Exciting Things!



Yay, exciting things! I love exciting things.
So, yesterday was a really good day. And do you know whyyyy?
Ace's case was officially moved to adoptions!!! YAY!!! That's a big "yay"!! We have been waiting for this for so long. He is legally free now, but we will have an open adoption agreement with his parents (more on that later, that's a good story) which means we will be sending them letters and photos a few times a year to let them know how he's doing. Then there is a home study update and physicals and 100 lbs of paperwork, but he should be all ours in another three months or so!

Which is perfect timing, because...(other exciting thing!)

We're moving to Indiana this spring!! Can you believe that? Isn't that so wild and crazy of us?! I am sooo excited!

My husband was offered a ministry position at a church of Christ in Kokomo, which is just the most darling town. (With, btw, a Target and a Hobby Lobby! Swoon!) Which we have prayed about a lot, and have decided to take. The church was kind enough to fly our whole family out a couple of weeks ago to meet everyone, and it felt just like family. Which of course they are. We were really impressed with the leaders of the church, and I am really looking forward to spending time with their wives. Their former minister, who has been preaching there for over 30 years, is staying on part time to work with the church, so he and my husband will get to spend lots of time together. Which is awesome, because my husband and I both immediately loved their former minister and his wife. Paige is really excited about it all, and she made instant friends with all the kids. (Although she will miss her friends here dearly!) They are a very loving church, and we were amazed at how active their faith is, they are very hard workers for the Lord. We are really excited to be a part of that!

Of course, the flip side of all this is it will be extremely hard being away from family, and we will miss our Moses Lake church family very much. A few special friends in particular, who could just never be replaced. They have been lifesavers during the difficult times, and have been so encouraging to us. We have seen Jesus in some of the people here like we've never seen before, and are much, much better people for having met them. I wish with all my heart that we could take some of them with us!
But I do believe that this is going to be an awesome thing for our family. We are so very excited!! But scared. Whew! Moving across the country?!? Yikes!
My mom and I are still going to be working on our little business endeavor, which we are planning away for. Hopefully being partners in that project will keep us feeling close while we're so far away. :o)

So if any Hoosiers out there have any advice that you want to throw our way, we'd welcome it! And If you wouldn't mind, we'd appreciate prayers for a smooth adoption, and a smooth transition for the church family here in Moses Lake. Thank you so much!!

Hooray for new beginnings! You guys, I think 2015 is going to be really, really good. :O)

Love you!
-Disney

Comments

  1. Oh my gosh yay!!! We just adopted last June so I have loved following your story. Also I visit Othello washington every year because my grandma lives there and always loved the thought of you being so close. So excited for your family!

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    1. Oh, congrats on your new little one as well! Adoption is such a beautiful thing for everyone involved. :)

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  2. I have tried to comment twice and don't think they went through:) I was saying "ahhhh I live in Fishers, Indiana!!! I have been following you for a few years now and just love you! I hope you love it here! It's beautiful in the spring and summer:)

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    1. Oh, hey, that's pretty close to Kokomo! Maybe we'll run into each other one day! Can't wait to see Indiana in the spring. It was covered in snow while we were there, but still lovely!

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  3. Disney, don't forget that Ezra and I live in Indiana. We are about an hour from Kokomo near the northeast side of Indy.

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    1. *gasp* I totally forgot that you guys were there!! Oh we will definitely meet up, or have you guys over for dinner sometime if you don't mind a little drive!

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  4. Yay! Good to hear your great news and updates! My husband is a pastor too and we will be moving this summer from Texas to Montana to begin a new adventure of our own. We'll be stateside missionaries working with Dignata.org to help intervene in the lives of trafficked women and with Business for Orphans helping orphanages in India (and elsewhere) become self sufficient. They are moving their non profit headquarters to MT. So exciting! I will look forward to following your family's adventure. I'm a long time reader and admirer but don't often comment.

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    1. What?! That is AWESOME!! Congrats on your move, and God bless you for that work! What beautiful hearts you have.

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  5. Disney, don't forget that Ezra and I live in Indiana. We are about an hour from Kokomo near the northeast side of Indy.

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  6. Disney I have read your blog for awhile and love your creativity! I also love your positive outlook on life and always smile as I read your entries. I have lived in Indiana all my life and it is a wonderful place! We are a friendly and caring state. We have wonderful state parks - be sure to check out Lake Michigan (which really is like an ocean) and the southern Indiana hills in the fall. I don't know a lot about Kokomo, but I know they will welcome you with love and you will probably be able to find a Starbucks

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    1. Thank you so much, Christin! People were certainly warm and friendly when we visited. And yes! Haha, several people told us where to find Starbucks, which was very sweet. We are definitely made with that Pacific Northwest coffee-loving mold!

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  7. So crazy! I was scrolling through Instagram and saw your Indiana state graphic and thought I'd check it out. So I ended up here and read this. I'm actually from Peru, IN which is about 25 ish minutes from Kokomo! I now live in Toledo, OH but visit Peru often. I used to live in Kokomo while attending IUK for a short while.. so I know alll about it. Get in touch if you have any questions!

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    1. Thank you, Ashlee! I'm amazed at how many indianans there are reading this! So cool! :)

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  8. Woohoo how exciting about Ace!! That's such great news. I'll admit I'm a little bummed you're moving from the PNW because I was hoping we'd run into each other somewhere, but it sounds like a really good move for your family, so congrats!!

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    1. I know, I'm so disappointed about that!! :( maybe we'll meet at some conference someday or something. :)

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  9. Disney, I have no idea where Indiana is as I live in Australia but I will look it up on the map. Such wonderful news about Ace! You will be such a blessing in his life and he already has such a great foundation in the time he has been with you. It will be an exciting time for you and your hubby to change to a new church but it sounds like you fit in already and no doubt everyone will love you both as well as Paige and Ace of course. It will be sad to leave your church and friends behind I can imagine but I am sure you will all keep in touch. 2015 is going to be a good year for you!

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  10. I think 2015 is going to be a wonderful year for you too. Adopting your baby is so amazing!! I have lots of family in Indiana, and have driven though Kokomo. You won't be too far from Chicago, for one very important store- American Girl Doll (!) Going to Lake Michigan is a must, and the children's museum in Indy will be lots of fun for Ace.

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  11. I live very close to Kokomo!! Welcome to Indiana! =)

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  12. I saw those pictures of Paige, with the suitcase bench and thought hey they're in Indiana! It was like I knew a celebrity and had been to that same spot ;) I guess this explains why! I moved to Indiana, from AZ, when I married my husband. Its a wonderful state and a great place to raise a family. So congratulations! On your move, your husbands new pastorate and especially sweet baby Ace becoming officially yours!

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  13. Being excited for Kokomo, IN made me giggle, but I think you'll love it. :) The Midwest is full of wonderful people unlike anywhere else that I've traveled. Plus, you're just a short get away weekend from America's Vacationland and a most pleasant peninsula: Michigan! Best wishes!

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  14. "Welcome" to Indiana! It's a pretty great state if I do say so myself!

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  15. Wow! Prayers for a smooth transition! When my husband and I moved from the church in Ellensburg, WA to the church here in Kansas, the worst part for me was that everyone knew me, but I didn't know anyone. It was a bit of feeling like a fish in a fishbowl. It got easier, but I really had to try to make myself remember faces and names! I'm not great at that!! Welcome to the midwest!

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  16. We will miss you guys soooo much, but are super happy for you guys! I know we will keep in touch. So glad about Ace!

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  17. Exciting news on the adoption. My husband and I are looking into it and trying to decide if we prefer fosteradopt or just straight adopt.
    Welcome to Indiana! My family is in Indianapolis just south of Kokomo. Cost of living here is affordable so that's a plus!

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  18. So your blog was the first I ever followed. I follow by email, so don't always jump on to comment. (and I have a blog and wonder why people don't comment!) haha. Anyway, I have loved you for YEARS and just followed along with your journey. I giggled in excitement when it said you were coming to INDIANA ---------------->where I AM! :) I am a ways from Kokomo, so no worries I will be a crazy stalker, but how exciting if you are doing a book signing or something in Indy, I can maybe swing by! I am in southern Indiana and it is a MUST DO in the fall. Brown County, Bloomington....etc Gorgeous! Will be praying for a smooth transition for you and your family! BUNDLE UP! Its cold here! :) XOXO

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  19. Congratulations! That is so exciting! :)

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  20. Happy and excited for you. Of course 2015 is going to be very very good :)

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  21. No. Way. We just moved from TX to Kokomo 3 months ago! This is a great little town. We love it here! We'll have to meet at Hobby Lobby sometime. :)

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  22. New beginnings are always exciting! Good luck with all the great changes coming your way this year.

    So funny to read this post because randomly on Sunday my best friend and I were talking about Kokomo (from the Beach Boys song) not being a real place. Now I can let her know it absolutely exists.

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  23. We live in West Indy and love it. Kokomo is close enough to do all the big city stuff during day trips -amazing children's museum, great outdoor free art museum, so many cool restaurants, bike and paddleboat near the canal downtown. We have loved the super nice salt of the earth people here. You'll love the housing prices too. :)

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  24. I live about an hour north of Kokomo in a small city called Warsaw. Welcome to Indiana!

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  25. It's wonderful to see you posting HAPPY again! :)

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  26. Oh I am so happy to hear that!! What wonderful news on all fronts! And so great about your little guy. He is one lucky boy :)

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  27. I'm so happy to hear all of this! The first thing I thought when I saw your instagram was what this meant for Ace. What an exciting new adventure. Prayers upon prayers for you my friend.

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  28. Many wonderful blessings!

    You will have to get to know your neighbors to the north- Michigan is just gorgeous in the summer, especially long the Lake Michigan coast (though, because of the steel mills in the Indiana portion, those are not as pretty in my opinion).

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  29. Somehow I missed the first paragraph about the adoption process...and then at the end I saw the request for prayers for a smooth adoption! I was like, "WHAT!?! YAY!" And then I scrolled up, and realized I had missed it because I was looking at the pictures. I will keep your family and Ace's birth family in my prayers that all will go smoothly. I hope your move turns out wonderfully for your family. Sometimes, I think big changes are good. I hope that this year is awesome for you, and I'm glad you found a great new place to try, and that your husband will have great opportunities there also!

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  30. So happy for your family on all fronts! :) We live in Cincinnati, so not too far from where you'll be. (compared to where you've been, haha!) We have a close friend who came to us from that part of Indiana a couple years ago and she knows of the churches there in that area. Her brother was a preacher at a nearby church of Christ. Danville, I think? Anyway, I hope all these new transitions happen smoothly as they can and that you enjoy the Midwest! We love the area.

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  31. Hi! I go to the church that you will be moving to this spring. We are beyond happy and can not wait until you all get here. I pray for you and your family daily.
    I read that you homeschool. I'm sure you are on top of things, but if you have any questions about the home school laws in Indiana, let me know. I was a home educator until last year.

    Prayers for all of you and God bless you!

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    1. Hi Teresa! I remember you from the church directory, which we are trying to study diligently, haha. :O) Thank you so much for the prayers!! It means so much to me that you're excited, we are so excited, too!! And I look forward to talking about the education laws with you there, thank you!

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  32. I follow you periodically, and have loved reading your foster/adoption story. I haven't been on here in MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONTHS, and I'm so thrilled that you are getting to adopt your little guy! We adopted our son at 22 months old after he had been placed with us in foster care at birth, and by a true miracle, we are preparing to adopt our soon-to-be daughter, who was also placed with us at birth - she's 20 months now, but it will be a long while. We have had other placements too - I love being a foster mom.

    Anyway, from one foster/adoptive mom to another, you're doing a rockin' job, and I'm so happy for you.

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  33. Ahh this is so weird. I grew up in Kokomo! Enjoy the hobby lobby and target. And Meijer. Check out the seiberling mansion.

    Hayley

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  34. Congratulations! So many exciting things! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! Good luck!

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  35. I live in IL, but go to Michigan CIty, IN in the summers. I think it would be about an hour or so North of you. The beaches there are FANTASTIC. Check it out, sometime. There is also a zoo, outlet mall, and other attractions there.

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