Moments...

This month has been full of exciting moments, tough moments, relaxing moments, stressful moments and more. Let's start from the beginning.

Relaxing moments: Beginning of July was a wonderful relaxing time. I had finished worked,  Josh and I enjoyed some quiet time together, we got started on our yard and we went to Waterton National Park! A favorite place of ours and it was beautiful! God used that weekend to help us reconnect with Him and each other. We had sunshine, beautiful hiking, quiet moments, wonderful food and time with each other in all the beauty God created!!

After Waterton, I took some time to spend with my mom on some days which was wonderful! As well a few days after the run I spent some time with my sister, Janelle. It was wonderful to be with her and my niece and 2 nephews! Some quality time swinging, holding kitties, reading stories, cuddling with my youngest nephew and just enjoying some great visiting and girl time. 

Exciting moments: Run143 was another successful weekend!! Every year is unique and this year was unique in the fact that the family we supported was overseas with their son, we had bikers every day and the support was there in so many different ways!!

Another exciting moment that I think deserves a line to itself is I HAVE THREE NEW NEPHEWS!!!!!! As I am writing this my sister and her husband are in ethiopia with their 3 sons getting to know them and making memories!! So happy for them!!! 

Stressful and tough moments: We had another bump in our adoption journey and it was a stressful and tough time trying to be patient and getting answers. 7 weeks later and 5 phone calls and we finally did it! We got answers and the bump has been smoothed over! Now onto waiting. There is much more we will have to decide in a few months but for now we feel God calling us to wait, work on our marriage and continue to learn to live our life completely in him. Trusting him in every aspect and not even trying to do it on our own. It is so easy to say so these are those TOUGH moments that I struggle with on a daily basis. Giving up my control and letting God take my life and mold it, shape it how he wants it to be. 

So each day we continue to give up our journey to God, let Him take care of Baby Papaya and rest in his arms. It's a struggle but I know it is what we need to do. 

Be Blessed

Excitement--

The last month has been very overwhelming and amazing all in one! June is always a busy month as a teacher. Kids are excited, assessments need to be done, report cards, paperwork, cleaning up classroom, sorting/organizing and the list could go on! It is also full of fun which includes track and field day,  playing outside, swimming with the students, parties, smiles and summer! 

We also added one more exciting happening to our list! On June 11, we received the OFFICIAL announcement that the South Africa Program is now open! The waiting has changed from simply waiting to waiting with anticipation! We are very excited to be parents and with this program now open it has become more real to us! As you can probably tell, the end of June was very tricky for me to concentrate! I was consistently distracted to do more research about strollers, car seats etc. I can only imagine what it will be like when we get our referral! 

As the school year wrapped up there were some amazing blessings! Early in June my staff put on a BBQ fundraiser for us which was incredible and then one of my students parents charity donated towards our adoption and it didn't stop there! At the end of the year two families gave us money towards our adoption! The support has been unending and we are so grateful to all who are now part of our babe's story one way or another! 

July has started and I am in full swing to get our house ready for baby papaya. I am hanging pictures, organizing, sorting, throwing stuff out, thinking of how to baby proof, researching strollers, car seats, play pens and more, reading adoption blogs, finding ways to save money etc. July and August are always busy but this year I am excited to be busy at home! 

This year I am running RUN143 again and Josh is riding a tandem bike with a friend! We are supporting a family who is over in South Africa as we speak with their son!!! Consider supporting them through this amazing event! A little story to inspire:

On report card day a family came to pick up their daughters report card from my classroom. They handed me an envelope and the mom said "It's not much and won't make much of a dent but I hope it can help. The $5 bill inside is from ______ (my student, her daughter)" I said in return "Everything makes a dent!" 

If my 7 year old student can donate $5, I am sure that you can donate something. It doesn't have to be much but help this family cover some cost to bringing home their son, help those orphans in the baby homes that we are supporting and the adoption support centre that is instrumental in helping families learn more about adoption! 

If donating $$ is not where you feel called to help consider donating your time! Come on out for the last 10km OR 5 km and fundraise for the distance you are going to complete! Remember we run for orphans all over the world, but this year we are helping bring 1 home!

If you want to donate please either talk to me or head to the website (www.run143.com). There is also a BBQ on Saturday, July 13 that will welcome in those who are running/biking and to celebrate this event! There is an email on the website to RSVP to. 

Be Blessed!