What If

I feel like I have put my life on hold the last couple of years. I always play the "what if" game. I've been debating on whether to take classes to add on to my teaching certification (4-6 grade) or go for my National Board Certification. I want to do both at some point, but when? Both cost money...that we are trying to save for adoption...and then there is the "what if" we get a placement? I've continued to ask "what if" for awhile now and I just need to do one or the other.

National Boards would help pay off our adoption debt and help us afford a child. :)  ($10,000 a year for 10 years) If I go for National Boards my winter/spring will be a very busy time and "if" we get a placement I will be working like crazy at home and school. This coming school year would be a good time because three other teachers are going for it so there would be a support system.

Adding on to my certificate would allow me to teach above third grade which I would like to do, but it won't bring me any extra money. I could take classes at USC for a discounted price since we get a price reduction for supervising interns (student teachers). In order to add on to my certification I have to take 3 classes and 2 Praxis tests.

"If" I just would have earned my Elementary Certification instead of Fashion Merchandising and Early Childhood. "If" I could only go back in time and foresee what my future held. So many "what ifs" and decisions to be made. If you have any thoughts on what I should do email, text, or call. I'm so indecisive!

A Little Embarrassed

A coworker at school gave me (for free) the infant car seat that she used. It is grayish/blue with green trim. It would be great for a boy, but could be cute for a girl with a hanging toy. Anyway, I spent some time cleaning it up and threw the seat cover in the wash. It looked great when it came out. I let it air dry and then it was time to put it back on...this is the embarrassing part. I'm glad no one was witnessing me trying to reattach everything and attempt to get all the parts put back in the right place. :) It took me a good 20 minutes to finally figure out how it should be "reassembled". Twenty minutes to put the cover back on...how long will it take us to properly put it in the car? Parenting will be interesting!

Adoption Tax Credit

This year will end the Adoption Tax Credit, but some legislators are pushing to extend the credit. This would be WONDERFUL if the government approved and made it permanent. We don't know that we will be able to adopt this year and take advantage of the credit. If Michael and I decide to adopt a second child it would help as well. People don't realize how expensive it is to adopt and it is even more expensive to adopt internationally...which is one reason we decided to do domestic adoption. We will continue to follow what Congress and our legislators decide.

Tax Adoption Credit Article

Adoption Tax Credit Video

Open Adoption Video

This video was posted on Bethany's Facebook page. I really shouldn't watch these because I get tears in my eyes...not tears of sadness, but happiness for the adoptive parents, child, and birthmother. I hope we have a story like this to tell soon!! :)

Click on adoption video below to watch.

Adoption Video

"New" Lamp

We have a few lamps in our house that we aren't using stored in a closet so I decided instead of buying a new one for the nursery I would use one we already owned. 

The shade had yellowed a little bit so I decided to find some fabric to cover it. I found the perfect fabric at Jo-Ann Fabric.(It goes great with the tree mural.)

I measured, cut, and pinned it onto the lampshade. I also bought spray adhesive to stick in on permanently, but I'm not sure I need it. I may just use the two pins for now.

I tried using white ribbon as trim on the top and bottom and didn't really care for it so for now it will stay like this.

Three Weeks

Three weeks ago today we officially became a waiting family to adopt a baby. It hasn't been long at all, but of course I hope that we will have a placement soon. I look on the website everyday to see if any other families have been added the list of South Carolina couples waiting. As of today there are 30 couples from our state. Two couples just had placement placed by their profiles today. While I'm very happy for them...I wonder what connection a birthmother had to their profile that she didn't have to ours. There are couples on the waiting family list that have been on there for quite a while and it worries me that we could end up waiting for a long time too. Bethany said the average wait time is a year from the time our formal application is turned in and that would be October. If you think about it we have been waiting much longer than a year or even the three weeks that we have been officially a waiting family. We have been waiting almost four years! I know our day will come and every time I turn on my cell phone after work or check the voicemail on our home phone...I hope and pray that we will have a message from Bethany that we have a placement, but until that day comes we will enjoy our quiet moments and time as a family of two or three...can't forget Trixie. :)

1st Pinterest Craft

I've become addicted to Pinterest. Someone had pinned a picture of a monogram wreath for the front door. It was being sold on Etsy for $35, plus $11 for shipping. Way too expensive it you ask me! I thought it was cute and figured I could do it myself. Here is the product that is being sold on Etsy...

Here is my version...

I decided to go with a beach theme since we live in SC. 

It was pretty easy...although the curve on the R was a little bit of a pain. I bought jute, a wooden R, ribbon, and a starfish for a total of around $15. I think it looks pretty good for $20 less....maybe I should start making and selling them too. :)