Put Your Hands Up

We went and got our fingerprints done on Monday (for our background checks), and I'm not going to lie. It was the worst. Mike and I made it almost out the door of the county jail before I promptly burst into tears. Ya'll...I was so scared.

Now, I know I just don't handle things super well all the time, but the whole experience just really upset me. Why? Well, first, it's a jail. A blue and white cinderblock jail. With prisoners.

When we first got there, we let them know why we were there and a guy came to get us. He let us know that we could only go back one at a time. Okay, no problem. I mean, we could probably bust some people out of there together if we really tried, and I think they sensed a little Bonnie and Clyde in us. But really, those are the rules and it makes sense.

Mike went first, and he was back there forever. Long enough for me to decide that they had arrested him because we still had our Texas drivers licenses anyway. Or maybe something had happened and everyone back there had been taken hostage, and I just had no idea. I watch way too many crime dramas. Finally, he came back out, and it was my turn.

Let me be brief. Me and an officer. In a tiny room. Printer broken. Officer mad. Officer shouting obscenities and hitting the printer. Me trying not to cry because I just wanted to leave. Prisoners standing outside the room watching me. Kind of uncomfortable.

Guy brought into the room with me in handcuffs. Try not to make eye contact because I have no idea what crime he committed. Start praying printer will work so officer will stop screaming and give me my fingerprints. Second officer takes other guy's handcuffs off. I think, great, this guy's about to completely overpower everyone in this tiny room and take me hostage. Or snap my neck. Printer works. Officer tells me I can go. Walk out passing the prisoners in their holding rooms. Meet Mike in the lobby. Walk out. Burst into tears. Got it? I don't either.

Mike agreed that the officer was a scary guy, and eventually I quit crying. And I figure if that's the most stressful thing that happens during this process, we'll be doing pretty good.

PS: If you are the handcuffed guy who was with me in that little tiny room, I'm sure you are a very nice person who had a bad day. I am sorry I thought you were going to try to kill me. I was a little stressed about all the yelling. Please forgive me.

One Step Closer

Yesterday was a very exciting day in our adoption journey. Our profile is now available for birthmothers to view! Basically, that means that we could be picked as parents at any time!

Obviously, it could take up to year (or more) to be chosen, but it could also be a week. We have a busy week ahead of us with FBI fingerprinting and home study stuff. That means paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. I just pray that it will be done quickly and without complications and hang-ups. There always seems to be just one more thing to do, but that's just part of the process. And it will all be worth it in the end!

Multiple Choice

First, I would like to say that I promise all of my posts won't become about things I want to buy. But...I have something much more serious that travel bags to purchase. Bedding for our new room. Consider the bags the pre-test. You have shown yourselves worthy. Now on to the big stuff. Let me know which one you like the best. Pretty please.

And next time, I promise to talk about better stuff. Like which rug I should get for the living room. Just for the record, I want this one in blue.

1. From Bed Bath and Beyond:


2. From Linens n Things (It comes in Blue and Brown too!)


3. From Macy's


4. From Macy's

Question of the Day

Okay, you know that I usually reserve my blog for very serious and brilliant conversation. However, I have a serious problem I need help with! I mean SERIOUS!

Now that we will be traveling more often, I would like to get some new travel bags. But there are so many cute ones! So...leave your opinion in the comments. Which pattern do you like best?

1.Cinda B Sweetleaf Navy

2.Cinda B Casablanca Purple

3.Vera Bradley Yellow Bird

4. Cinda B Ravinia Black

Lovin' the Pottery

If there is one thing I have noticed about Mississippians so far, it is that they take their pottery very seriously. Did I just never notice in Texas, or is it just bigger here?? I'm not sure.

At any rate, I have a new favorite that I had to show you: Etta B Pottery. SO cute!

I'm going to need this:



And This:



And don't even get me started on this:

The Waiting Game

I got word today that all of our letters and photos from our first round of paperwork were approved. That means that our profile will be available for birthmothers to view within two weeks! At that point, we will wait to be chosen by a birthmother, which could take a very short time or a very long time. Then, what happens next depends. The birthmother could have already given birth, she could be due any day, or she could be just a few months along. As a person who tends to be a little anxiety-prone anyways (if you know me in real life I know you are just shocked...ha!), the waiting may just do me in. Luckily, I have Someone to rely on, to lean on, and to pray to when it gets to be too much. Do you ever wonder how people walk through this life without knowing Him? I don't think I would make it a day in this life without Jesus!

Work It, Work It

These days we are doing a lot of one thing: PAPERWORK! We are so excited to be moving ahead in the adoption process, and there is certainly a lot to be done. We are almost done with "Round 1" of our paperwork, which includes the information birthmothers will see when they consider us as adoptive parents.

We have to send it over 80 pictures of us together and separate, action shots and portraits, etc. Last night our friend Kim went with us and we took some pictures around town. Here are some of my favorites.

Not Photographic Genius

Clearly we have a new camera and feel the need to take random pictures. These are for my dad, because I am no longer around for him to take embarrassing pictures and post them. I'll just have to do it for him.






We have been taking pictures for all of our adoption paperwork. Some of them work, some not so much. This one was funny in theory, but in reality looks like Mike has a large silver tail. Oh well.

Our New Digs

We bought a house! We haven't closed yet, so it's not officially a done deal. I wanted to show you some pictures, though! We are super excited, and we can't wait to move in and get settled!

Kitchen...I am going to LOVE the big pantry!

Living Room

Hearth Room...It's basically a second living room in the kitchen.

This is the "unfinished" part of the house. There will eventually be a bonus room up those stairs, but for now we'll just keep the door shut. But if you come visit you can use a sleeping bag and pretend you're camping up there.

The Most Boring Post Ever

I know I haven't blogged a whole lot about life in Mississippi yet, but it's just that there isn't a whole lot to tell. Here's what I do know.

*We really like our church. There are some great things happening here, and we are happy that God has brought us here to be a part of it.

*We live in a rent house. Most of our stuff is in boxes. So...that's why I haven't posted house pictures. Nothing to see except some boxes. And some fancy floral drapes.

*After realizing that moving out of state, leaving everyone I know, leaving my job, and kindergartners don't just super mix I decided not to take the long-term substitute position. I feel super bad about that, since now I am not working every day. I really like cooking, cleaning, getting to know people, and visiting Mike at work, though. Which just makes me feel more guilty. I am a complicated person I tell you.

*I am slowly but surely getting all the adoption paperwork filled out. I am a little frustrated, because I have to redo some papers that they won't send me, but I'm sure it will all get taken care of.

*We won't be in our rent house very much longer. I'll tell you (and show you) why tomorrow!

Pardon Our Dust

I am trying to make some changes on the ol' blog, but it is taking some time. I have no idea how it looks on other computers, but I hope it looks okay. Have you ever thought something looked okay on your computer and then opened it up and found a hot mess on another one? And then all you can think is, "Great...people think I meant it to look like this?" I have, but that's probably why the majority of people think I'm a little off.

Anyways, hopefully I'll have everything figured out and back to normal soon. In other news I found the perfect tree skirt and stockings at Hobby Lobby today. Now I just have to wait until they go on sale. Because everyone knows if you buy something at Hobby Lobby for full price you are either desperate or lack the will power to wait and come back to get it later. I have been guilty of both.

Run On

Mike ran his first 5K yesterday, and look who got a 2nd place metal. Don't ask him how many people were in his age division. Or how his time compared to the 65-year-old guy that ran. But he did GREAT!

No, I did not run. But I did walk up to the square to meet him after he finished the race. That was a good mile or so. That counts, right? Right?

An Exciting Time!

It has been awhile since I have written anything about our adoption journey, but that is all about to change!

Why? Because we have officially signed with an adoption agency!! I have already been working on paperwork all night long. We know the journey ahead may be a long one, but we are so excited to see what God has in store for our family!

Please continue to pray for our journey, for the birthmother who will choose us, and for the sweet baby that will join our family. I will keep you updated...I promise!

PS: As some of you know, I wrote back in August about an adoption opportunity that came to us but did not work out. I am happy to report that the sweet baby boy we were to adopt was born healthy and happy last week. He and his mother are doing wonderfully, and she is on the road to building a better life for herself and her sons. As hard as it was to realize that we were not going to be that sweet baby boy's parents, I am so thankful that God brought his mother into our lives, even for a brief time. I thank you for praying for this family, and I ask that you please continue to do so!

Big Tex and Me

The fair was a BLAST! As always, Big Tex did not disappoint. Here are some highlights from the day. And just for the record, fried butter is a little bland. But this picture cracked me up:


Fried Butter. It will make you as Big as Texas.


I never noticed how skinny Big Tex is. Clearly not eating the fried butter.


And so we can stop talking about fried butter, here's a picture of it. Like I said...not the best thing I ate. Probably my least favorite. I couldn't even see the butter. Unless that's what all that yellow stuff is.


The sis and me.


Fried Peaches and Cream. Now that's the good stuff.


The family. My dad had it kind of easy. Although, I think it would be really hard to lose control of where you went and when. We kept seeing something we liked and leaving him to go check it out. He was a great sport, though!


A baby (goat?) had just been born. I'm not going to tell you about the mom birthing the placenta right in front of us. Not even going to mention it.


Waiting on fried pickles can be so hard...


Fried cookie dough? Yes, please.


See you next year, big guy!