Catching Up With Janie Fox {and sleep}

I have a bucket list of sorts that mostly involves crazy things like meeting strangers I've become friends with through blogging, and zip-lining through New Zealand. Believe it or not, on Saturday, I checked Janie Fox off the list. If you don't know who the heck Janie Fox is then drop everything you're doing right now and run over to her blog and hug her neck. She is lovely.

If you'll remember correctly, Janie donated the Kindle Fire for the giveaway. She has a big heart, that girl. I love her.

This is how this whole meeting thing went down:

I had to call Janie in regards to something about the giveaway. We talked of meeting "in real life" one day. She casually mentioned she and her husband Stuart were going to be vacationing in a few weeks about two states over from me. Now, normally, I wouldn't have thought a thing about that, but directly I picked up the church bulletin and realized that my tall boy was going to be in the very same place at the very same time. I know!!! It was fate. Well, actually God.

Long story short, God let things fall quickly into place and even provided us with lodging, a little unexpected extra income and reminded me of some gift cards for meals we had received at Christmas time. My man has been itching to have me to himself for quite some time and when I made mention of Janie Fox and my little scheme he signed right up. He's a good man.

So, for the first time in two years, we loaded up the car and high-tailed it out of town leaving kids and youth trip buses and baby-sitters behind.

Janie and I had planned ahead that we would meet for lunch on Saturday. I was so excited. I was so nervous. I didn't pack the right clothes. I forgot my boots. I had crazy hotel hair. But, after a visit to the Krispy Kreme for some sugar and the Wal-mart for some proper hair juice I chilled out. Until I got out of the car, and then it was butterfly city. I thought about chickening out but I didn't want you all reading across the headline of the Janie Fox Tallks blog that "Small Town Joy was a No-Show." Law. The thought.

I sucked it up and headed in with my man alongside. I had the best time! She is such a sweet heart. The real deal. And Stuart? I felt like I've known him my whole life. Do I? How is that even possible? Lunch was delicious and the company was so sweet. I feel like we're old friends. Now I've added visit Janie's house to my bucket list. I can't make any headway on that list, obviously.

When we left Janie and Stuart we headed to visit the Bass Pro Shop. I fell asleep before we met the first stop sign. I slept all the way there. Then, when we arrived Janie and Stuart were right behind us on our way in. Talk about fun!

The rest of the weekend was full of food, fun and lots of sleep. Apparently, I was in dire need of a recharge. I slept almost every where we drove, took an afternoon nap and an early bedtime. Then? I slept all the way home.

Little Sister made out just fine without us. She did let out a genuine squeal when we arrived home, which I treasured up in my heart. Plus, it was a happy mail day, which is always good, good.

Our boys were just down the road from us the whole time we were there. I felt free to check in on them from time to time via texting, but I never laid my eyes on them.

Just before we headed out on Friday I checked the mail to find notice of a court hearing. This isn't the one we're waiting on, but it still rattles my nerves. Because of the short notice (we were not given the required 10 day notice, once again) Barry will not be able to go. So, I'll be heading up to that alone this week. This surprise hearing also adds another court hearing onto our rising adoption costs bill, meaning our meter is now incorrect on the final goal. I'm not changing it again.

In addition to the hearing, we have an auditor coming at work this week and Riley goes back to Emory at the end of the week. It's too much at once for me, but not too much for God.

I'm going to be honest here. We kind of already know that Riley's visit to Emory will bring forth some tough news. We will share when we have more concrete information, which will take some time. This is a big deal.

I had hoped that when we got to this point, when we all needed to travel to Emory together, that we would have something fun planned around it. That isn't going to happen. I'm sticking a few prizes in a bag for every kid. We're hoping to eat somewhere special that may lift some spirits. We're prayerful that things aren't as bad as we suspect. But realistically, we know better.

This week seems like too much, but it isn't. God blessed us with a weekend of rest to prepare for it.

We're prayerful that our meter will continue to rise as adoption costs continue to build this week.

We're thankful that our Riley is still our Riley, no matter what. That nothing about Riley is a surprise to God. Pray that his prize bag and his God Pocket will fill up, and that he will find comfort in being fearfully and wonderfully made by our loving God.

I'm hopeful that you'll pray for my work week to be no big deal at all. Seriously. Peace. I need peace.

And Janie Fox, ahhhhh! I was so excited to meet you! Famous girl! Have fun with your man this week!

God is good, all the time!