Meet my little friend Olivia

My friend Olivia was on the news. read the article and watch the video and may I warn you, get your tissues..

http://www.11alive.com/rss/rss_story.aspx?storyid=126347

bullet posts

-So with 5-8 weeks until the Christopher family grows by one, changes are being made. I did 2.45 miles today on the treadmill and hope to hit the 3 mile mark on Monday, working towards my 5 mile goal. Michael has been working out as well and seems to enjoy it!!!!

-trivia last night, we won with a perfect score which scored us a free dinner next week!!!

-Weight Watchers- the scale did not like me yesterday but at least I had lunch with my friend Donna who got me out of denial

-I have a feeling the next 2 months are going to go by fast

-Work is good but busy. Ladies attempted to throw me a surprise shower but included me in the email invite. Its a good thing since I have plans that day. HAHA!! and I don't like surprises like that, totally makes me feel comfortable but how generous of them!

-Glad to be back at the Amazing Collection Bible Study. I love those girls and we studied Habakkukk yesterday and review Old Testament kings.

-I love Autumn the basset hound but she needs to quit a few behaviours before China

-loving the ITUNES songs some of your recommended, especially the Sanctus Real song. Its totally me right now!!!

Lots on my mind

Preparing for parenthood, organizing the house, getting healthier, working on finances, planning a trip to China is a bit OVERWHELMING but it will be okay.

First goal, walk 5 miles quickly on treadmill. Able to do 2 with no problem, will do 3 by Monday.

We got a crib. This is good.

Looking forward to my ladies Bible Study tomorrow. haven't seen them since Christmas and will miss them while we are gone.

WW tomorrow!!! Looking forward to it (not the weigh in, but the meeting and lunch with a friend)

Still having a hard time getting organized but whats new?

Serving

Today at church we talked about serving. They shared stories of members of teams that served on short term mission trips during the past year.
I want to serve. I want to serve here in America. I really hope I am able to serve in China. Im getting more and more excited about that trip everyday. Its going to be amazing. I want God to give me a servant's heart.

I get so sick of being selfish and being in my comfort zone, yet I stay where I am. It gets frustrating.

fabulous news

More posts to follow but we got the most awesome news today. We got our final approval from China which means we are going to China to get LynnMarie in the next 2 months!!!

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

need 4 more songs

So today, I added some songs onto my IPOD from suggestions from a previous post, twitter and facebook friends. I come to you again. I need 4 more.

What do I like? Pop, country, Contemporary christian, songs that make me giggle, songs that make me cry.

Today I added some Phil Wickham, Sanctus Real, Big Daddy Weave and a few British artists..

I am ready to try some new artists. Can you help me out???

President Obama

Ok, so I did not vote for the man. I was not an Obama supporter. He has a lot of view and opinions that I disagree with. But as an American, I choose to support this man and his team. Complaining about what might happen isn't going to change anything and turning to fear doesn't help at all.

Regardless of your political views, I think we should all respect the office, his position and the fact that there is a beautiful family in the White House. The one thing that President Obama has done is give people hope and bigger dreams, and thats really a good thing. I will pray for this new President, his family, all of those surround Him. Thats the one thing we can all do together.

Complaining about the election, the new President,his views or his past isn't going to bring our country together, but just further drive us apart. I choose to support and respect him.

To end, I found the prayer that was used by Rick Warren during this historical day.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.

History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus, who taught us to pray:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

the one where Amy posts about Diapers

So this weekend, we had shower number one and we got something I totally forgot about as gifts. Diapers. Now really diapers are just diapers but seeing packs of diapers did something to me. Its one of the basics for baby care. Seriously, diapers represents a lot. For someone who has waiting so long to be a mom, this made things real. I may be a bit crazy but there are just some things sometimes that remind you of what do don't have and whats waiting for you. To me some of those things are seeing Christmas cards with families on it and the the letters that go with them, hearing stories about birthday parties, seeing artwork on the fridge. Those are not things that make you a parent, but I look forward to those things more than you might know.

So, those 3 big packs of diapers we got this weekend meant more to me that those givers will ever know.

Martin Luther King

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."Martin Luther King Jr.

We are out of here

Heading to Florida one last time before China, visiting family and friends, having our first baby shower and spending our birthday (yes we have the same birthday) at the Magic Kingdom !!

Let the party begin!

waiting comfortably

I was thinking the other day. really, I was. I was thinking how comfortable I got during our wait for LynnMarie. Knowing that I had years to go, I didn't really do much to get ready. I almost put it the back of my mind. Almost like it wasn't going to happen.

But then, we got the phone call and it shook my world. The way that I think has changed. Some of my thoughts are a bit less selfish. I do feel like I have wasted some time. I should have done more during the wait. It was a wonderful opportunity to do some great things, and I missed a great opportunity.


This led to my thinking about my God and how comfortable I am right now. The way I am. I want to change but I don't want the process of change.I fear change. Does that make sense?? I don't want change to be uncomfortable. I know that in order to grow and change, sometimes it gets uncomfortable. I think that God sometimes allows change to change us and we have to be willing to go with the flow and trust that He knows whats going on.

SO I hope that in the next few months and as LynnMarie comes home, my fear of change will lessen. I pray that God helps me use my time wisely to become the mom and wife He created me to be.

Things are happening. Good things with a lot of surprises.

I don't want to waste my time and I don't want to miss an opportunity.

Good times

Tonight, we made a trip to visit our adopting friends Tiffany and Eric and had soooo much fun. She cooked a yummy dinner of chicken parm, salad bread and cheesecake. Oh it was soooo good!

Lots of good laughs, talks about China, adoption, life in general was included. I also got to watch the boys play some XBOX and Guitar Here. It was one of the best nights I have had in a long time.

I am thankful for new friends and what may come of it and I cant wait to celebrate our kids together!!!

life verse

2 Timothy 1: 7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

This was my choice verse back in middle school when I was terrified of everything. I had a real paranoia of speaking in public and other things. Seriously, a lot of times, my mind was consumed fear and being uncomfortable.

Now it takes on a whole new meaning. Funny,isn't it? That one verse can really mean so many different things in your life.Especially in the times we are in.

OK, Share. What's yours??

Ok, so if you are interested in being on the LynnMarie prayer/email list, email me at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

Thanks for all of the wonderful words of encouragement

Impending motherhood

That's a pretty scary concept!!!! I have learned so much by reading all of your blogs. I know I have asked this before, but what are some of your favorite things you do with your kids? What do you love about parenting? What are your favorite adoption/parenting/discipline/attachment books!!!

Come on, share your ideas with a soon to be mom who has no idea what she is doing!!!!

My first post of the year and your resolutions

Greeting friends!!

If I am a regular reader of your blog and have not commented lately, be patient. I am trying to catch up!

Pending motherhood is a bit overwhelming, exciting, scary, time consuming and all around awesome! We have so much to do and discuss before we leave for China. Please keep us in your prayers.

Check out the adoption blog for videos of our daughter. That was a nice surprise today.

So how was every one's New Years. I want to hear what you are going to accomplish next year and will even check on you in 3 months to make sure you are doing it..


I want to love Jesus more and be a better example. I want to be a good mom, wife, sister and friend. In order to do that, I need to have better control over what i eat, my exercise habits, my organizational skills and I need to give A LOT MORE!!!!


Ok, its your turn, spill it
Come on spill it!