Home with Tracy

Dear Adoptive Mom Who Didn't Adopt, It is difficult to express the loss of a child through a failed adoption. It is difficult for people to understand. But I am here to let you know that I understand. I understand your pain. I understand your loss. I have felt your heartbreak. I have cried your tears. You don't start the process of an adoption thinking the end result would be a bed that is still empty. You don't think that there will be a seat at the table that wont be filled. You don't think of all the goodnight kisses that will never be given. You don't think that you will never give comforting hugs, letting your child know you will always be there mommy. You don't start the process of an adoption thinking you will come out at the end without your child. It is difficult because the people around you may not respond to your loss. They may not realize that you are grieving the loss of that child. Your child. They may not realize that even though you never ...

We just completed our first month of financial peace. Honestly, in regards to finances, it was the least stressful month we've had in years. We paid off over $89,000 in debt last month, the majority was from selling our home. Huge relief! We also had over a third of our emergency fund in place. However, we ended up having to use it because there was a dead in the family and my husband had to travel out of state. It was less stressful because we had a partial emergency fund in place. We didn't question whether he should go or how we would get him there, he simply went. No worries. We have started out our second month with budget in place, but not as specific as I would like. I have all our bills listed, the due date, which pay check they will be paid out of, etc. What I don't have is the envelope system in place .... yet. I will be working on getting that started in March. We will be working on building up our emergency fund this month. We will complete our emergenc...