Summer break is here.

We have no big plans. A lot of nothing everyday. Just the way I like it.

Lots of hanging out at the kitchen table.

Lots of pretend picnics in the playhouse.

Lots of water fights and sneaking sips of my sweet tea.

Lots of sneaking sips from the hose when I won’t share my sweet tea.

And lots of little plans and schedules. I’ve learned the hard way that our unstructured summers need some structure for us to really enjoy them. Too much of nothing easily leads to quarrels and complaining around here. With summer upon us, I need a game plan. We’ll do a Meg inspired Summer Fun list. But I need little things planned out too…normal things like lunch and dinner.

So, I began this week with a plan. Every lunch and dinner menu is written out and shopped for ahead of time (no last minute trips to the store with four kids). I’ve also planned some kind of small craft or activity for each day. Summer Camp Campbell style. I pulled out several old magazines to get ideas. I’m all for pinterest, but sitting at the picnic table with an electronic device just is not as relaxing as flipping through magazines for me. (I’m only planning one week ahead…not the whole summer at once)

The kids jumped in and pointed out what they’d like to do too.

We have four crafts planned this week. I’m talking simple crafts…everything already on hand. They’ll probably only take 15 minutes each, but it will help have some structure to our days. And…it will help me be more intentional with all this free time.

I had one goal: to run the whole 5k without stopping or walking.

I know a 5K is such a short distance for so many people, but for me it might as well had been a marathon.

I’ve been slowly training from no running to be able to run 3.1 miles.

Saturday I woke up…semi ready to run.

I met up with some friends at the race site. It was a small race, a couple hundred runners. When I signed up for this race with friends I thought it would be a great way to celebrate ‘running the race’ of waiting for our approval letter. When I signed up, I fully expected that on race day I would be celebrating that we had our approval letter and were just a few more steps away from getting our girl.

Total bummer going to the race without an approval letter to celebrate. I’m still running that race.

Our little group kind of had an agreement to see each other at the finish line. We started the race together, but each knew we had to run our own race. There are so many parallels with running and the adoption wait for me. Even this crazy letter we are waiting for…so many start the wait at the same time, but we finish that race at totally different times.

The race began. Slow and steady wins the race. Run your own race. Don’t stare at the amazingly buff legs of all the runners in front of you. Just keep running.

The race began with everyone tight together and then it got spread out. At one point I rounded a few turns all alone…with the warm sun shining down.

Friends told me that race day would be fun because of the excitement of the crowd and the atmosphere. I think I still like running alone the best. At least I thought I did. I came around a turn and saw the finish line in front of me. I switched my playlist to my ‘finish line’ song (Third Day, You Are So Good to Me):

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song

And I will sing again

You are so good to me

You heal my broken heart

You are my Father in Heaven

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song

It is my finish line song because I am running while I am waiting for my beautiful sweet, sweet Song.

Well as I got a few feet from the finish line, I picked up my pace so relieved to finally finish. Then the course changed. There was another whole leg before the finish line. So disappointing. I just kept running. When the finish line finally came into view again, a dear friend was running next to me.

We crossed that line together. I ran my first 5K. I finished with a friend by my side. Not surprisingly that friend is also one that is holding me up as I wait for our letter. I still have not caught the running bug. Still no runner’s high. Yet, I will still keep running. For as long as I am waiting to get my girl home, I’ll keep signing up for races. I’ll keep running for my beautiful, sweet sweet Song.

And then I may or may not hang up my running shoes.

The incubator you all purchased last month arrived to the orphanage!!!

(incubator project post here, update project post here)

Love Without Boundaries received a photo this week. The incubator is equipped to care for vulnerable babies and those with jaundice. It is also a sterile, safe environment for the youngest babies. Can you believe how cute that well bundled little one is? I so wish he or she could be snuggled in my arms!

Well, not much is happening regarding our adoption. We are on day 77 of our wait for our approval letter. I’ve seen others get it in under 20 days and still seen others wait 120 days. There isn’t much sense to be made regarding the wait times. When we began the wait at the first of March, I was just sure we’d never reach May and still be waiting. But, we are.

Jumping when the phone rings, hoping it will be my agency is getting old. I’m weary of the waiting. This too shall pass.

Our youngest daughter will need some surgeries over the course of time, so we’ve been trying to make preparations for that. I’ll share more on it later, but now I’m not ready to post it on such a public forum. Anyway, we drove 4.5 hours out of state to meet with a surgeon. In preparing for that meeting here is what I learned:

1. Every time I call the doctor’s office they ask my child’s name and I get to tell them. I love saying her name.
2. I am grateful for health insurance, but it sure is frustrating when you have to deal with red tape. Chris is extremely attractive when he is passionately advocating for his daughter on the phone with our insurance company.
3. Medical forms are bittersweet. I get to write my name in the “Mother” section – sweet! All the spots related to pregnancy, birth and medical history have to be left blank. Those blank spots are hard.

It just so happens IKEA is directly on the way from my house to the doctor’s office. We stopped by for a little shopping. The boys stayed home with family, but our little road warrior tagged along with us.

We bought her little sister a high chair and stacking cups. So far I’ve never had much success with my kids liking stacking cups. However, several adoptive moms suggested I bring some along when we travel…so we shall see if Little One likes them.

FireCracker went nuts over the ‘pink room’. She crawled right up in the bed and got under the covers…later she passed out in her daddy’s arms.

Waiting to see the doctor. I was both nervous and excited. It was a good visit. He’s a great doctor, but my favorite part was hearing him say her name and calling me her mom. I think I might call the office everyday just so they can ask me, “What is your child’s name?” and I can respond. Good times. Good times. (For the record, Chris is not on his phone all the time…he was dealing with insurance all day)

And a fast dinner before the long drive home.

It was nice to feel like we were doing something for our youngest daughter, but at the end of the day we were still waiting for a phone call.

Day 77.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” ~Proverbs 13:12