Just a quick update . . .

Just a quick update here today. We were in Germany for the last 2 weeks and a bit. We had a lot of fun! We went to visit family. I'll see if I can post some pictures we took while over there soon.

While in Germany I attended Weight Watchers. I had a lot of fun learning how the German program differs from the US one. I did manage to lose 4.6 pounds while there too! I also learned about Nordic Walking. So Joerg & I will be trying that out at a workshop here soon and see if we enjoy it. If we do, I think it'll be great exercise, and we can go walking anywhere while getting a full body workout.

Our home study visits will start soon. And we're almost finished with the required reading. It's getting very exciting!

That's all for now . . .

Love,
Julie

The organizing continues as Autumn approaches . . .

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (New International Version)

24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

Psalm 90:17 (New International Version)

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.



We've come pretty far in the organizing. Still more to go though! But it's very encouraging to see how far we have come, and exciting to think how it will be! The more stuff we're not using and get out of the house, the roomier the house becomes. It becomes more open and inviting! And it's a whole lot easier to cook and bake in the kitchen when everything is organized! Do you have a favorite kitchen tool? So far I really love my Kitchenaid stand mixer. Mine is red. I've been looking into some of the attachments for it.

I started back on Weight Watchers on Thursday. And I'm staying on plan! I'm doing the Flex Points rather than the Core program. I don't like how restrictive the Core plan is. Too much you cannot eat. It's much easier to figure out what to eat and stay on program in the Flex plan. Granted, if I were on the Core plan, there would only be so many foods in the house to chose from.

But I want to eat real foods, and I know Joerg wants to eat real foods too - meaning not buying fat free or sugar free foods that are artificially bulked up with junk to replace the fat or sugar. That said, I don't have a problem making real/natural substitutions. Such as replacing the oil in a cake with natural applesauce. I really like the leader! She said she didn't lose her weight eating fat free or diet foods. She learned how to eat real foods in the right proportions! So I know I've found the right leader for me. Are you on Weight Watchers? Care to share your success story, a favorite recipe or tip?

Today our Sunday school started back up. We're studying Romans. I have a women's Bible study starting on Tuesday on Esther and Ruth, and then we'll be going to a Bible study together Wednesdays on Colossians. It's really feeling like Autumn now.

We have more adoption paperwork we've been working through, and much more to go! Hopefully we can get through it all in the next two weeks here. We're going to try at any rate.

We went shopping this weekend trying to find long sleeve polo style shirts for the fall/winter for Joerg for work. We haven't found them yet. Joerg thought we should just wait until they go on sale, and then in the meantime he'd just use the t-shirt variety. I reminded him they (long sleeve polos) probably won't be on sale until next spring if that were the case. So I guess I'll be doing some window shopping trying to find them this week.

I've been reading a great book series! You've probably already heard of it. But if you haven't here's the link to the author's website: http://www.thoenebooks.com/index.asp I'm reading through the 20th century novels. I started as their FAQ suggested with the Shiloh Legacy series. I'm waiting for the Shiloh Autumn book to arrive any day now. Guess I better get more work done organizing and on the adoption paperwork before it arrives.

Well I'd better get back at it!

Love,
Julie

Labor Day Weekend

Psalm 111:7 (New International Version)

The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.

Hello again!

Thank you for joining us on this journey! Yesterday we received word that the agency received our formal application, and is beginning to process it. We are very excited! We realize everything will go according to God's timing and plan, and we are grateful we are truly in His hands.

This weekend is Labor Day weekend. And we will be laboring! We are going to get the house, basement, and garage clean! I've already taken out all the dishes from the cupboards, and rearranged them. I've been sorting out dishes which we are not using, and do not need to keep. We need to sort out what's left in the basement and garage too. But this should not be that big of a task anymore. We had previously sorted through the garage and organized it into categories.

When we have everything cleaned out, we'll need to get the remainder of our furniture out of storage. The whole house is finally coming into order! It's not that it was really out of order to begin with, just that it was never completely unpacked. So it's good to finally get completely settled in.

I have the Christmas music playing while I'm cleaning. I know some people might think it's far too early in the year to be playing Christmas music. But I grew up listening to Christmas music in the summers. My mom used to play it, telling us it would help us stay cool. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. She passed on in 1992, and is truly missed.

Well, on to the cleaning!

Love,
Julie & Joerg

Psalm 16:11

Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

The Lord has been good to us!

Today we turned in our formal adoption application. We're very excited to begin this journey! Our hope is that as you journey with us, you may grow in faith as well.