Too wordy

I just glanced over my blog and realized that all my posts of late have been all words, and no pictures. And everybody knows that pictures are more fun, right? So I'll try to find some interesting photos from the Franklin Family Foto Album. (Yes, I know that's not the correct spelling - that's for our alliteration-loving pastor ;) And I'll warn you that they may not necessarily be related in any way.


This is Abigail, my best friend's daughter. She'll be two in May. And by that time, she'll be a big sister! Erica is about 36 weeks along, so before too much longer I expect to get a phone call telling me I have a nephew. Yea for babies. :)












Ok, I found a theme. I don't think I've ever posted pics of Erica and/or her family. So here's a photo introduction to my best friend and her family...

From left to right - Bill (Erica's husband), Andy, S'ine (pronounced Sheenya) and Erica. And Gershwin. Erica & I met at Auburn, where we both played (French) horn in the band(s). She has been a great friend to me over the years, even flying out to be in my wedding while 4 months pregnant. :)

And no intro to Erica would be complete without a picture of her "little" brother Ian. He's a firefighter in North Carolina (or is it South?) and is getting ready to get married in a few months.

So there you go. Finally a post that isn't so wordy!

Latest (and greatest)

I've realized over the last few days that Brian and I have neglected to post the lastest update on adoption stuff.

We have to go to Odessa for a meeting of everyone who's involved in this process: us, lawyers, birth parents, CPS case workers, etc. Everything will be laid out on the table at this point, and I just realized that I'm not exactly sure what the aggenda for this meeting is. All I know is that we have to have this before we can get our son. Hurdle number...I've lost count. ;) This meeting is currently scheduled for April 5. However, Brian and I had a slight brain malfunction and forgot that we already had the youth mission trip fundraiser/dinner & talent show scheduled for that evening. Once we realized our mistake, Brian called CPS back and asked if we could postpone the meeting for one week. So we'll either reschedule, or find some other helpful souls to mc the fundraiser.

After this meeting, one of two things will happen. The CPS worker in Odessa said that she could bring Alex out the following weekend after the meeting. If the state was going to require a visitation before placement, she said sometimes they'll do visitation on Friday, and placement on Saturday. The other possibility is that we would be able to bring him home with us the weekend of the meeting in Odessa. (any good ideas on how to keep an 18-month old occupied and happy for a 7-hour car drive with strangers?) This idea was suggested by the woman who organized this meeting. She said she'd be pushing for that.

So, all that to say, we should have our son in our home for good but mid- to late-April. Woohoo!

Job Opening?

My aunt forwarded this to me. I thought the other parents out there might find it amusing (and somewhat true) as well...


POSITION :Mom, Mommy, Mama, MaDad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES :
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately.On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis, letting them know they are appreciated for the fabulous job they do...or forward with love to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

** AND A FOOTNOTE "THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **



I have a feeling that in a few months, I'm going to come to an even greater appreciation for my parents! :) Not that I don't already think the world of them, and know that I have been extremely blessed by the parents God graced me and my husband with. But I sense that I'm about to understand that on a different level...

Home Study!!

We finally had our home study this morning. I think it went pretty well. The interviewer was really nice, and didn't seem to think there was anything too crazy about us! ;)

He asked us about our childhoods, how we were disciplined, how our dads provided for the family, how we felt about our kids being involved in sports, music, etc. Nothing too off the wall or anything that made me nervous. I think he was going to call some of our references and/or parents, and some of you may have already received a call. (I hope you said nice things :) He said he would call Odessa CPS with the results/findings on Monday.

So now we can hopefully start the process of getting our son in our home. As crazy as that is to think about! I think I'm finally beginning to rest in God's timing for this whole process. As much as I want our son to be in our home, this is the last time (for a long while) that it will be just me & Brian. And that time is precious too. And of course, the more schoolwork Brian can get done before the little guy gets here, the less stressful the end of his semester will be. So I'm learning to be content with God's timing - mostly because I have no idea what the right timing is!

So anyway, there's the latest on our adoption process. It's exciting to have another box checked off the list and to be one more step forward. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us. It means so much to know that so many are walking with us through this. I look forward to the day I can introduce you all to our son. :)

Progress!

I got a call today from the psychologist hired by CPS to do our Home Study. We are scheduled for Friday at 4pm. Woo-hoo!

I finally got the apartment clean last night (now it seems alien and strange), so we just have to keep it that way for a few more days. Hopefully we'll do better than a few days and keep it like this long term. Or at least until we add a toddler. ;)

Please keep this HS in your prayers. The most obvious request is that it will go well and they won't decide we're crazy. One thing I'm especially concerned about is my attitude towards the interviewer. Please pray that I won't respond out of my irritation and impatience with CPS, but will respond out of faith and trust. Pray that our relationship and our home will be faithful witnesses of Christ.

Ok, time to get ready for bed. Yea for progress!!