Summertime...

It has been a busy summer so far. I was lucky enough to make a trip out to Wyoming at the end of May. It was a blessing to get to visit with some of my dear friends & see the beautiful world out there.
Since then I have made several trips to WF. One to visit with Uncle Gene & family as they came thru town. Another to go to Oklahoma with Dad & Terry to celebrate Linda & Bryan's wedding. Finally one with Whitney & the kids so Whitney & I could go to a Cardinal's game & do a little exploring in St. Louis. By the way, the Cards bet the Cubs! :-)
The last couple of weeks I have been dealing with doctors, check ups, tests & being sick with a nasty bug :-( I am feeling better & getting busy again.
I am only waiting on my CPR training in a couple of weeks to have my foster care license. :-)
We have had 2 more families move into Hope this summer & I have been getting to know them.
Sorry that I haven't been keeping up to date on here...

May already...

I can't believe that it is May already! That means that I have survived another April, which is an emotional month for me.
I'm halfway thru my foster/adoption classes & got my physical done yesterday, another thing checked off the list.
I have been meeting more people here at Hope & becoming more involved. Before I know it, you will be here! I don't know who you are yet but I'm so excited & can't wait to meet you!

My Birthday...

Another great day at the adoption conference. Got a lot of great resources. I am so excited to be on this journey! It is amazing to think that this will most likely be the last birthday I have not being a mom :-)

Learning...

Today I attended day 1 of an adoption conference. empoweredtoconnect.org It was great! I have learned a lot so far & have gained many valuable resources. We have another full day of the conference tomorrow. I am so excited to be getting all of this information in preparation for you coming into our family! :-)

Well I am still working on getting the house unpacked & organized, but I think that might be a life long thing with me! :-) I am going to an adoption conference this weekend & I am very excited about what I might learn & the resources that I will gather!! Things are starting to come together which makes me very excited!!

My Mom

Today would have been my mom's 61st birthday.  I wish that you would have been able to meet her.  She was an amazing woman.  She has been gone almost 13 years.  I miss her everyday. 

Addie & I spent last weekend in WF for Easter.  I spent time with family & friends, lots of meals!  Enjoyed a wonderful Sunrise Easter service at church.  It was a good visit. :-)  I can't wait for the Easter Bunny to come to our house next year!

I started my foster care/ adoption classes this week. We also started working on my home study to send out to the agencies. I am super excited that the ball is rolling & that we are getting what we need done so that I can grow my family!

It looks like Spring is finally trying to show up here! :-) I'm very thankful for the sunshine, warmer temps & the new growth.  I feel like I'm entering into my own Spring & I'm waiting on my new growth...

I'm still working on unpacking boxes & getting the house exactly how I want it. I will need to start working on getting some beds for the kids before too long :-)

Addie & Snowball have adjusted well to the new house. They are both spoiled & happy.

Well I had better get back to it!

Between trying to get unpacked & the house settled & going to Youth & Government last weekend, I haven't had a chance to post.

Illinois YMCA Youth & Government - a program that I am sure that you will learn about. I participated in the program for 3 years in high school & have been involved with ever since. This was the 19th year that I have volunteered!

The house is starting to come together. I still have boxes to go thru & organizing to do.

Addie & Snowball have settled in :-) We are all ready for spring & the warmer weather that it will hopefully bring!

Til next time...

Well things have been crazy around here for the last few days. I finally have internet & a microwave :-) Yesterday they brought up the 2nd load of stuff. I will be busy trying to unpack & organize for awhile...
I am missing my friends & family from back home but know that I will be making friends here.

Packing away!! Today I am trying to finish up things here at Troy's house in West Frankfort. Addie, Snowball & I are planning on heading up to our new house tomorrow to start unpacking.  I am so thankful for all of the people that have helped along the way with this move, whether it has been helping me get boxes, loading or unloading the trailer, buying me something off of my Wal-Mart wish list, donating furniture or just giving me your love, support & prayers. You all mean the world to me & I am so happy that you can share in this amazing experience with me! <3

I am starting my family!!  I am so excited to be embarking on this adventure!  I am moving to Rantoul, Illinois to join Generations of Hope.generationsofhope.org I really need to be packing tonight but I really wanted to start this blog! I am new to this so please be patient with me while I learn.

There are 2 reasons that I am starting this blog: 1) so my friends & family can stay up to date & 2) I want to turn this into a "Family Book" for my kids that they can look at when they are older to see how our lives together started.

The last couple of weeks I have been trying to get things together for this move. My last day of work at BCBS in Marion was last Friday. There will be several girls that I will miss working with! Yesterday Uncle Troy, Papa, Granny T & I loaded up the trailer with the first load & took it up to our new house. Whitney & her kids helped us unload. I will be continuing to pack & load the trailer with the second load over the next few days.  I have a lot of stuff that I have accumulated over the years! After this load is packed Addie, Snowball & I will be heading up to stay. I will be spending the next few months getting ready for you to join our home by taking classes & putting our house together.

Here is a little bit about me: I am 36 years old. My hometown is West Frankfort, Illinois which is where I am moving to Rantoul from. I lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for alittle over 7 years. I hope to take you there several times to visit Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, which I refer to as God's Country. I have never been married & don't have any kids yet, just a cat & dog (Snowball & Addie).  I have always wanted to be a mom so I am so blessed for this opportunity to be your mom!!

Well I had better get back to packing!