Nursery

This weekend we put the mattress in the crib, washed the sheets and blankets, and are now officially ready to lay someone in there!!

We are really trying to have a neutral nursery and therefore we have a lot of cream. It is my intent to add some color once we know the gender. I'm having a hard time with the bumper pads and the bed skirt on our crib. I can't get them to settle right. I've decided to remove myself from them for a while!!!



I made this wall hanging and I'm afraid it may look a little feminine but I can also change out the background paper easily. I'm so glad Melissa shared this with me. I'm not liking the ribbon and I think I may need to retie or get something different.



These scriptures are on the hanging and have a very special place in my heart and some of the few I want to pray over and for our child.

Proverbs 3:5-7 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil."

1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Hebrews 4:16 " Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Psalm 37:3-5 "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act."

James 1:21 "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

Psalm 25:4-5 "Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."

Psalm 119:133-135 "Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes."

Psalm 91:14-16 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Psalm 20:1, 5, 7 "May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners!May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

Psalm 119:11 "Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart."

Psalm 119:33-38 "Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared."


I did add this little bear Kristine gave me years ago. It is my attempt to add some manliness to the room!!

We were at Lowe's this past weekend and saw this in the Christmas section.

Bryan had to go back and pick up some supplies. We had a coupon and told him he could always pick up the Hope cutout if he needed to reach the amount to spend to get the discount!! I love it. It is just the right color of red (It looks a little fuscia in this picture. It is kind of like a brick red in real life).



I don't really want a themed nursery but HOPE and PRAYER have sustained us over the past 3 years and I want to be surrounded by them in the months ahead.


I had some coupons and took this weekend to buy some "supplies." Although we are hoping for a newborn, I bought larger diapers because I'm almost certain we would use this size anyway. I looked hideous in the diaper aisle trying to determine what age went with what weight. Thanks Brooklyn for bailing me out! I needed the advice.

I thought I would show you a picture of our future children's dad! This was taken in the Cabela's at Ft. Worth, Texas a few weeks back!!

I think he was secretly wanting the hat! Seriously!

I LOVE BRYAN HASKINS!!!

Announcement

"The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." Psalm 34:17

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose." Proverbs 16:4a

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

"Ah, sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17

"One person advocating for one child can make all the difference." Taken from a recent email from Focus on the Family.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Proverbs 31:8 NIV

On August 19, 2009, Bryan and I made the decision to send in the first paperwork to initiate Foster Care Adoption!!!!

We are now anxiously awaiting the time we are finished with the process and we receive a call to come pick up a child to love and care for!!!!

The scripture on my desk calendar for August 19th (when I mailed in the first packet) was:

"As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba Father."

On September 10th, we met our case worker for the first time. She attends the church we use to attend and she knows several of our personal references.

Is God not all over this!!

God is answering each prayer along this path and HE has given us much peace! We have renewed HOPE!!


Soooo, you may ask where have I been the past month? Well, I've been painting the baby's room, filling out paperwork and questionnaires for the case workers, having two home visits (with two more to go), getting fingerprinted (our fingerprints were denied once and we had to redo them), admiring Bryan putting the crib together, and hanging out a lot on line at BabiesRUs. It is been fun trying to prepare for a gender neutral nursery for an unknown age (we are asking for newborn - 12 months)!!

My father-in-love bought this chest for us and he refinished it. It is one of my favorite pieces!

I also worked quite a few hours making a scripture wall hanging for the baby's room as well. Thanks to the great inspiration from my very special friend, Melissa. I think we will call her Aunt Sassy or perhaps Aunt Lissa!! :-) I'll post pictures of it later.

We are not going into this journey blindly. We are trying to prepare our hearts and minds of the possibility we may only have a child for just a brief time. BUT, during this time, it is so very important I bathe this child in prayer and much scripture. I feel I can more easily give a child back knowing it is covered in prayer and God's word. I would have done everything within my power for the child. I have visions of sitting in a rocker, holding a baby, and reading these scriptures to it.

We began Foster Care/Adoption training on Monday, November 2nd. We meet two times a week thru December 3rd. I think this is getting us ready for the little free time we will have once we receive a child!

I'm hoping our paperwork/file will be completed by December 15th or around Christmas time!!! It just seems surreal!!!

I'm sure now I will have many more blog posts. I have more inspiration now!!

I know many of you have prayed for us and we are forever thankful! Please continue to pray for us!! We need increased faith, guidance, and discernment. We want to be equipped to also minister and witness to a mother/father who is less fortunate and who need Christ.