A New Year

As 2012 begins, Andy and I look back on the past year in complete shock.  It flew by and it seems like we went a million miles a minute.  Neither one of us have ever really been big on actually keeping our New Year's resolutions until this past year.  We made several of them, you know the usual, read the Bible more, be better everything, lose weight, get in shape, begin the adoption process, etc.  Everything started great, we read the Bible together, began walking around the neighborhood together every night, and found a great agency to begin our adoption. As January 2011 came to an end, we began to fizzle out on our resolutions.  We fizzled out on everything (sad to admit) except for one.  WE FINISHED OUR ADOPTION PROCESS!!!

We are 110% official!  Kelli, our case worker, who by the way is a blessing, called me with the news last week. Our home study has been signed, sealed, and delivered to the State of Tennessee.  Our profile is now being shown to prospective parents and we are officially on the waiting list.  Reading this post as I type it out is incredible. I find myself almost crying tears of complete joy at the mere thought of being a mommy and Andy being a daddy any day now.  I actually just took a HUGE sigh of relief that the hardest part is behind us. Kelli says that this time, referred to as "the waiting game," will be the hardest part of the process.  Up to this point, Andy and I have set the pace.  We determined when the paperwork was turned in, we determined when to get things done, etc. Not really though.  God has been in total control the whole time and it's pretty crazy how I have recently come to realize that. HE placed some amazing friends in front of us when the time was right who led us to Bethany. HE pushed us to get our paperwork done. HE made 2011 fly by.  HE makes things happen in HIS time, not ours.  I have just figured that out. I know that waiting for a phone call can seem like an eternity, but God has a wonderful plan for me and Andy and He's taken care of us up to this point, so why should we worry about the next phase?

Looking forward to 2012, I hope that this will be the year of great change in the Stites household. I pray that this family of 2 becomes a family of 3.  I pray that the resolutions we have set for ourselves are actually kept. I pray that God prepares us physically, mentally, financially, and every other kind of -ly possible!  A lot of people ask me what are we going to do if we get a call tomorrow.  I'm not going to lie, that thought is absolutely terrifying! Going from Andy and I coming and going as we please and not worrying about anything has been kind of nice.  Knowing that we are responsible for the life of another human being is a tremendous responsibility.  He will not give us more than we can handle. 

Thank you so much for continuing to pray for us. Knowing that so many people are in this with us is very comforting.  One of my resolutions is keeping this blog updated so you will know where we are and what's going on, I PROMISE I will keep this resolution! We are very grateful for family and friends that love us and support us.  We love you all!