Life Unexpected

Ok...I first have to say that my sister Kristen is amazing! She is one of my best friends, and she has been a huge supporter and prayer warrior for our adoption. She is constantly calling and asking about things with our adoption and tells me every time I talk to her that she can't wait for our little girl to come. Here is a picture of her and I with our Dad and my niece Sadie. Today, she did a yard sale for our adoption and is giving us all the proceeds! She made $400 in one morning and had a blast doing it. I am so proud of her and totally honored that she would do this for us. Check out the awesome pics from the sale. Thanks again Kris...our little baby is going to have the best Auntie!

I think most people know, but Nate and I plan to adopt a little girl, as young as possible. That is our preference, but we would be so happy with a girl or a boy. When we first started talking, I asked Nate if he preferred a boy or a girl, and he said it really didn't matter. I have always wanted a little girl (I guess because I would love to dress her in little Roxy clothes and hope to teach her volleyball...very selfish reasons!). But months later, I came across this video on my friend's blog and it really sunk in how much of a difference one girl can make in the world. It's a pretty powerful video, so I hope you will take the time to watch it.

It's been way too long since I have posted, so I thought it would be good to update everyone of where we are at. After a short and busy summer, we are finally back in the normal routine...if coaching Varsity Volleyball, working, teaching (for Nate), is called normal! We worked really hard to get our paper work done, as well as a bunch of training. Nate and I got fingerprinted, had the fire marshal come in, filled out forms on insurance, house information, and more. Then we had to read 4 books (one of which I will be blogging about, because it was awesome!), write summaries on each of the books, and do 8 hours of online training. We just finished the last book report last week and sent ALL of our stuff in. Now we will wait to hear from our social worker to set up a home study. That being said...we have really just started this long process! But, we are so super excited. Within the past couple of weeks two of our friends that have been in the adoption process have received th...

It's been a while since I have posted...I think almost a month. That's probably because I have been away for about that long! I am actually on vacation right now, but wanted to post, because I didn't want to wait any longer to share some of what I have been thinking about. About 10 days ago, I returned from a missions trip to Honduras with my youth group. I have traveled a lot over the past years to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and now Honduras. This trip had me looking with a totally different perspective, now that we have decided to adopt from a third world country. It was eye opening in a totally new way, and a confirmation that the journey we are on is exactly where God wants us, and totally in sync with the passions of our hearts. While I was in Honduras, two experiences stuck out to me the most. The first was a mile and half hike that we went on with the Pastor, through the rustic paths of Honduras, to get to two homes where we would find ours...

I have little niece named Emma. She is three and a half and one of my most favorite people in the world. Emma is a trip...she provides constant entertainment and is a blast to be around. I have wondered in the past months how she will relate to a new little cousin of a different race, from a different country, when we finally get our little baby. My Mom called me today and shared with me this conversation she had with Emma, as she was buying something at a yard sale for our little child to be. Emma: Grammy, who are you buying that toy for? Grammy: Well, Emma, did you know that Auntie Ang and Uncle Nate and going to be getting a baby from another country? Emma: No (pause) Grammy: Yup, they are. But it will be awhile before the baby comes...maybe a year or more. And, when the baby comes, her skin might be dark. Emma: Oh (pause)....(thinking)...(pause)....Grammy, do you think when the baby comes Auntie Ang would let me come to her house and help the baby and teach the baby thin...

My sister Kristen has been one of the biggest prayer warriors for Nate and I through this whole infertility and now adoption process. She is constantly praying for us and encouraging us and sent me these lyrics to a Ginny Owens song today: The pathway is broken And The signs are unclear And I don't know the reason why You brought me here But just because You love me the way that You do I'm gonna walk through the valley If You want me to Chorus: Cause I'm not who I was When I took my first step And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet so if all of these trials bring me closer to you Then I will walk through the fire If You want me to It may not be the way I would have chosen When you lead me through a world that's not my home But You never said it would be easy You only said I'd never go alone ya oh oh no So When the whole world turns against me And I'm all by myself And I can't hear You answer my cries for help I'll remembe...

This week marked Nate and my 9 year wedding anniversary! I would have posted on the actual anniversary (June 9), but we were with about 50 teenagers for an Out of School Bash. We just spent the past three days in Williamsburg, VA (which we actually ran into more of our teenagers from our youth group while at Busch Gardens!), and had an awesome time. So, here I am, three days after the fact, blogging about our 9 years of marriage! Actually, I just wanted a chance to share with the world how amazingly blessed I am to be married to my husband, Nate. I was reminded in so many ways this week just how awesome Nate is. We spent the first day of our anniversary excursion at Virginia Beach, laying out in the sun and playing volleyball together. I love that Nate loves to be active and gives me a run for my money peppering (a volleyball term) on the beach! After the beach, we stumbled onto this little street fair thing that had tons of free samples, including free chic-fil-a sandwiches, wh...