Babies R Us Registry and other thoughts

Erick and I registered at Babies R Us! It is so exciting...but it was hard for me.
I always imagined that I would be going into the store to register...pregnant. Well as many of you know that that is not how it is working out, but Erick and I are hoping to have a Foster baby in a month, and we don't have anything. So register we must and baby show we will!
But anyhow I felt like every other woman who was in there, that was pregnant, was looking at me and was probably thinking "Well she sure is jumping the gun...she isn't even showing!" or "Why is she registering she isn't pregnant!" Also I assumed that I would know what I was having and have a cute themed room all picked out, but instead I am registering for neutral gender and age.
Don't get me wrong I am so excited, but these were not my plans. I didn't plan on suffering from infertility, I didn't plan on any of this. Which makes this an adventure because I don't know what to expect! And God has opened up doors to friendships that I would have never of had unless I did go through this. Like Steph and Jeff our MAPP buddies, and Heather and Dario...they are foster parents we met, we bought a stroller and a crib from them off craigslist.
So many of you will be getting a shower invitation in the mail in a couple weeks...I feel weird about this as well, which I wrote about a few weeks ago. But this may be the only chance for me to have a shower and I want to experience it!

Thanks friends for being supportive through this exciting adventure Erick and I are embarking on!

Jen

Cool things are happening!

First of all Erick and I were shown an open door and it didn't close on us! Thank you Lord! We found a nice condo to rent! It allows dogs. It has plenty of space for a couple of Foster kids, and it is in perfect location for our jobs and family.
Second, I decided to look on Craigslist for different baby items and I have a cool story. As you know I found this Carseat on the side of the road, and now I am on a Chicco kick. So I was looking for a Chicco Stroller system and found a nice used one (stroller, carseat, and base) for 100 bucks! (Erin I would still LOVE to borrow your base) And the couple that I bought it from are ,get this, Foster parents! We are actually gonna meet for coffee sometime so we can hear the good, bad, and ugly side of Fostering. We are also getting a crib w/ mattress and a drawer underneath for 75, and possibly many other items, but his wife needs to get into town to let him know what he can sell.


So that is really cool! I am excited, the only bad thing is that I don't have anywhere to put this stuff until August 1. But hey I am ready to wait a couple more weeks.

Praise the Lord!
I can't wait to post pictures.

New background

I Feel that since school will be starting shortly...I actually make sure that I do not know how many days of freedom I have left...that would depress me. Anyways I wanted a new background, and depending on what gender child we could be fostering in less then 3 months :) I wanted to have a cute background to post pictures and things.

Jen

Closed doors or Open doors? Sad Job or happy Job?

There comes a time when we pray and we ask the Lord to show us His path by opening and closing doors. But sometimes it seems that all of the doors are open and we don't know which way to go, or it seems all the doors are closed and we are stuck in a hallway. I feel that way right now. It seems there are a ton of possibilities and then SLAM all the doors close. Then one seems to eek open again and SLAM. So I am so confused. I know that God has a purpose and place for me and Erick, but it just seems that everything lately doesn't want to work out, and it really is disheartening.
Examples being Erick's job...every other day seems like it is his last day...door getting ready to close, but then wait a huge sale was made we are okay for another couple days...then it gets super slow again, can't pay payroll...then another sale. It is an emotional roller coaster.
Our housing situation...find a great Short sale that should work out for us faster than normal....door opening...find out that the bank and the seller are still trying to figure something out...could take 3 months...door closing...Our friends find this cute nice condo for us to rent...door seems to open...everything seems great...until our friend tries to contact the other realtor and he is a nutcase and can't find the owners and says that we can have pets, but who really knows...door closing.
Sorry this is a depressing post, it is just that I was hoping to be settled before the school year started, and could have a place to take pictures of for my home study for my foster kids.

Lord...what are you trying to show/teach us? I hope it is not patience.

My friend Michele's little girl Nicole came to mind when I wrote this, a good while back she (nicole) was showing me the stories of Job, and she got really excited and did this cute sad face and showed me Job sad, but then you turn the page and Wham Happy Job and she gets all excited and even has a squeak in her voice when she says it. I feel like sad Jen right now and can't wait for the page in my life to turn so I can be happy Jen.

Thanks for reading.... :]

Trash Pickin'

The other day I was driving into my neighborhood, and noticed a lot of "trash" by this one neighbors house. Not really thinking much of it I kind of glanced over to see what was there. A second after I drove by I thought "Did I just see a carseat?" Well after a little internal war with myself I turned around and went back to the house. Now I was feeling very proud at the moment hoping no one would drive by seeing me take "trash" from the garbage. But after getting out of my car, and a quick glance at the carseat I grabbed it and threw it into my car. What a rush...I stole some "trash".
So I get home and do a little bit of research and find out that this carseat is worth 190$ brand new, it is in great shape (No unidentified stains or anything), and I would only need to buy a base for it. So here is the beginning of baby collection.

For my coupon clipping friends
Carseat= 190 (ok maybe 140 without base)
Trash pickin'= Free!!

Summers are fleeting

Especially when you are taking 4 graduate classes :( But two of them are done! Praise the Lord. I really anticipated having a great wonderful creative summer, but it has turned out being busy, boring, and not very eventful. (except for the multiple visits to see little Andrew Jack in the hospital, and my crazy Fostering classes!) Ahh I need to do something fun fun fun! Oh well I do have candle-light yoga to look forward to this Friday, and OH Yea Erick and I are going to see Cirque du soleil on Wednesday! I will try to get some picture of those events.

Pray for Erick and I we are actually in a deciding place right now. Erick is losing his job, and we don't know when the store will actually close. But he has an application into our church, and it would be great if he got that job. But we are also tettering between two places to live...we have an offer on a short sale...we are in the waiting process. But when Erick loses his job, we may not be able to get a loan. so then we are thinking about renting our place in Bonita again...we just don't know which way God is calling us. Please pray for us.

Thanks friends
Jen