“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” –George S. Patton

This quote highlights one of the biggest differences between Phillip and me (and also illustrates what is currently going on in the Blume household!). He is the big-picture-go-getter-risk-taker doer and I am the play-it-safe-have-all-my-ducks-in-a-row-first calculator.  In the book EntreLeadership, author Dave Ramsey lambastes those who sit around dreaming and wishing, but doing nothing to advance their situations. I am one of those people.  I let fear overtake me to the point of paralysis. I assess, reassess, and overthink what the outcome might be if I act on an idea.  Phillip, on the other hand, is the one who makes things happen.  Even though I’m not always comfortable with his seemingly crazy ideas, I’m grateful for his leadership and willingness to take me alongside him on our life journey…together. He doesn’t ever leave me in the dust to fend for myself, but rather brings me into his dreamworld and helps me catch the vision.

Here are some examples of goals and projects that my husband made happen (or is currently helping to make happen) within the past two years:

• Became a writer for a photo magazine that is now being carried in Barnes and Noble bookstores
• Became a speaker at various photography conventions, including WPPI, ShutterFest, and United.
• Finished our studio (basement) for Blume Photography
• Building shelves for our master bedroom closet
• Hiring someone to landscape the studio entrance area

There are lots more to this list, but these are the projects that stand out in my mind right now.  Again–wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Phillip!

Photo by Laura Yang Photography

Speaking of moving forward, I’m excited to announce that our home study is now complete! Our next step is waiting on approval for our I800a application, which determines our suitability to adopt an orphan from another country. Please pray we will be diligent in turning in documents in a timely manner so we can be matched with our child sooner! It is crazy to think about the fact that our son is most likely already born and out there somewhere. Crazy. That means, if everything continues on our current course, we should be able to travel and bring home our son in April 2016!

P.S. Now that our home study is finalized, we can finally accept tax-deductible gifts toward our adoption fund. This is great news, since we’ve been putting off several of you who have generously expressed your desire to support our family in this way. We’ve already been able to raise approximately $8500 of our total need (which will be $35,000 total) via a successful yard sale fundraiser and the Portrait Sessions for Adoption we worked on earlier this year. (Praise God!) Combined with recent gifts from family, the total amount still needed for our adoption process is now closer to $24,000. We trust and know God will provide for us to complete this process He has called us to. Thank you all for journeying alongside us — putting a human face, your tangible expressions of love, and your encouragement to all that God is doing. We love you, too!