A Big Week

This week turned out to be a big one for us.  Our adoption training was scheduled for Thursday in Jackson, and we made plans to stay with our dear friends, Pat and Felicia, to soak in sweet baby Nate.  We got in town Wednesday night around 8, and the Robbins family all stayed up to greet us.  Toby couldn't wait to show us his baby brother!  So tiny!  

We had a great visit until way past bedtime before we all put our heads on our pillows.  Sweet dreams until our alarm went off the next morning.  Usually I'm not much of a morning person, but when someone is in the kitchen cooking you a deliciously incredible breakfast of biscuits and tomato gravy, it would be hard to keep me under the covers!  Oh. My. Gracious!  It was SO good!  If you've never had Felicia's tomato gravy, please just knock on her door and tell her I sent you!  Ha!

We spent all day Thursday at the adoption training.  It was a great experience, and we had a chance to connect with other prospective adoptive parents who were at the same place we were.  During the adoption training, we all discussed and asked questions on the topic of birthparents, legal matters, search and reunions of birthparents, post adoption depression, realistic expectations, and deciphering between adoption and normal child development among other things.  There were guest speakers including the Bethany attorney and a mental health professional.  The best part of the entire day was at the end when a panel of adoptive parents, birthmothers, and a "Bethany baby" shared their stories. Needless to say, we needed tissue once the first sentence was spoken. It was very touching and helpful to hear personal stories of families who have worked with Bethany through this journey on ALL sides.  We were able to ask questions, laugh together, cry together, and hear encouragement from them.  I am so appreciative that they felt led to share their time with us.

Once our training was over, we headed back to Pat and Felicia's for Russ to take some newborn pics of Nate.  He took Toby's baby pics too, and we were thrilled to do the same for Nate!

Plus, Russ can get in all his practice and experience so he will be ready to take pictures of our little one!

We mustn't forget big brother!  We tried with all our might to get him in pictures, and we were successful at times!  Ha!

 I love this picture!  It pretty much sums it up! Ha!

 Robbins family portrait

Mommy and Daddy got in on the fun too!  We love these two so much!

Thank you SO much, as always, for being such great friends!  We miss you terribly and can't wait to watch our children grow up together!  

But, this isn't the end of the big week!  Nope.  We got a phone call from Elizabeth yesterday letting us know that our home study has been APPROVED!!!!  Yay!!!  We are so excited and ready to get our profiles out there!  They should be here by Monday, and I will send them directly to the Bethany office for the showing!  Thank you all SO much for your prayers and encouragement through this part of the journey!  They have been invaluable.  Now, we are prayerful throughout our wait...however long or short it will be.  Prayerful for the birthmother, the child God has chosen for our family, and for our patience as we wait.

Thankful for a BIG WEEK!