... with my God, nothing is impossible!! I will not say we didn't shed tears during the process and that there weren't some dark days. But we knew in our hearts that this is where God wanted us. Looking back I see the stepping stones God put in place to get us where we are today. Sometimes in my mind when something happens, I think to myself.... Is this a stepping stone to get us closer to our next child? I am so thankful that even though we cant see things right away... that the Lord sees it for us! He sees our future and He holds it in the palm of His hand! What a JOYFUL feeling that is!!

Adopting Cale is the most rewarding thing we have ever experienced. The fact that God chose him for us! I am not sure why God put it on my heart for me to write this. It could just be the fact that I needed to get it out. I cant talk about it without crying, actually I cant even type it without crying! :) But if you or someone you know is struggling with infertility, encourage them to look into adoption. You never know what you can give a child just by loving them. You never know what you may be saving that child from. You may be the only way that child will learn about our Saviour and what He did for us!!

I am so thankful for my Husband, family, and friends who have loved and accepted Cale. He is truly a blessing and an answered prayer. The Lord showed me true Joy through this experience.

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength!

Love, Kimberly