A Family Favorite!

We've fallen in love with this song. It's just another way we hear the voice of God changing our life's direction... A beautiful sound! You tube it! You'll love it too. Its by Christian artist, Leeland with Brandon Heath.

Follow You

You lived among the least of these

the weary and the weak

and it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs you have supplied.

When I was dead you gave me life.

How could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow you into the homes of the broken.

Follow you into the world.

Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God.

Follow you into the world.

Use my hands, use my feet

To make your kingdom come.

Through the corners of the earth

until your work is done.

Because faith without works is dead

and on the cross your blood was shed

so how could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow you into the homes of the broken.

Follow you into the world.

Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God.

Follow you into the world.

I give all myself

I give all myself

All myself to you.

Updates

A lot has happened at the Peterson house in the last week. I am now and forever working at home as a portrait and wedding photographer which means two things:

1. I get to be my own boss, work in my PJ's and go wherever I want for lunch
2. The laundry, construction zone, dirty dog and lengthening grocery list stares at me all day

This working from home stuff is harder than I thought! In fact, as we speak I am off task. Blogging was not on my list of "to-do's" today and somehow, I've found time "to-do" it.

The point of this post was to give you all a little update on our adoption journey. A few days ago, a good friend of mine gave me the number of a friend who studies law at St. Mary's University. Not only does she study law... She is specializing in International Adoption! Though not graduated yet, she has shown so much excitement in meeting with us to teach us all about adoption and our options that I can't help but be so excited to meet her! We've spoken back and forth through email about what she might be able to do for us and the more we talk, the more I think she's a gift from God to help us through this whole thing. She plans to take the Bar exam next summer which is about the time we will begin our paperwork. It would be great if she were the one to handle our adoption! We are going to try and meet with her this weekend so I will keep ya'll updated on our progress.

Hutchinson Bailey Peterson

This is Hutch.

Our crazy-eyed Catahoula Pitbull mutt. (Think Rachel Ray, not Michael Vick.) With length like a weenie dog (must be the mutt in him) an immobilizing fear of tin foil and a taste for sheet rock mud... this dog does should not be classified as a Pitbull. Nevertheless, we had to search for a vet when we rescued him because many clinics didn't carry the insurance necessary to treat him. Hilarious, when you consider how he sits in front of the mirror and whines at his own reflection. Hutch is a goofy, excitable snuggler and we love him so much! Throughout this blog you will hear me and Josh refer to him so I thought it would be nice for you to "put a face with a name." As our first child, we love him dearly. I'm sure he will take a back seat to the children we'll have in the future. But for now, he has claimed a nice cozy spot in our hearts... and on our furniture.

Something's Gotta Give

I was so excited to hear of all of the support behind us on our recent decision to adopt! What an amazing blessing! We know we are excited to add a member to the Boerne family. The title of this blog is "something's gotta give" because well... seriously, something's gotta give. Before our decision to adopt, we bought a fixer upper (as the previous post explains.) We were so excited to have a house that we quickly decided we needed new furniture, a new kitchen, new bathrooms.... etc. etc. We also were so excited to be newlyweds that we planned countless vacations in the coming year to celebrate all the happenings of our newly married life. ALL while josh finishes graduate school, trains for an Ironman and we are in the beginning stages of starting our family and adopting a child! WHOA! So. It all came to a head last night. Laying in bed, sleepless and grouchy, we determined that there is just a little bit too much self inflicted stress falling on our shoulders right about now! Why do we (as in all people) do this to ourselves? We live in such a "want it now!" world! I was talking to my good friend, Maren the other day and we came to the conclusion that all financial stress in self inflicted. It seems that its so easy to fall into the trap of "never having enough." Needless to say, we are re-prioritizing our lives. We know what is important and its not beach trips and crate and barrel furniture. This post is short and honestly, not very well put together. But, I have to run! Going to meet Josh for some Alamo Cafe and a much needed financial makeover. Why does every important decision in our marriage seem to happen over sweet tea and quick food?

On Our Hearts

Words close to our hearts right now:

" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

What do we need strength in? Both physically and mentally! Our house is in the beginning stages of renovation and, while I'm sure there may be more important things to pray about, we speak to him daily for the strength to move walls and the understanding necessary to maintain our marriage. When your house was built in the 60's, you have a lot to do! Nevertheless, we are loving every minute of our crazy long nights, sleepless weekends and endless spending... None of which includes any kind of fruity drink or posh club.

Other words very close to our hearts right now:

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:18

Josh and I were married about 1 year ago on March 21st 2010. It seems only natural that we would be thinking of starting a family; especially when it seems that so many of our friends are beginning theirs. I watch Faith, my best friend's baby, and I think about how beautiful it is to be a child... no cares in the world! her mind is filled with pure wonderment at the world around her. She is the picture of innocence and everyone around her is in place for her protection. If only all children could be so lucky.

Josh and I had talked about our feelings on the topic of adoption before. Our views were quite the same then as they are now. "What better way to show God's love in action than to do for some kid what He has done for us." is what Josh told me. After the recent Haiti quake the topic came up again. So many kids without parents and consequently, nobody to encourage their future! We talked about it more and more as the weeks went on and I found myself researching countries, agencies, and orphanages. I watched stories on Youtube of families traveling thousands of miles to pick up the baby that God had hand-picked for them. Their faces were precious and I was absolutely sold. on January 25Th, over sweet tea and waffle fries at Chickfila, we realized that this feeling was now so engraved in our hearts that we were never going to shake it. We said it out loud. "Well, if we are going to do this, let's get the ball rolling!" We're excited and terrified! Besides the fact that the cost is absolutely daunting and the time frame can be long; We are faced with the typical question of "Will we be good parents?" Especially to a child who has been through so much at such a young age. I believe whole-heartedly however that this seed was planted in our marriage for a reason. I know that the feeling you get deep in your heart... the one that makes you feel uncomfortable and forces you to take a step back is indeed God's voice. And He's telling me right now that, where there is a will, there is a way! He's going to provide, we just know it! So I'll wrap this post up by asking you all, friends and family, to pray for us! Pray for the means, the wisdom and the patience to complete this journey and ultimately change the life of our child forever!