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my "Charlie Brown" tree

Cant believe Christmas is already upon us. This will be our third Christmas in this house. I figured by now the adoption would have been finalized, but it looks like the Lord is teaching me some more patience. Next year. But until then I will just have to prepare for a Christmas for "two". Starting with my "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree....

This year my parents are going away for Christmas, so we will be having some birdie visitors. Three boy birds to be exact. My girl birds are not going to be thrilled, especially when my parents bird "Edward" starts his usual flirting. Edward tends to be a little girl crazy, but he's cute so he can get away with it. Merry Christmas!

Rootin Tootin New Design?

Out with the old, in with the new eh? My personal blog has been a little stale as of late. Haven't blogged here in over a year because I don't really have much to say or don't really know what to say. So I have decided to revamp a little. Its hard for me to change things around. I get attached and have a hard time making needed changes. For instance my banner is the wrong size now with all the new blog system advances. This means I need to redesign it. ugh. I like my banner. Any who, bear with me and maybe I will have a personal blog worth visiting soon.

Coastal Rest

This past week, Harrison and I attended our Church retreat in Pacific Grove, near Monterey. It was so beautiful by the Ocean. We get such peace from the ocean, so we decided to take our family photo for the adoption agency by the sea. My mother rode up with us which was very nice. Thanks to her we got the perfect adoption agency photo.
We had a really great time with our Church Family. I already want to go back. Lord willing, if things go smoothly, we will have an addition to our family for the next retreat. If thats the case, then we know exactly where to go for another family photo. :)

Our "Tootsie Girl"

This weekend has been one of fear and turmoil because our beloved pet bird, Tootsie, is in the hospital. We noticed something that wasn't quite right and brought her to the avian vet. If we hadn't have done that, it is very likely very soon we would have found her on the bottom of her cage, dead.

The Lord was in all of this, because last Thursday I was prompted to call Harrison and have him call the vet. You cant always go by feelings, but sometimes there can be a nagging that you need to follow. In this case, that feeling that I believe was prompted by God, saved my bird's life.

She ended up having serious kidney problems. She has been having fluid therapy since last Friday. I miss her so much, but I know she is getting all the care she could possibly get.

She is not out of the clear yet, but I know that she is in good hands.

We were able to visit her on Saturday, which is something I needed. It is so strange that such a small bird can have such an impact on ones life. We were able to visit her in the surgery room. The nurse brought her in to us holding her in her hands.

Tootsie is so scared of being grabbed. So when she got on my finger she knew she was safe and started cuddling with me while blurting out sweet coos. She just stood on my finger, enjoying me kissing her head. She then hopped on my shoulder and started preening, like "ok, I'm ready to go home now".

After handing her back to the nurse, Tootsie rode on her shoulder back to the treatment room staring at me with her big black eyes all the way down the hallway. She even let out a chirp as she rounded the corner.

You might say, thats a lot of work to go through for just an animal. But in the Bible it says, even God's eyes are on the sparrow.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God." Luke 12:6

We were meant to care for everything on the earth and that includes birds. :)

I love you Tootsie!

Its Here....WHOO HOO!

It has arrived! My new JUKI TL-98 Q sewing machine. So excited to finally be able to finish my quilts instead of just acquiring quilt tops. I will even be able to reupholster and sew curtains with this industrial strength machine.

But first....my craft room must get organized. Talk about incentive. :)

New Couch

We finally bought a new couch! Since we moved, our living room has been a mess. Its amazing how a couch changes all of that. So, I have been busy sanding, painting, and decorating. Our home study visit from the adoption agency is driving me to keep going. After the living room comes the dining room. I have some very special furniture for that room. :)

Simply Providential

The search for an adoption agency is a scary thing. Wanting to pick the right one amidst the many options, but not quite knowing where to look. Then Harrison hit the jackpot, a website that lists all the adoption agencies in California by County. So cool!

So Tuesday night after Harrison went to bed, I began searching the site. Up until then, Harrison was doing all the research. So I was very curious what was out there. I went through link after link until I found one that intrigued me.

They had everything we were interested in AND they had interviews from adoptive parents who used there agency. It was wonderful. I cried through most of the interviews. So many wonderful stories of adoption. In my heart, I felt this was the one for us.

But this was in my heart. I wanted Harrison to feel like this was right without any input from me. So I prayed that if this was the Lord's will, that He would show Harrison this agency and put it on his heart this was the right one.

The next day, Harrison e-mailed me from work with his top 5 choices and said his first choice already e-mailed all the information we needed to him. Wow! that was fast. I looked at his top choice, praying it was the one I found last night.

There it was. The agency I found right on top in number 1 position. I was thrilled. I called Harrison and said in tears "We found our agency". We are both so at peace with our choice.

This is what I call.... Simply Providential.

We are so excited to jump into this process. We have so many fears and worries, but I know we are surrounded with prayer. The Lord has worked everything out so perfectly. I know He will work the future out. We are excited to see what His will unfolds.

Let the Journey Begin!

A day to Remember

Sunday was such a beautiful day for Harrison and I.

The weather was so beautiful, cool, crisp, and sunny. Flowers were blooming and bird's were singing.

Two days previous we told my parents about adoption and on this beautiful day we told Harrison's parents.

We told my parents at the Cheesecake factory and then Harrison's parents at Claim Jumpers. Things just went so smoothly and joyfully. Our families reactions of joy really meant a lot to us. With our families support, we are so very excited to start this new blessed adventure.

We have enjoyed our new rental house tremendously. We even have a little park, literally a 1 minute walk away. So we decided to take advantage and go for a walk.

Excitement was in the air as we walked hand in hand to the park. What a fun park it was too and to live only 2 houses down is awesome.

Who knew that only around the bend was a lake full of fish, turtles, ducks, geese and even a bunny sighting. First, we met the ducks and geese with a bag of bread. They welcomed us warmly. Wait till we bring them cracked corn, they will love us. :)

We even found this cute little cotton tail.

If you look closely at the photo below, you can see a turtle sun bathing.

It was a lovely day indeed.

A Heart for Adoption

Since the beginning of our marriage, Harrison and I have always felt the Lord's leading to adopt. A desire to care for a child that wouldn't otherwise have a loving home to go to. We are so excited because we feel now is the right time for us to adopt.

My mind is already starting to envision those baby quilts and knitting I will be doing in preparation. We are both so very excited to start the adoption process. This will definitely be an adventure and a lesson in patience while we trudge through all the paperwork and legal processes. But we know it will all be worth it, when we hold that tiny baby God saved just for us in our arms. What a joyous day that will be.

Thyroid Troubles

I have been really slammed recently with sickness. It turns out the whole time, I have been having problems with my Thyroid. My Thyroid and immune system have been battling it out. This has been going on for the past 5 months.

I finally was able to get an appointment with an endocrinologist, thanks to Harrison and his e-mail skills to the doctor. With Kaiser it is extremely difficult to see a specialist. Especially when they deny its my thyroid all because they say the tests come back "normal". Ignoring symptoms and family history, just because a so called test says I am in the "normal" range. ugh

This past week has been terribly hard with extreme breathing and fatigue problems. But without the trials of the past week, I would have never made progress with my thyroid diagnosis. It is sad that it takes 5 months of suffering to get what I needed all along. Finally they start believing me, when my thyroid gland swells up so much I can barely breath.

So on March 3rd, I get to see a specialist. It scares me, but am so thankful for the chance to try out thyroid medication.

I will say one thing. Being sick sure helped me accomplish a lot of knitting and crocheting. :) http://www.bekahjan.com/bekahjans-whimsical-ventures/2010/2/24/glacier-hat-by-karen.html

a Treasure so sweet...

My most recent project is scanning all of the family's photos to distribute to our whole family. My grandma kept so many photos it can be very overwhelming at times, but I am enjoying every minute of it.
When my grandma died back in 1998, I was devastated. But I was given a special necklace to remember her by. I have always wondered if she cared about the necklace or even wore it for that matter. No matter, it was hers. I have worn it for every special occasion. My highschool graduation, my senior photos, my wedding, and even my grandad's funeral.

Late last night my questions were answered. Going through her photos, I came across this photo. It was so small, I almost missed it. My necklace! She is wearing my necklace! :) I blew up the photo and grabbed my necklace for a comparison. No doubt in my mind, it is THE necklace!

Thankyou Lord for that Treasured-Blessing.
I love you Grandma.

New Growth

It is amazing to me how when I mention rainbows,
I start seeing them all the time!

On the drive down to my Grandad's funeral, I saw 3 rainbows. A reminder of God's promise.

The funeral went very well. The Lord was in it all the way. The service bought the gospel message and the time with family was healing. I was given a peace that I didn't have before the funeral. Closure is always hard, but I am on my way to the mending. Saying goodbye to my grandad's house is also hard because it holds so many memories. I'm not very good with change, but with the Lord's help I will be ok.

Today, is a sunny day. A day for new beginnings. A day for new growth. Harrison and I have been doing a lot of planting as of late. With a house comes gardening and we are enjoying it together.

Stormy Weather...

...always ends with a rainbow.

Psalms 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

2010 is here and it is already bringing happiness and sorrow. This past month has been filled with celebration of marriage and sorrow of death.

The stormy weather outside my window very clearly explains my current emotional state.... Sadness.

Over the weekend my Grandad past away from cancer. Right now, he is with my Grandma and his parents in Heaven with no sorrow or pain and in this I rejoice.

Even though I know he is in a better place, my human selfishness cant help but seep through. So many chapters in my life ending right now. Its hard not to be sad. I just need to keep remembering my last visit, My Last Goodbye...

...and remember Stormy Weather always ends with a Rainbow.

Curtain Fabric Finds

I found a great deal recently on fabric. I spend only 60 bucks and bought 20 yards of home decor fabric.

Compared to Joann's prices that is a savings of 440$. Blogged here: one-happy-homemaker.html

A New Home! :)

Lily wanted to let everybody know that we got the house! :) After almost a week of waiting for the results we found out the owner chose us over the other applicants! So very excited!!!! :)

The great thing is it will only take 7 min. for Harrison to get to work. He never has to get on the freeway to get to work again! So cool! :) Although it is dangerously a close walk to Taco Bell fountain drinks AND Starbucks! hehe.....perfect for the stay at home wife with no car. :) *maniacal laughing*

Also, it will be only 2 minute drive to my quilting group when they move to their new building. :) Thanks to everyone who prayed! :) We are so happy to be moving into a house!

New Home? Yippee!

It has been a long time since I blogged here. These past 3 months have been very hard on me. Filled with unending jaw/teeth problems that most likely wont be fixed for a while. I am slowly learning to wait on God's timing. Constant pain is not my cup of tea, but I am learning to cope with my constant bite changes and TMJ pain. My jaw has decided to have a mind of its own. :P

There is great news though! I love good news! We could possibly be moving soon! Into a house! wooohoo! So excited. We are taking a second look at it today and turning in our application. SO, if all goes well, we will be moving October 1st!

I have been in so much pain lately that going on the computer is exhausting, which unfortunately has been affecting my crafting. So all my crafts have been mindless crocheting. :) Which I love!

Papa and the Ducks

For all of you Gleaner Readers:

Here is the video I made of: Papa and the Ducks. Sorry for the poor youtube quality. The quality lessened when I uploaded the video.

Enjoy!

Seaside Bliss

This past weekend Harrison and I went to a family getaway. Harrison's side of the family rented a nice house near Jenner, CA on the coast. It was beautiful there. Our bedroom had double doors that opened to a view of the sea. It was really breathtaking.

Of course, I HAD to bring some crafts. So I decided my Granny Ripple would be the perfect craft to enjoy by the sea. :) The pattern even looks like the sea with all the wave like ripples.

Below is the view from our room.

The ocean is my favorite place to be. I just love the Coast of Northern California. It really was beautiful.

Monday, Monday

Monday is finally here. I am so happy last week has come and gone. I am praying this week holds lots of dental relief and crafty fun! :) Finally able to get my retainers adjusted, I have now entered into the stage of more waiting as the head pain slowly decreases.

Being the craft addict that I am, I have begun to dabble in jewelry making! I have already made 2 necklaces. One for me and one to sell! I even wore mine to church yesterday! So excited, will have necklace pictures soon. But for now, I wanted to share some other pictures of my newest flea market find! Posted.... Here....

I hope everybody has a lovely Monday and a week full of happiness.