Tuesday, September 4, 2012

It's really happening...finally!

Here's an e-mail I sent to our social worker tonight - this is really happening and I'm so excited!

Hi Deb,

I hope you had a good long weekend!  We are just writing to let you know that as of Thursday, September 20th we are ready to be officially "in the system" as foster parents to girls 18mo. and younger.  Tim will have his paper done by that date and we will have just finished hosting some out of town company, so we will be all set at that point to welcome a foster child into our home.

We are so looking forward to this next step in the journey!
Please call us if you have any questions,
Jenny
 
And Stella is ready for this adventure, too...can you tell?
 
Not even 2.5 and already accessorizing...yikes!

Go get 'em, cowgirl!
 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Motivation.

Recently I took a good, long look in the mirror...and, in addition to my fitness level, I realized there are several things in my life that remain undone.  Obviously, a person's body is something that will always require work and maintenance to be fully "fit", but I've spent far too much time lately wishing I was in better shape and hoping it would just happen by continuing to eat poorly and not work as hard at the gym as I know I can.  NEWSFLASH:  after a summer of ice cream nearly every night, I can confidently say that my previously mentioned plan to attain a greater level of physical fitness DOES NOT WORK!  I can also say that, after two weeks of busting my butt at the gym, it's going to be a lot harder to lose the weight than it was to gain it.  Thanks for nothing, Friendly's Ice Cream (okay, I still love you, but "get thee behind me" - and I don't mean stuck to my rear end...)!  All that said, I'm thankful I'm finally motivated and moving in the right direction.  I don't want to waste any more time wishing for something that is totally within my reach and I'm doing something about it.

Like many people, I have a to-do list for general life stuff.  I'm translating my new desire to be the best I can be physically to other areas of my life, as well.  Tonight, I started to tackle a home project which has remained undone since we moved nearly a year and a half ago:  to paint the trim in our entire two bedroom, two story apartment.  It's just the first step, but as of tonight the front hallway trim is officially painted a crisp, glossy white.  In addition to painting, I want to finish Stella's baby book, complete some paperwork that has been hanging over my head, and get to a few other odds and ends around the house.  Perhaps it's the impending reality that we are really becoming foster parents that has given me this boost of energy and dedication?  In a few weeks we will be officially "in the system" and licensed to take in kids.  I feel similarly to when I was about seven months pregnant with Stella, and Tim and I spent New Years Eve ringing in 2010 by organizing and cleaning our entire house, down to the crawl spaces (I know, party animals).  Call it nesting or whatever, I'm just thankful for the motivation to never settle for "just okay" when greatness is within my reach!  God give me strength and perseverance for the tasks ahead!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

What I Learned On Our Carpenter Family Outing.

Tim, Stella, and I took a trip to Cabella's today; it's one of Stella's favorite places because of all the stuffed animals (taxidermy style, that is).  Overall, we had a great outing as a family and yet I was once again reminded of why I don't enjoy shopping.  I find myself drooling over clothing I cannot afford and don't really need and it breeds a sense of discontent in my heart that wasn't there before I set foot in the store.  Shopping leads me to think about other things in my life that I want, and I start to dwell on things that, in the end, will not truly bring me any lasting happiness at all.  I walk into the store feeling joy and thankfulness and I leave the store with a desire for more stuff.
 
What a gift to have a husband like Tim who will let me verbally process my thoughts the entire ride home; it is a blessing to walk through this life with someone who feels similarly about what is really important and necessary.  I take pleasure in seeing Stella's simple joy about a trip to the "zoo."  I also am reminded to follow her example as she is fully capable, at least at this age, of leaving a store without buying a single thing, and she is an even happier person going out than she was going in...just thankful for the experience!
 
Did I mention all three of us wore the same exact outfit today?  Oh yes we did, and it was Tim's idea (no lie!):