Firsts.....

Yep, this is a first. I bought something for the babe.

Stephen thought I was crazy when I started planning where his room would be, but then when I talked to Gladney they told me they would ask during the homestudy where the child's room would be. So, obviously I started cleaning out the guest room closet :) That's where his room will be and I wanted to get some of the junk out.

Guest room closet = where everything goes that doesn't fit anywhere else.

Well, I love a good cleaning out so I took a ton of clothes to be consigned, a ton of stuff to Good Will and I even cleaned out the garage to make room for things from this closet. I wish I had taken a before/during/after photo because it was pretty bad!

When some friends were over the other day they helped me re-design my house so I can keep a guest room, baby room & an office! I am pretty excited about the whole plan :) When it's all over, I will have a studio like set up in my living room where I can bring clients and maybe when I get some wood floors, take some pics by the huge window that's in there. ahh, I love it!

Now, onto the firsts. Well we went to the doctor this week to get a physical and some tests done. I wish I would have brought my camera. Stephen wouldn't let me. But it really helps to know people. My friend Katherine works up at my doctors office and she was so kind to help us! It made me a lot more at ease with her being there. Thank you Katherine for all of your help! We are in the clear - medically that is!

Second first. I went to Target that same day to get two baby shower gifts. I was strolling down the isles at Target and came across this!

Seriously? Sweet African safari animals on swaddle blankets? yes, please! I did not go to Target intending to purchase anything for myself but I couldn't help it. I held this so tight as I walked through the store. Just thinking about holding a sweet baby in them just made it so real to me! When I went to check out, the lady took the other gifts off the registries and when she asked who this was for, I got to say "me!" I've never in my life purchased anything for MY BABY. It was a thrilling moment.

It's the small things that count my friends.

On a more serious note, I was totally encouraged at church on Sunday. Patrick started the sermon with one of my favorite verses.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Which is so funny because that was the verse I shared last Tuesday when I got to share with our high school students at Teen CBS. How God can do IMMEASURABLY more than we can ever ask or imagine. I told them that when I was their age if you would have told me at 26 I would be living in Midland, Texas, working full time as a photographer & on the journey to adopt a child from another country - I would have laughed! To see what God has done in and through my life has been awesome. Not because of ME, but because of HIS power that is at work within me.

I love how God puts things in front of me over & over. Like he's trying to tell me something:)So I loved the sermon from the get go. He talked about how God is moving us to a place of promise & destiny. He said there is a legitimate moment to understand what is ahead. That the Word doesn't lead us to greater safety but to greater trust. That most people see obstacles more easily than opportunity. Gosh, all of those things speak to me and what we are going through with adoption. I want to search out the Word of God for answers. To study the Word, to ask God the questions and to know that He IS moving me to a place of promise and destiny.

In all of the paperwork, there are so many things that could go wrong. and as I am going through it I just have to pray that I will continue to believe that with God all things are possible. That He can move above and beyond all that "could happen", that He is BIGGER than all of that. That He can do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine.