Out of the Mouths of Babes

For Christmas I got this necklace as a gift from my parents. I have worn it everyday since and I'm sure you can see why.

A few weeks ago, one of the Gr. 1 students I work with asked me why I was wearing it. This boy is especially curious. I told him the gr. 1 version of what this necklace meant to me. He had a couple of questions, but the conversation didn't go far.

Yesterday though, we had this conversation...

Student (in his little German accent): Mrs. Klassen, how many days until you get your baby?

Me: I'm not sure.

S: Well, do you have a dad? And a mom?

M: Yes

S: Maybe you should ask them?

M: They don't know either. Only God knows. (It's a Christian school so God is talked about freely)

S: Well, when my mom leaves my room, I open my window and I ask God things and he gives them to me.

M: So you think I should ask God how many days?

S: Yeah, maybe he'll tell you "one week"

*My heart was melting*

We actually had about a 10 minute conversation about adoption and our baby. He was so inquisitive and wanted to know things like...

- who would look after our baby? - because I obviously had to be at work (he suggested my dad)

- how many babies were there in Africa?

- how many babies were we going to bring home? (he thought maybe 100)

- what would happen to the other babies that we didn't bring home? (he was very sad to learn that some of them might grow up without a mom or dad)

I was so touched by our conversation and at the sincerity and innocence of it all. Children have an interesting perspective which is part of why I love my job so much. There was something about his matter-of-fact faith. Ask God...He'll answer. Why do our adult minds make that such a difficult thing? Why does doubt seem to creep in so easily?

So, do I dare ask God how many days until we meet our baby?

Maybe He'll tell me "one week".

Wouldn't that be amazing!

Newest Addition...

... to the baby room! :)

I just thought I'd share a bit more of the baby room. We finally got a rocking chair. I was looking for something a bit different than what is usually out there and I really liked the look of this one. I still need to get a cushion for it, but I'm very indecisive (I still even debate whether I picked the right chair!) so I haven't quite found one yet. Anyway, here it is!

Next up, the change table.

Other than that, I have no updates. Hopefully this week we'll hear some news about the audit/review. We got a bit of an update last weekend from the agency, but it really wasn't anything we hadn't heard already. They said they are confident that ultimately things will return to normal, so I'm trying to stay positive.

Well, Sunday afternoons are my days to relax and sit by the fire and since it's -40 outside with the wind, the fire is sounding especially great right now. Take care everyone and have a great week!

High's & Low's

So. Here we are, 2011. A year that we hope and trust will bring us the joy of a child.

My emotions are all over the place (as they have been for the past while!). I have moments where I'm feeling quite positive about the whole process. We have awesome support, a great agency, time for just the 2 of us and we feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to adopt. There are days though (and more of them lately) where I just want to curl up and sob. This waiting is stinkin' hard and to be positive ALL the time is nearly impossible. I try, I really do, but even as I sit here, the tears are flowing. We're done with waiting. We want to start our family. How long is this going to take?

I don't know what else to say right now, but please keep praying for us. As a bit of an update...the Canadian Immigration & Custom's department in S.A. is doing an audited review of the adoption process in S.A. We don't know exactly why they are doing the review, but apparently this happens in many of the international adoption programs. The review is supposed to be over sometime around the end of Jan. so please pray hard that anything negative that could come as a result of the review, doesn't. I believe and trust in a God bigger than the government and their "agenda."

Sorry for the not-so-cheery post, but I thought I should be honest.

I hope you are all having a great start to the New Year and I hope to be able to share good news with you soon.

What Are We Waiting For?

This has been the title of the last few sermons at our church and it's really got me thinking - often in many different directions.

This adoption process is obviously one of waiting. Waiting for paperwork. Waiting for people to return emails or phone calls. Waiting for news & updates. Waiting for a referral. Every part of the process involves a period of waiting and anticipation. Although the wait has been difficult, it's also been a wait full of excitement and anticipation of what's to come. We know that we will have a beautiful son or daughter and we dream of the times that we'll be able to share as a family.

I guess what's got me thinking is how and what am I waiting for during this season of advent. Christmas is about Christ coming to earth as a baby, growing up to die which allows us to have a relationship with Him and then returning one day to take His followers home. Do I wait with the same excitement & anticipation for these things? As I wait for Christmas day to come am I thinking about the baby that was born in a manger or am I too preoccupied with gift giving, baking, Christmas parties and family gatherings? Don't get me wrong...I think these are good things, but they are not the most important.

I guess what I want is to wait with the same joy, longing and excitement for the celebration of Christ's birth and return to earth as I do with waiting to meet our baby. I'm not sure exactly how that looks like yet, but the wheels in my head are turning. In the same way I don't wait passively for our baby - we get the nursery ready, pick out names and talk about it constantly - I should not be waiting passively for Christ to come back to earth.

I don’t know if all of this will make sense but thanks for reading. I pray that you will anticipate this season with joy and excitement because there is lots to celebrate and even more to look forward to in the days to come.

Come thou long expected Jesus

Born to set thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in thee

Warning: Impressive Facial Hair Ahead

Last year, when we were driving back from Regina after meeting with Social Services regarding our adoption, we found a tree farm. Neither of us were dressed to go cut down a Christmas tree, but we were so excited about getting the go-ahead to start our home study, we thought "why not?"

It was a great tree and a fun experience, so we decided to do it again this year. This time, with ski pants, toques, mitts, boots and most importantly, great friends we headed out to find our tree. Here are a few pictures of the morning

**(Please ignore Ian's facial hair. It was partly Movember and partly a thing going on with the guys at work...thankfully, it only lasted a day, but we have pictures to last us a lifetime!)

Off to find our tree

Fun in the snow with a great little girl

Posing with our tree

(doesn't the facial hair just make the picture!)

We got it!

I'm not quite as strong

Packed up and ready to go home

On another note, I recently spoke with our agency to clear up some questions I had and was so reassured of their dedication, commitment and care for the families involved in their agency. I felt like I was known, not just a number.

I feel so blessed to be starting our family through adoption. I could not and would not want to have it any other way. I have been stretched, challenged and enriched through this past year and it's been worth every minute. God is good and I continue to marvel at this opportunity that He's given us!

I pray that you are all enjoying this Christmas season and taking time to rest and relish in the beauty of it all!

progress

I apologize to those of you that check regularly to see if I've blogged. I realize I've let you down many times! Again, no excuses...just a lack of motivation.

So, now onto those promised pictures of the somewhat slow progress of the baby room. I have ideas of what I want to do in the room, but just need to get them into action!

Anyway, this is what it looked like before:

It looked fine, but Ian had a great idea to spice things up a bit.

So, with a little bit of work...

(It was a Rider game day so of course, the jersey must be worn...even while working!)

We ended up with this! I think my amazing husband did and incredible job!!

There are still lots of things to do to get everything ready for the baby, but I'm pretty excited about how this project turned out.

On the adoption front, we're anxiously waiting to hear of the first referral in a LONG time! Our agency said things would get rolling again the end of November and here we are, almost December. We were also told that there is a good chance there will be 1 or 2 referrals before Christmas and that things should get busier in the new year. That was good news to me!

Another positive note is that our agency has opened a baby home in Durban and the first few babies have already arrived there. MOT works so hard to care for these babies and the home will hopefully allow them to be place with their forever families at a younger age.

So that's what's new right now. We keep praying that the new year holds some good news for us. I love the Christmas season and am really trying just to soak it all in and remember why we celebrate. I have SO much to be thankful for! We also feel so blessed to have the encouragement and support that we do. Know that your prayer, love and support is noticed!

To all my fellow waiting families...I'm thinking of you and praying for you often! Love and hugs to you all.

Adopt Walk

Yesterday we participated in the first annual SaskAdopt Walk and had a great time! The event was held to raise awareness of adoption and to raise money for the Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan.

Then, later in the day we got together for supper with the families from South Africa. To all of you families..."Thanks for the visit! We appreciate you all very much!" Thanks also to Riley & Candra for hosting!

Here's a news clip of the event which includes an interview of one of the families we are blessed to know. (See if you can spot us in the background of one of the clips...Ian's beard will give us away!)

http://www.globalsaskatoon.com/video/index.html (go to Nov.13 evening news)

That's it for now...

**Coming soon - baby room wainscotting pictures!**