November is National Adoption Month

For anyone who does not know we have started the adoption process. Let me just start off by saying that I had no idea what this process would be like. I was so ignorant. I do not mean that to sound bad but I thought it would be like in the movies. You sign up, they check a few things out about you, then you pick a child, and start your life.
This is so not the case. Do not let this scare you off though. It is an amazing process and totally worth it. We had to give all our personal information and finger prints to a case worker who could do a back ground check and DMV check. Next you attend classes. Classes that teach about bonding and tell you what kind of situations you might come across. I will share more about the process later. Right now we are finished with classes and we are waiting on the home study visit.
What I am asking is for everyone to take some time and pray for a child in foster care, pray for the workers, pray for the adoptive and foster families, take some time and donate what you can. DHS is always in need of something from diapers to clothes. Children are taken out of their home and sometimes only with what they have on. Take some time to reach out and see what your local area has to offer kids in foster care and how you can help.
There are a lot of things that will be happening in the next few months in our lives and I promise to share more.
This is only the beginning.

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Family and life update

So for those of you that do not know my amazing husband and I have started the adoption process. We are about half way done with classes and we are really excited. We are adopting locally through DHS and we have really enjoyed the experience.

After we complete the classes we have a home study visit. Well, actually multiple visits. They come into your home and check for safety and spend time with the hopeful/future parents to get to know them. The goal is to make sure anyone adopting is as happy, healthy, and well adjusted as possible. So needless to say we have had a lot on our plate.

After all that is complete we are taking a vacation to Cozumel! Neither of us have ever been and we are so excited. We thought it would be a good treat for completing classes and our last chance to take a big vacation before we adopt. So it is our paper pregnant babymoon!

Life in general has been good. My husband has a new job in the same hospital I work in and he is really loving it. We are both just working hard to be in the best place mentally, spiritually, physically, and emotionally we can be so we are ready for whatever God has in store for us.

Lovable Labels Happy Halloween

If you are looking for some spooktacular labels for lunch boxes, bottles, bags, Halloween treats, and more please click here to check out the great Halloween Pack from Lovable Labels. They are even offering a coupon for $10 off your $25 purchase! Use the coupon code SPOOKY2013

What can you give?

For those of you who do not know Censie over at Building our story then hop on over and check her out. Aside from being my best friend, Censie is a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a friend to many. Censie and her husband Jeremy have always been the kind of people you could lean on or ask help from and now they need help.

Over the last few years Jeremy has been battling  Ulcerative Colitis. Here is a little time line of what has been going on.

Our Timeline:

July 2009 – Jeremy is diagnosed with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.

July 2009-January 2013 – over 15 medications tried and failed.

June 2010 – Jude is born! (My godson and their first baby!)
September 2010 – Jeremy has his first hospitalization due to a horrible UC flair

September 2010 – Begins using Remicaid and Prednisone – never comes off of prednisone until after his surgery.

April 2011 – Hospitalized again – UC Flair

April 2011 – Off of Remicaid – starts Humira.  Still on Prednisone.

October 2012 – Teagan is born!! (baby girl!!)

November 2012 – Censie has gallbladder surgery

December 2012 – Jeremy has 2 one week stays in the hospital due to UC flairs

January 9, 2013 – Gustav the stoma is born!
January 21, 2013 – Jeremy finally gets released from the hospital!! 

March 4, 2013 – Jeremy goes back to work!!  Hooray!! 

March 18, 2013 – Jeremy get admitted to the hospital yet again – this time for an infection.

2012 was rough for Jeremy as his Ulcerative Colitis got worse and worse.  After 3 and a half years of trying over 15 different medications, some that were very scary medications and numerous hospital stays ($$$) it was decided in December 2012 that he would move towards having his colon removed. 

Jeremy is now living with an ileostomy due to him no longer having a colon or large intestine, he will have this forever.

Just when they get ahead Jeremy gets sick again and the last few weeks have been especially frustrating. 

What I am asking is first if you can send them prayers of healing and peace. Second can you spare even one dollar? They are happy he is moving forward but that also brought with them $12,000 plus worth of medical bills/debt. I know it seems like people are always asking for something from us but I can promise you this is a worthy battle to fight. So far they raised about $800 which allowed them to pay one bill off totally. But, there is much more to do. 

I ask that each of you check out this site and share it on facebook, in the twitter world, even email it out. We might not have much but if we work together we can do a lot. 

Help them fight the battle of health, debt, and help them not live with such stress! Go fund me site...click here!

a very small photo update on things

enjoying the fall: gold and brown

helena/west helena: king biscuit. saw bonnie raitt and many more, went from hot to cold to pouring down rain

loving the little detail of gold and the maroon pants. new purse: glitter, gold, envelop style

new hair went a little red

love: stl cardinals game

What does 51.5 lb weight loss look like?

The more weight I lose the more I want to wear things I never would have thought I could including a very tight and short skirt. My legs look amazing and I feel great. Every day I get a little closer to my goal and everyday I share my journey with people around me. I am blessed to have such an amazing support system and I know that one of the best things I can do is to continue to seek out help from the people around me who have so many amazing talents. If you need to deal with your food issues do not be ashamed. There is always a therapist, counselor, friend, family member or even a Pastor who is willing to help you as best they can. For me it took going to a therapist to learn why I used food to deal with life and you know what? That was the best thing I could have done for me. I am learning so much about myself and how I can better deal with all the things life has to offer. So take that step and find out what helps you be the best version of yourself you can be!

Love y'all.