Hello Friends!

What a glorious evening it is in NW Iowa this evening. After a very rainy start (great sleeping in weather - of which we took great advantage of) it was a perfect golf night. Yesterday we took our neighbor Olivia swimming and had a blast! We are definitely enjoying the warm summer days. They are much appreciated. It is hard to believe that I have been finished with school for a month now and in two more months I'll be back at it. I have a lot of good reading to get in before I'm ready though!

Yesterday I started feeling a bit under the weather and spent my evening in stomach pains. I also woke up with those same pains. I did not eat much after lunch yesterday until lunch today. I was starving! I think I am on the upswing, but it's not fun being sick in the summer. Thankfully I have a great resource/golf partner that I can get medical advice from - thank you Jackie!!

Today I had to run errands to Orange City. Our Tupperware fundraiser has drawn a close and we thank you so much for you assistance in bringing our baby home! The Lord is working in truly amazing and wonderful ways. We are 2/3 rds of the way to our financial goal to be able to bring our baby home. I was able to drop of the tupperware orders and had a handful of checks to take to Bethany as well! We are absolutely amazed at how much money we have towards our adoption! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Many of you have asked us how our meeting went on Monday night. It was nice. It was very informal and comforting. We were able to reflect on how God is working and has been working in our lives during this time of adoption. We know that when the Lord places something in your heart, He will help you reach that goal, even if it seems unreachable. His timing is so perfect and we are blessed to know that His plan is all knowing. He knows the PERFECT time for us to bring our child home. Thank you God for walking the path already for us.

Grant Meeting

We have receieved news that we are being evaluated for a grant on Monday. Katelyn's Fund, which is a support group that we have been meeting with this spring, has a grant available to adoptive parents. On Monday night, at 9:00, we will be being "interviewed" in Sioux Center for this process. We covet your prayers as we enter in to this process. Thank you.

Nate & MB

From Michigan

Here we are in Michigan having a great desire to lay on the beach and the temps are in the mid 60's. Certainly not beach weather. At least we made it for the weekend where the temps were in the mid 70's to catch some rays and bounce around in the lake. Nate is now facing the consequences with his skin peeling.

We touched base with Bethany today and found out that our profile had been shown to two expectant moms (e-moms) but one chose to parent and the others family has decided to raise the child. They are working with a couple new e-moms and could be profiling (looking at profiles) in the next couple months. We don't know what the other offices in Iowa are working with as far as e-moms, and could always get placed out of their offices too.

We look forward to becoming parents and know it's all in God's timing. We are seeing that with the grants we applied for.

More about our vacation: We started off at the Wisconsin Dells, enjoying the water park and meeting new friends. We had a great time! We celebrated our 4th anniversary in Chicago going to a cubs game, walking around Navy Pier (where picture was taken), and enjoying the Museum of Science and Industry.

Very soon we're off to none other than the Pizza Ranch!

leaving!

We're getting ready to leave for our vacation. The sad news is that there is no baby to go on vacation with us. A long time ago we thought it'd be awesome to take our baby on vacation with us. Now we're thinking...this could be our last vacation before baby...so enjoy :S ...mixed feelings there.

We'll update from vacation if there is any news!

...Grants...Timing...Life...

Because of the recent tragedy in the Chapman family Shaohannah's Hope will not be reviewing applications until the earliest - the end of June. I was in email contact with Shaoh. Hope today to touch base to find out about the grant and that's what she told me. Mary Beth Chapman is on the reviewing committee and will resume her responsibilities probably the end of the month.


We ask that you pray diligently for the Chapmans and the death of their daughter Maria. She was 5 years old and adopted from China.


God's timing is perfect and if we receive any grants, it will be in his perfect timing. Our human nature says No, Now! We want the money for our baby NOW. This is not plan B, God had this planned out all along and we must be faithful to him and trust him in all times. I will praise you in the storm God, thank you for walking with us each step of the way and having the road paved for us already. You have walked this road before us and now you walk us through it.



Some days are really tough...we knew when we got married not every day would be filled with joyful, happy memories....here's an image from that day. We honestly had no clue what and where our lives would be led. God has blessed us so much during these (almost) 4 years. Our anniversary is next week! I believe this picture was taken when Nate's sister was singing Can't Live a Day by Avalon. I am so glad that God blessed me (MB) with an incredible husband to walk through this life with.

We definitely have not walked this life alone..especially the last 9 months. When we look back at the glory of God we are amazed at the jobs he has given us, the house to live in, our neighbors, college professors and other not just coincidences...but God at work. All of who have struggled with infertility, adopted, or have just plain been great support systems to us.


So pregnant women are supposedly super emotional roller coasters....right? I dunno, I haven't experienced it, but would give ANYTHING to go through that. Anyway, most of the time people can tell when women are pregnant and can brace themselves for the emotions, or be understanding when those emotions come through. Families waiting to adopt have the same super emotional roller coaster rides. So if my super 'pregnant with adoption' emotions come through to you - deal with it like you would a pregnant lady...not take it personally and understand. I'm not saying this to apologize, because I don't think I should. But there are definitely times where Nate and I are sad, depressed, content, happy, etc.


The music group Selah went through a recent tragedy of losing their baby Audrey Caroline. The mom Angie has a blog that she has been keeping and is an amazing writer. Their blog is http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com/ I encourage you to grab your favorite beverage, grab a box of tissues, get comfortable, read from the beginning. This woman seems to be an amazing mother and wife and wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch her be a mom. Her husband Todd sings with Selah. There are people that we encounter in life that we think...I want my family to be like theirs...this family and a family that we go to church with are like this to me. The values they instill in their children, the husband/wife relationship, the cuteness of their kids ;), and just what great people they are.


This post has gotten to be out of hand! I only intended to write the first 2-3 paragraphs, and look what it has become. If you have lasted to the end...thank you! Thank you for listening to me, for being our friends, for giving us hugs, for trusting us with your children, for telling us that you pray for us, for wondering about any news on our adoption front, and trying to understand the emotions we are facing.


A few prayer requests....
~a friend Amy had surgery recently and is having problems with blood clots
~to feel at peace with God's timing along our adoption journey
~safe travel on our 'economic stimulus check provided' vacation
~praise for 4 wonderful years of marriage
~my brother and sister Nick and Miranda will be giving birth to their daughter on Monday via C-section