Good news

So I wouldn't even know where to begin. What a crazy time it has been. We had a stomach bug .....ugh...and then our Aunt passed away and life is just crazy.
But in the midst of that good things were still going on.
We had applied 8 weeks ago for our FBI clearance letter. We have been waiting and waiting....and waiting...I called twice to see what I could find out. Well this week I was informed that mine were not clear and they had to be sent to a special unit for review. Man...how frustrating, they get 2 weeks to review and then if not good notify me and I would have to do them again and wait the 8 weeks again. I was discouraged how come ....why me....blah ..blah...blah.. We started praying for favor with my print card and tried to stay positive. On Friday I was beyond frustrated but Dan prayed and we went to the funeral and everything there went well and when we checked our mail.....there it was ...yes!!! Thank you Lord for miraculously providing what we were hoping for. So that was the last piece of information we needed for our dossier. I am getting everything notarized and then county sealed and then mailing it out. Whew....it has taken us 3months and 2 weeks to get everything we needed for this one. Not bad. So hopefully by Wednesday this part of the process will be over and we will be waiting on translation and being presented to the ministry of justice in Bulgaria. if we are approved we will make this public knowledge. Hopefuly we will have good news to share. I fwe are turned down we won't be saying anything. I have added a picture of Ava and myself when I was in Vietnam picking her up. Just to remind me that it can happen.

Well where to start. On Monday as we were driving home from yet another dentist appointment for Ava, and she was crying hysterically, and I was frazzled. I mean how long can they cry, in this case it turns out for several hours. Ugh what a long ride home. I was sitting in the back with her and Dan was driving and he started talking about how we could relate this experience and have it be a good learning tool. Well he was right God started lining up all the pieces of what we had been through on that day and there is a lesson to be learned.

When we take Ava to the dentist we don't tell , sounds mean but really it is to save her from being afraid and nervous and miserable in advance. This way she gets to enjoy her day right up until we pull in the parking lot of said office. Isn't that so like God? He doesn't let us in on life changing events until it is time because as humans we wouldn't enjoy what we have/had because we would be so nervous or afraid or dreading what it is God wants to do with us next. WE don't live in the moment when we are always anticipating what it is God is going to do next, we spend hours maybe days or months trying to figure God out instead of enjoying what we have. Monday morning at pre-school Ava was having a ball she was laughing and playing and so active. I sat and watched her enjoying her time and thinking if she knew what was coming she would be on my lap crying, and that is exactly the point we do the same thing or we anticipate bad news or events and we don't live in the present that God has for us. I confess to being in this situation alot...too much.
When the truth is in Gods word
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Now lets get out there and enjoy what it is God has given us this day,don't miss the smiles ,hugs and opportunities to love that are before us.

Taking a breath

Life can be crazy...really has been. But we are entering a calm period..YEAH!!!

Basketball season is over:( Alexs' team lost in semi finals last night. They have had a great season and an awesome team. I will miss watching them play. We had 4 very talented senior boys who will be grealty missed next year. We have enjoyed the season. We have also been going to Beths college games and they are done also.

So we start the interim period, what is that you ask? hmm It's the time when there are no games and the weather is too bad to be outside working. What shall we do...what shall we do? I know read, clean the house maybe even paint a room. But I really just want to catch my breath for a few days.

We are also working on paperwork, lots of paperwork hopefully in a few months we will have some exciting news. I really hope so ;)

Re-cap

So it was a long day, but we have a clear path for taking care of Ava's' teeth. When I was driving home today I could really feel myself getting discouraged. it was going to cost quite a bit of money, be very time consuming and painful. But then I started to bring to mind all the other times that God has made a way for us, often you have to walk through it and be patient and faithful and remember the faithfulness of our God. I was reminded of when Matt needed surgery and Alex needed emergency surgery and countless other times that God was with us and I was greatly encouraged. So next Tuesday we go back for and extraction, filling and a crown, and then next month the same thing on the upper right, a total of 4 visits but after that her teeth will be good until they fall out naturally.

Yikes!!

What a long 24 hours it has been. Av had a bad tooth that went really bad yesterday. We were at pre-school and she went really pale I thought uh uh but when she came running over to me it was her tooth. I called and her dad came and got her to take to the dentist for an emergency visit. Whe through such a fit that the dentist wouldn't do anything. UGH He gave us a number for a pediatric dentist in Rochester. Well as the day went on we could not get her into any dentist office yesterday. We called six different offices and either they were closed or just plain wouldn't see her. We spent a long night alternating between pain medicine and orajel every hour. We got a call back from one I left a message with yesterday and now we are going to get ready to head to Rochester. Praying they are able to help her and bring some relief for our sweet baby girl.

Ava has had poor teeth ever since coming home. I can't stress how important in utero care is for the baby. When we picked her up at 9 months of age her front teeth were already pitted and as her other teeth came in they have not been healthy. I am nervous over what we are looking at as far as fixing them but here goes.

RECIPE

Okay so I tried a new recipe tonight. it was pretty good and very easy, so I will share it.


1 jar 26 oz spaghetti sauce
1 can 15 oz tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 package 7 oz italian shredded cheese
2 pounds frozen cheese ravioli
2 tbsp parmesan cheese

In a 13x9 pan place 1-2 cups tomato sauce, layer on 1/2 of ravioli, and half of shredded cheese, repeat layers. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes remove tinfoil and bake another 15 minutes. Sprinkle on parm cheese and bake 5 more minutes.


Serve and enjoy. It is like doing an easy lasagna, I also added cooked italian sausage. YUMM!!1