Miscellany Monday {Adoption & Eyeballs with a Side of Chaos & Peace}

1. Our weekend was slow paced with milk shakes and fries with our Daddy-guy. We tucked Little Sister in early and watched a movie two nights in a row. We worked on Cat and the Hat Valentines and read books in bed. And just when we couldn't stand to be away from them any longer, we scooped our boys back up from Nana and Papaw's house. These are the days.

2. If you're in the business of praying for our adoption, then we'll be glad if you'd pray over a few things for us. We are still awaiting a court date. Our attorney's office submitted for the date a few weeks ago, and everyone is a bit baffled as to why we don't have one yet. Of course, I know God is in control of this but, hey, I may possibly be getting antsy. Also, I mentioned earlier in the year that we had been waiting for "nothing" to happen in the case. Time lapsed and "nothing" happened exactly as we had hoped. (So confusing, I know!) Well, essentially, we are back in that same boat again. To cover our bases we did one more thing to ensure that once we're done, we're done. It is a common practice in private adoptions and was highly suggested for our case. (Have I mentioned enough times here that this case has been a doozy through and through?). So between now and February 24th, we'd love for you to pray for "nothing" to happen once again. I'd say I'll never ask you for anything else ever again, but let's face it, I'll be back tomorrow for something another. Mark my word.

3. Last week we skipped over to the big city for an eye appointment with our fancy doctor. Unfortunately, our fancy doctor was in emergency surgery all morning working frantically to save another child's eye. This, my friends, is why we visit the big fancy doctor. He is dedicated to his children. Since he was detained for many hours, we saw another physician in the practice instead. Now, while I am sure that this physician is just as competent as our fancy guy, her bedside manner was much different. Can I just be honest here and say I want a reschedule? She wasn't thorough in her exam or her details. I kind of got the feeling that since Riley wasn't her patient, she wasn't going to make any plans for action. She did confirm that Riley's right eye has a new condition called APD going on. This is where his pupil reacts too quickly when light changes. It is mild at this point, but a concern. She said it is typical for his disease progression. His cornea has a good bit of calcium build up on it and this is causing some redness on his outer eye. For now, he is using tears once a day to add some moisture into his eye. This build up can cause his eye to be dry and scratchy as if there were sand in it. She scheduled for us to come back in two months and see our regular doctor- praise the Lord!

Because the glaucoma doctor also wanted to see him in that same time frame, and they do not want to see him on the same day, we'll be spending two days in Atlanta in April. The reasoning behind this is because both doctors need to see his eye before and after being dilated. When both are scheduled on the same day some tests are inevitably left undone by one doctor or the other. I am hoping that we may be able to arrange to take Riley to see the dolphin show at the Aquarium then since we will be there over-night and will not be as rushed. I may also be hoping to go and touch everything in the IKEA, but that's a story for another day.

The frustrating thing about this visit was that I really kind of felt like we wasted both time and money by going. I in no way felt shorted by our fancy doctor who was in surgery fighting for another child. I honestly don't feel upset toward anyone at all. The overall care for Riley was still great even if I didn't give a gold star in the bedside manner department. The doctor he saw was very nice, she just didn't hand me the extensive list of answers to the questions I have and don't know to ask. I feel like that by not seeing our doctor we're heading back sooner than we would have, and we may possibly have delayed some treatment on some things.  Nonetheless, I am still so thankful that Riley is able to receive such advanced medical care. God is so good to us.

4. Around these parts, I'm working on being more intentional. Believe it or not, I don't have it all together all the time. Shocking. I took the time this weekend to work on a few things for church, get my girl's Valentines all ready to go, and plan out our dinner menu for this week. I caught up on laundry, spent some time with my man and put together a few little treats to mail to a far-away friend. I tucked a few dollars into my vacation envelope and cleaned the junk out of my car. I want my kids to feel safe and loved at home. I want Jesus to bleed out of me and onto them. I don't want to be tired and grumpy and unorganized, which sometimes happens, by the way. I find that the things that bring me down on a daily basis are the things I don't take care of on time. Like the laundry, dinner preparation or cleaning. It's easy to blame chaos on things like work, or busy schedules, or even church, but the fact of the matter is God has given me enough time to serve my family. How I manage that time is up to me. If you're following the Jesus Calling daily devotion then I bet you are noticing how easy it is for your attention to be pulled away from God. I bet you've also noticed how He keeps calling you back to Him. I feel like He is using this to call me back to order. Focus. Solidify. To find peace.

More than anything, it is the desire of my heart to stay at home with my children. This season we're in right now requires me to work part-time outside of the home. While I can't predict what the future may hold, I hope someday that this will change. For now, I spend school time hours away from home and scoop everyone back up when the school bell rings for dismissal.

God has whispered to me ever so softly to live where I am. In this season. In the midst of it all, to bleed Him. My God is not the God of chaos. He is the God of peace. And He keeps calling.

Have a good week my friends!

God is good, all the time!

P.S.- If you are not doing the Jesus Calling daily devotion please run and get one for yourself today! Locals can find them at Everyday Presence on the square.

Linking up with cutie-pie Carissa today. Go check her out!