What Now?

Many friends and family have asked for updates on our adoption process now that we have our little guys' photo.

After we received our referral, our agency began the legal paperwork and court process in our country for our adoption to be complete.  It usually takes 3-6 months to complete.  During this time, social services will investigate the boys' history and generate the Proof of Abandonment documents.  After the court process is complete in Africa, we will receive these important documents.  They say this waiting time is the hardest.

Ask Baby Fish over here in TN.  Almost everyday she prays for our "doption" as she calls it.  "Mama, when is our baby brudders coming from our doption?  It's taking a WONG time!"  Yes, it is taking a long time and it will take even longer, especially to a 3 year old who's concept of time is limited to tomorrow, yesterday and today.

We did receive a medical evaluation about the boys last week.  They are estimated now to be about 6 mths. younger than we were first told.  Their exam showed them to be in good health, for which we are very grateful.  We have their African names and for right now, we are calling them by those names.  We hope to keep those as middle names and add a Bible name and family name to the mix, just like the other Fish Sticks.  There is great discussion here about what those names should be.  We have lots of good ones in the running and the Fish Sticks seem to have very strong opinions about them.  Opinions are good as long as they result in peaceful decisions.  :)

And what are we up to while we wait?  Lots of things.  Finally we have been able to focus on fund raising.  There are so many good ideas out there and I seem to have been charging forward with several at once.  First, we started cleaning out and posting things on Craigslist and Ebay.  Second, we cleaned out the Fish Sticks' closets and boxes of clothes in the attic to sell surplus clothing at 2 different consignment sales.  I've never participated nor shopped at a consignment sale so this was all new to me.  My first attempt was o.k. - not great, as I came home with a van-load of unsold things.  My friends advised me to come down on my prices, which I gladly did.  You can pray for the 2nd sale which is this week.  I am contributing over 100 items and have low balled myself greatly in hopes to raise funds and clean out all at the same time.

As you saw from the last post, we also cleaned out and hosted a garage sale with our good friends, the Masons, who are also going through the adoption process.  The sale at their house went really well and I came home with the leftovers in an attempt to host another garage sale at our house the following weekend.  What happened was that I was confirmed over and over that hosting a garage sale in the boon docks is nothing but a waste of time.  After 2 days and over 10 hours, we had a handful of customers who must have vowed to not spend over $5 each.  Needless to say, Goodwill got a nice contribution from the Boon Docks Garage Sale and I promised My Man I would never waste my time in such a way again.  :)

A couple friends from church are doing an amazing service for our little guys in Africa by hosting a Swap and Shop to Help Adopt on September 22 in Nashville.  It's the neatest concept of fund raising.  You can read about how it works here.  Here's the evite with details if you want to come or post on facebook for me.  Basically you come and bring whatever from your home that you would like to swap or get rid of - clothing, home furnishings, electronics, baby equipment, toys, jewelry, etc. (all in good condition, of course).  You make a suggested donation of $20 to attend and then take home anything that you find that you would like to have - like shopping for free.  You can bring little and take home lots or bring lots and take home little. Or just come and see what it's all about.

And last, I have opened an etsy shop called Fish Sticks for Africa.  I am trying to sell several items:  custom made shirts with either a country or state or initials, denim sling bags, and reversible hand bags.  100% of the profit goes to our adoption. 

We are working on our education requirements for our agency right now also.  I'm working on writing an extensive term paper about our country (history, culture, etc.) and the adoption process, reading books about adoption, attending Skype conferences, taking quizzes and reading articles.  All good stuff.  There's so much we need to know and so much we are learning.  Filling out grant applications is also on my to-do list that I hope to start tackling this week.

So lots is going on.  Sorry you asked??  :)  Keep praying for us and our boys as we wait.