The Story

I know that everyone is a little shocked and disoriented by the sudden growth in our family, so here's the story.

We found out about Beck (although we didn't know if he was going to be "Beck" or "Emmalen" in the beginning) about a month ago.  We were strongly encouraged to only tell people that we absolutely had to tell because at any point his birth mother could decide to parent.  So we only told immediate family and bosses since it would affect work.  It was a hard secret to keep and I had to get some counseling from our adoption counselor at Bethany because I felt like I was being a big ole liar, but she told me that we were protecting ourselves and everyone else emotionally.  The less everyone knew, the less attached they were in case everything didn't work out.  We kept the gender a secret from EVERYONE, including our families.

On Tuesday, Beck was born via C-section in the lower part of the state.  Originally his birth mother didn't want to meet us or have us at the hospital until she had been discharged.  On Monday, she changed her mind and wanted us to come down to bond with Beck as soon after he was born as possible.  She still didn't want to meet us, but we were thrilled that we could come down.  The hospital, however, said that we would not be able to come until his birth mother was discharged because she had listed "closed adoption" on all of her paperwork.  We were still excited though that she had softened her heart in this experience.  Without divulging too much information, Beck's birth mother has had a very rough life.  Beck is not her first child, and she just knew that even though she loved him a lot, she could not parent him.  Her not meeting us was a way of protecting herself from becoming too attached.  Originally she didn't want to see him after her was born or have any pictures, but she has changed her mind there too.  She saw him immediately after he was born and then once more before she was discharged.  She wants us to send pictures to Bethany so that when she is ready, she can go see them.  She may never see them, but there are three more people in this world who love her and care about her more than she will know. We will always pray for her and we think of her every time we look at Beck.

Thursday morning at 8:15, Jeff and I jumped in the car and headed down to meet our boy.  After his birth mother was discharged, Beck was discharged to the pregnancy counselor at Bethany, Courtney.  She took him back to the office for about 45 minutes before we arrived.  When we arrived, she immediately knew who we were from our profile book and ushered back into the office to meet our son. When she brought him in, we both cried (of course), but he was so good.  He was sleeping so sweetly and continued to do that for most of the day.  Courtney finished getting our paperwork together and we immediately started signing away.  We started around 1:00 and were done by 2:00.  We headed over to the place where my mother and grandmother were already on vacation just a few blocks away.  That's right...they were already going to be down there...just another confirmation of God's hand and timing.  He took his first bottle, we changed his first diaper, he got his first sponge bath, and had a great night's rest.

We are so blessed!  We absolutely love Beck and he is doing so well.  He has let us know that his lungs are strong and healthy, as well as his bowels.  If there was a baby pooping championship, he would be a strong contender.

I find myself thanking God multiple times a day and praying for His guidance and wisdom as we begin this next part of life as parents.  Beck and I have said prayers together every night.  We always pray for his birth mother by name.  I want him to know about how he came to be with us even though he didn't grow in my belly.  I want him to know who is birth mother is and how much she loved him.

Whew!  That's a lot.  Now on to some pictures.

 Our first look at him

Tummy time is so exhausting it puts him right to sleep 

Most feedings are done almost naked so Beck will stay awake.  Otherwise he falls asleep about an ounce into it. 

Our first family picture in the Bethany office. 

 All of us with Courtney from Bethany.  Beck was her first case from start to finish so it was an emotional good-bye for all of us.  We all cried when she read a special Bible verse she picked out for him: Numbers 6:24-26.

Remember these?

Stay tuned for more updates.

a teaser

Introducing.....

Beck William Edwards

7lbs. 14 oz.

20.5 inches

born on May 24, 2011

joined our family on May 26, 2011

I will post more pictures and information later, but enjoy this for now.  I know I am.

things I am loving right now

*this weather....especially the evenings.  I love being outside between about 7 and 8.

*my new screen door...pretty soon we will have one on the back too.  Bring on the breezes and natural light.

*packing up my classroom...loving gifting brand new teachers with some treasured items and making over $60 on my classroom yard sale.

*my books...I have spent a good bit of my paychecks over the years on children's books.  Now Little One has quite the collection.  So many that most of them will live in another room of the house.

*my new business...I am so loving popping into someone's house for about 3 hours, rocking their world with products that save them time and money (and are good for the environment), and walking out with money in my pocket

*finding a plan for reading through the Bible chronologically...bring on the family devotional time :)

What are you loving?

Wishy-washy

This morning during my quiet time, I was reading a short passage in 1 Chronicles.  In the passage right before the one I studied today, the half-tribe of Manasseh had just fought and won a battle with the Reubenites and Gadites.  Their reason for winning is that they cried out to God for help and (drum roll, please) he helped and they won.

In the passage I read today, the half-tribe of Manasseh had returned to worshipping other gods.  I don't know if you do this when you read the Bible, but especially in the Old Testament I have a tendency to scream out "What are you people doing???  Didn't God just save your tails, and now you are turning your back on Him??  Did you all suddenly come down with short-term memory loss???  You guys are so stinkin' wishy-washy!"  Today's was one of those kinds of days.

Then God transformed the Bible at which I was staring into a mirror (not literally, people).  Yep, this passage was a mirror for my life right now.

The waiting-to-adopt-a-baby thing can really wear a girl out.  The process has been an emotional and spiritual roller-coaster for me.  One day, I am praising God for having complete control of the situation from beginning to end, and the next day, I am like, "Hey...You up there...remember me...I understand the point you are trying to make here with control and all, but could you please hurry it up!"  Not one of my best moments.  Just in 4 days this week, I have been at the top of a hill and down in the valley on my roller-coaster.  I know that I will never get it right this side of heaven, but this was my prayer today:

God,

I'm so sorry that I did it again.  I totally tried to snatch all control of this situation back from you again.  I know that you know how weary I am of waiting.  I am trying to learn all that I can during this time and further our relationship, but some days I just want you to bring me my baby.  I do know, however, that you are in control.  You had this planned from the beginning of time and you know how it all works out.  And, as icing on the cake, the way that it works out will be what is best for me and You will get the glory.  You are awesome and amazing, sovereign over all. Thank you for not only being my Savior, but also for being Lord of my life.

this is the stuff

I love the song "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli.

It totally puts everything into perspective because sometimes you are just having one of those days and you need to be reminded about the important things.


Today I needed reminding. 


We had an unexpected meeting after school today.  I don't like things like that especially when I have to do a million things (or maybe just two that seem really important).  


Then one of my things took a long time to get to and didn't work out the way I planned, which of course made me not even get to the other thing.  An entire hour of my life I'll never get back!


While I am venting to my excellent listening partner (a.k.a. Jeff), I realize that I sound ridiculous.  I laugh, get off the phone with Jeff, and then start listing all of the things I am thankful for.  


1. I have a car and, for now, I can afford to put gas in it.  


2. I am rushing around because my life is full of things to do.  Boredom is not something I complain about.  


3. I am hurrying to meet someone I love to eat some food that I love.


4. I have food to eat.


I could go on, of course, but I stopped there to quietly mumble my favorite lines of "This is the Stuff":

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I'm blessed

Right now...

1. I am loving watching my husband sleep on the couch and make all of the funny sleep noises that he makes.  I would insert a picture here, but I'm pretty sure that he would not appreciate that as his lily-white belly is all kinds of exposed. :)

2. I totally loved every moment of the Royal Wedding.  No I didn't get up early to watch everything on television, but that was mostly because I had a 12+ hour day ahead of me filled with fourth graders and all of the fun walking that Stone Mountain has to offer.  I stayed up late to watch it last night and I am still in fairytale land today.

3. I bought our baby some britches last night.  I had a total panic moment when I was standing in Little One's nursery (which I do a lot these days).  We have one pair of jeans.  That's right.  One.  pair.  A ridiculous amount of onesies, but no bottoms.  Now Little One has one pair of jeans and three more pairs of knit pants.  Whew!  I feel like I just side-stepped a major crisis there.

4. Speaking of Little One's nursery, it gets the best natural light of any room in our house.  Right now, it looks like it is glowing.  So cool.

5. Mother's Day is next weekend and I cannot wait until I get to join in on all of that. :)  And I got my mom and mother-in-law the best. gifts. ever.

6. My 5th anniversary is only 40 days away.  Wow!

Weekly Menu 3

Sunday-sandiwches and chips
Monday-Party food for my first Norwex party as a consultant.  The Pizza Pinwheels were a huge hit.
Tuesday-Chips and Salsa Chicken, refried beans, and corn
Wednesday-Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken and asparagus (was going to make mashed potatoes, but ran out of time)
Thursday-Garlic Onion Burgers and tater tots
Friday-FFY-fend for yourself (I was on my way back from a long day of field-tripping with students to Stone Mountain.)
Saturday-Chicken and Dumplings (I cannot for the life of me remember where I found this recipe, but it was so easy.  I cooked my chicken in the crockpot all day, and then removed the chicken to shred it.  I transferred the broth to a pot and added more to it.  The dumplings were made with Bisquick and milk.  I dropped them into the boiling broth and let them simmer for about 20 minutes before adding the chicken and about 4 sliced hard boiled eggs.  It was pretty doggone tasty and I am so glad that there are leftovers.)

Jeff's favorite:  A tie between the Garlic Onion Burgers and the Chicken and Dumplings.
Sarah Ellen's favorite: A tie between the Chips and Salsa Chicken and the Chicken and Dumplings.

I will say, however, that since I have been on this little recipe quest, we have not disliked anything that we have tried.  Trust me, people, I would tell you if it was completely nasty.

And here's an extra little tidbit~
Our pastor has been doing a series on marriage and I have been soaking up as much as I can.

Ecclesiastes 4
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.


~borrowed from http://www.biblestudytools.com/ecclesiastes/4.html