Another Step Closer!

Yesterday (Friday) we had our last meeting with our social worker, Ms. Bowers, who came to the house to do a last pre-inspection. We passed her inspection with only a very few minor things to do yet (hang a curtain in the half window in the bathroom, get glue mousetraps instead of the old-fashioned ones, take down the magnetic knife strip that hangs on the kitchen wall) and this week she'll be submitting our home study to the Trenton office. Within 30 days of that submittal, the state house inspector will come out and if we pass her inspection, we're done! We'll be put into the DYFS system and begin the wait.



Just as she left the house, she told us that it's "too bad" we weren't a few weeks further ahead in the process, because an infant had just been born on December 6 in Camden. That was information I didn't really need to hear! But I had the immediate thought "That wasn't our child" and moved right on...no emotional pitstops there for me on that one. Our baby has yet to be born! We're trying to remember to be praying for her while still in gestation, for health, safe delivery and health of the mother. It's overwhelming to think that soon there will be a woman giving birth to a baby and handing her over to us. What an awesome priveledge and responsibility.



Today (after attending with free tix the Bruins/Flyers game in Philly, Bruins won in OT!) we stopped at the dreaded BabiesrUs to purchase the crib mattress, my mom's gift to us. I think we both dread that store every time we go...it's always packed as it's the only one in about a 30 mile radius, there's waaaay too much cutesy stuff there, and it's impossible to find normal, neutral prints that aren't green or yellow. I'm thinking of buying fabric elsewhere and making a bumper, crib skirt and curtains myself! Mike was saying how seeing all the baby things in the house, like the gates on the stairs, is helping to make it feel real to him. It's exciting to finally be there!



In other news...well, there really isn't much. ASP started back up for Mike on Tuesday after a long winter break. He's happy to be back with his kids. Work is going well for me, I've been swamped but much prefer being busy than not. My relationships with co-workers are developing as well, so that helps make an enjoyable day.



We are also attending a Dave Ramsey financial course called "Financial Peace University" on Sunday nights for 13 weeks, to help us get on the same page about our finances, help get out of debt, plan for our future and overall educate us in a topic neither of us knows much about. It's greatly affecting positive change in our marriage, and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who deals with money during their lifetime. That means you. It's not just how to get out of debt, it's a full spectrum educational course on Scriptural money management. Check it out for a class starting soon near you! http://www.daveramsey.com/ and click on Financial Peace University.



I've been fighting some kind of weird illness...dizzy spells, extreme headaches etc, so I'm off to get some much craved rest.