Homemaking, Home Study, Horticulture and Horses

I'm not going to let the month of March go by without posting something! This may be it for a while so I'm just going to gives updates on almost everything. :)

Adoption Update: We are wading through a sea of paper work. We just began our home study. I spoke with a friend about my cleaning frenzy. She's been through it all. She's a mother of five and was able to articulate what I'm feeling. So...I'm nesting. Intense nesting. I mean, there will be flowers in our window boxes by next week--by George--kind of nesting!

Thankfully, Nathan is such a healthy contrast to my personality. He doesn't belittle my "feelings." He takes on my projects with gusto as if he thought them up. He's patient with me and yet reminds me..."You're not going to alter the course of the adoption process by placing pansies in that corner of the yard." But as my friend articulated, "It just gives you the feeling that you're doing...something."

Although let me be clear, we have lots of "something"s to do in the next couple of weeks. Next week we attempt being fingerprinted, obtaining Passports (all three of us...and yes, this mommy thinks Joshua will have the cutest passport in the history of the USA...maybe even world;), and go for our medical screenings. Praise the Lord we were able to schedule the necessary updated home inspections by our county today. Those are just some of the things on our checklist.

I had a scare Tuesday when I attempted to make an appointment with our family doctor for our medical screening. They were booked until June! I started to panic. Nathan didn't of course. Thankfully, it worked out that we were able to make appointments for next week anyway. Praise the Lord!

So, I want to ask you to join us in petitioning the Lord with thanksgiving (trusting His soveriegnty) to move Heaven and Earth to make this possible. We know He is good and His purpose will prevail...but He wants us to ask of Him.

Also, to all our Tallassee friends, my parents are having a yard sale for our adoption the first weekend in April. Please stop by and spread the word...WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF!

Joshua Update: Oh my where do I start! He's changing so quickly that these pictures are old. There are no words to describe him. He's an absolute joy to both of us!

Eighth Month Photo

 

As Nathan says, "He's one fast motor scooter."

 

Actually, this is a more accurate depiction..."ZZOOOMMM!"

 

He loves a bubble bath! And yes, his favorite toy here is an empty saline drop bottle.

 

 

 He's crawling fast now and pulling up on furniture. Yesterday he balanced holding onto to furniture with just one hand...another little milestone. He says "mama, dada, baba, agu, nu, pu" indiscriminately. We've recently introduced him to Gerber Puffs which is such a little blessing. He's content in the high chair while I'm cooking...such a praise!

We have such happy little days at home playing. Here's just a little look back.

This last one was taken about six weeks ago. He's grown since then.

Farm Update:
I'm turning into a country/cowgirl. We've been working on our rose garden (something I've always wanted)! We'll plant our vegetable garden at the beginning of April, but we're getting the soil ready now. This year we plan to plant corn, tomatoes, maybe one row of peppers (we still have so much pepper relish from last year), and we might try green beans. Our blueberry bushes look like they're going to produce and abundant crop this year!!! Our little fig tree (from Mamaw McCartha's) is still alive which is all I expect from it this year (it's only a foot tall). We still have our tiny strawberry patch. I'm almost finished fertilizing everything and tomorrow I begin my spring time watering routine. Gardening is my outlet. My yard is my little sanctuary. I think little man is going to be outdoorsy too. I plan to give our soon-to-be-toddler a bucket this summer and a job as co-harvester ;). We'll see how that goes...lol! Last summer I learned how to can (Thank you Mamaw Massey!). Joshua's job regarding canning this summer will be to take a nap.

I rode my horse, Dudley, a few weeks ago and enjoyed it! Yep, he's now my horse. It helps me overcome fear to call him my horse. I'm determined that I'm going to learn to ride, even though I'm allergic and afraid. I will over come this fear (and I'll be back on my allergy meds when I finish nursing ;). We welcomed two other horses to our equine family: Missy and Francy. The are full siblings to Dudley and seem to have similar personalities.

Basically, that's what our life is like these days. I could share so much more, but I'm out of time. Thank you for your prayers!