Parker Family

Our friends Mike & Sasha are bringing home their adopted son Joseph from Ethiopia this week! They have such a sweet story on their blog about how the Lord has been grafting Joseph into their family. I think I've cried while reading every blog post! Click here, then scroll back and be BLESSED!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Home Study Completed!

Today we had the last home inspection of our home study to become foster/adoptive parents. This process began last August and has involved many meetings, classes, paperwork, appointments, and more personal questions than I care to recount (God forbid you tell them you have ever been to counseling! Opened that can of worms way too many times.) I feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulder. We should have our final approval within a week and then can accept a placement at any time.

I have to brag on my wonderful husband who has been a solid rock partner and never failing encourager during this process. I should write more about that soon. But for now I'm just going to enjoy my nice clean and deceptively barely organized house. And we are on our way to hang out with our friends Ben & Julie for an evening chat taking with us a fresh baked chocolate beet cake. Yes, David Leibovitz Moist Chocolate-Beet Cake.

Booster Shot Needed

My husband recently asked me if I had my pertussis booster (whooping cough). He had just had his booster shot. I told him I would call and check before we become foster parents. Then I got a cold. Then they announced an outbreak of whooping cough at our school. It does feel like I work in a germ factory during the winter. An early dose of antibiotics has suppressed the illness in my body but I spent the last week feeling MISERABLE. On the mend now and scheduled for a shot next month.
But the commercial keeps playing over in my head "Your arms should be the safest place in the world for your baby.........". Make sure you've had your adult booster if you are around kids!

DIY Disaster

For about a year I've been making my own laundry detergent. It's saves me tons of money and I only have to make up a double batch about 2-3 times a year. Though money is not the main drive behind this DIY routine. I hate buying cleaning products and resent bottles of laundry detergent. Can't really explain except to say that I really hate them.

Lately I noticed that my liquid detergent was leaving the whites kinda dingy so last night I doctored the recipe. Note to self: Do not add oxy clean while you are still cooking the detergent. Foam was everywhere and kept growing. Had to throw it out and start over again. Oh well.

Kid Stuff!

I've said that the thought of becoming "instant parents" has been daunting to me and John. I'm less scared about how-to's of parenting, but worry more about making our home a place where a small child would want to live. We've been given a few baby things and know the basic equipment needs of babies/toddlers. We are open to taking in children ages 0-5. I want to be able to have a few things on hand for each of those ages so we are a litle prepared before we get the phone call. If you have young children, what are some of the things that you can't live without?
Can you advise?????