trees pruned = check
grass starting to grow back = check
broken fence removed = check
bushes hedged = check
ground raked = check
sinus infection due to above activities = check
new dishwasher = check
house cleaned for home visit = check
officially back on the waitlist = check !!!!!

here’s what is going down at the bluebird house.
we are back to working on renovating the house. we have a list about 10 miles long of what needs to get done. this week we will be focusing on removing tree limbs to allow a little more sun to shine through as the perimeter of our front lawn looks like a barren desert land. also, a juniper we have in our front yard was maliciously attacked by an army of BAGWORMS. the poor juniper didn’t stand a chance. we have to remove it all before it spreads to another.
we’ve had about ten things break and leak in the last few weeks…dishwasher, roof, bathroom sink. i’m not messing around…it’s CRAZY!
[dear bluebird house,]
[we can't help but love you even though we feel like tom hanks and shelley long in the "the money pit".]
[love,]
[hanna and maarten and the cats]
it’s kind of like jesus’ love for us. really. but, i’m messing around. i’m not going to try to make a post about our house a spiritual lesson. but, i could. but, i won’t. i digress.
we had our yearly vet adventure this past week where we loaded up 4 of the cats to get their yearly vacs. nova was the lucky winner to stay at home as he had his in september during another visit. when i say it is an adventure, i’m not joking. we have some VERY unwillinging patients and previous trips have resulted in me scratched, sweating and teary eyed.
well, i had noticed an odd lump on neptune’s back a couple weeks ago and wanted to take the opportunity to get the vet to check it out. he took some cells from the lump (this was seriously fascinating) to be sent away for examination and we should know something on monday or tuesday. he said it looked like it might be ok, so we are hopeful. (still a little scared though).
anyway…that is what we are up to. and, you know…doing the adoption thing.
xoxo,
hanna and maarten

you should never EVER drive a car when it is overheating.

things are returning to normal (whatever that is) around here at the bluebird house. i, hanna, have been taking extra measures to put that anxiety in its place. maarten, sweet as ever, has been there each step of the way in overflowing amounts of encouragement. our families too…have been right here when we needed them. actually, i’ll take that back, things didn’t RETURN to anything…in fact, things are quite DIFFERENT in the best way.

this is not the road we originally set out on. for a bit there, i thought we had ventured into the fire swamp (wuv, true wuv) and yet we knew God was with us the entire time and that His wisdom and grace would reveal itself at just the right time. and He did. this week we venture back out on the open unknown road to adoption. see? it was just a short detour!
xoxo,
hanna and maarten

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

HOME!

ahhhh…….vacation time is here.

dear dr. pepper,
we had a good run you and i. remember that time back in high school..after the game…at the mcdonalds…when i first tasted your sweet nectar? after years of being confined to a hypoglycemia diet, you tasted like just the tiniest bit of heaven. it wasn’t long after that i was downing bottles of you on the way to school in the morning. remember how i let the bottles pile up behind my seat?
oh yeah! there was that one time…when i was really on a binge and i started getting shocks up the back of my skull and thought for sure it was a brain tumor. no…it was just you…my good friend and caffeine provider.
our days are over now. i’m officially breaking up with you. i know…i’ve said it before. i kicked you to the curb only to come scrambling back for more…unable to deny my love. but, really, it’s over now. it’s not me, it’s you. you’ve contributed to my anxiety for the last time with your 41mg of caffeine per 12 oz. serving. i want you to know that i’ve hardly missed you these last 19 days.
i’ll never figure out your 23 mysterious flavors.
i’m sorry sweet friend, this will not end in diabetes…i’m breaking up before things get out of hand.
i’m just not that into you. anymore, that is.
sincerely,
hanna

(hanna here)
maarten and i made a decision this week to put our adoption on hold for a brief time. our hearts have not changed. our desires have not changed. we are still ethiopia bound. however, the anxiety of it all has gotten to me quite a bit and we needed to take a step back before moving forward.
i know that there are many many families of all varieties that have waited MUCH longer for a child; and this is good perspective for us.
after making the decision to do this, i went back and re-read our entire blog from start to finish. it is all a blur, it seems like just yesterday i typed waiting: week 1. and, so, we are filled with hope that when we move forward again, it will probably be the same blur. but, we will move forward with a little wisdom on taking good care of our hearts and minds during the process.
until then, we will be dreaming sweet dreams of our baby girl who we trust will be entering our lives at just the EXACT moment that God designed. we will trust in that and will not waiver…though it is disappointing, and sad, we will not waiver in HIS plan.
we would love to stay in touch with you, if you have been reading our blog.
my email is: hannamarie@vangrowstudio.com
we will also continue to blog every week. this is going to be a GOOD story. whatever happens, God will be victorious.
some of you are familiar with the alexanders and how they came to their sweet abe. their story is a great encouragement to us now…one of God’s power and perfect planning. if you don’t know it, i encourage you to go and read their story from way back. it’s a really good one…
much love,
hanna and maarten

Maarten here:
Wow…I wonder how it has already been 9 months. A lot sure has happened since we first made it on to the official waiting list.
- a nursery was formed
- a new president was elected
- two full sessions of van grow have passed
We thought baby girl would have been here by now but we continue to persevere and wait for His timing. We know that a lot of people have waited longer for referrals and we try to keep that in mind as we continue with the process. We have trust in God and know that Gladney is a great organization to be working with. Our case worker has been very encouraging and patient with us when we needed to talk to her. The blogging community has also been really helpful in letting us know that everyone goes through this and that you just have to be patient. We have also been very excited for everyone that received referrals and smile when we see your little ones. So..who knows…maybe this week will be the week ..and if not… on to week 40.

Please read this and take what you will from it. It has precious meaning to me, but my reasons are not needed to find your own. I just think it is a beautiful passage and worth sharing at this point.
If you are here reading this, I pray you have a wonderful and blessed week and that you have an opportunity to understand the full grasp of God’s Amazing Grace. not always quite what it seems….
xoxo,
Hanna

from “The Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett
….”If Nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that - warm things, kind things, sweet things - help and comfort and laughter - and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all.”