Waitlist, Summer Ending and Things to Come

As of 8-9-10 we are officially on the Wait list to adopt a baby girl from Ethiopia!

Just as I suspected, it feels incredible. Now we are "waiting with a purpose", whereas before, we were just waiting on paperwork, etc. All of that is now done and we just wait for the day we get to see our baby girls face. It's not going to be easy. I feel like I've already been waiting for her for the 4 months we've been in the "paperwork phase" even thought we weren't on the waiting list yet. And for the 6 months or so that I was convinced this is what we were supposed to do... I waited on God to speak to my husband and bring him on board with it. ;). So, even though it's only been 3 days "officially" I feel like I've been waiting for 10 months. It's already hard... but it's going to be SO worth it.

Summer has flown by and I have mixed emotions about it coming to an end. Fall is my favorite time of year, and I'm definately ready for crisp, cool fall days. I was so ready for summer to start this year. I was really looking forward to all of the extra time I would have with all of my kids home. And I really have enjoyed it. But, all good things must come to an end and I have to confess that I'm ready for our "routine" to get back to normal as well. It's just the facts of life that I work from home, and it is REALLY hard to get any work done and keep up the house when I have my 3 little munchkins taking up all of my time and attention. It has been a good thing for sure to have them home, but Mamma's pretty frazzled by this time of the summer, so it's time.

I'm sure for the first few days, I will be moping around the quiet house feeling sorry for myself that all my babies have flown the coop again. But, once I get my nose back to the grindstone and start getting my affairs back in order, I'm sure I'll get back in the swing of things.

I do dread all the business of the school year, though. Soccer practices several nights a week, dance classes and the dreaded homework will consume me. BUT, like I did last school year, I'm going to do my very best to stay "in the moment" and focus on the positives and intentionally enjoy all the "kraziness". It's hard, but it's my life. And I love it.

Jason is going to make an extra effort this school year to be home more and be able to help me with some of the homework and practices. I hope it works out, because that would sure take some pressure off. But, the price of him getting off early is going to be us staying up late and working after the kids are in bed most nights. We have tried very hard to stop doing that, but we can't have it all... and something's gotta give somewhere, right??

Braden has his first soccer game of the season this Sunday in Tulsa. So much for spending one last lazy Summer Sunday together just lounging around. I'm sure it will be fun though!

Speaking of lounging... we are at Devil's Den this week. We got here late Monday afternoon and we are leaving tomorrow afternoon. Jason's parents are here as well as his Uncle Bruce and Aunt Jill. We are having a great time. We've spent all afternoon in the pool each day and most of the rest of the time in our campers. It's TOO HOT to do anything else! Except the afternoon softball game from 4-5. We can't miss that :)

Jason has been able to be with us most of the time and that has been AWESOME! He did have to go work a partial day on Wednesday and he was gone for 11 hours or so. And he will have to go in to work for a few hours in the morning, but he'll be back in time to help me load everything up.

My camera fell out of my camera case the first evening we were here and it's broken. Joy. I've only had it a year, and it was only purchased because my last camera bit the dust after only a year. There is no money for a new camera at this point, so thank goodness for the camera on my blackberry, I guess. I do have a nice video camera that doubles as a camera, but it's pretty bulky to carry around. It will do though. Just makes me sick to my stomach that my camera broke though. Grrrrr.

I'm missing out on pool time, as we speak and I have to cut it short today to get Braden back to town for soccer practice this evening, so I'd better get back to relaxing while I can!