Happy Adoption Day Thomas Joseph!!

One year ago today we finalized Tommy's adoption - he officially and legally became our son.

I remember being disappointed when the court assigned us our date. We were hoping to finalize in 2010, but our date was in January of 2011. As soon as I wrote down January 28 I realized it was the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas and chills went up my spine. What are the chances? I couldn't believe it. And even though we had to wait an extra year for our adoption tax credit, I love that my Tommy's special day landed on the feast of St. Thomas.

It was a crazy week last year because of a snowstorm. We lost power and our house was so cold!

We ended up staying in a hotel near the courthouse so that we wouldn't have trouble getting there, and also so that we could have heat/power! We showed up to the courthouse on time, although everything was delayed by two hours because of the weather.

I remember thinking that this day would just be a formality, I wasn't expecting it to be a big deal since Tommy had been our son for 8 months. But I was wrong. It was beautiful to see all the other families who were finalizing their adoptions. I was overwhelmed with emotion when the judge read the official proclamation that Tommy was legally and forever our son. Everyone in the judge's chambers had tears in their eyes and he gave Tommy a little stuffed bear. It was a very special day that I will never forget.

St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!

Trust in the Slow Work of God

I came across this prayer this morning and it's one of my favorites, so I thought I would share it with you today.

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.

We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability--and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually--let them grow,
Let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today
what time will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

-Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. from The Making of the Mind

Three Great Articles

I've come across some great articles recently on Facebook and thought I would share. Enjoy!

A Sexual Revolution

To the Mother With Only One Child

Stay At Home Mom Blues

This n That

I don't want to begin another post with, "Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile..." but I guess I can't help it. :) Here are some random updates on what's going on around here, in no particular order.

Tommy has another cold, poor guy, so we are home dealing with his congestion, cough, etc. He was such a healthy baby, but now I feel like he's catching colds all the time. I'm trying my best to keep his hands clean and keep up the Vitamin C... not sure what else I can do to prevent it. I was able to get a sub to cover my class this morning so I could stay home. I'm so grateful, especially since the weather has been so yucky and snowy.

Today is the March for Life and I really wish I could be there marching. I thought about heading downtown after my class (before Tommy got sick) but hadn't made any firm plans. I get so overwhelmed when thinking about life issues, abortion, adoption, infertility, etc. It's such a blessing to participate in the many events taking place around here - one of the many reasons I love living in the DC area. Yesterday I took our youth group to a concert by Steve Angrisano and it was awesome. I love his music but I love his testimony and his stories even more. (Especially the story of how he and his wife adopted their son!)

I am started to think more and more about school for Tommy. Is that crazy? I'm trying to do some research so that I can make an educated decision. Pre-school? Montessori? What age? Can we afford tuition? How many more children will we have? Will I keep working part-time? I'm sure that we will make the right decision when it's time, but it's hard to think about it all now. I'm hoping to find some more Mommy and Me type classes for us to do some things together now that he is getting older and wanting to explore the world.

Last weekend I was so blessed to go on a retreat. It was a short one - from Saturday morning until lunchtime on Sunday - but it was just what I needed. My friend J (we started our women's prayer group together) organized it and there were 15 of us plus a priest. This is the third year in a row that my friend's spiritual director has agreed to lead our little group on retreat. You might remember this post from two years ago. The theme of that retreat was St. Joseph and it was really powerful for me. I felt such a connection to him and developed a strong devotion. When I look back, this retreat was the beginning of a year full of powerful experiences - including our pilgrimage and Tommy's adoption. (Tommy's middle name is Joseph!)

Anyways, the theme this year was the Three Wise Men. Fr. J gave reflections on these topics: the search, the encounter, and the resulting transformation. As usual, it was just what I needed. We listened to his talks, had silent reflection, group sharing, prayed the Rosary, had Mass each day, Confession and a holy hour of Adoration on Saturday evening. So perfect. We talked a lot about how our encounters with the Lord leave us transformed - our lives will take a different route (just as the Wise Men took a different route home.) I was really struck by this and I noticed that even my favorite Jeremiah passage alludes to this - "When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the LORD, and I will change your lot."

I will end with a few pictures that I finally downloaded from our camera...

Showing Tommy the Nixon Library (where we had our wedding reception)

Chasing bubbles in the backyard

Before going to Christmas Eve Mass

My parents - my mom always makes a super, yummy Christmas breakfast.

Christmas morning at my parent's house.

Swimming on Christmas Day

Meeting my brother's new dog, Mimi.

Unexpected Letter

Today I received an unexpected letter in the mail from my doctor - Dr. S in Pennsylvania (a Napro doctor) - which says that he is retiring in March. I was so surprised! I have an appointment with him next week and I'm not sure if I should keep it or not.

I have actually been uncertain about what my next steps were going to be anyways. At my last follow up with him we just had a conversation (no exam) and nothing much changed. I have continued taking HCG injections but he hasn't done any blood work since my surgery last March.

I was so excited when I finally decided to start working with him, but I've been pretty disappointed that we still haven't conceived all these months post-surgery.

Now I need to find a new physician - any advice from those of you that are local? I don't know anything about the other doctors in Dr. S's practice, and I'm not sure if it's worth the 2.5 hour drive from my house.

*Sigh* Why do I feel like I'm starting all over again?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We just returned last night from a nice, loooong trip to California. We had a lovely Christmas with my family and I enjoyed the nice break away from reality. I always feel like I'm in a different world when I'm there and I'm able to rest and relax, without thinking about all the responsibilities waiting for me at home. The warm weather was heaven-sent and we soaked up the sun as much as possible. Poor Tommy got so used to playing outside, I'm afraid it's going to be a long winter here until spring arrives. I haven't downloaded my pictures yet, but I will post some next time.

I had the honor of praying for A at This Cross I Embrace. I was so excited when I got her name! Not only because we have met in real life, but hers was one of the first blogs I found and read many years ago. I knew that she had a few specific intentions and I wanted to be a good prayer warrior for her. I prayed an Advent Novena for her each morning and I felt called to pray a novena to St. Joseph for her husband. I knelt before the St Joseph statue each week at Mass and prayed for her marriage and family. I also remembered her intentions during our evening Rosary and at Mass. I continue to pray that the Lord will bless her marriage and bless them with children.

Thank you SO much to my prayer buddy - Donna from What If God Says No. I hadn't seen her blog before, so I'm looking forward to reading it and catching up. Thank you Donna for your prayers - I am truly so grateful!

I also have to thank Mrs. Henderson from Standing Still for her very sweet gift. She sent me one of the books I had posted about seeing at the Shrine and hoping to get in the future. You are so kind and thoughtful! :)

Happy New Year everyone. I hope and pray that you are all filled with God's great blessings during 2012.