OK PRIDE

No i'm not talking about having pride in my state. I'm talking about our Parent Resource Training! Last Saturday we attended our first Adoptive parent classes. We have about 4 other couples who are looking to adopt there and there were 3 couples training for foster care and about 20 who were there for kinship care.
We actually learned quite a bit about foster care and kinship care. We had home work and will have some type of home work each week. It was rather easy and we didn't take long completing it.

I am really looking forward to going back this week. I heard from my CW yesterday and after we have completed half of our sessions she is going to put in our refferal for the Homestudy interview!!!! (doing a little dance:))

I am so totally excited about getting the homestudy done and over with! that is half the battle!
Last time I was so nervous that I could hardly concentrate.
We are now working on getting the bedroom ready. We still need a bed and dresser and I'd like to but a bean bag chair or something like that in the room. I think every kid needs a chair of some kind in their room.
I have been working on a small life book for our child. It has a poem I wrote some pictures of us and Holly and our animals as well as a place for pictures of Grandparents and Greatgrandparents. After he/she comes home he/she will be able to add whatever they like to the book because it is my gift to him/her.
Okay I'll be completely honest I want a GIRL! I'd love to have a toddler! I'm open to older children we have just had older children for a very long time and are ready for some little ones.

We are so glad to have someone to share all of this with! I am glad I have readers who haven't given up on me.

Keep us in your prayers and our new child too. (whom ever he/she is)

~G~

Eureka Springs!

I was Totally excited to leave on Friday morning! We drove to Locust Grove, Ok. First to visit my mother and step father Larry. We had a great visit and mom gave me an early birthday gift.
Okay I collect pigs and this is a pig dressed like a chef holding a sign that says "Chef's Special".
I really like it because it goes with the decorative plates Ernie got me for an anniversary gift.

So we leave mom's and get on the road to Eureka Springs. We stoped at Natural Srpings State park for lunch and enjoyed the weather and sunshine.
Finally we arrived in Eureka Springs Arkansas after what seemed like and eternity in the Ozark Mountains! The little Lodge that we stayed at was only about a mile and a half from the Great Passion Play and we had dinner at Forset Mountain Restaraunt. --Bye the way if you ever go there the dinner buffet is 9.50 and very limited. No one in our group really liked it.
Then it was on to the Passion Play! The weather was perfect but the seats were narrow. I really enjoyed it though.
I watched The Passion of Christ film that Mel Gibson put out but this was much more compelling. It was in a language that I speak and it was played out right before my very eyes!

We really had a great time!
Today I started my first day of work as our Church's Secretary. I am really going to enjoy it. I know it will be slow paced for a while but God will bless our church and it will start to grow. We are looking at hiring a Youth/Music Minister and having another person to do things for will pick up my pace.
Well Tomorrow is my 8th Anniversary. It is hard to believe that Ernie and I have been married this long. I mean it seems to have flown by so quickly! God really blessed me with a keeper when he put us together. I pray that my children will listen to God's direction concering their mates. I know it is sometimes a struggle for us as Christians but I know that Gods will is perfect.
I have been praying for our new addition. I know we don't know his/her name yet but I pray just the same.
Holly seems excited to be getting a sibling. I know she misses being a big sister and she will be great at it.

Well I don't have much time and I need to get some things done tonight.
Take care, God Bless and please keep us in your prayers!
~G~