Long overdue!

Been awhile since I blogged.  Can cover a few things in just one post!  Lucky me!!!  We finally took a fairly decent photo of ourselves for the adoption agency we're using.  I just don't like photos of myself, so it's always a challenge finding one.  We took one of the four of us as well.  Without much further adue, here they are:

The other photo I've been meaning to take, well since Monday anyway is our Thanksgiving or Blessing tree.  We're trying to daily write out something we are thankful for, on a leaf, and hang it.  Hoping to keep this up through Thanksgiving.  Should be a full tree by then.  Yes, it wraps into the kitchen, touches the floor, and goes onto the ceiling.

There you have it, our most recent photo's!

A Long Month

This month has felt so very long and tiring.  Forgotten to update so many things about our lives, that I am willing to share on the internet anyway.  So here goes the run down of life:

1. Our official Home Study is in hand.  It was post marked 9/2/10 of this month.
2. We celebrated another birthday for Kevin, one that ends in a "5".
3. The boys tested for their Senior White Belts in Tae Kwon Doe on 9/11/01 and passed
4. We've now had 3 service calls on our kitchen fridge since 9/11/10 and are hoping that it will work properly now.  Fortunately we've only lost a half gallon of milk.
5. Scouts have started back up for the boys.
6. Quest has begun for Thing One.  It is the Sunday School for 5th and 6th graders at our church and they have events a few times a month as well.  He is so excited about this.
7. Breakaway has started for me ~ this is our churches ladies Bible Study time.  There are actually about 9 different studies going on between Tuesday morning and Wednesday night.  We head out to the Tuesday morning one, which means I need to be well organized and have plenty of seat work for the boys to do.  Our church has child care through 6th grade as Tuesday's Bible Studies are attended by a lot of homeschooling families.  I've also joined the drama team.  That adds lines to memorize and rehearsal times to my schedule.  First one went well.
8. Base Camp has begun for Kevin ~ this is the men's bible study at our church.  One study that the men can go to, either Tuesday morning or Wednesday night.  Kevin is leading a table this semester.  Basically keeping in touch with the guys during the week, encouraging a time to meet outside of Base Camp, and encourage Biblical growth.  They have chances to earn points and at the end of the semester, the table with the most points wins gift cards to local restaurants.
9. Two separate rounds of colds for me!  woo hoo, lucky me.  Okay, maybe not.  At least it's over and life can move on.

That is our month in a nut shell!

Journey into the land of patience . . .

Kevin and I had our last interviews with our social worker two weeks ago. In theory, we should be receiving a rough draft any time now in the next 7 days to review. It's almost like the last few weeks of being pregnant in that, the "due date" is only an estimate, it could happen anytime around that date.

In the mean time, we've been mulling over which agency to go with for the actual adoption, how much do with think we can afford, how to pay for it, how to rearrange the bedrooms, and on goes the list.

Prayer requests, for now:

1. Wisdom for the financial aspect the adoption. We don't want to be over our heads in debt.
2. Clear disernment regarding which agency to go through.
3. Endurance for the organizing of our house.
4. Patience and peace for walking in God's timing.

Thank you friends,

First Day

No, I'm not necessarily thinking of the Matt Maher song "Hold Us Together", more thinking that it's June 1. Here are a few random things running threw this scatter brain of mine:

• It still doesn't quite seem real that we're on summer vacation but we are.
• We've had our first interview for our home study. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Both Kevin and I have one more interview individual. It will take about two weeks to create the rough draft, then another couple to have a finalized copy. Possibly, by July 1 we can start the adoption process.
• I'm really impressed with how everyone in our family worked together today to get the house straightened up. The boys are finally "getting it" when it comes to cleaning up. Yeah!!!!!!!!
• Thankful that the cold I feel like I've been battling for the last couple weeks is just about gone. It seems like it wouldn't stay in one place long enough to treat.
• Soooo looking forward to another solid night sleep and a leisurely morning tomorrow.
• Having fun pulling together a wish list of things I'd like to get for next school year.

That just about sums up the day here. Happy June everyone!

Paper work is wrapping up!

In an envelope similar to this one, the last of the paper work and final check for the Home Study went out today. Wouldn't have thought it would take two months, approximately, just to get the paperwork together and mailed off. Kevin mentioned that he was able to get the training certificates emailed off this afternoon. That leaves, I believe, one reference letter to be mailed in and our autobiographies which we hope to email in tonight or tomorrow.

I can feel my heart pounding a bit harder today, as I think how things are coming together. To think that the Home Study could be finished in the near future and that will begin the adoption process shortly there after. It could be as early as 3 months after that, that we have an infant in our house. Wow!! Here come the sleepless nights and diapers all over again!!

No News Is Good News

And so it is at our house! School has been moving along steadily. Boys and I are ready for the year to be over. Think we hit the 180 days May 20 or May 21! Don't remember if we've had a hookie day or not, hence the difference of two different days.

In adoption related news, things are moving along steadily as well. We have 1 more class to take over the internet, two letters of references need to be mailed in, and our autobiographies need to be wrapped up. There's hope that we'll be able to get most of this in by next Wednesday and in the near future we can start our meetings with the Social Worker. We'll then begin the paperwork for the actual adoption and the waiting process for placement.

In the mean time, no news is good news!

Slowly, the journey

continues.

After being prayed for last Tuesday, I was able to get a large chunk of the autobiography completed fairly easily. Another testimony to sharing your struggles, with believers, trusting in His timing, and waiting upon Him I am truly thankful for my church where it feels safe to share my struggles, to seek prayer, and to be broken.

Kevin and I have finished just about all the paper work completed for our Home Study. We still have four classes to take and wrap up our autobiographies. Both of which are moving along well. Please pray that we'll find the time and energy to complete these.

Thanks,

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

10 or more years ago, I never would have imagined so many things go into an adoption. Would have thought it would be as simple as someone realizing they can't raise the child, another person wanting to raise a child, a lawyer, and another person/company to put the two families in touch.

I'm beginning to believe that this could be more of a challenging application than some of the places I've worked in the past. There are a number of financial questions, medical forms for all living in the household, reference letters, autobiography letters to be written, statement of faith, parenting classes, finger printing, background checks, and on it goes. Already having two boys of our own, I can only begin to understand the pain of having to put a child up for adoption. The need to know that your child will be loved and taken care of is great. The information gathered, by an adoption agency, helps orphanages and mothers to make a selection in who the child will be placed with.

As we wrap up the first set of papers, we believe we'll be adopting domestically ~ mainly because of the cost. We'll hopefully be able to pay for most of the adoption from our savings. Generally speaking, I'm not in favor of going into debt for most things. I'd rather cut out activities than borrow, thinking the money will be their later. Now we begin the journey of figuring out where to cut things in our budget so that we can save more! It's a good to know that we can tighten the purse strings, why we're doing it, and still be able to have some fun.

Keep us in your prayers,
now for financial wisdom.

Thanks,

It's begun!!

Our journey into the adoptive world has begun. Both Kevin and I have a really good feeling about Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Inc. as the agency to work with. My heart feels like it is pounding so hard, it will pop out of my chest and my hands are shaking!! We'll begin working on our home study information in the coming days. Depending on how quickly we work on this, it could be completed by the end of April or beginning of May.

Hold on world, think we're boarding the roller coaster of a life time!!!

Our Journey

Our journey, in life, continues with little regard to time or circumstances. It plots along, with or with out us. We can choose to take an active part in this journey or let the journey dictate what happens.

Probably the greatest thing for us, for Kevin and me that is, is knowing that in our own journey we are serving a mighty God. The Alpha & Omega; the great I AM; the Creator of the world. He is the only God to have raised someone from the dead. He could calm the seas with a word. He could bless a few pieces of food and feed thousands. People were healed by His touch or word. It is reassuring to know that this God has our best interest at heart. It is this God that I put my hope and trust in. No one else has been able to do the things He has.

With this hope and faith in God, Kevin and I are moving toward adopting a child. A definitive age, country, or sex, we have not totally decided on. For both of us, there has been a strong burden to look into adoption and to pursue it. We are trusting in God to open the doors to the child He has planned for us. It is a journey that we look forward to. We are both excited and nervous at the same time. We look forward to seeing God's hand in this, as His plan unfolds in our lives.

In the mean time, we'll continue to walk the path that is before us. We will continue to be in prayer over our lives, the lives of our boys, our family, our church family and friends, our leaders. Let us know how we can pray for you, too!

Faithfully your friend,

The Journey

Have you ever stopped to ponder the journey you on? Where you've been? Where you are going?

A lot has been running through my head lately. A lot of different questions. Am I where I should be in my walk with God? Do I really lean on Him or my own understanding? Are we (speaking of homeschooling) where we should be at this point in the year? Does my daily life, schedules, commitments, etc. meet God plan for my life?

Yes, several things for me to think on! Many more things to look into as well.