Fashion Friday Link Up

When I am out shopping, you can usually find me at SAVERS or Goodwill. It's so amazing all the designer brands (in great condition) that I find for next to nothing. When I first started thrifting, it was a little nerve racking and overwhelming with racks and racks of clothes all mixed together, but now its like a giant treasure hunt for me to search and find little gems of clothing. This dress was one of those "gems" I found. One day when I was at SAVERS, I was having one of those shopping days where you just can't find anything. I was about ready to leave when I noticed the sleeves of this dress sticking out from the rack. I went over and picked it up and immediately fell in love with it! I was able to pick this dress up for $6.99! Come to find out, this dress is from Nordstrom's and retails for $148! 

Woot Woot! Score! I love the gathered fabric in the front, how form fitting it is and the fact that I can wear it in the spring, summer, fall, and in the winter too! See how I wore it for the winter HERE

LINK UP HERE

What We Wore Wednesday.

 

(me) skirt: Modest Pop // top: thrifted // shoes Zulily // necklace: F21 // watch: Target // cardigan: thrifted
(e) top: Sears // leggings: Sears // shoes: gift

What I Wore: Gold Necklace Blouse

Happy Monday! Oh....I mean Happy Tuesday to you! Hope you had a fabulous weekend, whether it was a relaxing one or one filled with friends, family and lots of fun. Ours was filled with friends, family and lots of fun for sure! We we on the go non-stop this weekend and I loved every single bit of it! Friday night we ordered in pizza, relaxed and watched movies together. Saturday had a celebration for my best friend, Paola who is now a US Citizen and did a girls night out. Sunday we went to church then to Josh's parents for Sunday dinner. Yesterday we hosted a bbq/pool party at our house (such a BLAST!!) around lunchtime and then went to dinner and to get some yogurt with family. I would say our weekend was pretty fantastic if you ask me! This outfit that I am featuring below is what I wore for girls night out. I am definitely a big jewelry girl, so when I found this shirt that already had an attached necklace, I couldn't pass it up! I love black and gold together and this necklace definitely adds a lot to this plain black blouse to make it feel chic and stylish.

top: thrifted // jeans: Kohls // shoes: Zulily // bracelet: thrifted // sunglasses: TJ Maxx 

WHAT WE WORE WEDNESDAY.

Today is going to be one busy day! We have E's lawyer coming over at 4:30 and then our foster licensing specialist coming right after that at 5:30. I got word last week from our Case Manager that there is Foster Care Review Board Meeting scheduled for E on September 15th. The Foster Care Review Board advises the juvenile court on progress toward achieving a permanent home for a child or children involved in a dependency action and in an out-of-home placement. The well-being of these kiddos is the highest concern to these board members. I am so grateful that they can be a "voice" for them, because a huge majority of them don't have a voice. They are placed in a home with people that they have never met before and just have to adjust. I am so thankful that E has been placed with us and that she is adjusting and growing in our home with us. I am so thankful that Josh and I accepted God's calling for us to love and care for His children. Our journey so far doesn't have any words to describe it. We have been taught so much and have learned so many things along the way. Our faith has grown tremendously and we have learned what it means to really truly trust God. Fostering has been one of the best experiences of my life and I cannot wait to see what God has planned for E and for our family. Sometimes I get this feeling like I wish I could help out more and do more. I wish that I had a humongous 20 bedroom home that I could fill with these precious little kiddos...but I don't...and that's okay. Whenever I feel this way, I always hear a sweet whisper from God telling me that I am doing enough..that I am doing more than enough and that I am changing lives one child at a time. God's surprises and His blessings are always so wonderful!  I love my God so much. He is so good, so faithful, so loving and so merciful. I don't know what I would do without Him in my life. Please keep E and our family in your prayers during this time of changes and transitioning. Thank you!

(me) skirt: Nordstrom Rack // shoes: Zulily // purse: TJ Maxx // shirt: thrifted // 

sunglasses: TJ Maxx // earrings: Chicos // watch: Target // bracelet: Ettika

(e) top: thrifted // skirt: thrifted // shoes: Payless // hairclip: Dollar Tree

WHAT WE WORE WEDNESDAY AND A FOSTER CARE UPDATE.

Last week we received a letter in the mail for clothing allowance for E. It didn't have any instructions on how to obtain the clothing allowance, but had the number to our Case Manager in case we had any questions about it. I decided to call her and I am so happy that I did. We spent close to 45 minutes on the phone talking about our case. The update that she gave me was very positive. Whenever a new case is opened in the foster care system, they first establish a "case plan" or a "case time frame". It usually depends on the type of case and the age of the child. For E, we were told that her case plan was for 9 months and we have had her since April. There is a court hearing scheduled for the end of October. Since her Mom is completely out of the picture at this point, our Case Manager informed me that our case might move faster than we might expect and there is a huge possibility that the Mom's rights will be severed in the next few months and E will come up for adoption. She told me that her Mom would need to make some pretty drastic changes right now to have any chance at being able to get E and her other children back. First question she asked me was if we would be willing to adopt E. I told her if it came to that point, we would definitely want to. Then her second question came as a big surprise to me. She told me that the Grandpa who is taking care of E's brother (who is 3 years old) is not interested at all in adopting him. She then asked me, "Would you be willing to adopt both E and her younger brother?" I was speechless for a moment, but thinking about it and the possibility of that happening made me so giddy. I told her that Josh and I would need to think and pray about first, but we would definitely consider it. 
Our foster care journey has challenged our faith more times than I can count and my faith has grown in leaps and bounds because of it. Every time I become fearful or get anxiety of the unknown and what might be ahead, I lean back on the fact of who brought us here to where we are right now. Looking back, "my plan" was to already be staying at home with one of our own babies (maybe 2)...but Heavenly Father had a completely different plan for our family than what I would have ever imagined. It's been such a wonderful journey and I am so grateful that we were able and that we were willing to become foster parents. Last night as E wrapped her arms around me to cuddle in her bed, tears of joy and immense gratitude fell down my face as I held her tight. Heavenly Father truly is good and I know He is in the midst of all of this. There is something so beautiful and so wonderful about trusting in Him and trusting His plan and not our own. I have surrendered my will and my plans for His will and His plans for my life, for E and for our family. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for reading! Hope you have a fantastic day!!

     (me) shirt: Kohls // cropped jeans: Kohls // shoes: Zulily // purse(F21): Goodwill //  bracelet: Goodwill // earrings: Forever 21 // Sunglasses: Tillys
(e) dress: Costco // shoes: Payless // purse: gift from Mom // Sunglasses: gift from my friend Lindsay  

FASHION FRIDAY LINK UP: PRINTED MAXI

Happy Friday to you! Hope your week has been good to you. I am glad to have you 
here for today's Fashion Friday Link Up...so make sure to link up your outfits below!

Last night we met our new Case Worker. She is really nice and seems to be on top of things.
We have had E since April and her case plan is scheduled for nine months. As of right now,
her Mom is completely MIA and is not doing the things that she needs to do in order to have
any chance of getting E or any of her other children back. It's a really sad situation. I hope and pray that her Mom would realize just how special E and her other children really are. I also pray that her Mom will find healing and that she will be able to start making right choices to put her back on the right path, even if that means that her children won't be placed back with her. I pray for God's will for E, her siblings and our family. Josh and I would love the opportunity to be able to adopt E because we feel like she fits so well in our family and has been such a huge blessing in our lives. We will continue to cherish this special time that we have with her, continue to watch God do a work within her and continue to trust God knowing that He is able to do what may seem impossible. 

Tonight we have a meeting with E's lawyer who will hopefully have some more 
information to give us. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers at this time. 

Top: Thrifted // Skirt: Down East // Shoes: Zulily // Earrings: Chicos // Sunnies: TJ Maxx // Bracelet: Ettika // Watch: Target

An InLinkz Link-up