Hope in a New Year

Happy New Year... almost!

A new year can represent a new beginning to some, resolutions to others & just another year to try again.

This year ... I have hope.
Hope for Mazey.
Hope for even more love for my husband, friends & family.
Hope for new ways of showing them.
Hope for the future & the family that that represents to me.
Hope in my God... he provides all our needs, he knows, understands & answers all our desires in his timing.
Hope to further understand who HE is and who he wants ME to be.
Hope to not take things for granted!
Hope for those who need answers... God has what you need.
Hope for all of you to hope for something too!

Many, many blessings this 2009.

Mazey Records

I'm so excited to finally get to post this! Jeremy has been inspired to create some designs to raise funds for the adoption. He has created "Mazey Records". The label is fictitious at this point, however, we do have one band that is about ready to "sign" with us.

Please check it out... http://mazeyrecords.bigcartel.com/.
We hope to have more items & designs later.



"Child of Light"

Mazey Records is a creative way for us to cover adoption expenses while also allowing our friends & family to play a part in bringing Mazey & her brother or sister home.

Also, if you are part of the Facebook world or would like to be... head over to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55618312183#/group.php?gid=55618312183&ref=nf to join the Mazey Records group.

HUGE thanks to Aaron, Bret & Sam for helping us with the details & to all of you for loving and supporting us! We are so blessed!

Please pass it on... tell friends & family! Thanks so much!

Good News

Just thought I'd post this real quick... our agency did receive their Hague Accreditation! Thank you for praying!

Things are going well with everything. We are just waiting to hear when our final fingerprinting is and we are almost done with everything.

More news coming soon.

End in Sight

It has been quite some time since I updated this blog. There has been much going on. I celebrated my birthday in October, my parents were here for three weeks and we went on vacation with them to see my great aunt and second cousin, I read a book my second cousin wrote... "Going Home", have been doing lots of work at the church and have had some progress on the adoption paperwork. We had a great time with my parents. They helped us out a lot with doing work on the house. Preparing for a remodel when they come back again. : )

Jeremy and I both completed our psychological evaluations for the adoption and are awaiting the results... yikes! We actually have our interview on Monday for this. We have also received our completed home study in the mail. This enables us to send a copy to complete our I-600a... the very first official piece of paperwork we had to have in as well as send it to the other places it is needed. There are a few more things to do and then we can submit the whole kit and kaboodle to our agency for review and translation. I will be so glad to have this piece completed.

Our dear, sweet friends, Courtney & Luigi had their first little baby boy on Saturday. His name is Mateo. Congratulations! We are excited to meet him but aren't sure when that will be. In the mean time, we hope to see lots of pictures.

More updates to come!

What's Happening

Here is the adoption update that I promised. Actually got several things done this week. You may be wondering why it is taking me so long to get everything done... well life & I have a very full time job that has kept me pretty busy lately. So I'm chugging along as best I can.

So this week...

• I received a letter from my home study agency actually stating our acceptance as future adoptive parents. Good news! She had already told us verbally but now we have the proof. : ) So we are approved in Virginia. She is now writing for the International part of things.
  
• I received an e-mail stating that people who had completed their I600-A will in fact be grandfathered in to all programs... so that is more good news. We completed our before the April 1, 2008 deadline.
  
• I sent off paperwork for psychological evaluations on both Jeremy & I. Not sure how long all that takes but at least it's out there.
• I also sent off all the paperwork needed for both Jeremy & my birth certificates. These should come back fairly quickly.
  

Here is some cold hard proof of what was accomplished this week...

Still more to do on my list but at least my list is getting smaller!!!

Other exciting news for this week...

• We will be finished with our bedroom remodel before Thursday! Thank God!
• Mom & Dad arrive on Thursday!
• My father-in-law, (Duane) has a birthday on Thursday (23rd)!
• We get to go on vacation soon!
• My birthday is coming up... even if we just sit around all day... I love birthdays!

One more bit of evidence that I'm a dork... at the Ladies Night I took every one's picture. I'll spare them the embarrassment, but here's one of me...


The line dancing didn't go so well but we still had fun!

Little, Tiny Trip

Jeremy & I were blessed on Tuesday night to take a little trip to one of our favorite areas... Lake Norman, NC. We have vacationed here a couple times & LOVE it! So we took a little, tiny trip on Tuesday after work & came home Wednesday evening. Here's a shot of...

my favorite boy in all the world...

and YES... we LOVE Starbucks too!!!

OK - I know most of you have done this... taken a picture of yourself. I have no reason to, being that my husband is a professional photographer, but I was being goofy (the side that only my really close friends usually get to see) ... and I did it anyway....

Yours truly...

Please don't judge me for being a dork...! : ) You were bound to find out some time.

Anyway - hope you all have a great night. I'm off to a Ladies Country Western Night at church where we will be instructed by video how to country line dance... should be so much fun. At least we can all be dorks together.

Adoption update & bedroom remodel coming up next. As always, thanks for your continued prayer & support!!!

This is HUGE

Please, please be praying and if you have time, log on and sign the petition. This will affect Jeremy and I directly as we filed a I-600a. Details below. Please leave me a comment if you have questions. Blessings!

From my agency... Children's Hope International...

The Joint Council on Intercountry Children's Services (JCICS) is an organization that supports international adoptions. Most of the international adoption agencies in the US are members of Joint Council, including CHI. This organization is encouraging CIS to allow families that began with an I-600a to continue with that status, even after the free extension. We had originally been told that after the free extension ran out, families would have to file the new I-800a, and thus, would need an agency with Hague accreditation at that time. Joint Council is proposing that if a family began with an I-600a, they should be able to complete their adoption with an I-600a.

So this is a VERY GOOD THING, and I'm hoping many of you will want to participate by e-mailing Joint Council, signing their petition, and e-mailing your senators and representatives about the importance of this. Go read their Position Paper first and I think it won't be difficult for you to know what to put in your letters. This would be a HUGE help to adoptive families and to the agencies who don't yet have Hague accreditation. Thanks!

Julie

http://www.jcics. org/5WaystoHelp. htm

5 Ways to Help Us

1. Today, please read the Joint Council Position Paper on I-600A
Renewals at www.jcics.org.

2. Today, send an email in support of the Joint Council Position
Paper on I-600A Renewals to Joint Council at advocate@jcics. org and
the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute at
mark@ccainstitute. org
a. Joint Council will deliver a petition supporting an immediate
resolution, including all emails, to USCIS on October 18th. To be
sure that your email is included, please send your email no later
than October 16th.

3. Today, go to Adoption for All: the Fairness for Families Petition
and sign the petition.
a. Joint Council, in collaboration with Adoption For All organizers
David Yurkovich and Dianne Pearce, will present the petition and all
signatories to Congressional leaders on October 18th. To ensure that
your signature is included, please sign the petition no later than
October 16th.

4. On October 14th, 15th, and 16th, contact your Congressional
representatives, both in the House and Senate.
a. Joint Council is working with Members of Congress and seeks their
participation in resolving this issue.
b. You can find your Senators' phone numbers and email addresses at
www.senate.gov.
c. You can find your Representative' s phone number and email address
at www.house.gov.
d. Include the following in your calls and emails.
· A brief explanation of the situation.
· "I/we understand that USCIS is actively engaged in seeking a
resolution to the I-600A issue. I/we respectfully ask the
Senator/Congress person to contact USCIS and express their support of
efforts to find an immediate resolution to the I-600A Extension
issue."
· A kind `thank you'.

5. Stand ready to expand and intensify your efforts if needed.
Joint Council may contact you with a revised Call To Action if needed

Okay, so, we wanted help, and JCICS is once again helping adoptive
families. Please visit their website for more in-depth information
and answers to your questions and concerns.

http://www.jcics. org/5WaystoHelp. htm

More Progress

A little more progress to report... we completed our training today - finally! All DVDs are watched and all tests are taken. One more thing to check off the list. Mom also has helped us out by requesting one of the documents that we needed. Thank you!

Thank you to all of you who have been helping Mom & Dad out on the cookbook fundraiser idea she had via Facebook! We are very blessed and overwhelmed by your support!

Love & Blessings.

70s....Facebook...Update

Tonight we went to Aaron and Joanna's house for a 70s party. We all dressed up. Some looked pretty good, some looked downright disgusting, but never the less we had fun. I was very surprised at how many styles from the 70s are back in the stores. If you are a Facebook person, log on and check out the photos on Aaron's profile... http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=31212574#/profile.php?id=31212574. If you aren't a Facebook person, now is the time to join in the fun. I have been able to find a lot of old friends this way and now it is easier to stay in touch.

Update...
Our first draft of our home study is complete and we have been approved by our social worker for children. So that is a good thing. There are still quite a few things left to do but any progress is good. We appreciate your continued prayers for this process and the finances for this journey.

Blast from the Past

My mom has been going through old photos, sorting, logging and scanning them in. She sent me this one. I think it is so funny. Obviously taken in the 80s. This is me with my sisters, Jamie & Carrie, my grandma and my parents. I don't really remember what was up with the "Go Kiss A Moose" t-shirts but I think our grandparents got them for us.

Enigma

Check out Enigma Productions new website.... Jeremy & Aaron's business.

http://www.enigmapro.com/

You just might see someone you know...

Home Study

Our final home study appointment was last Friday so we can check that off our list. It went very well. We had a nice visit with our social worker and our house checked out fine. Feels good to get some things done. It will be a while yet until we get the written version of the home study to proof but at least it is underway. Thank you all for your prayers!

Ode to Jeremy

Today, 14 years ago, was the best day of my life. It is the day that I married my sweet husband, Jeremy. Back then I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I'm so glad we did it. We were just a couple of kids but life together just gets sweeter. Jeremy makes me laugh, smile, cry (usually in a good way), love more and want to be a better person. He is an amazingly talented, passionate, kind, gentle, tenderhearted, godly, honest, sweet-sweet man. I am honored to get to spend my life with him. I can't wait to see what is yet to come...

Wish you were here, Jeremy, but I'll see you this weekend!

Grace

Last week was a challenging one for me, I think for Jeremy too. I got a little overwhelmed by my huge list of things yet to do for the adoption process. I feel like I can see Mazey but I just can't get to her. I am feeling much better this week. My parents are helping me out with a couple things that really need to be done... 1) getting a sealed and apostilled copy of our marriage license & 2) researching grant information for us. Thank you both! This is such a blessing to us!

We are on our last home study visit. Our social worker will come visit our house for this one. All other interviews have been at her office. This is scheduled for the first week of September. This step will be done after that so that is great!

Recently my hubby and a couple of his buddies, Aaron and Sam, went on a little road trip. They went to some record shops in Tennessee, New Orleans, Georgia and back home again. Here is a link to some of their adventure...
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/08/paste-reader-tours-coolest-record-stores.html

For those of you who may be waiting on a promise from God... I know sometimes the wait can be SO hard. I have had several people tell me lately that the wait will be so worth it. I do know this but sometimes a reminder is all we need to snap out of it. I'm just so excited to see what God is giving us that sometimes it is SO hard to wait for it and do what we need to for it. I pray that God will give us the patience and endourance for this... and you too, for whatever you may be waiting and believing for.

Catching Up

I am way behind here so there is lots to catch up on.

Jeremy and I went on vacation in July and had a great time. We rented a little cabin that set right on the edge of a little lake. The fireworks were right over the lake so we were able to just sit on the back porch for the 4th. We swam every day and just had a great relaxing time.

We have had 3 home study appointments and just have our final one to complete for the adoption process. This is the one where she comes to our house. We have a few things we are waiting on before we are able to book this appointment but for the most part the home study has been very painless. Other than that, we are just working on other little pieces of the adoption process and little by little, plucking away at it.

My dad was here for a visit. Well, technically not really for a visit. He came out to work on a patio project that we were doing at the church. He is back home safe and sound and probably never wants to answer my phone calls again after all the work and heat we put him through. We had a great time with him though and are so thankful that he came.

I'll have to post pictures soon but have run into a few technical difficulties. So until then, I just wanted to post a quick update.

Thank you for your continued prayers for our adoption process, the finances for this and for our agency to receive their Hague accreditation. They were recently denied because of a paper missing for one state. They are working hard to rectify this but we would appreciate your prayers for this process to continue to go smoothly.

Blessings!

Our Little Bit of Heaven

Here are some pictures of what we have done in the back yard this year...

This is the clematis that grows like crazy every year.

tomatoes & strawberries

Corn!!! We are so excited to eat it when it is ready!

Four kinds of lettuce. One didn't make it for some reason.
We have been making salads every night!
It is so fun to just pick it from the garden.

Wistera

This is the part of the back yard that we just redid.

A bouquet of flowers from the garden.

Good Things

I think sometimes we can get far too caught up in what is going on in our lives. I am praying that the Lord will help me focus on the good things... people who are a blessing in my life, a God who loves us unconditionally, flowers growing, visitors, sunny days, etc...

We have had an eventful and great week. Our dear friends, Parker, his wife Anna and their two children, Cora and Mia were here visiting. Parker used to live with us way back when and we love him like family. Now that he has a family of his own, we love them just as much. We had so much fun with the kids and just hanging out. After having the kids in our home, we are even more excited about having our own Mazey. We love you guys. Jesus bless you as you continue your journey to your new home.

We had our first home study interview Thursday. We both felt it went really well. We got along with our social worker very well and the two hours flew by. It was actually fun and felt like we were just having a long visit with a new friend. Our next appointment is in a few weeks from now. We have a few assignments to get done before then, most of which I have done already but there are a few appointments we have to wait on.

We completed another module in our training materials today. We both still have to take the test but that won't be too bad. We have one more module and we'll be done with that step as well.

Sometimes the road to adoption can feel like you are all alone but I have felt so much peace about it lately and know that you all are praying for us. So thank you for your prayers, love and support. We both appreciate it more that you know.

Have a blessed weekend!

Yet To Come

Giggles. Little pig tails. Grubby faces.
I love yous.

Tiny laundry. Snow days. Story time.
Birthday parties.

Bed time. Bath time. Family time.
Vacations.

Boo boos to mend. Hugs & kisses. Tears to wipe away.
A child in my shopping cart.

First day of school. Teaching her to drive. Graduation.
Giving her away.

Being called Mommy & Daddy.

An Old Favorite

Weight

At what point does one admit
That they are the things that they do
The things that no one sees
The words that nobody hears

I am the words I write
I am the songs I sing in the car
I am the curses I mumble
I am the dreams in my sleep

I am a childless father
Married to a beautiful mother
That simply lacks an infant
In a home with empty rooms

But there are flowers in my front yard
Flowers that I admire
Flowers cut and put in vases
Flowers that support the weight

Of butterflys and hummingbirds

Written by Jeremy Pegg 2005

Some Progress

I have a few updates to share. We have started doing our training DVDs that have to be completed before our home study is completed. We have watched one DVD and took the online test that goes with it. Luckily we both passed. You can't miss more than 3 questions. We have three more DVDs and tests to take and we'll be done with that phase of things.

I also submitted our home study application last week. Our social worker called me today to set up our first appointment. We are scheduled for our first interview on June 19th. It will take about an hour and a half. We have to go to their office in Roanoke. There will be three interviews at their office and then one where she comes to our house. I'll find out tomorrow if we have to do anything more than that. It will be really nice to get started though. So that is what is happening on the adoption front.

Jeremy & Aaron's work schedule with Enigma has been crazy. Five weddings in the past two weeks. Lots and lots of work but God is really blessing them and we are all very thankful.

We also booked our vacation today. We will be going to Forest Lake Thousand Trails in North Carolina for the week of the 4th of July. My parents got us a membership this last Christmas and this is the first time we'll get to use it. We booked a cabin since it will be in the middle of summer and will be really hot. Luckily they have AC. I can't wait! It should be really fun!

Wits End

There are some days when hope feels so far away. The dream of something else other than what your reality is at the given moment. On the other hand, I have so much to be thankful for. I have an absolutely wonderful husband, a home that I love, a good family, good friends, a job that I love and a garden that is growing. I know sometimes you just have to keep keeping on, some days are just harder than others.

I read this this morning. Maybe it will bring some encouragement...

May 23

They were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. Psalm 107:27-28

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner,"
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember --- at 'Wits' End Corner"
Is just where God's power is shown.

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner,"
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy, and dazed, and numb?
Remember --- at "Wits' End Corner"
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner"?
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember --- at "Wits' End Corner"
The Burden-Bearer stands.

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner"?
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wits' End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.

Antoinette Wilson

Do not get discouraged --- it may be the last key on the ring that opens the door. Stansifer

Watching Things Grow

I LOVE watching things grow. This will sound silly but I'm so excited. Jeremy and I planted a garden almost 2 weeks ago. We planted corn, 5 kinds of lettuce, carrots, (thanks Duane!) wax beans, cucumber & 4 kinds of tomatoes. This morning I watered them all and they were all barely sticking out of the ground. This evening, when I got home from work and watered them again, the corn and beans were sticking a couple inches out of the ground and the other things had grown too! Amazing - just like that! I am so excited to see how quickly they are growing. We are looking forward to going out there and picking our own vegetables. Happy growing!

Pics from my Storytelling Trip

Pictures from my trip with Kim to North Carolina...
story telling festival.

Me & Kimmy

Kimberly Weitkamp, Len Cabral, (both professional story tellers) & me
(They both look great, me not so much... but they are the ones on the stage.)

We had so much fun! If you ever have a chance to go to a story telling festival...go. It is your chance to feel like you are 5 years old again. It was great.

Monday

Mondays are a day off for me. Sometimes a day off can be more work than an actual working day but today, I was able to have some friend time. I got to go walk and talk with my friend, Shelly, then we worked out together. (much needed for me) Then I got to spend time with another friend, Tricia. We talked a lot and watched a chick flick together. That is one of the best things to do in my book. So it was really nice to be with friends.

However, I'm still feeling a little out of sorts today. Maybe it is this stinky weather or maybe I am being overly sensitive. I don't feel wonderful and I have gotten my feelings hurt twice today. You know when sometimes you just can't shake things off, well that is how I've been feeling. Anyway - it is just one of those days.

We received our adoption training materials today. It is a giant book and a 4 disc DVD set. Seems like a lot but I guess we can never be too prepared. So we will have to get started on this stuff soon. I think that is all for today.

Mother's Day

My blogs seems to be few and far between. Since my last entry, several things have happened. We have been completely redoing our back yard... new plants, mulch, sod, walkways and even a garden. It has been a ton of work but so rewarding now that it is finished. I'll post a picture as soon as Jeremy takes one. Now it is time to sit back and enjoy the spring and summer. It's a beautiful thing.

On the adoption front, we have submitted more papers to our adoption agency. They will be sending us all our training materials. We have to watch some DVDs and do some reading, then take a test. Our results will be sent to our agency. Not sure how I feel about that but I guess you have to do it. I have also completed (almost) our application for our home study. It will take about 90 days to complete the home study, give or take. That will be a huge bulk of what we have left to do. It will consist of letters, interviews, a visit to our home, etc. So that is where we are right now. God has provided the money that we have needed so far so we are so thankful for that. God is good... all the time.

So, today is mother's day. For me, this year, it is a day of reflecting on who my own mother is to me and my grandmas. I have been so blessed to have wonderful parents and grandmothers. One of my grandmothers passed away five years ago but she is still very close to my heart and sometimes I think I can feel her looking down on me. I think certain things would make her proud, happy or sad. She was my best friend and I'm thankful for every moment the Lord gave her to me. My mom left me a sweet voice mail yesterday saying that she can't wait to wish me a Happy Mother's Day next year. That will be nice. My mom has been a godly example to me all my life and has shown me so much support over the years and I'm so thankful. Thank you Mom - I love you! My other grandma is a precious woman. She is very near 90 and is still trucking on. She has been so loving and supportive to me over the years. Her generosity has taught me to be generous in much and in little. I'm so thankful for that. Today I also think and pray for others who are hurting on this day due to losing a mother, grandmother, a child, not having a good childhood or from not having a child. I know the pain can go very deep and mother's day can make the wound fresh again. Lord, please give them all your grace and peace.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! It is an honor to have you all as examples in my life.

Telling

Right now I am sitting in a hotel room in Laurinburg, NC with my good friend Kim Weitkamp and watching HGTV & eating cheetos. (Kim just told me she thinks they smell like vomit - nice!) We are having a great time. Kim is a professional storyteller. We are at a festival that goes throughout the weekend & is at a beautiful historical site with a great old house & beautiful grounds. Today they bused in 1400 students for a field trip to listen to the "tellers". This is an amazing, eye opening experience into a whole new world that I never knew existed. I have been able to meet a lot of great people. It is so fun... for the day you just get to go from tent to tent and listen to people tell stories. This is the life! If you are interested in more information, visit www.justkissthefrog.com.

Yesterday was Kim's birthday & we went to a nice restaurant for a late dinner after arriving at the hotel. We enjoyed great food & both laughed so hard we cried & today at lunch we were both sharing stories that brought genuine tears. You might be thinking that that doesn't sound like much fun but believe me - we are having a great time.

I know none of this is related to Mazey but thought I'd share where I'm at right now. I'll do a Mazey update soon.

A Little Behind

I'm a little behind with my updates here. Time has gotten away from me. There isn't a lot to report but I'll let you know what is going on with the adoption stuff. We received our papers back from "Homeland Security" (the I-600A that we submitted a few weeks back). Everything was in order so everything is good with that. We need to get our home study completed and our fingerprinting done to fully complete that step.

I am daily learning to trust God. Sometimes I don't get why it is so hard for me. Finances are something that I struggle with, just wanting to "figure it out." So in the last few days I have been wrestling with my will to want to control this and knowing that I need God to be in control. The adoption expenses are more than I know how to handle or more than I could ever just figure out. I know God is faithful and always has been. Jeremy and I have been more than blessed over the years and if we have ever been left wanting, it has been our doing and not the Lords. So I have to daily give this burden to the Lord. Thank you all for your continued prayers for this.

I am getting more excited as the days go by. It is hard to imagine what life with look like at the end of all this. How a child will turn our life upside down, as I know they will. I know it won't always be easy but I'm excited for the adventure.

Deadline

Today I was able to mail in some very important papers. We had a deadline of getting our Homeland Security papers in by April 1st in order to be able to move forward with our agency.

There were a few panicky moments leading up to sending these in on time as well as a few overnight packages. Thanks Mom & Dad, Jamie, Eric & Michelle for helping us get what we needed! We appreciate your support!

Ways you can be praying...

• that our agency will receive the accreditation they need
• that we will continue to move forward in the paperwork process & with the Home Study
• that God will continue to provide the finances for this adoption

A Few Answers

Some of you have asked specifics about Mazey. We are only a couple papers into the process so far. We have the opportunity to select a "waiting child" (usually an older or special needs child) or wait until the end of all the paperwork and submitting our dossier. At that point we would wait for our "referral". They would then do their best to match us with a child. I hope that makes sense.

What have we asked for? A healthy little girl, 0-6 years old, whose American name will be Mazey.

Child of Light

It has been 13 years, 7 months and some odd days since we were married. We have always dreamed of having a family of our own. The Lord often works in ways that we don't understand and I can't pretend to say that it has been an easy road for us. Sometimes our desires come in forms we did not expect or anticipate. This road has lead us to adopting a little girl from Colombia and we will name her Mazey: Child of Light.

We thank you for your prayers and invite you to come along with us on this adventure. We know there will be ups and downs but we believe and have faith for the final outcome... our child of light.