Here's a sample of what I came up with.
Not sure if it would be a sellable item or maybe just a fun shirt for us to wear as a family.
The Fish Sticks sure do love theirs.
Anyone know of takers? I could do any country.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Look What I Made
Here's a sample of what I came up with.
Not sure if it would be a sellable item or maybe just a fun shirt for us to wear as a family.
The Fish Sticks sure do love theirs.
Anyone know of takers? I could do any country.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Paperwork End in Sight
It's been about a month since I posted on this blog.
We completed our home study and last week sent off paper work to the USCIS.
That puts us working on our final papers for the dossier.
If you are familiar with the adoption process, then now you know where we are in the process.
If you are like I was 6 months ago then the above sentences read, "BLAH BLAH BLAH." And that's o.k. All it means is that we are moving along. The first part of the adoption process involves a lot of paper work about the family adopting (us). The next stage will be to receive a referral and then move to complete the paperwork to get those little babies home. The paperwork should be complete on our end soon. Then the waiting period will begin. There are days when the adoption process is a part time job. No complaints here though. I hear the waiting part is harder.
We passed a newborn, African-American baby in the store not too long ago and I slowed down just to admire. My Man grinned at me and said, "I know what you are thinking. Just hang on and you'll get yours soon!" It's hard to imagine.
The paperwork was always such a scary part of the adoption process for me, but our agency has been awesome about letting me know what is needed during each phase of the process. They also require us to have a certain number of hours of education about our country. I have a feeling I am doing overkill on my education as I have been pouring over huge books on the country's history and politics. It's all fascinating to me and I want to learn all that I can.
We completed our home study and last week sent off paper work to the USCIS.
That puts us working on our final papers for the dossier.
If you are familiar with the adoption process, then now you know where we are in the process.
If you are like I was 6 months ago then the above sentences read, "BLAH BLAH BLAH." And that's o.k. All it means is that we are moving along. The first part of the adoption process involves a lot of paper work about the family adopting (us). The next stage will be to receive a referral and then move to complete the paperwork to get those little babies home. The paperwork should be complete on our end soon. Then the waiting period will begin. There are days when the adoption process is a part time job. No complaints here though. I hear the waiting part is harder.
We passed a newborn, African-American baby in the store not too long ago and I slowed down just to admire. My Man grinned at me and said, "I know what you are thinking. Just hang on and you'll get yours soon!" It's hard to imagine.
The paperwork was always such a scary part of the adoption process for me, but our agency has been awesome about letting me know what is needed during each phase of the process. They also require us to have a certain number of hours of education about our country. I have a feeling I am doing overkill on my education as I have been pouring over huge books on the country's history and politics. It's all fascinating to me and I want to learn all that I can.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Bequeathing
Little Man asked me the other day that when the babies come, could I let him know when they are finished slobbering and putting things in their mouths. I told him sure, but why did he want to know that. He said that he would give them his big Legos then (Duplos).
Today we had our last of 4 home study meetings. Our rough draft should be ready next week.
Today we had our last of 4 home study meetings. Our rough draft should be ready next week.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Home Study Here We Come
We have chosen America World Adoption Agency to do our local home study since MLJ is located in Indiana. Our home study case worker comes highly recommended by several good friends and we look forward to meeting with her, hopefully this week.
Last week I got the list of documents necessary to complete the home study and as I printed off all the papers and tried to organize them in my folder, I mumbled to myself "Don't get overwhelmed. Don't get overwhelmed." It was quite a bit of paperwork and leg work, but after breaking it down a bit, I'm revved up and ready to get crackin' on it all.
I took the 3 little Fish Sticks with me to the local sheriff's station for a county background check on Friday. I had never been there before and neither had they - which can be a good thing, right? :) Little Guy was a bit obsessed with the high fence, curly barbed wire and the many officers we saw coming and going. I promised him, after much persistence, that I would ask the next police officer I saw if Little Guy could see his hand cuffs and other "things" he uses to catch bad guys. It was really sad, because the minute I said that, not a single person in uniform passed us by. What a huge disappointment for him. I think the next one I see in public, I will ask. Maybe I should take the kids to Dunkin' Donuts. Surely we'll find one there. TEE HEE!
We hope to have our first of 4 meetings for our home study this week and in between time I'll be working on my to-do list.
My crazy mind keeps wandering on wild rabbit trails of all kinds of things: what I could make and sell as a fund raiser, where I will get 2nd hand baby equipment once they join us, what we will name them, what will they look like, when will I make time to write my autobiography and can I keep it condensed without writing a book, how long will it take us, will we hit road blocks,.....
It boggles my mind to think that before the earth began, our Creator planned families by birth and by adoption and He knows right now what our future holds. He planted this journey in our hearts and brought My Man and I together to see it to completion. Good stuff....Good God!!
Last week I got the list of documents necessary to complete the home study and as I printed off all the papers and tried to organize them in my folder, I mumbled to myself "Don't get overwhelmed. Don't get overwhelmed." It was quite a bit of paperwork and leg work, but after breaking it down a bit, I'm revved up and ready to get crackin' on it all.
I took the 3 little Fish Sticks with me to the local sheriff's station for a county background check on Friday. I had never been there before and neither had they - which can be a good thing, right? :) Little Guy was a bit obsessed with the high fence, curly barbed wire and the many officers we saw coming and going. I promised him, after much persistence, that I would ask the next police officer I saw if Little Guy could see his hand cuffs and other "things" he uses to catch bad guys. It was really sad, because the minute I said that, not a single person in uniform passed us by. What a huge disappointment for him. I think the next one I see in public, I will ask. Maybe I should take the kids to Dunkin' Donuts. Surely we'll find one there. TEE HEE!
We hope to have our first of 4 meetings for our home study this week and in between time I'll be working on my to-do list.
My crazy mind keeps wandering on wild rabbit trails of all kinds of things: what I could make and sell as a fund raiser, where I will get 2nd hand baby equipment once they join us, what we will name them, what will they look like, when will I make time to write my autobiography and can I keep it condensed without writing a book, how long will it take us, will we hit road blocks,.....
It boggles my mind to think that before the earth began, our Creator planned families by birth and by adoption and He knows right now what our future holds. He planted this journey in our hearts and brought My Man and I together to see it to completion. Good stuff....Good God!!
Monday, April 23, 2012
First Big Step
Today is a big day for us.
One minute I'm scared and nervous.
The next minute I'm anxious and excited.
We got an email on Friday that our application and initial fee was received and we are approved to begin.
Last night I read the 18 page contract, initialing where needed and signing the end.
Today it was put in the mail with a large check that gets the ball rolling.
We've had many discussions about the country that we should adopt from and the gender(s) that we should choose. We've prayed about it and didn't feel like the "correct" options were slapping us in the face from the Lord.
Late Friday night I did a google search on photos of people from both countries. The photos of one stood out to me far more. It appears that the need is greater in one country than the other. Ninety percent of the photos ripped at my heart - to bring clean water to those people, to fill their bellies with wholesome foods, to rebuild their homes, to bring them peace and not fear. And so my heart was tugged.
I shared this with My Man and since he did not have stronger "tugs" to either country, it was decided.
We hope to bring home 2 little guys from C about this time next year, Lord willing.
Join us in prayer for this process and for those little guys!!
One minute I'm scared and nervous.
The next minute I'm anxious and excited.
We got an email on Friday that our application and initial fee was received and we are approved to begin.
Last night I read the 18 page contract, initialing where needed and signing the end.
Today it was put in the mail with a large check that gets the ball rolling.
We've had many discussions about the country that we should adopt from and the gender(s) that we should choose. We've prayed about it and didn't feel like the "correct" options were slapping us in the face from the Lord.
Late Friday night I did a google search on photos of people from both countries. The photos of one stood out to me far more. It appears that the need is greater in one country than the other. Ninety percent of the photos ripped at my heart - to bring clean water to those people, to fill their bellies with wholesome foods, to rebuild their homes, to bring them peace and not fear. And so my heart was tugged.
I shared this with My Man and since he did not have stronger "tugs" to either country, it was decided.
We hope to bring home 2 little guys from C about this time next year, Lord willing.
Join us in prayer for this process and for those little guys!!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Application
Sunday night I sent our application for adoption to MLJ Adoptions via email.
They moved locations this week so the office was closed Monday.
Today (Tuesday) I called with a credit card payment for submitting our application.
I will hear within 3-5 business days whether our application was accepted or not.
After acceptance, we will need to firm up which country we'd like to adopt from and arrange for someone to begin our home study.
They moved locations this week so the office was closed Monday.
Today (Tuesday) I called with a credit card payment for submitting our application.
I will hear within 3-5 business days whether our application was accepted or not.
After acceptance, we will need to firm up which country we'd like to adopt from and arrange for someone to begin our home study.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Phone Interview
Today I had a one and a half hour phone interview with a lady from MLJ Adoptions in Indianapolis. It was a very good conversation and I wrote frantically so I wouldn't miss anything she said. I filled up 5 1/2 pages.
I got tons of good information explaining the step by step process for adopting internationally.
I told her what we were looking for as a family and what all I had encountered along the way. I asked her for any suggestions about what direction to go. She said that 3 countries would fit our family: B, S and C. As we talked, I told her that B probably wasn't a good fit for us because it takes 3 years to adopt from there.
Then she gave me details on both S and C and told me what we would need to do to get the process rolling. I love the agency and all that they stand for and am confident in their experience.
S is a new program therefore so far no babies have been brought home from there although they are anticipating a 12-16 month process. MLJ is the only adoption agency working there now. It would require a short trip to pick up the baby and then a flight to N to finish the paperwork because that is the closest US Embassy.
They have made 84 placements in 2 years in C. There is great need there because the country is so impoverished. We could easily get a young child there although from the time they match you with a child and they are a newborn, the process takes several months before you can bring them home. She thinks the youngest expected child would be about 7-11 months. AB was so sad about this because she just keeps dreaming of infants. :) It only takes 12-14 months to adopt a baby in C.
They have had several sets of twins adopted in C and they even had a staff person adopt 2 boys that were 7 months and 8 months at the same time. In S, the chances to get 2 babies or twins is probably slimmer because it's a much smaller country with a much smaller orphanage.
At this point we will need to submit an application to MLJ and once approved (2-3 business days) we would connect with a home study agency (D has recommended hers) and get started on our home study and paper work. We'll need to decide before the approval of MLJ what country we'd like to pursue.
Please pray with us as we weigh each pro and con and see what direction the Lord would have us go! Thanks.
I got tons of good information explaining the step by step process for adopting internationally.
I told her what we were looking for as a family and what all I had encountered along the way. I asked her for any suggestions about what direction to go. She said that 3 countries would fit our family: B, S and C. As we talked, I told her that B probably wasn't a good fit for us because it takes 3 years to adopt from there.
Then she gave me details on both S and C and told me what we would need to do to get the process rolling. I love the agency and all that they stand for and am confident in their experience.
S is a new program therefore so far no babies have been brought home from there although they are anticipating a 12-16 month process. MLJ is the only adoption agency working there now. It would require a short trip to pick up the baby and then a flight to N to finish the paperwork because that is the closest US Embassy.
They have made 84 placements in 2 years in C. There is great need there because the country is so impoverished. We could easily get a young child there although from the time they match you with a child and they are a newborn, the process takes several months before you can bring them home. She thinks the youngest expected child would be about 7-11 months. AB was so sad about this because she just keeps dreaming of infants. :) It only takes 12-14 months to adopt a baby in C.
They have had several sets of twins adopted in C and they even had a staff person adopt 2 boys that were 7 months and 8 months at the same time. In S, the chances to get 2 babies or twins is probably slimmer because it's a much smaller country with a much smaller orphanage.
At this point we will need to submit an application to MLJ and once approved (2-3 business days) we would connect with a home study agency (D has recommended hers) and get started on our home study and paper work. We'll need to decide before the approval of MLJ what country we'd like to pursue.
Please pray with us as we weigh each pro and con and see what direction the Lord would have us go! Thanks.
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