Gotcha Day

Free picture slideshow made with Smilebox Absolutely perfect day. I really can't say what all today meant because it was just beautiful. In our file for petition to be Eli's parents there were many questions they asked us, but the one question that resonated above all the others was "Will you provide for Eli's mental, physical, and spiritual health?" I bawled my eyes out as I promised to do this. Then Michael got up and made the same oath. Just beautiful. God continues to amaze me. I can't say it enough. God is good all the time.

Not my own, I am His!

Yesterday, while being treated to a wonderful pedicure, my darling nail tech asked about the baby. We giggled about his latest 8 month old discoveries. In her sweet broken English, she explained to another customer our story, by saying "She love another baby that not her own. Uh, how do you say?" I replied "Adoption" and she went on sharing. As she was talking it was as if time were standing still for a moment, a portion of my heart froze for a second as I contemplated what she had just said, partly because I'll admit it "stung" a little bit to hear someone referring to Eli as not my "own", but I felt God gently say  "Whether born of your body or not, he's still mine. Lareta, your son is one of my precious blessings not your own." Thank you for humility Lord and repeatedly patiently teaching me this AGAIN and AGAIN. Hee hee! In this one conversation I learned that the three beautiful ladies sitting beside me were all a part of adoption too! An adoptive mom, child, and sibling... Love truly does create family! God's family and it's great to know we are His!! I loved this picture from Christian Homes so I had to add it!! Too cute! Thanks for reading!!!

Hunka Hunka Motherlove!

I don't know if time is going by so quickly because I became a mommy later in life? Or because we adopted? Or because life just keeps on going ever-so-swiftly??? But as I sit here tonight, I wonder where the minutes, hours, days, weeks, and 8 months have gone? My sweet baby is 8 months old!! Technically 8 months and 1 week, but why add the week??? Finishing out my school year was an easy countdown because I knew summer would give me time, like I never had before, with my son. Not that February-May was a "cake walk", far from it, but I decided to jump right in and finish out the best year ever with my little darlings. My sweet first graders shared my affection for Baby Eli and his many pics as much as I did!! Hee Hee! Needless to say, weekly pics were shamelessly displayed across our classroom promethean board! Lol!!! 

June finally arrived and we kicked off the summer of mommy and son bonding time. Love it!!! Eli started crawling and quickly demonstrated his need to move. Life as we knew it, was about to change! My sweet little man could coo, click, slobber, and communicate all his desires, well almost! His first two bottom teeth came in right away! Yikes!!! He fell in love with squash, sweet potatoes, and ham. The boy is serious about his food and sleep. By July, he started pulling up and really showing off his leg muscles. Ha!!!!!! It's been a summer like no other. My days are full of giggles, squeals, lots of diaper changes, cuddles, baby babble, lots of drool, toys strewn everywhere, constant bottle washing, afternoon naps, and moments of pure joy. I never knew how exhausting and rewarding it would be. I love this child with all my heart. I find myself staring at him and simply wondering how God chose me to be his mommy?  Open adoption has allowed us to stay in touch with our beautiful birthmom. I'd be lying if I said there are days when I wish I gave birth to Eli, but God in His wisdom knows how to perfectly weave lives together for His glory. My continued prayer for sweet Eli is that he grows up to love the Lord more than anything and that he knows he was chosen, wanted, adopted, and loved by God, his birthparents, and by his parents. Please pray with us that we can finalize soon. Stay tuned for more updates! Love you all! 

Fearless

Photo slideshow created with Smilebox

After our fundraiser event we knew we had just a few more steps in the adoption process. We needed to complete our home study. I was so fearful that we wouldn’t be approved. Again God said “I am with you. I am for you!”

After our home study was complete we knew it would take about 4 weeks until we received our approval letter. I kept singing that Kari Jobe song “I know that you are for me.”  It was the beginning of October when we rec’d our approval letter from the Adoption Agency. (I wanted to frame it and hang it on the wall.)

It’s at this point that they will show our profile to prospective birthmom’s and then the birthmom will choose who she would like to meet for what’s called a "match" meeting.

On October 19^th Friday evening my phone rang and said “Christian Homes” so I’m like whoooo hooo! This is the call we’ve been waiting on!  However, it was our caseworker calling to check on us to see how we were doing in this "waiting period". She reminded us that on average it takes 18 months before a couple is ever chosen. To say I felt defeated and crushed was an understatement. So I kept saying “I know that you are for me God” and resolved that it would be 18 months.

The next week on Wednesday, October 24^th I was teaching and got called down to the front office. Our secretary handed me the phone and on the other end was my hubby Michael. He said “Honey remember how they said 18 months. Well we’ve been picked and we have 18 days!”  The following Saturday we met our birth mom face to face. Talk about nervous!! What does one wear to a meeting that says “I promise I’m normal and will love your baby as my very own.” Hee hee!

Never have I met a more beautiful, courageous, and unselfish woman. I stared into her eyes and knew God had answered our prayers. 

Eli took just a little longer to get here than expected but on Sunday, November 18^th at 11 o'clock at night we got the call to come to the hospital. We waited all night in the waiting room. On November 19^th at 9:45 they called us back because birth mom was about 3 pushes away from delivering. TALK ABOUT RUNNING DOWN THE HALLWAY SO FLIPPIN EXCITED!!!!! Eli Matthew Jeter was born at 10:02 am. He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and 20 and1/2 inches long. And looked like a little old man wearing a toupee! Heehee!

I asked our birthmom how God helped her through this process and she said “God is so great. I’m so proud of how he helped me find a wonderful family that has lots of love towards Eli. He has helped me so much through this and has made me a stronger person. When I see Eli’s pictures it hurts inside of me, but I’m proud of my decision. I honestly didn’t think I would have gone through adoption, but seeing you two so happy and excited I knew Eli would be loved and in better hands.”

That is a fearless, selfless love that I hope and pray I might live out.  I can't believe Eli is now 2 months old and tomorrow is my first day back at work. I'm putting all my fears and trust in God that He will give me the strength I need to inspire and bless my first grader's lives. I pray that God will watch over and bless Eli while he gets to spend a whole week with his favorite Aunt Dodie. I pray that God is not ever secondary or "neutral" in my thoughts, but my companion and my strength. Thank you God for the people you've put into my life that support, love, and remind me that you are my treasure, father, and king.

What love is this?

Hello friends!! We've got some catching up to do! Now sit down and grab your grande Salted Caramel Mocha and let's chit chat. My last entry was in June (I know so much has happened!!) so let me do a fast and furious run through!!
You know God just amazes me again and again! In Romans 8, it says "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love."  Well I'm going to SHOUT out a huge AMEN to that!!!!
In July, with only a matter of days until the event, we really had our work cut out for us. Our precious homegroup gave up consecutive Saturdays to help us cut ribbons, make labels, wrap coffee cans, organize baskets, brainstorm, plan, and gather the most amazing prizes for the event. God works mighty in His people and loves deeply! I would send texts almost daily to these girls and one of the replys that just melted my heart was this..."Dear Baby Jeter, I was one of the ladies with your mama today. We had a great time, ate great food, and laughed alot too! Please know you are loved! We don't even know your name yet. You are a part of our families and we don't even know what you look like. You will be in our prayers today, tomorrow, and always. You are precious to all of us!" LOVE LOVE LOVE these families!!!!!!!
On the morning of August 5th, I don't think Michael and I knew what all would happen that day. Early that morning our dear friends Carrie and Andrea met us at the house to help load the numerous donations. It took 3 SUV's people!! Yeehaw! A few last minute changes caused a little tears and panic, but it was all a-okay. At 11:00 we bombarded Fat Daddy's to start the set up! Let me tell you how to get things accomplished...call your besties and give them a vision! They will move mountains I tell ya!! It truly was Christ's community in Action!!! Our homegroup took the lead with humble grace they formulated a set up that ROCKED everyone's socks off!!! Thank you to Billy and Kristy Chadwell, Mike and Dana Glass, Wes and Tammy Harkrider, Andy and Amy Marcontell, Robert and Amy Wood who served from morning till 11:00pm that night!!!!!!  At 12:00, our amazing vendors started rolling in. Thanks again for bringing excitement and shopping to this event! By 3:00 our friends started coming in droves!! We were so blessed!! Our homegroup started the event in prayer asking that everything we do be to the glory of God! His grace and love was ever present!!!! Our performers were all amazing and thanks again to Chris Sommer from KRLD radio for being our emcee!!! I think the part that made us just cry and cry was when Philip Braun started the live auction and total strangers, who didn't even know us, started donating items and services!!! Absolutely amazing! We were so touched by everyone's presence from our own families that drove in from Abilene and East Texas, dear high school friends that gave their entire afternoon to love on us, my former first graders and their families, sweet coworkers, our church family, and the community! WE ARE GRATEFUL!! The event raised over $26K for Christian Homes and Family Services!!

I'm going to quote a friend who recently adopted their sweet angel and was so filled with gratitude for the love and support they received...
 "You did it simply because love was your highest goal.  Love for a child you've never met. Love for our family, whom some of you have met, and some of you haven't. But even greater than that... Love for a Savior, who said YOU MATTER TO ME. And now all you can do in return is pass on that love to others."

So what now??? Well we have been very blessed to raise all the necessary funds. We had our homestudy on August 17. We love our caseworker Amy! Her work at Christian Homes is such a blessing to so many!!! Our homestudy wasn't as painful as we thought it was going to be. Hee hee! You know you want to be "normal" or whatever that is! It's hard to be transparent and authentic in sharing your lifestory and home with someone for the first time, but Amy made us feel comfortable and relaxed. Hee hee! It's been 8 weeks since our study and we are "officially" in the waiting period. All the forms have been completed, requirements met, financial obligations provided. So now we wait. The timeline from here on out can vary greatly from just a few weeks, few months, to 18 months on average, or more it all depends on a lot of things. So were praying for God to reveal His plan and perfect timing. In our waiting time, we've been reminded how much God loves us. We both recently served a Tres Dias weekend. I know God uses these weekends to pour out His love on others. There's just something about stopping all phone calls, TV, Facebook, texts, emails, and blogs when you can quietly reflect. I received a special blessing in one word, (random sidebar...every person had a different word given to them that weekend) as kind of a love note from God. Well mine said "Companion" which means "a person with whom one spends a lot of time with" and Michael received "Spoken for" which means "promised or intended". Initially I was confused by my word, because I just didn't understand it. After talking with Michael, he helped me see how God is my one true comfort and companion. God has promised us and loves spending time persuing, seeking, and demonstrating His love for His people.

A few dear friends have asked us if we've heard anything or where were at in the process? Here it is in a nutshell, we're waiting. What all does one do while waiting, hoping, and dreaming... a little shopping. Just a little, nothing too out of control. Now naturally I am a gifted shopper, so I love to find cute things and bargains! I did happen to stumble across the cutest baby bedding ever! Thank you Mitzi, owner of The Pink Frog Boutique! Y'all check her out on Facebook! Darling Darling Darling! So we went ahead and ordered a neutral baby bedding set. Ms. Dee and Boppie Clary are going to come and help us design a nursery. Piddle party at the Jeters!! All are invited!!! Yahoo! We're just so excited!

I didn't know how busy I would be this September/October with school starting back up and a few Saturday meetings for our ladies retreat, but time management is coming back into play. I constantly need a lot of help with that! LOL!  I have A.D.O.S (Attention Deficit Oooh Shiny!!) quite frequently!! All that to say is this blog may be a hit or miss, but I promise, PROMISE to SHOUT it from the mountain tops when we have an update. I jokingly said "I'll most likely buy a radio slot to announce our good news!" Thanks for reading! I bet your coffee needs to be reheated!

Here's the link to the smilebox video I made of the event! Be sure to watch it all the way through the two songs! Hee hee! Adoption Event  Just this last week I wrote the last of the 215 thank you cards! I'm headed to the post office today! Hee hee! Now that's a good problem to have, over 215 people and businesses to thank!!!  I sure hope we didn't leave anyone out, but if I did, please know that we are grateful. Much love for yall!
Lareta and Michael

Anything

Let's Rewind...April 13-14 was our Adoption Orientation weekend in Abilene. After our orientation weekend we knew we had some work to do to complete paperwork, schedule home visits, and raise funds. So we completed all of our paperwork (YAHOO!!) and called to make the home visits. After talking with our case worker she encouraged us to have all of our funds prepared prior to approval so that if a birthmom selected us we would be able to proceed. So Michael and I made a plan to wait until after our August event to see where we are at financially. We've said we don't want to be in debt and if this is what God wants then it will be provided through this event and months of saving. Everything in me says HURRY get me to my baby, so alas I yield to Michael's Godly wisdom and months of Dave Ramsey!!! LOL! I've talked about this before... But how does one truly prepare for a financial hurdle like nothing else you've ever encountered? How does one compose what seems to be the most emotional letter of a lifetime to a birthmom? What pictures are the ones that a birthmom will look at in our scrapbook and want to choose us? Author, Jennie Allen says "Doubt is in all of us...if we go there. If we let it rush in every once in a while." Well let's just say the "doubt" WAS WINNING!!! Man it's ugly, snarly, little self began to spin around in my mind. Doubt imprisoned me. Doubt made me think, perhaps this isn't the path we are meant to travel. Mother's Day came at church and I was emotionally spent. I couldn't bear to go, so I stayed home. Then another week passed and my heart was aching a little more. I was starting to take a piece of my heart away from God. Then one more week passed and my doubt had fully seized me. Three weeks away from our wonderful family at Stonegate and we were in need of  HELP!!! We met with our small group at church and begged for prayers. YES, BEGGED. Flat out, cried out asking God to send some confirmations, something that this was still our path, something from God that would say THIS IS MY WILL DO IT!!!!! Again, cue the doubt. I can't even get to the other side of becoming an adoptive mom, because I've been frozen staring at fees and wallowing in doubt. My bestie Holly said "Lareta, how are you emotionally? I mean really how are you feeling about this adoption?" My heart sank, as tears streamed down my face. Well my reply "Honestly, it feels so far away. I don't even know how to imagine that it can happen. I'm scared one minute, I'm happy the next. I'm certain, I'm uncertain. I'm a hot mess!!" So in my doubt, I was belittling the significance of God and not turning my short page of life over to Him. I don't know if you'll be able to relate to this at all. It's just something I'm talking through with God and you happen to be reading it. I love Him! I beg for Him to see through my shame, my fears, my doubt, my will, and DO only what He knows is His will. Y'all I'm vulnerable in sharing, but I hope you hear my heart.
Fast forward two weeks into summertime, I received a text from Kristy (darling friend in our church home group) that says "I want to host a garage sale for your adoption." Thank you God! Thank you for being visible! Now here we are two weeks later, listening to people saying "Sure,we can help!" "Absolutely, we will put it on our calendars" "Of course, count us in!" "We are praying for yall!" So the month of June has been a steady march to different businesses asking for donations, praying with friends, numerous emails, countless phone calls, days of non stop, days of I can't bear to hear another "No sorry, not at this time." All to raise funds for this prayer. 

At the end of May, one of my dear friends invited me to participate in a summer book study called "Anything" by Jennie Allen. Now, I love my darling Andrea and anytime I can spend with those sweet girls at her house is pure delight for the soul! Embarking on this book, it questions "Who is God to you?" and basically how does "everything in this world keep us from anything". The "anything" that only God knows. You may ask "I wonder what my 'anything' is?" I'm 2 weeks into this book study and Jennie poses this question, "What are you most afraid of? What would be the very worst thing that God may allow you to suffer?" That got me to thinking. What am I most afraid of? I might say snakes, spiders, but I could look within myself to a deeper level and all my WHAT IF scenarios... What if I never have a biological child? What if I lose my loving husband? What if I lose every single posession I own or my health? What IF we never get chosen to be adoptive parents? BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Am I going to push away God or allow Him to have all of me? So let's fast forward to last Sunday at bible study. You know God just wanted to talk to me and tell me, he wants ALL OF ME FOR HIS ANYTHING. He doesn't want to compete anymore. HE wants all of me. A song was shared, it's by Matt Hammitt, called "Let Go". So that's where I'm at emotionally. I'm letting go. As always He's continually persuing me, even in my doubt. Once I said "God I can't do this. I can't go this alone. I don't know how it will come together, but you do. I will trust in you." All my phone calls weren't suddenly "yes's" but I felt a peace that God would lead me to the people who would say "yes". The outpouring of help and support has been overwhelming. I can't even begin to tell you how REAL God is and how He is for adoption!!!! Oh and just so ya know our garage sale raised $600!! 

Check out all the help and donations for our event, here goes the shout outs:

Hayley Chadwell for busting her tushy at one of the hottest days of summer garage sale, people of Midlothian who wrote us letters of encouragement on the day of the garage sale, our home group for helping us put together an amazing event, Betsy who listens to my ramblings of how does one plan an event, Charla Corn and her band, Michael Padgett and Derek for performing, Matt Edwards for being my MC, Fat Daddy's for letting us use their AMAZING facility, Chelsea who is my go to girl for ANY question, OMG Adorable for the cutest little tote bags and hats, The Bling Lady, Scentsy items and Gold Canyon from Amanda Farina and Donna Ryan, Bows and More from Cute Stuff Boutique, Section 37 Rangers Tickets from Carrie, Stitches by Sherri items, Antique clocks and adorable knitted items from Jean, Hunting Trip from the Glasses, Handmade Quilt made by Texas Grandma, Mary Kay Basket from Grannybear, Salon Basket from Salon at Vaught House, 4Day weekend tickets from Josh, Cupcakes from Carol's Cupcakery, Cakes from Cooper Street, Cake Pops from Sugar Pop Wishes, Photo Session and bridal pkg from Enchanted Photography, Custom Painting by Rose, Autographed Martina McBride Photo from MARTINA!!!!, Gift Certificate from Happy Nail, 4 ct. Ruby Sapphire Necklace from Anne, $200 gift certificates from Firestone Store, $200 in training sessions from CrossFit Fervor, Free Appetizer cards from Cotton Patch, Wine Baskets from Winestyles, Tickets from Arlington Theatre, and Rangers 3rd row seats behind home plate from Oil States Industries and all of you who are taking the time to read this blog!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!

PEOPLE this list just keeps growing!!!!!! Unbelievable!!! I give GOD all the glory and all of me. Give God ALL of you... He just might call you to something amazing!  See you on August 5th between 2-7, get there before 7pm though so you can be a part of winning prizes!!!! Here's the song http://youtu.be/GhmbtZfVi9U

It only gets better!!

Last Thursday, I embarked on a girl's trip to attend a 3 day ladies retreat in Navasota, Texas. Our darling friends from church had invited us to attend a Tres Dias weekend. Michael and I began to pray about this and felt like it was something we should experience. Michael went first a few weeks back with some guys from church and if you read my last entry, you KNOW how much I missed him!! So much that I thought my heart was going to burst, but what I didn't communicate was how he came home a changed man. His love for God and for me was renewed. I got to experience firsthand, a serving heart and grace in action. Thank you to all who were involved in this weekend! May you be blessed abundantly.

Well last weekend it was my turn to go with the ladies. The week leading up to it, I came down with the flu, strep, an ear infection, and serious loss of mobility in my neck! (Now the neck thing was funny, we did laugh at me being basically frozen in one direction!)  I seriously thought I would not be able to attend. I mean really, WHO gets all that mess at the SAME TIME?!?!! Fortunately, "God is still in the healing business." He helped me get well in time to go. So the first night, we arrived at camp. We had to check in at the gate and I gave a fake name "Hello my name is Tyritha Jenkins" after a few minutes, the car BURST into laughter!! Thank you Kristy for an excellent practical joke and thank you Lesli for letting us come into the campgrounds!! Hee hee! It was a great ice breaker!  We were whisked away to our cabins and then finally congregated again all standing around. Of course I went into giggle mode! I had the nervousness like when I left for college. Most days I'm a confident woman, but if you take me out of my first grade classroom or my living room, I'm not always this confident creature. Tammy, Kristy, and I giggled and anxiously awaited what was to come. We entered into a large conference room and sat down. One by one we introduced ourselves and became fast friends. My confidence grew as I became more familiar with the people who were surrounding me for the next 3 days. Now I have a bit of control issues. I must confess that I do not bode well with not knowing what our objectives will be and not knowing what will happen next. So God decided to have a little fun with that!!

For the next 72 hours he touched my heart and captured my full attention. We had 15 small talks/outbreak sessions, where we discussed different topics all focused on building a relationship with Christ. I was feeling great. I really was feeling good. The laughter was flowing, the songs were uplifting, and I was doing just "peachy". That was until, God reached right into my chest and grabbed my heart to see if I really accepted HIS GRACE. A condition of receiving His grace is full acceptance. The precious speaker spoke of God's healing grace and how He's still into the healing business, that's when I got angry.  It's true, I got downright into a tizzy!!! I asked God why hadn't I been healed? As tears streamed down my face Jesus gently reminded me how He overcame. He still loves me and He may not have removed my infertility, but He's healed my broken, worrisome heart, and reminded me that I was worthy of His grace. Yes! I am beautiful and worthy of His grace. In this crazy world of rush, rush, rush. God took 72 hours to remind this silly, sinful girl that I'm still His. To think that 2,000 years ago He set this incredible plan in motion. He knew I would fail again and again. He knew I would be selfish, prideful, and lost in this world without Him. After experiencing this weekend, I'm praying that I will allow God to use me for His service. I want to show His love and grace. I think everyone deserves a chance of renewal with God. I'm so thankful He keeps pursuing me!!!

God keeps going to great lengths to pursue me!

Following last weekend, we got another call about a possible adoption. Sweet Baby Kate needs our prayers. The darling guardians of this child want to remain an active part in her life and felt that we lived too far away for this to occur. I know God will answer this prayer. I will say it again, we're so grateful for the support of friends, family, and total strangers who've joined us in this journey. We are humbled by the love, acts of service, and generosity that's been poured out over us. We were going to end the shirts sells, but the requests just keep coming, so the link is back up and running! I currently have about 3-5 of every single size in stock, youth through adult. If by chance, I don't have your size, the printing process only takes about 2 weeks. You can expect it to arrive shortly.

Our Tres Dias weekend had a theme, it was from Jeremiah 29:11-13.  I've loved this verse since my college roommate plastered it across our bathroom mirror! (Love you Kristen, K-10!!) I see it fitting to end this entry with this scripture.  From the NLT version, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." 

I pray that you seek Him, Know Him, and Trust Him wholeheartedly! Love you all! Lareta

My darling co-workers

Sweetie pie Laura



Cuteness in a nutshell Clarkie



My other sister Amy and sweet Taylor!