Let's See if I Still Know How to Do This...

6 months on my new job! Crazy!!

I am easily consumed - and I am not totally sure that is a good thing. Chris is quite sure it is not a good thing. He stays on me to not work more than my scheduled hours but it is so hard. I enjoy my job and there is a lot to do.

Since starting I have written 6 home studies and 4 of those are approved. I have been involved with 4 placements and I get to sit in with my co-worker soon as a mom interviews a potential family for her child. This some crazy amazing work.

Uhhh I types this huge paragraph about my work and then realized it is probably on the verge of HIPPA violation (not really, but they scare the pants off of us with talk of fines and jail time.) So I will remain incredibly vague and just say - It is hard work that has made me questions things I never expected to question, and has brought to light some deep held values and opinions that play have a huge impact on the way I talk with my families. So if there is anyone out there that would still be reading my mumbo jumbo, Pray that God will full me with mercy, compassion, and patience and at the same time would guide me to speak truth with love - even if it hurts the family or myself.

More good stuff at work: We have begun having "Hidden Treasures Tours" at the office in an attempt to help the community become more familiar with the minsitry of our agency. They have started off well and I am excited to be part of this ministry. Now if I could just get my church to see the value of our ministry and support us as a ministry... But we are just not going to go there right now. I am going to be inviting any and everyone to the tours. So maybe that will help people better understand the extreme need in our community and how our minstry is serving the communuty... well...

What else... My son is absolutely CRAZY!!! His personality is bigger than I ever imagined possible. He is insanely smart and quick witted. Just today he and Chris were talking. He asked about Chris' day at football camp. Chris said they lost two games, won one game, then got it handed to them on the final game. Me being the smartass that I am, said "Got what handed to you?" Chris said, our butts. Then Sawyer pipes up and says "So you got spanked?!?!" pause... snicker... snort... maniacal laughter. I was ROLLING!!!!!!! So then Chris says, you can say that again. So of course Sawyer says, "You got spanked! You got spanked! You got spanked!" Especially amusing given the fact that he has this amazingly country accent.

Chris is doing well but still has days of BLECH!!! He has not made it to the one year post final surgery yet and I keep reminding him of that. He does have some really good days though. Lately he has filled his mind with some property he found and designing us a home. Maybe there will be a move in our future, near future - PLEASE GOD PLEASE!!!! Yeah I know I am not supposed to barter with God.

Ok - after 6 months off you would think I would have more to say but I guess writing home studies and developing education classes takes a lot out of me. OH OH - I am going to a conference in October that I am SUPER EXCITED about. Not only will I learn some invaluable information about adoption and get to meet some poeple who have WAY MORE experience than I do, but, I also get to catch up with some old internet friends and meet some new ones for the first time. I am so excited. I have been on a major downward decline since getting to hook up with some of these friends in January. But the fire was re-ignited when I decided to go to the Together for Adoption Conference in Austin, Texas, October 1-2. sdAre you registered? NO? Well what are you waiting for. It is going to be amazingly cool. I was so bummed about not going to the Orphan Summit and trying to figure out how to go next year and then I found out about this one. Then I saw that Missy was going and that sealed the deal (= Roadtrip and all nighters with a bunch of adoptive mommas and orphan care fanatics, what could be better? Now if I could just get Stephanie in Idaho to come on down...