Homestudy begins!!!!!

We were finally able to make our first official homestudy interview appointment. Hurray for forward motion!!

Our meeting is on April 27th and will include the safety inspection for the house. I had a service come through and give us a once-over of all the stuff we need to do to childproof. It's a long list. I found a bunch of the stuff (outlet covers, rubber door stops, etc.) online, but custom baby gates and fire safety ladders are going to be pricey. I'm sure we could buy cheaper alternatives, but custom-made and -installed stuff will look much nicer. I know as a parent you chouldn't care so much about the aesthetics of your house, but. . .I do. So be it.

The adoption worker told us to plan for about 2.5 hours of interview time - and this is just one of 5 meetings. I'm a little nervous to discuss some of the intimate details of my family. Hubby and I are pretty healthy and well-adjusted (at least we think we are), but both of us have issues in our extended family. Oh well, I guess pretty much every family is touched by violence, mental health issues, or drug use in some way or another. I'm just not looking forward to hashing it over with a relative stranger. Another mild invasion/injustice in the interest of becoming a parent - one that biological parents never really have to go through. Lord, give me strength.

Hubby and I are going to go to Las Vegas in May - our one and only real vacation this year. It's just for three days, but we're going to stay at the new Palazzo resort (right next to the Venetian) and see some shows. I love staying in hotels - and I love me some Vegas. We haven't been there in close to a year and can't wait to go back. Always a good time - great food, cool entertainment, and watching hubby throw some dice!

All else in life is quiet. Been working out a bit, so I'm happy to be getting some exercise. I bought those Turbo Jam videos - I know, so cheesy - and they are a surprisingly fun workout. The moves are a little complicated at first, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

I also finished reading The Shack. Pretty moving stuff - I see why it's been such a success. It really helped me understand the nature of our relationship with God. Or at least the writer's interpretation of our relationship with God. I really like the idea that we are so loved and that Jesus' existence was a gift for us - so that we could find our way back to a loving relationship with God.

I hope that hubby and I can teach our child this philosophy. I see a lot of people who use Christianity as a sword to fight or judge their fellow man - and that ain't what we're here for. It's not my place to judge others for their choices. I'm not saying that people should run amok and murder and steal - those are sins and sin has its consequences. But I refuse to believe that God wants me to hold my fellow man in contempt for their personal choices - especially ones that don't directly affect me. My responsibility as a Christian is to try and love and forgive my fellow man for what they perpetrate against me. A tall order to be sure, but I'm trying.