I have something to say!

Well.



There's no easy intro to this statement....



I am pregnant.



13 weeks pregnant, in fact. We are ecstatic to say the least. I have been writing posts since it all happened but am onlyactually posting the posts now so hop on over to my other blog and and scroll down to the 13 September when we found out.



I think I will be using my other blog during my pregnancy as its a better fit and is an amazing conclusion to our journey.



Thank you God!

ONE!

My little boy turned one on Tuesday! I am behind on posting but have been existing in a work- fuelled haze. My mother came over today and so it's 3.15pm and I have got through today's list of things to do. Phewwwwwww....

Anyway, back to the man of the moment.

He's ONE!!!! I cannot believe that we have been living with our hearts desire for 11 months and 2 weeks! How blessed are we???

This time last year was so awful. Would it work out, would it not? Endless stress and trauma. This time last year we had met him once and now were at home trying to believe that it would all work out. The social workers were threatening and it looked it would collapse. But God knew.

The time from today November 5th to November 11th (when I was allowed to go back down and look after him) were the worst days of our lives. And look at us now!!! The same time this year is completely and utterly redeemed.

Joy lives with us and laughs at us when we go in to see if he's awake. Laughter tries to walk and falls over again and again. And love cuddles up to me, looking for his Mommy's touch. Every new stage is a wonder as he grows and matures. Our little helpless baby is a small boy now who knows his own mind and expresses his opinion. Love it!

I am so grateful and feel so incredibly blessed.

The Bride

I am a bad and irregular blogger. This I know. I do have an excuse to offer though.... my wonderful friend and business partner got married on the weekend.

She has been very busy with wedding preparations and is now away on honeymoon so I have been REALLY busy with our design work. My life at the moment is design, play with My Small Man, design, eat, design, sleep, design, talk to my hubbie and so on. I love it and it's only for a few weeks but I haven't had any time to blog. Am I forgiven???

So I thought I would share a few pictures of the wedding. It's the only wedding I have been to where the entrance of the bride was greeted by wild applause and cheers. Joy overflowed and the wedding was exuberant. You could feel the presence of God. The bride looked absolutely gorgeous and the groom could not contain himself. It was perfect in every way.

The stunning bride

The very VERY happy groom

The two of us...just look at her eyes, joy just shining out!

Perfect!

Done

This week we got a letter in the post

The adoption is final and done. Signed, sealed and delivered. We did not have a day in court, pictures with a judge and the lunch we planned to celebrate afterwards. At this stage of the adoption all we needed was one final interview with the social worker and then the court registrar would make the final decision based on the social workers report.

Done.

I love the way this works as it reflects how God is revealing another aspect of His character to us. Through this adoption we have lived His promise to me, given to me back in 2007 when we faced the last IVF cycle with my own eggs. We thought the prophecy was for then but it was for 2008, for the adoption and for now.

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”

Exodus 14: 13-14 & 17b-18 (NLT)

He is just doing things. No fanfare, no shouting, no fuss. No 500 people interceding, no church wide prayers and texts and phonecalls. He just did it. I love it! God does not need what we offer. He works alongside us, invites and allows us to participate and our prayers can move mountains but essentially he is God and we are not. He does not need us to accomplish His Will. This means so much to me. Nothing could stop what He has planned for us. [This is not to say that we are not needed, God loves us and invites us into relationship with Him]

So without all the drama I would naturally (with my passionate personality) surround a final court date with, He just did it. And I drove home, opened the mailbox and in the driveway, read a letter that changed my life. Forever altered who I am and gave us a lineage.

A family tree is established. Forever.

Medieval madness!

The medieval banquet we went to last weekend was amazing! So much fun. My friend M's mum organised it "just because"! There were at least 75 adults there and lots of kiddies running around...just a small party!


We went down to help set up and we were in medieval heaven. We draped acres of fabric, hung a stags head, put up flag poles, hung huge amounts of bunting and placed swords, pewter bits and pieces and generally had a fabulous time.


M's mum had made My Small man a costume (you know, just quickly MADE it!) and organised costumes for the rest of us. There was medieval food too, lamb on the spit, venison, every vegetable known to man and about 300 steamed puddings for dessert with custards and brandy butter. YUMMO! Well, except for the pudding which had raisins in every one. I loathe the existence of currents and raisin but freely admit that it's an issue of my own.


There were large open fire braziers everywhere as it was cold and once it grew dark, it felt completely medieval. No electricity, just candles and braziers outside. Haunting medieval music played and at one stage I came outside and it was a little freaky. With everyone in costume gathered around the braziers, I could stepped back 600 years or so!


We had such fun!

The man himself

My two gorgeous men!

The four of us

Princess E

Prince G

Night time party!

Today is a good day

1. My most beautiful son is ok (says Dr Mike) After more vomiting and stuff out the other end we went to the doctor who says he will be ok. Phew....was getting (really) worried.
2. The way my most lovely son goes purple and a bit slack in the body when I wipe his sore bum is just him holding his breath. Says Dr Mike. Phew....was REALLY worried and had the phone in my hand ready to call 111. Seasoned Mommys will laugh, but for those of us without a clue- scary times.
3. Reading "The Shack" and loving the way the Holy Spirit is a verb not a noun. So freeing. I want to live in expectancy and not from a place of expectation.
4. I am feeling better- have been feeling yucky. Will NOT be sick (in Jesus name!)
5. Two hours until My Big Man is home.

Today is a very good day!

Snuggle buggle time

We went away with our friends M and E down south. M's Mum is a crazy fun-filled amazing woman of God who does huge things. She (said very casually) put on a medieval banquet for over 75 people on the weekend at her house. We loved it!

Pictures to follow.....but (much more importantly)

My Small Man came home with a bug caught off his friend Edie and had been so sick. Sick out of both ends! His first time. Must say, I don't mind being vomited on and changing liquid nappies as much as I thought I would. They are ok because they are his....go figure!

So we have spent two days snuggled up. He just wants to sit on me, snuggling in my arms and that's just fine with me. Everything else can wait. Work can fit in somehow around what he needs. I am his Mommy and he wants and needs me. Little arms reach out for me and his head drops back into my shoulder. Wormie comes up to hide his eyes and there are furious dummy sucking noises. A little haven of safety and comfort. Snuggle buggle time.