6 WEEKS! What?! I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that 6 weeks from now we will be seen by birth mothers (and hopefully fathers!) again! We are SO close to adding another little to the Castro clan! I'm feeling excited, nervous, joyful, hopeful and terrified. Between now and then I've got a pretty decent "to do" list to complete, but I'm focused and ready to get it done! The main two items are creating and assembling a new profile and make a new video for our website. The place we are working with currently operates a little different than an agency. I'm a little nervous about how things will look once we are matched, but open adoption is so encouraged through this place that I'm hopeful for a smooth process! We learned a lot going through the court experience with Timothy that we are a bit more prepared this time around. Whew!
To be honest, I'm very hopeful that we can be "matched" with someone locally through a friend who can utilize the birth mother services of Lifetime. Lifetime is so sensitive to birth mothers, offering a wonderful care package, 24-7 availability to talk, scholarship opportunities if she wants to continue her education, etc. every birth mother is different in her wants, needs, focus, support and reasons for choosing adoption. Whatever the reason, she chose life for her baby and I love the support available to her.
So, as we dive into growing our family again, I ask that you join us in prayer. For our baby (or babies-twins is an option!), for our birth parents, for birth father involvement in a positive way, for a birth location nearby us or someone we can stay with to limit travel expenses. If we are out of state we have to stay for approx 2 weeks (17 days with Timothy) so this would be very helpful.
*Many of you joined us in praying VERY specifically for Timothy and the circumstances surrounding his adoption and The Lord revealed himself to me in a huge way during that time, showing me how much He truly cares for the details. I am trusting Him again with the details as they are very much beyond my control!*
If you want to be a part of our adoption in a more tangible way we are offering a new T shirt design and have a goal of selling 50. Email me at cmarie9301@yahoo.com for pictures or check it out on my Facebook page. We will also be hosting another garage sale late spring so keep an eye out so you can check out our goodies or if we can take anything off your hands as you Spring clean! (It will be a few more weeks before we collect for this) We are also still accepting donations through gofundme at http://www.gofundme.com/Castro-Adoption
Thank you all for your love, support, encouraging words and prayers as we enter thus journey once again!
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Thursday, March 5, 2015
A new endeavor
This post may seem a bit off topic from adoption, but I promise it ties together :)
Over this past year I have learned a lot about myself. How I manage stress, how to identify my emotions, to actually allow myself to feel. For a long time now I have managed to stifle my emotions under the umbrella of being sober minded. In my attempt to always take a step back and evaluate a situation I didn't ever truly address what I was feeling. Instead I ate chocolate :) Who can relate?! I've learned that this is probably not the best way to deal, right? I need to allow myself to feel, work through those feelings, AND measure the situation with biblical mindset. Being sober minded doesn't mean just sweeping my emotion under the rug, as I have been operating. As I stated earlier however, I didn't really sweep them, I ate them. It was a stressful year from day 1 with lots of changes and lots of chocolate.
My goals for this year included balance and consistency. Balance in life, consistency in time spent on my relationship with The Lord, balance between being a wife, mom, friend, daughter, grand daughter. Part of that balance also includes actively contributing financially to my family. Which brings me to the next part of my goal: balance and consistency with making healthy food choices and exercise. While these things are a work in progress, I have made great strides in many areas. However, getting healthy has been one of my greatest challenges. This verse has been stuck in my mind a lot over the past few weeks:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit..."
I need to be taking good care of this body I have been given.
My tendency is to eat well throughout the week then completely binge on the weekends and undo all my efforts. Recently I made the decision to become a coach with Beachbody. Originally I joined this team as a form of accountability. A support group of sorts. What I have discovered, however, is that my being a coach goes far beyond this original goal and can actually help accomplish the balance and consistency I'm working toward in 2015. With a focus of helping others achieve theirs goals of getting healthy and fit, while walking that journey myself requires time, which requires balance and focus as well as my own consistency. I get to financially contribute to my family, while focusing on my own health and fitness goals as well as walk alongside others (maybe you?!) as they work toward a better/healthier life. I'm super excited about this endeavor! How I can help myself, others, AND contribute to our adoption fund by growing this business. If you use Beachbody programs/products but do not have a coach, I would LOVE to join your journey with you. If you have considered the craziness of PIYO, T25, Insanity or P90X but haven't made the jump or want to try out the super yummy and crazy healthy Shakeology (I drink it every day!) hit me up! Together we can figure out what works best for you!
I strongly believe my "job" is to be home with my boys, but I need to have a "job" that makes a little money for our adoption. This is the best of both worlds for me!
Over this past year I have learned a lot about myself. How I manage stress, how to identify my emotions, to actually allow myself to feel. For a long time now I have managed to stifle my emotions under the umbrella of being sober minded. In my attempt to always take a step back and evaluate a situation I didn't ever truly address what I was feeling. Instead I ate chocolate :) Who can relate?! I've learned that this is probably not the best way to deal, right? I need to allow myself to feel, work through those feelings, AND measure the situation with biblical mindset. Being sober minded doesn't mean just sweeping my emotion under the rug, as I have been operating. As I stated earlier however, I didn't really sweep them, I ate them. It was a stressful year from day 1 with lots of changes and lots of chocolate.
My goals for this year included balance and consistency. Balance in life, consistency in time spent on my relationship with The Lord, balance between being a wife, mom, friend, daughter, grand daughter. Part of that balance also includes actively contributing financially to my family. Which brings me to the next part of my goal: balance and consistency with making healthy food choices and exercise. While these things are a work in progress, I have made great strides in many areas. However, getting healthy has been one of my greatest challenges. This verse has been stuck in my mind a lot over the past few weeks:
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit..."
I need to be taking good care of this body I have been given.
My tendency is to eat well throughout the week then completely binge on the weekends and undo all my efforts. Recently I made the decision to become a coach with Beachbody. Originally I joined this team as a form of accountability. A support group of sorts. What I have discovered, however, is that my being a coach goes far beyond this original goal and can actually help accomplish the balance and consistency I'm working toward in 2015. With a focus of helping others achieve theirs goals of getting healthy and fit, while walking that journey myself requires time, which requires balance and focus as well as my own consistency. I get to financially contribute to my family, while focusing on my own health and fitness goals as well as walk alongside others (maybe you?!) as they work toward a better/healthier life. I'm super excited about this endeavor! How I can help myself, others, AND contribute to our adoption fund by growing this business. If you use Beachbody programs/products but do not have a coach, I would LOVE to join your journey with you. If you have considered the craziness of PIYO, T25, Insanity or P90X but haven't made the jump or want to try out the super yummy and crazy healthy Shakeology (I drink it every day!) hit me up! Together we can figure out what works best for you!
I strongly believe my "job" is to be home with my boys, but I need to have a "job" that makes a little money for our adoption. This is the best of both worlds for me!
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
What a year!
Wow. Has it really been a year already?! It just doesn't even seem possible and what a year it's been! On February 21, 2014 my phone rang and everything changed. Timothy was on his way and I went into crazy mode packing, making phone calls, praying, and trying to calm my heart. After a few days in the hospital, 2 weeks in a hotel, a visit from my parents, a visit from my grandparents, and reuniting with Josiah we finally got to head home. 3 days later we loaded up again as a family of 4 for a family wedding where we hot to introduce Timothy to everyone!! He was quite a trooper. Fantastic traveler and great infant sleeper. Over the course of the following 12 months our family made some HUGE changes. We had 2 post placement visits with our agency. Andy made the decision to go into full time minstry. A few months later this came to fruition with the offer of a pastor position at his home church, Graceway, in Kansas City. So we put our house on the market, accepted an offer soon after, packed up and moved to Kansas City. We temporarily stayed with both of our parents during this time as we went back and forth finalizing the sale of our home, moved into our new house, started a small group, started a leadership group (both of which meet in our home), and tried to settle in to our new normal. Not quite 3 weeks after we moved in we needed to update our homestudy and have another post placement check in, which included a visit from our social worker, more money, and making sure our house was ready/safe. We also did an interview with a local news station focusing on adoption and the cost involved. They were so kind to talk with us and share our story. Then we entered the holiday season: Thanksgiving, Christmas tree decorating, visiting Santa, tamale making...busy time! On top of the normal busyness, In December Andy took on some new responsibilities at work, making things pretty crazy for a while. After the first of the year we began gearing up for Timothy's final court date. This meant a 4th post placement visit in Springfield, more checks to the attorney, and of course, new outfits! :)
FINALLY......on February 27 when Timothy was 1 year 5 days old a judge declared his adoption final and we were OFFICIALLY his parents!!!! Oh the joy! I wish I could explain this day. That morning I literally couldn't eat I was so nervous. On the way to the courthouse my heart was beating out of my
chest. I felt like I was in labor again, reminding myself to breathe! Even though I knew Timothy was ours and everything was in place, I couldn't help but be nervous. What if we had missed a step? What if the judge wanted to see more? What if the guardian ad litem didn't approve of us? There was always this looming weight. Such a heavy weight, that I can only describe as stifling. I don't think I even realized it was there until everything was declared official. What if I had unintentionally said or done something wrong? Could my baby boy still be taken from me? Oh, how my heart and mind raced. I think I cried tears of joy and relief 3 times before we got home that day. Even writing this, my heart is racing and tears fill my eyes.
This journey of adoption is lifelong. We have an ongoing relationship with Timothy's birth parents that has been interesting to navigate this past year, and will continue to streach and grow us the rest of our lives. This experience of open adoption has taught me grace and love beyond what I knew possible.
While it is such a freeing feeling and a wonderful to have this chapter of the story closed, we are now beginning the next chapter of the next adoption book! It's time to take a deep breath and dive in again. It's time to make a new profile, a new video, and begin fervently praying for baby #3!
If you would like to be a part of our next adoption please use the link below. Thankfully we have been able to fund the majority of this adoption already and now just need about $7,000 for legal fees and potential travel. We covet your prayers as God writes the book of our third baby. For her (I just have a feeling!), for her birth mother and father, for our boys, for our family, for our marriage, for our ministry. The emotions of adoption are deep, intense, constant and worth it.
http://www.gofundme.com/Castro-Adoption
Next blog: my new adventure to getting healthy for my family and helping others do the same!
FINALLY......on February 27 when Timothy was 1 year 5 days old a judge declared his adoption final and we were OFFICIALLY his parents!!!! Oh the joy! I wish I could explain this day. That morning I literally couldn't eat I was so nervous. On the way to the courthouse my heart was beating out of my
chest. I felt like I was in labor again, reminding myself to breathe! Even though I knew Timothy was ours and everything was in place, I couldn't help but be nervous. What if we had missed a step? What if the judge wanted to see more? What if the guardian ad litem didn't approve of us? There was always this looming weight. Such a heavy weight, that I can only describe as stifling. I don't think I even realized it was there until everything was declared official. What if I had unintentionally said or done something wrong? Could my baby boy still be taken from me? Oh, how my heart and mind raced. I think I cried tears of joy and relief 3 times before we got home that day. Even writing this, my heart is racing and tears fill my eyes.
This journey of adoption is lifelong. We have an ongoing relationship with Timothy's birth parents that has been interesting to navigate this past year, and will continue to streach and grow us the rest of our lives. This experience of open adoption has taught me grace and love beyond what I knew possible.
While it is such a freeing feeling and a wonderful to have this chapter of the story closed, we are now beginning the next chapter of the next adoption book! It's time to take a deep breath and dive in again. It's time to make a new profile, a new video, and begin fervently praying for baby #3!
If you would like to be a part of our next adoption please use the link below. Thankfully we have been able to fund the majority of this adoption already and now just need about $7,000 for legal fees and potential travel. We covet your prayers as God writes the book of our third baby. For her (I just have a feeling!), for her birth mother and father, for our boys, for our family, for our marriage, for our ministry. The emotions of adoption are deep, intense, constant and worth it.
http://www.gofundme.com/Castro-Adoption
Next blog: my new adventure to getting healthy for my family and helping others do the same!
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