Videos to songs

After I finished the previous entry, I found a site with the video for the song "Cry Out to Jesus." Here it is for those of you who are unfamiliar with the song.


Third Day - Cry out to Jesus


I also found the video for the song "Everything to Me" by Mark Schultz which I mentioned in an entry in my June blog.

Music Video:

New Insights

This morning I was really moved by the morning service at church. This month we are having a "Big Push". The services are geared toward answering questions that people have. Today's focus was "If I'm okay...why do I feel so bad?" Pastor Norm talked about the symptoms and causes of depression and how turning to God could heal us of the depression. Now, before any one attacks this idea, he also clarified that God may use doctors and medication in certian situations. Anyways...this sermon really hit home since I have struggled so much with this issue.

One thing that really hit me before the sermon was the song "Cry Out to Jesus" by Third Day. I have heard this song a hundred times, but today when we sang it in service it really moved me. Here are the lyrics just in case you are not familiar with the song.

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

As we sang this song, it hit me that there were multiple times during my struggles with infertility and the miscarriages that I did just that...cried out to Jesus. I honestly do not know where I would be without God. On that same note, here is the Bible passage that today's sermon focused on:

Psalms 42 (New International Version)

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My [c] soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"

10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Isn't great to have a God who is always there for us?

The Second "Chunk" is Now Here!

Believe it or not...the second "chunk" of paperwork for our adoption arrived in the mail today! It isn't much larger than the first "chunk," but some of it seems that it will be more time consuming. There is also paperwork that must be filled out by our family doctor as well as a form that must be filled out by the fire marshall.

We also can begin working on the profile/scrapbook which will appear in their "book" at the agency. This is the book that birth parents will look through to choose the couple/family that they would like to adopt their baby.

Jeromy and I are both very excited! It just seems like it is becoming more real! One step closer to bringing our baby home!

Quick Tidbits...

- Jeromy had an exciting shift at Lifeflight on Saturday. He was actually able to fly the helicopter! He is very excited about this (the little boy is coming out). However, his shift yesterday was not as exciting. They flew around for an hour to train the new pilot...that was all. On the upside, this meant that he was able to get a full night's sleep. A rarity on a lifeflight shift.

- We just found out that Jeromy may have to work Thanksgiving and Christmas days. That is definitely one of the down sides of his job.

- Our cell group met for the first time last night. It is no longer at our house, but at Rob and Sharon's. It was nice to get together with everyone since we don't see them very often any more.

- My sister Kelly and her family are moving again. They are buying a house near where they currently live. It is a bigger house and will be nice for them. No details as of yet.

I felt like there was more to share, but I can't remember for the life of me what it was.

The First "Chunk" is Finished

Just a little update on the adoption process. We have finished our first "chunk." Actually, it has been finished for a week, but we have been trying to get a hold of our references before we sent it in.

So, now we wait for our second "chunk" to arrive. Keep us in your prayers!

A Benefit of Being a Teacher

This morning, moments before my alarm was to go off, our phone rang. I answered it and was happy to hear my mom's voice on the other end. She had called to tell me that we were on a two hour delay! I love two hour delays! They don't count against us and it means 20 minute periods (except for the three periods which contain lunch). It was made even better because it was Friday.

Anyways, after hanging up with mom, I called Michelle to let her know and then tried to go back to sleep. Unfortunately, Jeromy had been awaken by the phone and thought it was a good idea to talk. I kept trying to go to sleep and he kept talking. Eventually, he fell asleep. I, however, never fell fully asleep again. Oh well.

By the way, we were delayed because of the fog in the country areas and near the lake.

Never Say Teaching is Boring!

Once again...a bird has entered my classroom. This is a common occurrence. I'm not really sure why. It always makes it exciting (the kids are hilarious...have you ever seen a 17 year old football player dive under a table to avoid a bird the size of a sparrow? Good times.)

I called one of the science teachers (who always rescues the birds who enter my room) and he sent up an AG student to rescue the bird. After about 10 minutes the bird was captured and set free. Unfortunately, the bird was injured in the "capture." There are now blood streaks on the ceiling of my room. Thankfully, the science teacher called and told me the wound was superficial and that the bird flew happily away after a short rest.

Just in case you are interested, the bird is a Red-bellied Nuthatch. It was migrating (it is not normally found in Northwest Ohio). Here is a picture of what it looked like:

The First "Chunk" Has Arrived!

Yesterday afternoon the first "chunk" of our paperwork arrived. We were sooooo excited! We started filling out the paperwork last night. It wasn't as complex and difficult as I thought it would be. We are almost finished with the first "chunk" already!

This "chunk" has been so easy, it makes me nervous about the second "chunk." Everyone says the paperwork is very time consuming, but so far it hasn't been bad. That must mean that the next "chunk" is going to be bad (or everyone at the meeting was exaggerating). Oh well, I guess we just need to wait and see. At least we have started the process and we are very excited about that!

First Step Toward Adoption

Last night, Jeromy and I traveled to Fostoria to our first meeting with the Catholic Diocese about the adoption process. Unfortunately, we did not learn anything new for the most part. We learned that I will need to be certified in Infant First Aid and CPR, if we are to be able to bring the baby home from the hospital. We don't think that Jeromy will need to take the class since he is an ER doctor and all. Isn't it funny that we need to have this certification, but just about anyone else can get pregnant?

Once disappointing thing that we learned is that we could have had our paperwork almost two weeks ago if we would have called. That is so frustrating! We just assumed that we would receive the paperwork at the meeting since they had not mentioned it in their letters to us. So, Jeromy called them today and they will be sending out the paperwork tonight (at least the first "chunk"). I guess that is what happens when you assume. :)

We will keep you updated!

OPA!

This weekend was the annual Greek Fest in downtown Toledo. Alex and Elena were dancing for the first time. They have been working very hard! Today, after church, we went to the Festival to see them dance. Aren't they cute in their little ethnic costumes?



Kelly had to fix their costumes before they danced. When they first came walking out, Elena had lost her hat.





The dancing was adorable. At one point, Alex was between Elena and another girl (not the one in the picture) and he was being torn in two. The girls kept going in opposite directions both taking Alex with them. He was not happy during that dance. Also, there was a song about stomping ants and Elena was stomping her foot so hard that if there was an ant on the ground they didn' have a chance.

Elena's First Day of School

Today was Elena's first day of preschool. She was very excited! Here is what Kelly had to say about this...

Today was Elena's first day of preschool. She woke up at 6am to make sure we remembered she had school today. Followed by a song about her school as we pulled into the driveway. When it was time for me to leave, I said can I have a kiss goodbye? she responded with, "Mom, I'm playing...." I said ok. I'll just stay with you. She of course then jumped up, gave me a kiss and said "ok, go now..." fun. real fun...

Oh the traumas of your baby growing older (I know Kelly...just wait until its mine). Here are some pictures of Elena. The first is of her proudly showing off her Ariel backpack (I think she has a crush on Prince Eric).




The next couple of pictures are of her busying herself checking out all the great toys. Oh what should she play with first?




Finally, Kelly said that she got a good report about Elena when she picked her up. Kelly was concerned because Elena can be bossy at times. The teacher, Mrs. Wilson, reassured her that Elena had not been that bossy. We think that might be code for "just give me time to nip this in the bud." I can't imagine this little angel being bossy. What do you think? :)