Three weeks.....

.....this past Tuesday. Thanks be to God.

Love always hopes....

In my daily life, I'm not a particularly cautious person. I probably don't wash my apples enough before I eat them. I walk to my on-site laundry facility without locking our front door.....you get my point. But emotionally speaking, I have always been cautious. Sometimes to the point of faithlessness. Once I was reading about my personality type in a Meyers-Briggs book. The book stated that my type, INFP, is always expecting the other shoe to drop, so to speak. I think it said something like, "INFPs are haunted with the suspicion that today's successes will be paid for with future pain and failures." What a bright, cheery one I am! I know that a miscarriage and a few years of infertility have only intensified this pessimistic tendency when it comes to building a family.



I haven't bought much for our daughter: the thought of doing so has filled me with anxiety--actually it makes me kind of nauseated. What if our adoption takes forever? What if it all falls through? What if God pulls the rug out from under me? It's all too good to be true, somehow. All this can't really be happening, right?



Anyway, I've been thinking about this awfully dark side of mine. On President's Day, Michael and I had a talk. About hope. He said that, in our ironic and cynical culture, hope is the "lost virtue."



I think that hope has become a "lost virtue" in me. You would think I don't worship the God I do--the One who loves me, the One who's sovereign, the One who's always working evil into good.



And so, in direct defiance of my own pessimism, after our talk Michael and I stopped by a local children's consignment store........and I found just what I was looking for.



May I present to you, two tiny red baby Keds---- symbol of Jana's hope:




So, I'm still my cautious self. You're not going to come over anytime soon and see a finished nursery......and it'll be months til I let my dad order the ridiculously nice, totally awesome stroller he wants to get us.... But, let it be known by these here little baby shoes: I am choosing hope.

Children Need to Play

Back in November, I wrote a post about the excitement I have about giving our daughter works of rich imagination to read. Well, yesterday, I heard this piece on NPR, which reinforces some of the Anthony Esolen's thoughts I was commenting on in the said piece. This report, however, deals with the need for play in a child's life. The researchers find that there's actually a link between "self-regulated" imaginative play and self-discipline. Imagine that!

A possible good read!?

On NPR the other day, Michael heard about a new novel which explores the life of an Ethiopian immigrant. Check it out!

Full of dearness......

....dear friends, dear family. This past Friday, my dear friend Hannah turned 30. This was celebrated with yummy dinner and pomogranate martinis! I'm thankful for my glamourous and sweet friend H. and the way she follows Jesus. I love you, Hannah.

Saturday and Sunday were spent in lovely Austin....celebrating the dedication of my beautiful nephew, Thomas. We love you, Thomas.

Two weeks!

Yes, two weeks of waiting down. woo-hoo!

You know you're an adoptive parent (or should be) if:

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.



Author Unknown

(stole this from Lisa and Shawn's blog.)

Half a day down!

Today is the day. We are officially waiting--our stuff's been shipped to D.C. Tomorrow's my birthday, and yep, this is pretty much what I wanted!!

A film short.

Recently I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook---(ah, Facebook, bringing people together....) Anyway, for those of you who are connected to Covenant, John Alberts is Laura M.'s little brother. John and I went to high school and college together.

Here's a film short he created several years ago in response to the AIDS orphan crisis in Africa, called A Prayer for Area 23. His film was an official selection at various film festivals around the country. I like all the layers of image and sound. Thanks for letting me post it, John!

A Post For Lori Rooney.....

The Teacozy Napoleon--we decided against preserving Michael's dignity: