Fall Reflections

September. October. The ending of summer and beginning of fall. Apples, crisp leaves, that distinct smell in the air...I love fall! It's hard to believe that September is just a few days away. As I think about moving into the fall, I find myself reflecting on recent Septembers and Octobers. Those two months have been filled with a lot of decision -- and emotion -- over the past several years. 

October 2008: We excitedly begin the journey of adding to the Meyers' family! (In true Tonya-style, we had decided a few months prior that October would be the month (post 3-Day walk, work Conference and sister's wedding). So September was filled with nearly as much excitement as we figured it wouldn't be long before before we were a family of 3.)

October 2009: After waiting the requisite year we see a doctor and quickly learn that "Houston, we have a problem." Not the journey we had planned for, but we still have hope. I quickly become an expert on infertility testing and treatments as well as dealing with insurance companies and doctors. Tony and I find ourselves in lots of conversations about our faith, God's plan vs. our plan, and the ethics of using advanced reproductive technology to help us grow our family. Amazingly, our house is filled with laughter and our marriage grows closer than before, even though it's a tough year.

September 2010: We receive the final bit of information that brings about an end to our journey to conceive a child. While fall is my favorite season, September and October 2010 proves to be challenging as I enter what becomes one of the darkest and most difficult periods of my life. Tony's love and support, an amazing counselor appropriately name Joy, and God's healing grace eventually help pull me back into the land of the living.

September 2011: What a difference a year makes! We officially embark on a new journey -- submitting our formal application to adopt (including letters of recommendation, physicals and more paperwork than we've seen since buying our house). I've learned that one of my strengths is completing paperwork...kind of a lame strength unless you're working on all those adoption papers!

September 2012: This fall finds us in limbo...parents in waiting, if you will. Oliver melts our hearts and we are preparing to bring him home, but yet we are still living as a family of 2. However....

September 2013 (projected): We will be a family of 3, experiencing lots of "firsts" as a family! At least, our hope is to have him home by next fall. See, hope has returned!

Tony and I recently celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. I am one lucky woman! I know a journey such as ours can drive a husband and wife apart, so I feel blessed that we continue to grow closer as the years -- and experiences -- go by. We have also been supported by family and friends (and, when needed, medical and other care providers), all of whom helped us through the challenging times and can now celebrate with us.

I'm looking forward to this fall season, though I'm especially looking forward to taking Oliver apple picking next year! 

Lost

This summer will forever be known as the summer of "Lost." In June we discovered that our cable provider had made certain tv shows available on-demand, including Lost. It's one of those shows that neither of us saw when it was on the air, but we've heard so much about it we thought it would be fun to check out. The show really does suck you in pretty quickly. The first couple of seasons were pretty interesting -- lots of backstory on each character, plus their trying to survive on the island. After the first two+ seasons it started to get a bit strange. Then it got even more out there. Now it is downright crazy!

Tony is 100% hooked. I could have given up on the show a few seasons ago, but knowing that he would continue watching it -- and it's not the kind of show you can jump in and out of -- I've stuck with it too. 

So, this is how we are spending our pre-parenting time. (well, that and reading parenting / adoption books, finishing our lower level, enjoying drinks on the deck, etc.)
Exciting times in the Meyers' home! 

New Photos

This morning we received a new batch of photos! At 13 months, Oliver is looking as cute as ever. He's got a full head of hair, is continuing to grow taller and seeing his picture still melts my heart. We've been blessed with a lot of pictures recently and I hope that trend continues. It really does help with the wait to see him changing and growing.

Be sure to click over to his page to see the other two photos!

As a reminder, we still have no new or additional information regarding when we will be approved to travel. We do not expect to know more until the Ministry begins approving travel in 2013. The one thing we do know with 100% certainty: we will NOT be traveling in 2012.
If we do have a solid bit of info regarding the "when" we will let everyone know right away. In the meantime we are choosing to focus on the positives and are working to prepare for his eventual arrival!

Tol Items

A quick Thursday update: Tony and I -- and our family -- have been trying to determine what items Oliver had to chose from at his first birthday celebration (you may recall that he chose the ball, making Tony a very happy father!). I made an inquiry to our agency and here is their response:

We are not told what items are placed in front of a child at the tol ceremony.  It is usually a stethoscope, a gavel, a thread, a pencil, a computer mouse, a ball.