BIG Weekend Ahead

After completing our first round of paperwork, we are ready to "be studied." That's right, this Saturday we meet with Holt for the first time and then on Monday our home study will be completed....and in between on Sat. and Sun. we will attend over 12 hours of parenting classes. Let's be honest....I'm nervous. My house is the cleanest it's been in a while, I've been imagining what we'll be asked and how I'll answer, and praying that Charlie will be his charming self when they meet him :-). I've already gotten a good "chunk" of our dossier ready, and when we finish that we will officially be on the waiting list.....just typing that takes my breath away! We are ready to wait!!!

What has been consuming your thoughts?
This is one of the questions my Life Group has been discussing at our meetings. Obviously, this whole adoption process is on my mind. The past week or two I have really been overwhelmed with thoughts of, not just my son that will be born on the other side of the world, but with thoughts about his mama. Who is she? What is her story? Is she young, scared, ashamed, lonely, and has no other option? Is she older, a widow, mother that can't afford one more mouth to feed? I will probably never know as long as I'm on this earth. But I love her! Jeff and I have prayed for her every night since we've made this decision. We are so thankful for her and the precious gift she will give us. More importantly, (I cry as I type this, just like I cried with the group last night) we pray for her salvation. Can you imagine what it would be like to hug her in heaven? I'd love to be able to spend an eternity sharing everything from his first steps to his first t-ball game to his wedding day with her. WOW! It's possible, with my God, it is SO possible!
There is a girl on the other side of the world that needs prayer. Could you pray for her today?

Home Sweet Home

After two weeks of traveling with Jeff for meetings and a trade-show, we are enjoying being at home in our own beds! We had a lot of fun in Arizona and Dallas, but it always feels good to come home (minus the unpacking and laundry). As far as any updates with the adoption.... We got a call accepting us to the Ethiopia program just 5 days after we mailed in our application! Yay! However, I didn't mention in my first post that you must be 25 in order to adopt from this country. I will be 25 in December, so I thought we would basically be waiting until then before we could go any further.....I just didn't have the patience to wait that long to apply :-)
BUT, I found out today that we can begin filling out the pre-homestudy forms! Paperwork may sound boring to you, but to me it is the beginning of a GREAT thing! We can get our packet all ready so when December comes around, we can really get the ball moving!!! As I have started reading all the guidelines and outlines of what will happen and what to expect, I have to be honest that I get a little overwhelmed. (I may or may not have already cried and told Jeff I wasn't sure I was smart enough for this :-) ) But, as soon as those feelings hit me, it never fails that God brings peace into my heart....
"And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?"
...I just love that song!

Application....check

(*Please excuse the un-made bed)

We told Charlie the news....and he's excited too! What a relief?! :-)

Our application is in the mail!

Here we go!

From a young age God has given me a love for children...particularly those that are less fortunate than me. I believe this is the main reason I felt lead to get a degree in Special Education. (And I plan on using it someday!) Before Jeff and I were even engaged I shared my desire with him to, God willing, have a family made up of biological and adopted children. When we went to Guatemala in 2009 to visit the Boggs and the Eagle's Nest Orphanage, (see previous post) our lives were changed. If I hadn't been 5 months pregnant with Charlie, I probably would have snuck Walter in my bag! I can't really describe the feeling I have had since that trip except by saying....I've never felt so sure about being called to do something, aside from my salvation. And, from what I can tell :-), Jeff feels the exact same way. Sara Groves has a song that says, "I saw what I saw and I can't forget it.....I know what I know and I can't go back." (Hear it here!) That song has been really speaking to me for the past few months, if He has called us to do this...what are we afraid of?

Did you know that there are 143 MILLION orphans in the world? 5 MILLION of them in a country in Africa that is about the same size as Texas. ETHIOPIA! Friday we will send our application to adopt the next member of the Britton family from this special country that God has laid on our hearts. We couldn't be more excited to begin this journey! We would appreciate your prayers!

Check out these stories!!! Evyn and Lucy and Silas

Round 2

I mean really...where does the time go? It has almost been a year since my last post, and a good year might I add! I don't know if anyone will read, and actually it's fine if they don't. I just want to keep track of what goes on over here in the Britton household....like a public journal, I guess.

A lot has changed since Thanksgiving of last year.....it really is too much to catch up on and I don't want to overwhelm myself with this first new post. Let's just say I'm still as smitten to be Mrs. Britton as I was when I wrote my first post, and the littlest Britton - pictured above:-) - has me wrapped around his finger too!!!

Thankfulness

What more could you ask for????

I have SO much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!!!!

Typical day...

...in my life as "MOM."

Around 5:30 or 6:00 AM my little alarm clock awakens me for our first of several feedings for the day. (I love waking up to Jeff on my right and Charlie on my left...in his bassinet...soon I will put him in his own room, what a sad day this will be! I feel like that is his first step to "growing up") Then if I'm lucky he goes back to sleep until around 8:30! Next is my favorite part of the day....Charlie wakes up and is ALL SMILES!!! I LOVE IT!!! We talk for about thirty minutes and he just smiles and smiles...I've yet to see him wake up in a bad mood. The rest of the day is filled with naps, bottles, swinging, smiles, diaper changes, etc. Then at 9:30 it is his favorite part of the day...bath-time!!! He is so funny how he splashes and flairs his arms all around, he loves it! He eats one more time and then snuggles into bed. I lay down and can't wait to do it all again the next day! Best "job" in the whole world! I am so glad that I am able to stay home with my baby! I have a tremendous amount of respect for moms that work, but I wouldn't trade the time and precious memories I experience everyday for all the money in the world!!!

I recently left him for the first time for about 10 hours, and there is no doubt that I won't be able to do that very often! I can't imagine his first day of Kindergarten!!!! I know I'm already more attached to him than he probably ever will be to me :-)