Trying my hand and eye at photography

Great moment of stillness in time

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Cozumel

It was SO HUGE!

This is next to the street in Cozumel

These are all over the streets. It was awesome!

This was the bit of beach we got in Cozumel. It was on the side of the road.

We actually had to pay for this but the guy said it was for a good bird cause. Cool nonetheless. 

The bird had already eaten my earring and was proceeding to eat my clip.

The water was gorgeous.

Looks like a map of clouds.

I see a hurricane. Anyone else?

The clouds are so fluffy out there.

This is what we came home to in Tampa. 

So peaceful in the middle of the Gulf.

Of course, Donnie took this one. I can't take credit. It's pretty amazing though.

This is in Birmingham behind the Chick-fil-a on the way home from the Temple. Hilarious! We actually turned around to take a picture of it.

Josey feet and can you guess what kind of feet?

Wave

All the so far girl cousins. Can't wait to add the others.

Gorgeous sunset.

The waves actually made the picture look like this. just kidding.

this is one of the best pictures I've ever taken.

Our trip to the Lamanites (sort of)

These are some of the pictures from the ship on our cruise.

I actually took this one. It was sitting on the front of the ship which had an amazing view and an amazing breeze.

This was Wency our waiter. He is from the Phillipines. He was so much fun and treated us like royalty. The food really made the cruise. I came home unable to eat normal food.

Josey being cute Josey. She took that one too. Unfortunately there wasn't much to do.

Well, I can't get the layout pretty but you get the picture. Or pictures. LOL!

Josey getting her hair wrapped in Cozumel.

Cool slide. Couldn't go down because Josey was a tad too short. Big fat bummer.

They actually had towel folding programs on board.

don't know how to rotate. Kind of looks better this way.

This is Cozumel with the sun coming up and us into port.

These are some of the friends she made on board.

So much has happened.

I will save the best for last. And worst for first.

First I have to say, I'm trying to kick Josey out of my room, well, I say kick, I'm nicely suggesting she go play with her toys so I can blog. UGH! I guess that's what happens when she won't sleep past 630. I am drinking a slim fast, not because I need to lose weight but I thought I'd try it since they were in my fridge. Donnie was needing to lose weight for drill in Sept but they pushed it to Oct so he's doing the same thing he always does to lose weight. NOTHING! UGH! The fairness in the ability of men to lose weight is incomprehensible. I can't even think about it the unfairness of it. Although, I just was so now I stop. Really stopping. Until I take another swig of this horrifying chocolate gueeewwww. I don't know how to even spell a word to describe the awfulness. Although, now I'm not thinking of the men losing ugh! there it goes again.... OK, moving on to better things.

Josey gave a talk yesterday in Primary. Well, she tried. She's so tenderhearted and can't stand attention when she's embarrassed. She buried her head in me and cried. She has done other talks and I know she will do fine next week when she is given the opportunity to go again. I love my little girl. She is such a strength and example of Christ's pure love for us. Josey likes the slim fast. How funny is that. There was only a tiny bit left but she gulped it down. I don't know how people can get full on that because now I've had the calories and am NOT filled up.

Moving on....

So our home study that was supposed to happen on Saturday didn't because there isn't anyone who has the right qualifications. Stupid Alabama. I have to say that this state is so slow and backwards in EVERYTHING! I love the ability that it has to keep God in lives but the laws are so outdated. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan in all things and control so I know it will work. And doing a private adoption could possibly save us money. So it will be better how ever it ends up working. More details to come on that at a later date. I should be receiving an update sometime today on the status. Pretty much my thinking (which is usually wrong) is that the state wants people to adopt kids in the state (which makes sense) and doesn't want other states involved. Now, in most things I am totally supportive of state's rights, just now when it personally affects me. Just kidding. But adoption should be a national thing. Every other state is open to this idea. Just not Alabama. But they have been against us from the beginning of our parenting so it's no surprise that this is too. That being said, I love living here and I will be contacting my representative.

Onto the good news. Or rather fantastic news! We are meeting the family that I have been talking about in September. The one with the two girls. I have spoken a few times to their grandma on the phone and she is such a sweet lady. Cares so deeply for her babies and I'm grateful she's trusting enough to allow us to meet them. I am all set to make plans but Donnie wants to wait until we all meet. Which is a good thing. I need to be more level headed but a mom just knows. So my emotions are all in but my head is being leveled out by my husband. LOL! That sounds hilarious! Not in a literal way of course. leveling my head! Sometimes I'm just  TOO funny!

I am going to begin contacting attorneys to find out the next step should we decide to move forward. I'm excited and anticipating mid September. I have seen some pictures of the adorable angels and have fallen in love! I can't wait to meet them. I really feel like at this point our families are going to fit together wonderfully. It's amazing the trials and avenues that we travel in this life to finally reach a point where it all makes sense.

After talking with our caseworker on Saturday and hearing the news that we are still at a stand still with the approval process for the adoption I felt fine. Greatly comforted in the testimony that I have of the Lord that He knows all things and can see the bigger picture. I am now and have been, but now especially, grateful for the struggles I have been through with infertility. The roads that have led me to this place. To meet this family at this time. The Lord truly knows what He is doing. Of that I have a firm and unending testimony.

step who knows which one

Step one: Contact LDSFS
Step two: Fill in monsterous loads of paperwork.
Step three: Individual interviews.
Step four: Possibility of kids.
Step five: Wait to find out about possibility of two girls.
Step six: Wait to hear about whether the other family has decided to adopt the girls.
Step seven: Wait for Jenni to get back from forever awesome summer travels.
Step eight: Keep waiting but getting excited!
Step nine: Paint baby's room because someday there will be one. Leave one blank in case it's a boy or a girl.
Step ten: Wait.

So we've made it passed step ten onto step eleven. When we return from our trip from Florida (which is where we are now and loving every minute of it) we will await a phone call from the Grandma of our two maybe's. We are praying our maybe's turn into our definites. That's right. The two girls we were waiting to hear about, we've heard and are headed to meet them when we get home. We will provide an adoption plan and proceed with it. Donnie is being very cautious I think but my heart is already in it. I am already considering myself a mom of three beautiful girls. It will be a major adjustment but it will be so good for our family.

I can't remember if I posted the experience from church a few weeks ago but Sister Otis was there and was talking about the temple. I was day dreaming while listening and wondering if Josey will be able to go into the temple will we are all sealed together and imagining the day and what it is going to be like. During my day dreams Sister Otis was about to finish her talk and relayed a story (an unplanned story) of how she was able to attend the sealing of a family who had adopted a 9 year old girls and at the end of the sealing the sister had gotten up from the alter and went in a circle and hugged all of her new sealed togther family. My mom and I immediately looked at each other and were both full of tears. I was so giddy after that and kind of knew that it would all work out.

I'm so excited for what's to come. Not looking forward to all the legal stuff but as all things that Heavenly Father is in control of, this will go off without a hitch if it is His will. And thankfully we have Him on our side. It's going to be a long process but the day we are able to attend the temple and have all of our hard work and waiting sealed in the presence of our Lord and our Father, it is going to make every second worth it! EEEEkkkk! Is really all I can say.

It's kind of crazy to think that we will soon (I suppose for just in case sake, possibly) be the parents of three adorable girls. It's so exciting!

still waiting

Our caseworker is out of town and we are dying (me more than Donnie) to hear about the girls. Our girls I keep calling them. Whoops. I'm getting way ahead of myself. I have my entire house planned out for when they arrive and falling in love with them more everyday. Now, this being said, we have seen a picture once, briefly, and still can't remember their names.

Yes, I will survive if this ends the other way. But am so excited to possibly have three girls in the next few months! Phew! What a crazy ride that will be! Can't wait for the amazing things to come.

Come what dreams

So a few nights ago I had this marvelous dream about all my girls being together. We had three the two angels we are biting nails off waiting to hear about and our sweetness Josey. It was a fantastic dream. We were a happy family. We were playing and eating dinner and normal family things. It's really hard to have their picture in my mind. I'm so grateful that I don't remember there names. I'm sure that my mind blocked it out so I wouldn't get too attached. But, who am I kidding, I love them already and can't remember their names. I so care about what happens to them and I am praying good things will come in their lives.

Then last night I had a dream that the call came and it was in the other direction. I heard so clearly in my dream "they are going to the ***'s." I was so sad I actually woke up and looked around. I know that these darling girls will go to the family they are meant for I am just praying that it will be the best for them. It's amazing how we can love what we don't have just by loving the idea of them. I have no doubt that if we are blessed with these two girlies we will and already do love them as our own.

It's amazing the blessings that come from making the decision to adopt. I truly believe Heavenly Father allows our brains to remember and forget things to help us on our journey. I never knew that until now.