Saturday, January 21, 2012
It's Official....
There is a BABY GIRL in the Albritton house and we are loving it! We got a call 2 Thursday's ago around 5pm that they would be bringing us a baby the next day! At 1 pm on Friday she was on our door step! There are so many things about her I want to say and to show pictures of but we can't until everything is finalized, which may be a long journey. Nothing is certain until we go to court and baby girl comes out with Albritton as her last name! We are praying for that sooner rather than later! We are so thankful fo her!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
my TOP 8 Christmas songs
In no particular order....
(please ignore the stupid videos, just listen to the music)
Barlow Girl - Hallelujah Light Has Come
Mercy Me - Josephs Lullaby
Mary Did You Know
Josh Groban - Little Drummer Boy
Who am I kidding?? This next one really is my #1.
NSYNC - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
This is new to my list...
the BIEBS - Mistletoe
Dave Barnes - Christmas Tonight (AAHHHH SO ROMANTIC)
Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas
Sunday, December 11, 2011
our first heartbreak
About a month ago Cody and I received information about a precious baby boy who was about 6 weeks old! We were asked by our agency if we would like to submit our homestudy to CPS (child protective services) for him to become OURS! We looked over the pictures and information about him and immediately said YES! We said yes on the phone, but the pictures were even more of a YES! He was BEAUTIFUL and PERFECT and just the most precious thing I have ever seen in my life. We fell in love immediately. We were told by our agency that they were not sure how many cases would be submitted for him and that sometimes CPS will not even let you know if that don't choose you...THAT STINKS. So, with our hearts all in we began praying and waiting. We prayed consistently for baby boy, for the social workers that would decide what family he belonged in (can you imagine having that job?), we prayed for his birth mom and siblings, and we prayed that if he was to be ours that the Lord would begin knitting our heart to his. The day we got the call about him was crazy. We had come off of a frustrating few weeks with NO MOVEMENT and we were just begging for something. As Cody and I prayed that morning he prayed specifically that we would have movement that week, that we would hear something, that something would change. So, when we got that call my first thought was...THANK YOU JESUS. THIS IS IT, he is our son! Several weeks went by with us fervently praying over this baby boy and wondering if they were still trying to pick a family or if they had just not chosen us. Well, Friday we got an official email that Cody and I were not chosen to be his momma and daddy. WHEW...it hurts even typing it. As I read the email by heart sank. In that moment I allowed Satan to come in and tell me that I will never be a good mother, that CPS will never pick Cody and I for a child, that everything we wrote on our homestudy is wrong, and so many other things. I had a breakdown for about an hour. I was angry, still am. The funny thing is we were told to not get our hopes up, not get attached...but how in the world do you not? How do you not look at those pictures every single day and fall more in love with that sweet baby boy. That is something I am yet to figure out....how to detach my heart and emotions from every child I see. I CANT DO IT!
I have found strength in the pure fact that God has had our child chosen since before time began. He knows which one is ours and they are just not ready for us yet. Or, we are not ready for them. The Lord is teaching Cody and I so much right now. Dependency on him is the ONLY place to be, i don't know how we would make it otherwise. I am so thankful for that. I am so thankful HE is there always. I am so thankful that there is a reason for everything HE does even though I may not see it. I have to remember that.
So now we wait some more. We pray for more patience. We continue to pray for the sweet child that will be an Albritton and we take this time with just Cody and I and cherish it.
One of my biggest struggles in this has been feeling like God has left this situation, this adoption. That Cody and I have been obedient to him and now I am ready for him to meet us in the middle. I know he hasn't left...he is still working and I see that, but sometimes I just refuse to see that. "Steady my Heart" by Kari Jobe has been something else that has been a comfort to be. I probably listen to it at least 6 or 7 times a day. My favorite part:
I am thankful to serve a God who is HERE, who is REAL, and who I can RUN to. And, Im thankful that HE can steady my heart when it is ALL OVER THE PLACE and nothing but a hot mess!
I have found strength in the pure fact that God has had our child chosen since before time began. He knows which one is ours and they are just not ready for us yet. Or, we are not ready for them. The Lord is teaching Cody and I so much right now. Dependency on him is the ONLY place to be, i don't know how we would make it otherwise. I am so thankful for that. I am so thankful HE is there always. I am so thankful that there is a reason for everything HE does even though I may not see it. I have to remember that.
So now we wait some more. We pray for more patience. We continue to pray for the sweet child that will be an Albritton and we take this time with just Cody and I and cherish it.
One of my biggest struggles in this has been feeling like God has left this situation, this adoption. That Cody and I have been obedient to him and now I am ready for him to meet us in the middle. I know he hasn't left...he is still working and I see that, but sometimes I just refuse to see that. "Steady my Heart" by Kari Jobe has been something else that has been a comfort to be. I probably listen to it at least 6 or 7 times a day. My favorite part:
"But your here, Your real
I know I can trust you.
Even when it hurts,
Even when its hard,
Even when it all just falls apart
I will RUN to you
because i know that you are
lover of my soul, healer of my scars
YOU STEADY MY HEART"
I am thankful to serve a God who is HERE, who is REAL, and who I can RUN to. And, Im thankful that HE can steady my heart when it is ALL OVER THE PLACE and nothing but a hot mess!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Britton Mitchell Sandidge
4:19 PM
5lbs 15oz
Sweet Britton was having a little trouble breathing when he was born so he will be in NICU for a few days! He is doing it all on his own now and is doing GREAT, so is his mommy! We are continuing to pray that he grows stronger and stronger and can go home sooner rather than later!! I can't wait to get my hands on him!! Welcome to the world sweet Britton!! Aunt Tina and Uncle Cody love you SO SO much!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Randoms...
1. my mom and dad are on their way to Lubbock RIGHT NOW! I am so excited to see them! We are going to watch Tech play Oklahoma State Saturday. Last time they played a #3 team we put them out. Lets hope we can do it again!
2. I have an obsession with this song:
So thankful for Kari Jobe and her music, especially this song. Sometimes it is so stinkin hard and frustrating to be to be "the light". This is a great reminder to me when i get in those moods. Cant wait for the whole album to come out!
3. For my birthday Cody gave me tickets to see Lady Antebellum when they come to Lubbock...I am SO excited. Watching them on the CMAs last night made me hardly not be able to stand it. December 2nd cant get here fast enough!
4. I am missing this face so much!
I have the CUTEST nephew in the world! He is so much bigger than when we went home after he was born and I am dieing missing it! Cody's sister is due in about two weeks with our 2nd sweet nephew, Britton Mitchell. I can't wait to see his sweet face!
5. I have a new favorite drink at Starbucks.
The Carmel Apple Spice....it is AMAZING.
6. No Baby Albritton news this week. Maybe soon! :(
2. I have an obsession with this song:
So thankful for Kari Jobe and her music, especially this song. Sometimes it is so stinkin hard and frustrating to be to be "the light". This is a great reminder to me when i get in those moods. Cant wait for the whole album to come out!
3. For my birthday Cody gave me tickets to see Lady Antebellum when they come to Lubbock...I am SO excited. Watching them on the CMAs last night made me hardly not be able to stand it. December 2nd cant get here fast enough!
4. I am missing this face so much!
5. I have a new favorite drink at Starbucks.
The Carmel Apple Spice....it is AMAZING.
6. No Baby Albritton news this week. Maybe soon! :(
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
let me be honest for a second...
I came across a blog post today that was pretty convicting to me. Convicting in the sense that maybe I haven't been quite honest with you guys about how I have felt through this whole adoption thing. I think its probably because I have no desire for people to feel sorry for us, afterall this is the road we know God has lead us down. I am so grateful that God has made his plan for us and our family so clear, but its hard. I dont want to throw myself a pity party and I really just want to not be stuck in these emotional trenches of ups and downs. But, as I read this blog I was convicted. My mouth was wide open in thinking...THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE. But, most of the time I hold it in. I put on a face. Im faking people out. Im putting on this I'm really trusting in God face...when I am really trusting in God, but that doesn't mean its not hard.
So, here is a snippet of Jen Hatmaker's blog:
"Your friends are adopting. They’re in the middle of dossiers and home studies, and most of them are somewhere in the middle of Waiting Purgatory. Please let me explain something about WP: It sucks in every way. Oh sure, we try to make it sound better than it feels by using phrases like “We’re trusting in God’s plan” and “God is refining me” and “Sovereignty trumps my feelings” and crazy bidness like that. But we are crying and aching and getting angry and going bonkers when you’re not watching. It’s hard. It hurts. It feels like an eternity even though you can see that it is not. It is harder for us to see that, because many of us have pictures on our refrigerators of these beautiful darlings stuck in an orphanage somewhere while we’re bogged down in bureaucracy and delays."
She also gives a list of things to not ask or say to your friends who are adopting...i can tell you, i have been asked or told EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!
Check out Jen's blog to see them...some of them are pretty hilarious. And if you have friends or family in the midst of this process, its a great read.
All that to say...im frustrated daily. Im upset daily. BUT, I am trusting and knowing that there is a child out there for us. When that child is ready, we will get the call.
So, here is a snippet of Jen Hatmaker's blog:
"Your friends are adopting. They’re in the middle of dossiers and home studies, and most of them are somewhere in the middle of Waiting Purgatory. Please let me explain something about WP: It sucks in every way. Oh sure, we try to make it sound better than it feels by using phrases like “We’re trusting in God’s plan” and “God is refining me” and “Sovereignty trumps my feelings” and crazy bidness like that. But we are crying and aching and getting angry and going bonkers when you’re not watching. It’s hard. It hurts. It feels like an eternity even though you can see that it is not. It is harder for us to see that, because many of us have pictures on our refrigerators of these beautiful darlings stuck in an orphanage somewhere while we’re bogged down in bureaucracy and delays."
She also gives a list of things to not ask or say to your friends who are adopting...i can tell you, i have been asked or told EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!
Check out Jen's blog to see them...some of them are pretty hilarious. And if you have friends or family in the midst of this process, its a great read.
All that to say...im frustrated daily. Im upset daily. BUT, I am trusting and knowing that there is a child out there for us. When that child is ready, we will get the call.
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