Preparing

Before I go into the details of this post I just want to mention a huge PRAISE GOD!  My brother's divo.rce is final and he got the justice we all prayed for!!!!  The boys are staying with him, he didn't have to pay his ex any alim.ony, any child sup.port (he has the kids full time now) or her att.orney fees!  Woo Woo.  He gave her plenty but the boys are with him...and they are thriving and doing well.  She will have visitation.  My brother was good to her on that aspect.  She is already living with another man, she has a full time job and her mother is pretty well off.  She pretended to be in poverty and the court saw through her charades.  Thank you God for answered prayers and a smart judge!!!! 

So onto preparing...right now I'm preparing for Lent.  I am also preparing to be a parent someday (Lord Willing).  I know I mentioned before that I felt preparing for the baby would mean going out and buying all the things we would need.  That is part of it but I just couldn't buy stuff now.  I think I felt vulnerable.  I thought "What if it never happens?".  So with reflection I figured out ways I could prepare...one, I ordered a subscription for a magazine that is all about adoption.  I can read about this journey and what it entails.  I can also strengthen my body...especially my arms and back.  Carrying around an infant all day is not for weak arms.  I can also work on my diet.  Okay, I admit, this house has lots of junk food in it.  It would be a kids dream but that is not how I grew up and I don't want that for our future child.  We need to eat more veggies and fruits and less sugar and junk.  I am also working on cooking more and I started a journal to reflect on this journey....maybe someday I will share it with my child.  There are lots of ways to prepare that don't involve buying the baby things.  Once we get connected...then we can take that leap of faith and buy some of the necessities we'll need.  I feel better preparing and maybe that is just the old teacher and new develo.pmental thera.pist in me...I have to prepare for my work...I prepare my home...I just prepare.

Onto Lent...I'm going to get rid of (or at least work on) some of my nasty habits..especially with eating.  It is so hard with my job...I really don't have a set schedule.  Clients cancel, plans change and it's hard to eat around that.  So I usually grab the quick stuff.  I need to be more mindful. I'm also going to give up desserts for Lent.  I love my cookies after dinner...whether I'm full or not.  Such a bad habit.  My dh is on board with me...we have to do this together.  We are also giving up snacks.  My cholesterol is high...I'm gaining weight and I do have diabetes in my family....I have to be careful.  I know God is talking to me about being healthier.  I get talked to from my dr's.  I want to live a long healthy life and if we do get our forever child...I need to do it for him or her.  Seems like now is the time. 

My dh is also giving up tv..I can watch less but I don't know how I would give it up. I enjoy tv.  It's background noise while I work around the house or do paperwork.  I will work on watching less.

Today I'm starting.  We are going to a Mar.di Gra.s dinner on Sat.  Eeesh...I know my dh will want one big fattening meal before Lent.  Ugh!  So hard to start but I'm going to just be mindful...and when I feel better and can fit into my summer clothes...the sacrificing will all be worth it.

Adoption update**We finished the two courses on adoption we needed as part of our home study.  Now I think we are just waiting for the fingerprinting update.  I sent our s.w. an email today asking for a status.  Lord willing soon we will be done.

St. Anne..pray for us.
St. Collette..pray for us.