What's New....

So SO happy to tell you that we called Agape (our adoption agency) on Friday and they informed us that they were most likely going to be moving our class up to SEPTEMBER.  HOOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are SO SO happy! That means that we can get the ball rolling and get on their waiting list.  I know it is just a small thing - and actually means the beginning of more waiting, but we are psyched to get over this initial hump. 

   We also got to bring home our amazing furniture and begin the process of sanding and refinishing. The manager of the Salvation Army (on Nolensville Rd. - GO THERE - IT IS AMAZING.) was TERRIFIC and so helpful with this purchase, so I took her a shirt and we took a picture with her.  We want Baby C to know how very loved he/she was before he/she even came home...So here we are together - getting ready to load our purchase..

 It is going to be so fabulous, I can hardly stand it.  It is safe to say that this baby room will be the coolest room in our house.  When it is finished, I will do a final blog about it.  Also in happy news (even the smallest tidbits, right?) Some of our Tennessee adopted family were delivering some things for our yard sale and decided to walk across the street to a neighbors yard sale.  Amazingly enough, they had the exact car seat WITH BASE that I have been drooling over.  They are a little pricy on craigslist and at essex and DEFINITELY at target, so I wanted to wait until we were further along in this process.  HOWEVER they gave us an AMAZING deal - 25.00 for one car seat and base- and it is in perfect condition.  HOORAY!!!  so we took it and immediately tried it out with Heather's ADORABLE son, Avery.  It was a perfect fit.  SO happy.  Too bad I don't have a picture of that. :) You would SO love it. 

 Last of all - we are having a yard sale at our house on AUGUST 12TH AND 13TH - Invite everyone you know.  We have a little of everything.  You will definitely find something you just HAVE to have - and at such a deal - how can you pass it up??? :)

The things we do for love...

So I am trying to do a little blogging before school begins and I am distracted back into the world of pencils, tests, children, fun, and WORK.  I have to tell you that by choosing adoption (especially in our case), we had to choose a serious life style change in order to fund this journey (along with our awesome supporters through fundraising).  One way that we are working REALLY hard is by setting and sticking to a serious tight budget.  If you know anything about the homestudy process, then you are aware that you are opening your entire life to your agency.  ESPECIALLY your finances.  Now Chad and I have worked really hard to pay down a significant portion of our debt in the last few years but we still have a little left so we have a plan to pay it all off by the time our class comes around.  In order to do this, we have to budget every penny.  If you know Chad and I, you know that we love to shop (even if it is for a deal) and we are foodies - which means cooking lots of fun new things or going to new restaurants - both of which require a decent amount of investing.  SO I have worked really hard to become a couponer... Now prior to this, I definitely used coupons and shopped sales, but I am talking about hard core, buying 2 or 3 papers or coupons and spending some time plotting out sales and bogos - going to 2 or 5 stores to get what is on sale.  I had pretty good luck today so I thought I would share in my sales.... Here is a list of what I purchased...2 boxes of cheerios, 1 box of total, 1 box of fiber one cereal, 1 crest toothpaste, 1 6 count double rolled paper towels, 1 12 count toilet paper, 6 bags of steam fresh vegetables, 4 packets of tuna, 1 box of bakery cinnamin rolls, 1 bag frozen scallops, 1 bag frozen tilapia, 3 12 count can diet mt. dew (YUM), 2 2 liters of kroger brand soda, 2 bottles of pantene pro v shampoo, 1 bag of craisins, 2 bags of 15.5 lb Beneful Dog food... Total retail price 150.00 (If I would have paid regular prices) BUT with couponing and the deals on items at various stores, my total was $55.00.  Now I know that is no record for couponing wizards, but around the Chalos House, it was a fine day.  So here is a little picture some of my goodies...

We also use coupons for when we eat out and when we have date nights.  The city pass book is an awesome investment for these type of activities.  Also, we try to be aware of what fun things are going on around town - like FREE Friday night college nights at the Frist, or half off pizzas at Painturos on Tuesdays... We have been able to make it work without too much shopping and eating out withdrawal.  :)

What kind of things do you do around your house to save money?  I would love your input.

P.S. This adoption has been good for us in more ways than one.  :) 

Confessions of an adoptive Mama...

Hello all...I just returned from an AMAZING trip to Savannah and New Smyrna Beach where I was able to rest and relax and get away from every day life.  I mean - pretty much able to get away - well maybe for two days I didn't think about adoption, infertility, babies, etc... It was a glorious two days.  The point that I want to make is that it NEVER goes away.  It just doesn't.  Adoption is similar to infertility treatments in the fact that you wake up each day and do your best to face it.  As much as I KNOW that we are on the right path, it doesn't stop those doubts from drifting through my head every day or the hope that MAYBE this month a miracle happened...Here is the truth.  Since we got the information about our class being postponed, I have been wallowing.  It was the first "bump" in the adoption road and I completely LOST all hope.  I convinced myself that this might not even really happen. I have been angry.  I have been depressed.  I did not want to face anyone.  I was a bomb waiting to explode.  My poor amazing understanding incredibly supportive husband stood by me in the midst of this agony.  I have tried to pray or read the bible or embrace God's goodness and faithfulness and grace - it just wasn't working.  On our 6 hour drive back to TN, Chad and I had a serious talk and I realized how desperately I needed to break through this.  I just honestly didn't know how. How do I deal with this brokenness and loss of hope?  I really didn't have an answer - I just knew something had to change.  So we got home, unpacked and resumed our normal life... And believe me - we hit the ground running.  
        Today I got a wake up call.  God is real.  He is good.  He does have a plan.  This call came at a most unexpected time.  I left to pick up some AMAZING food from my friend Shannon who runs a DELICIOUS business called DINNER TIME DIVAS.  Check out her facebook page -

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1482439907&sk=info#!/pages/Dinnertime-Divas-Freezer-Meals/227471410609282 

ANYWAY - I went in to pick up my food (did I mention Shannon has a beautiful adopted daughter?) .  Shannon asked me about our adoption - and I was honest about how I was feeling.  It was incredibly refreshing to hear someone who has been through this emotionally challenging journey confirm that God IS still in it.  I found hope in her words-encouragement for our journey.  She reminded me of something SO important.  NO-MATTER-WHAT at the end of this journey is a baby waiting for the Chalos family.  A baby that God ordained for us.  Her words helped to heal my crushed spirit.  They lifted me.  They were what I needed.  God works through people sometimes - and today he worked through Shannon.  I got myself together and began my drive back home.  After several moments of reflection of what just happened and how God was at the center of it - I called Chad.  Here is the most amazing part of all - At the exact time that I was at Shannon's getting our food - Chad was spending time in prayer - asking God to be with ME.  God heard him.  GOD HEARD US.  HE IS STILL LISTENING.  Thank you GOD for not giving up on me as easily as I give up my faith and hope in you. 
      So I will start over AGAIN!  I am sure this is not the last time my faith will falter.  I will do my best to trust in him and his will in this journey. I revisited the study of Esther by Beth Moore for a little renewal tonight.  I was reminded of this important statement by Beth :

        "Faith is putting God in every fill in the blank in our lives and if we seek Him, He will find us."

What a beautiful statement! 

So I just ask for your continued prayers for us as we continue on this journey.  The next few months are going to be yet another test of faith and patience.  Pray that we are able to fill our blanks with him. 

Shirts and Support

Hi there! We decided to try something new with our blog.  Both of the Chalos are going to be writing entries, and wanted you to know who is writing what - SO - from now on, Chad's writing will be in blue, Kristle's will be red, and if we are both writing together it will be black.  So here goes...

Summer is here and in full swing and we are trying our best to enjoy it.  Shirts are here!! (HOORAY!) I  wanted to say a MAJOR thank you to my amazing friend Brittany and her super cute family (Chan, Liam, and Justin) for your help in organizing these shirts.  I couldn't have done it without you. After they were all perfectly organized  (Did I say organized?  Seriously, have you seen the show "hoarders"?  Brittany could take care of any of those crazy houses in less than a day.  I am convinced. ) ANYWAY - after they were organized, Chad and I decided to take an afternoon and have a date of delivering shirts.  Because we have both been working and busy, we haven't had much quality time together so it was a GREAT way to spend time together.  We would really like your help in documenting this process.  If you purchased a shirt, we would  like to have a picture of you wearing your shirt.  If you would email it to us at thechalosadoptionjourney@gmail.com , we would really appreciate it.  It is  important to us to be able to share with our child (someday) how many people loved and supported them before they became a permanent part of our lives.  We are going to take all of the pictures and create a slide show to share on our blog and to keep as a memoir to share with Baby C.  Also, if you helped in anyway with ANY of our fundraisers, please email us a picture.  Love and Pictures (aka my amazing photographer friend) has a full schedule on July 9th, and we can't say thank you enough!  She ROCKS and so do you! We had to post pone participating in the yard sale since we are actually GOING ON VACATION.  WOW. We are super excited.  It will be so great to spend some quality time together and with our family.  We will be having a yard sale in August.  We already have lots of donated items.  So stay tuned for a date and come out and support us.  :)  Another fundraiser I am REALLY excited about is a craft fair that will be at our church in November.  If you are artsy and creative or bake, or even sell Thirty One (etc...)- think about renting a booth.  OR if you are a shopper, come on out and buy some Christmas gifts.  It will be fun. :) 

We will leave you with some photos of some of our best and cutest supporters. :)  

Thank you for your continued support!