This week we signed off on our homestudy and got our dossier state certified. It was so easy! I don't know why "state certification" seemed so daunting. I guess I pictured going to the city/county building and wandering around looking for someone to "state certify" and then standing in a long line with grumpy employees at the other end. I pictured a long wait while I waited for them to send it back, all the while wondering whether or not it would be lost. It was actually really simple! We went to the state secretaries office- which was really easy to find- the lady that helped us was super nice and knew exactly what we were talking about. She took our paperwork, gave us a receipt and told us to come back the next day to pick them up. Tony went back and picked them up, as easy as that! I'm so relieved that it's done since I was so worried it would be difficult.
Now, the ONLY thing left is immigration approval! Our homestudy, application, and way too much money (seriously, why does USCIS charge SO MUCH??) go to USCIS and then we wait for a fingerprinting appt. Once we've been fingerprinted, we wait for the very last piece of paper that we need to send our life in writing to Ethiopia! After months and months of work, the only thing left for us is a fingerprinting appt!
2011 should be an exciting year for us! If everything goes well we'll be welcoming a 3rd little member to our family!!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Oi Vey.... This is one of the most beautiful videos I've seen in a long time. This family- the Howerton's- are so inspirational. Her blog is a must read: http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/
Kristen was in Haiti visiting their son that they were in the process of adopting when the earthquake hit. They have the most beautiful family.
Try to watch without tears streaming down your face!
Kristen was in Haiti visiting their son that they were in the process of adopting when the earthquake hit. They have the most beautiful family.
Try to watch without tears streaming down your face!
Homestudy: Check!
Our homestudy has been completed and approved by both agencies! Hurray!!
Our dossier is also complete, except that one sheet needs to be re-notarized.
Next step is immigration. Here's to quick approval from immigration- our final paperwork step!!
Our dossier is also complete, except that one sheet needs to be re-notarized.
Next step is immigration. Here's to quick approval from immigration- our final paperwork step!!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Life changing
I can't believe how much our lives have changed in the 7 months since we were called to adopt a child. I don't think we expected everything to change like it has.
Once your eyes are opened to Africa and allow yourselves to digest the truth of the conditions for children, you can't look away. Now, money spent is put into the perspective "How many people could've been fed instead?" It isn't just that, though. Our lives have meaning and purpose now. We have a new passion to our lives. Our lives are so exciting and full of anticipation. 8 months ago I would've told you that my life didn't really have much direction. 7 months ago, God put a clear direction to my life and it's so thrilling! It's also amazing to me the people that I have met as a result of adopting a child. They come out of the woodworks to connect with us. I think it's so great and so amazing that people I would never imagine meeting or connecting with, I have an opportunity to share what we're doing. I've heard so many times from un-expected people "We're thinking of adopting, can you help point us in the right direction?"
Yesterday I had the (what is the opposite of privelage?) to hear my Grandfather's real thoughts of our adoption. It wasn't pretty and I won't be repeating it with anyone other than my family. Luckily though, I know where to put my stock and I learned long ago that I need to respectfully turn the other way from him. However, he is the ONLY one in our lives that is not fully supportive. Everyone in our lives has rallied around us. Both of our co-workers, our entire family (minus one), and all of our friends- current and old. We've also recieved financial support from the most random of places. People who we know are struggling themselves have sent checks in the mail. It's been so incredible to us and such a testament of what God can do. How big is our God!! We have zero extra money. We have a small savings that we have been saving for a house someday. That's all. Despite our available funds, we have made every payment on time. We have paid about $12-13,000 so far. How? Because God called us to this amazing thing and He has paid every bill required. I wish I could say I have enough faith that I never once questioned where the funds would come from or stressed about it. I have. My wonderfully calm husband always reminds me that we have never wanted for anything. God has never left us out in the cold. Our adoption process has been such a beautiful picture of what God can do.
This Christmas, I hope you can take a deep breath and remember what God has done for you this year. Remember the precious children in Africa that don't have a family, a bright Christmas tree or a stuffed stocking to wake up to. Be encouraged, though, that hundreds of them will find a family this year. Pray for them- fervently!
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Once your eyes are opened to Africa and allow yourselves to digest the truth of the conditions for children, you can't look away. Now, money spent is put into the perspective "How many people could've been fed instead?" It isn't just that, though. Our lives have meaning and purpose now. We have a new passion to our lives. Our lives are so exciting and full of anticipation. 8 months ago I would've told you that my life didn't really have much direction. 7 months ago, God put a clear direction to my life and it's so thrilling! It's also amazing to me the people that I have met as a result of adopting a child. They come out of the woodworks to connect with us. I think it's so great and so amazing that people I would never imagine meeting or connecting with, I have an opportunity to share what we're doing. I've heard so many times from un-expected people "We're thinking of adopting, can you help point us in the right direction?"
Yesterday I had the (what is the opposite of privelage?) to hear my Grandfather's real thoughts of our adoption. It wasn't pretty and I won't be repeating it with anyone other than my family. Luckily though, I know where to put my stock and I learned long ago that I need to respectfully turn the other way from him. However, he is the ONLY one in our lives that is not fully supportive. Everyone in our lives has rallied around us. Both of our co-workers, our entire family (minus one), and all of our friends- current and old. We've also recieved financial support from the most random of places. People who we know are struggling themselves have sent checks in the mail. It's been so incredible to us and such a testament of what God can do. How big is our God!! We have zero extra money. We have a small savings that we have been saving for a house someday. That's all. Despite our available funds, we have made every payment on time. We have paid about $12-13,000 so far. How? Because God called us to this amazing thing and He has paid every bill required. I wish I could say I have enough faith that I never once questioned where the funds would come from or stressed about it. I have. My wonderfully calm husband always reminds me that we have never wanted for anything. God has never left us out in the cold. Our adoption process has been such a beautiful picture of what God can do.
This Christmas, I hope you can take a deep breath and remember what God has done for you this year. Remember the precious children in Africa that don't have a family, a bright Christmas tree or a stuffed stocking to wake up to. Be encouraged, though, that hundreds of them will find a family this year. Pray for them- fervently!
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Shoes for Kiddos
I absolutely LOVE this blog and this little girl
http://littlegoody2-shoes.blogspot.com/
She is 11 and when her parents adopted a baby from Ethiopia, it made her sad that none of the kids had good shoes on. Most of them had no shoes. She came home and wanted to do something about it, so she makes and sells these necklaces. 100% of the profits buy shoes for those kiddos that she saw. She has provided 100 pairs of shoes in the few short months she's been doing it. Her goal right now is 60 pairs for Christmas. The necklaces are so cute, Sami is wonderful and the cause is so worthy. Check her out and sport one of her super cute necklaces! (They would make a perfect stocking stuffer)
http://littlegoody2-shoes.blogspot.com/
She is 11 and when her parents adopted a baby from Ethiopia, it made her sad that none of the kids had good shoes on. Most of them had no shoes. She came home and wanted to do something about it, so she makes and sells these necklaces. 100% of the profits buy shoes for those kiddos that she saw. She has provided 100 pairs of shoes in the few short months she's been doing it. Her goal right now is 60 pairs for Christmas. The necklaces are so cute, Sami is wonderful and the cause is so worthy. Check her out and sport one of her super cute necklaces! (They would make a perfect stocking stuffer)
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