getting closer

We are getting closer to a few things.

One is to finishing a few more house projects, though I am thinking they don't end...ever. But they are fun to plan and do together-I sure hope Kim has as much fun as I do-I think he does! The railing was a must do. It needed to be replaced anyway -since we moved in and it was a couple 2/4s-and we had to fix it for the home inspection. Although we passed by telling her we were replacing it. Which we did.

Another- we passed and are officially licensed for 3 foster kids now! They even gave us a paper certificate! I will have to say I stressed and cleaned and stressed and organized and cleaned and then stressed some more. Kim said I was too worried, and it turns out he was right again. One day- one day I will learn, She only walked around for maybe 3 minutes. I had spent 2 days cleaning- with q tips even and if you know me, you know that is not my style of cleaning. I wanted it to be perfect. I almost told her…I am sorry- but if you don’t mind I scrubbed very hard- do you mind looking closer. Seriously I cleaned for over 12 hours straight and could hardly move the next day. I have been reading a lot of blogs lately- about adoption and so many people said the very same thing. One person asked the inspector to open the closet so she could show her how organized it was!

We are still waiting to get a case worker so we can have children placed with us or adopt. We would prefer to adopt legally free kids, but that might change. Then I try to imagine us with kids and get worried that I will run out of things to do with them…seems silly when I type it, but it is a real concern I have- it has just been us for almost 6 years. Can’t believe that either…time flies! We should have a case worker within the next week....but the state's idea of a quick turnaround time is slow to me. But then again, I know I need to work on patience, so in the long run- what is 6 months of classes, interviews, paperwork , waiting and inspections. It is a long, paper filled and emotional process! But we are one step closer! I have decided that if all couple had to go thru this process before children could come to their home- there would be fewer children in the world. But if this is what it takes to help our family grow from 2 to more- than it is worth it! Plus, there are no needles this way. Don't get me wrong there either- I would gladly get shots if that worked too. Yeah, I would do just about anything- and we are working down that list.


Here are a few pictures of the railing. Thanks to my most excellent and handsome husband and his dad for all their hard work- measuring, cutting and installing. There are some before, during and after for your viewing pleasure. And pictures of downstairs with the carpet. The last pics just had the concrete.

The color is coppery/wrought iron...it matches the floors great!

the end

the pictures!

The bricks are gone!! Yeah- I am so excited with how the remake turned out! Here are some pics I promised! And right as I post this the carpet guy is here! I am excited to be getting rid of all the dust that is on every surface of my home- I clean- resand and the dust is back- all the sheet rock and mud really make a dusty mess that is so hard to get rid of. I have clearned a ton of times and right after I do it is back. Hopefully this time it will be gone! Yippee!

Before:

back room:

After: I thought the angle was better. I will get a better one once the carpet is in.

Before :

Also- I wanted to say thanks for all the great comments. Now the hard part- putting them into action. On a side note, yesterday in our Sunday School class the lesson was on repentance. I have had a ton of lessons on repentance but our teacher is wonderful and she presented in a different way. Toward the end of the lesson she gave a Brigham Young quote that really did not go with what she was talking about - but still applied to repentance and was something I needed to hear. It was something like- He who takes offense when none is intended is a fool and he who takes offense when it was intended is the greater fool. And she was saying that part of repentnace is forgiving others- I know this, but had not thought of it as a SIN to be offended...Guess I need to bump this up on my list of things to work on.

time for a change

Wow- It has been a while since I posted and I think I say that every time. The update on the house...We are just down to painting and carpet downstairs-well mostly. And if I knew where the cord was I could load the pics. I will find it to show off all of the hard work of our family and friends. Speaking of friends...Kim's friend at work has gone through the adoption experience with his brother and has shared a few thing with us here and there. Today he shared this blog... http://therhouse.blogspot.com/ and it is awesome! I have not cried so hard in a long time. Link after link just got better and I love this blog because it is realistic but upbeat! The stories are amazing and this video really, really made me cry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqfGqOx2iDQ. It is so true and I can feel that I am right on the brink as this wonderful article http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1989.htm/ensign%20february%201989.htm/just%20the%20two%20of%20us%20for%20now%20.htm?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0 says.. "You have undoubtedly had similar experiences. If you haven’t, you will. In these ways we grow from the time when everything hurts and offends us until, with faith in God, we are neither hurt nor offended. But I want you to know I understand if you feel hurt or offended now." I want to be there so bad. I want to have joy when I walk past 35 pregnant ladies at the grocery store and not get mad when people complain about being pregnant. I want to not have to leave Relief Society dinners early because I can not stand one more birth story and labor story and on and on. I try to change the subject as there are other things to talk about but it always comes back. I even tried sharing stories I have heard from SIL and my sister- nothing to personal- but trying to "fit in" and participate and people look at me like I am crazy and then proceed without me. I really don't want to come across as complaining- that is not my intent, but I really do want to get past the offense and hurt that I feel all the time. I am sure no one means it the way I take it. And this one kinda made me chuckle... "Mother’s Day may be one of those times of hurt. Every year there will be a Mother’s Day, and every year at church a little plant or some other gift may be forced into your clenched fist. But one day you will learn to open your heart, and then, somehow, you will open your hand to receive that gift. Eventually, that gift becomes the symbol of an eternal promise." Cause I refuse to take it every year. Come on take it they say- we have extras. Boy this is harder than I thought to type. This article really hit home and the theme I found in so many articles I have read this morning are to give service ..." We who do not have children can wallow in self-pity—or we can experience “birth pains” as we struggle to open the passageway to eternal life for ourselves and others. I bear testimony to you that instead of wrapping your empty and aching arms around yourself, you can reach out to others. " Which was exactly what I was doing as I read this-how did she know? I have decided I have to strive to be better and develop the qualities that mothers have to posses to be good mothers like sacrifice, service, compassion, teaching and inspiring. So, when we are blessed I will be heading in the right direction. This one actually goes with one of the Personal Progress goals I am working on DN 2. I need to ask a mother I admire what are important attributes for being a mother. So, I ask all my friends that are mothers or who have mothers or know a mother if they can share these with me so I can work on them now. That is my plan for now. Thanks in advance for sharing!

Bricks...

Can you tell the before and during? We can not wait for the after! We are working on our home and will be making bedrooms downstairs and the bricks had to go...Although the brick pedistal in the corner is so functional and fashionable we made the hard choice to destroy it! This was our Valentine's Day treat...bricks and dust! A big thanks go out to Terry and Bailey! As each brick had to be taken down and carried out one bucket at time and with just Kim & I it would have taken at least twice if not three times as long.

And Alice...

ALICE.................I was looking over my sparse blog and realized I do not have a picture of my niece Alice. She is such a cute baby..and wearing a onsie dress I made. Ok, so I did not stretch the onsie enough before sewing on the skirt and it would not fit over her head, but she went in feet first and it worked jsut fine. Alright, there has got to be a way to turn the pictures...anyone know how?

My Bread...

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls: Ok, so you may be wondering why I would blog about cinnamon rolls. I made them-that is why! I am no longer too afraid of yeast. I have made homemade wheat bread successfully about 5 times(thank you Sheri!) and Rena's dinner rolls...now I can add cinnamon rolls to that list! In WOW, my mage Bisyb makes cinnamon rolls to hand out to the party so they can regain health after a long fight. Everytime I hand them out my mouth waters...and I want a real one.

Using yeast was one of my goals this past year. As we were working on our food storage I figured out I better learn to use yeast. My Mom, Mimi and Granny all used yeast...but I was still afraid. I tried a few years back and it did not rise after several attempts so I thought that was it and yeast was not my friend. But with all the wheat we bought, and only wanting to store what we would eat I decided it was time. And I am so glad that I gave it another go! The bread is yummy and the house smells so good. The smell of yeast activating smells just like my Granny's house (my great-grandmother on my Mom's side). I also love photography and have not been using my camera enough. So, I had a little food photo shoot. Back in the day I was looking into being a food stylist/photographer with Southern Living in Birmingham. Today I was realising how much I love baking. I really don't like to clean up so I don't do it often enough-plus with working 40 hrs a week at work and trying to find time at home to get everything done it gets pushed aside-not to mention all the extra calories that often come with homemade goodness. As long as I can remember our friends moderation and exercise, a few treats will be just fine. Now what was I remembering cause they are really yummy!

Today was the day of cooking, I also made Granny's Chicken & Dumplings. I wish I had all day everyday to make yummy homemade, all day cooked food. It is the best!