I wasn't sure how to title this because a few things came to mind last night after I started reading the comments about my last post (I SO appreciate you for taking the time to read and pray for us...there are no words..)
Yesterday, Scott and I went to get our biometrics done. That's a fancy way of saying FBI fingerprints, (just another step in the process). Scott's went great! My lady took,(what it seemed like), forever! However she kept saying my fingerprints were smooth. Cool! I've got smooth hands. If any of you know about my hands, they are the wrinkliest, dry hands EVER! It's a family trait:). Anyways, she said that the FBI will have a final say on if they come out OK. If not, I will have to go back and redo them. Seriously? Do I look like a terrorist or criminal? Man, I kept thinking to myself, "push 'em down harder, lady"-but I didn't say that, of course. So, another waiting game, that's out of my hands.
The strangest thing that stuck with me was when she asked if we were adopting, and from where. I told her Russia! She commented awhile on how cold it will be (thanks for reminding me-like I didn't already know that!), and then she started praising me for doing this. She said, "how brave we were and how wonderful it is that we are adopting!" I should be flattered, right? Wrong! I had heard this before from some other adoptive parents, that when they get praised for adopting, they feel something other than gratitude. What? Why was I not feeling giddy and like a halo was over my head? I actually felt shame. Shame for not have taken action sooner! Shame for not opening my eyes to the horrible orphan crisis around the world. I think I gave myself a "free pass", if you will, because my youngest brother was adopted (at 5 days old:)) and I was done! I can't believe I felt this! If anything, I hope God places it on someone else's heart to be open to His children, who are fatherless, or allow their hearts to break for them and take action in some way. Don't get me wrong, we appreciate your encouragement and prayers more than anything. Having you and God on our side is more than our little family can ask for. So if you sing me praises and I act a little funny towards you about it, it's not because I'm not gracious, it's that my heart hurts a little more.
So, with all that sad, sappy stuff, get ready for some more! I promise, I don't mean to make you sad and teary eyed! The first time we told our parents we were adopting internationally, without knowing exactly where from yet, I was struck with a childhood memory. We were outside sitting on our front porch and I remember the stars being so bright. I was talking to my mom and asked her if she remembered the Disney cartoon with that cute little Russian mouse, Feivel. "An American Tale" she said! You know where I'm going with this, don't you? I instantly remembered as a child crying to that song, "Somewhere Out There." At the time, it didn't really have much meaning, other than, I couldn't imagine not knowing where your family was in the world. That song, now has so much more meaning! So, I found it on Youtube, and yep, I'm posting it! Happy listening! Seriously, don't cry...I dare you!
Once again, you'll have to scroll down to the bottom of my blog page and turn the volume down on my playlist to hear this video.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Krasnoyarsk or Bust!
It was confirmed today that our dossier was sent to Krasnoyarsk! We're headed to Siberia! Yes, I know, I didn't want to go here...but you know what? It's not up to me! Ultimately it is ALL in God's hands! So, I'm just going to be OK with going to Siberia! I've heard it is really pretty there...assuming we go during the summertime. It is actually very likely that we will get our referral by this spring, and possibly be traveling during the summer! Our family coordinator seemed to think it would be 6-9 months. Although, no one can pinpoint an actual date that we will get our referral! All I know, is that she could be born right now! Yay! So exciting to think that our daughter has made her entrance into this world already! And yet, it so sad to think I can't tell her, "Mommy and Daddy are coming for you!"
I want to see her newborn picture, but I won't. I want to feed her first bottle, but I won't. I want to change her first black tarry poopy diaper (yuck I know), but I won't. I want to hear her first cry, but I won't. But what I want isn't what God is telling me I NEED! He is telling me that this child, HIS child, will want no more, because He has chosen her for us! I know that through all of this "wanting" there is a much greater need. The need to be loved unconditionally without seeing her face. The need to provide shelter and comfort when she has none. The need to say, "I love you." Isn't that what He is telling us? It makes the term adoption so much more real, when we realize we are adopted into His kingdom. Then we will be home forever...wanting for nothing more!
So, I ask you to please pray for her safety! Pray for the care of our dossier as it is being translated right now. Please pray that God's hand will be upon it and the man translating it. Of course, pray for a speedy referral:) (yes, this one is a bit selfish). Pray we will seek God's face during our wait, because it is now out of our hands!
We will be receiving a packet in the mail this week for more paper work (ugh) that our "region" requires!
Thanks so much for listening and praying!!
I want to see her newborn picture, but I won't. I want to feed her first bottle, but I won't. I want to change her first black tarry poopy diaper (yuck I know), but I won't. I want to hear her first cry, but I won't. But what I want isn't what God is telling me I NEED! He is telling me that this child, HIS child, will want no more, because He has chosen her for us! I know that through all of this "wanting" there is a much greater need. The need to be loved unconditionally without seeing her face. The need to provide shelter and comfort when she has none. The need to say, "I love you." Isn't that what He is telling us? It makes the term adoption so much more real, when we realize we are adopted into His kingdom. Then we will be home forever...wanting for nothing more!
So, I ask you to please pray for her safety! Pray for the care of our dossier as it is being translated right now. Please pray that God's hand will be upon it and the man translating it. Of course, pray for a speedy referral:) (yes, this one is a bit selfish). Pray we will seek God's face during our wait, because it is now out of our hands!
We will be receiving a packet in the mail this week for more paper work (ugh) that our "region" requires!
Thanks so much for listening and praying!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Region Jitters!
Hope you all had a Happy Halloween! We sure did! I can't send this next post without "posting" a picture of our family on Halloween. Believe it or not, Scott dressed up as Bret Michaels...eyeliner and all! He had people asking to have their picture made with him at the block party we went to! Hilarious! Enjoy it!
So, last week we received word that our dossier will be sent to a region in Russia very soon! Yipee! We were unaware of the fact that we could have a say in what region to send our dossier to. Obviously the best case scenario is to be sent somewhere where we would only have to travel to Moscow or St. Petersburg. Worst case scenario ( I use this term lightly) is that it could be sent to Krasnoyarsk, which is smack dab in the middle of Siberia! So, naturally we asked about the possibility of choosing Moscow or St. Petersburg. Yes, it is an option, however, this is what our Family Coordinator said," we must resign ourselves to accepting whatever conditions may occur with that particular region-whether it's a lack of available children, matching requests, or extended wait times, or difficulties with a judge/regional officials."
Well, that sure makes it easy doesn't it! We're going into this wholeheartedly knowing that God is in complete control of this situation and we will go where He wants us to go! Right? Well......now that we've had a few days to think about it...SIBERIA, we are getting a little anxious. So, last nightScott asked (see how I'm making this his fault) if I could email our FC and see if we could possibly be put in somewhere other than this region. Eeek! It was a hard email to write, and we still don't know for sure. We could possibly, very well be going there. We definitely know we want this to go as smoothly and quickly as possible, and if this small little "problem" of ours is the only reason to keep us from our daughter, than we will gladly go to Siberia to get her.
Let me fill you in on something first: it will take us about 14 hours to get to Moscow. We have to go here to the court first (so no matter what we will go to Moscow). Then, if we are sent to Kras, we will then board ANOTHER plane for about 8 hours! So you can see our reason for anxiety...especially if you know Scott and his "travel woes." (Sorry, Bud, love you!).
So today I got an email back from our FC and she explained why Kras is a better option. 1. They typically see more girls in this region. 2. The children are often healthier in this region. 3. If you decline 3 of the referrals (due to whatever reasons, health, etc. ) they pull your dossier from the region and send it back to you, thus starting the whole process again.
I guess I just would like to ask you to pray for our "situation" that if Kras is where He is sending us, we will gladly go and not have any fears or be anxious about anything. I remember Phillipians 4:6-7, "Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Ahhhh!
So, this Sunday is Orphan Sunday! Our church is going to have a little preview of what it is God has called us to do, " to care for the orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27
We are hoping to show the need for an orphan ministry and hopefully get some blood moving! We are using a video that I want to share.
Thanks for listening, and praying!
So, last week we received word that our dossier will be sent to a region in Russia very soon! Yipee! We were unaware of the fact that we could have a say in what region to send our dossier to. Obviously the best case scenario is to be sent somewhere where we would only have to travel to Moscow or St. Petersburg. Worst case scenario ( I use this term lightly) is that it could be sent to Krasnoyarsk, which is smack dab in the middle of Siberia! So, naturally we asked about the possibility of choosing Moscow or St. Petersburg. Yes, it is an option, however, this is what our Family Coordinator said," we must resign ourselves to accepting whatever conditions may occur with that particular region-whether it's a lack of available children, matching requests, or extended wait times, or difficulties with a judge/regional officials."
Well, that sure makes it easy doesn't it! We're going into this wholeheartedly knowing that God is in complete control of this situation and we will go where He wants us to go! Right? Well......now that we've had a few days to think about it...SIBERIA, we are getting a little anxious. So, last nightScott asked (see how I'm making this his fault) if I could email our FC and see if we could possibly be put in somewhere other than this region. Eeek! It was a hard email to write, and we still don't know for sure. We could possibly, very well be going there. We definitely know we want this to go as smoothly and quickly as possible, and if this small little "problem" of ours is the only reason to keep us from our daughter, than we will gladly go to Siberia to get her.
Let me fill you in on something first: it will take us about 14 hours to get to Moscow. We have to go here to the court first (so no matter what we will go to Moscow). Then, if we are sent to Kras, we will then board ANOTHER plane for about 8 hours! So you can see our reason for anxiety...especially if you know Scott and his "travel woes." (Sorry, Bud, love you!).
So today I got an email back from our FC and she explained why Kras is a better option. 1. They typically see more girls in this region. 2. The children are often healthier in this region. 3. If you decline 3 of the referrals (due to whatever reasons, health, etc. ) they pull your dossier from the region and send it back to you, thus starting the whole process again.
I guess I just would like to ask you to pray for our "situation" that if Kras is where He is sending us, we will gladly go and not have any fears or be anxious about anything. I remember Phillipians 4:6-7, "Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Ahhhh!
So, this Sunday is Orphan Sunday! Our church is going to have a little preview of what it is God has called us to do, " to care for the orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27
We are hoping to show the need for an orphan ministry and hopefully get some blood moving! We are using a video that I want to share.
Thanks for listening, and praying!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
...And It's Off!!!!
Praise the Lord!! Seriously! Woohoo! I haven't felt this free in months! It's in the mail!
Today I took our dossier to be apostilled. That's 24 documents to be exact. One original and four copies later...it is finished, for now!
We sent all of our documents to our agency before hand to make sure everything looked correct. So far, there are no mistakes. It should get there on Monday so pray that everything we have devoted our life to for the past 5 months is done correctly!
Next step, wait patiently. Oh boy!
Wanted to add a picture of our dossier all laid out! There were still some papers that were not included in this picture, but it gives you a picture of our pleasure and pain!
This is our "paper pregnancy" phase, so instead of posting pictures of sonograms, you get paper! Isn't she cute?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Seems too Easy!
So last week when I stated that we only needed that last page of our home study signed and notarized for our dossier was not quite accurate! Yep, it just seemed too easy!
But of course, yes, another set back! God is really testing my patience!! Yes, I hear you Lord! Loud and clear! It's not my time....but why not? I have to keep telling myself that He is in complete control! He will not forsaken me!
You might wonder, what are we waiting on now? Yet again, another oops on our sweet social worker's part! She was unaware (?) that she needed to send a notarized Certified Copy of Original form with her agency's license and her license. I was all set to send our dossier (pretty much as sacred as breast milk...sorry men, it's true!) to our agency on Friday after I went to get our paper's apostilled at the Secretary of States office. Apostilling is pretty much a notary to notarize your notary (such an un-trusting world)! Russia requires EVERY page that is notarized to be apostilled. What's amusing about that is each page is about $10 to apostille. We have probably 30 pages to apostille! The good part about this is the maximum amount they charge is $100! Wow! We finally will catch a break with the financing part of our adoption...the ONLY break!
I'm choosing to see the good in this situation. 1. We live in Austin so apostilling our documents will be a far easier task than if we lived anywhere else in Texas. 2. We catch a break with the money aspect of it all (I'm stretching here!). 3. It's allowing me to put complete faith and trust in our Father who, "in all things, (God)works for the good, of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."Romans 8:28 Ahh! Yes, rest in that Kirsten!!!!!
Now, if my heart will just really soak that in!!
We have asked our social worker to over-night the documents, but aren't holding our breath that it will be here before Wednesday :(.
On another positive note, we did send off our i-600 form to USCIS on Friday. It's so relieving to have just another set of documents out of our hands...along with some more money, of course.
'Till next time!!!
But of course, yes, another set back! God is really testing my patience!! Yes, I hear you Lord! Loud and clear! It's not my time....but why not? I have to keep telling myself that He is in complete control! He will not forsaken me!
You might wonder, what are we waiting on now? Yet again, another oops on our sweet social worker's part! She was unaware (?) that she needed to send a notarized Certified Copy of Original form with her agency's license and her license. I was all set to send our dossier (pretty much as sacred as breast milk...sorry men, it's true!) to our agency on Friday after I went to get our paper's apostilled at the Secretary of States office. Apostilling is pretty much a notary to notarize your notary (such an un-trusting world)! Russia requires EVERY page that is notarized to be apostilled. What's amusing about that is each page is about $10 to apostille. We have probably 30 pages to apostille! The good part about this is the maximum amount they charge is $100! Wow! We finally will catch a break with the financing part of our adoption...the ONLY break!
I'm choosing to see the good in this situation. 1. We live in Austin so apostilling our documents will be a far easier task than if we lived anywhere else in Texas. 2. We catch a break with the money aspect of it all (I'm stretching here!). 3. It's allowing me to put complete faith and trust in our Father who, "in all things, (God)works for the good, of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."Romans 8:28 Ahh! Yes, rest in that Kirsten!!!!!
Now, if my heart will just really soak that in!!
We have asked our social worker to over-night the documents, but aren't holding our breath that it will be here before Wednesday :(.
On another positive note, we did send off our i-600 form to USCIS on Friday. It's so relieving to have just another set of documents out of our hands...along with some more money, of course.
'Till next time!!!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
God's Timing
We received our completed home study in the mail today! I knew today would be the day! When I opened the mailbox I saw a large white envelope with our agency's name. It felt like Christmas!! I drove home so excited that if a dog or cat ran in front of the car I probably wouldn't have noticed it.
As soon as walked in the house I threw everything down (no, not Brady, he was at school), and ripped it open, just like a kid at Christmas. I knew there was going to be 4 copies of it. I found the 4 copies which were held together with paper clips. Then I found page 11, with 4 copies, paper clipped together as well. Hm, well, maybe this was an extra sheet? So I read the last page of the homestudy to find out it was page 10 and it ended with an incomplete sentence. Hm, again! I figured out that the page 11 sheet definitely was the last page. But what was it doing all by itself? Too bad paper can't talk! On that last sheet of paper, I noticed there was a place for our social worker to sign her name and at the bottom of the page it had a place for a notary to sign...but where was the signature and notary????? NOT THERE!!!!
So yes, our home study has arrived at our house...incomplete! From what we can figure out, she sent it forgetting to sign and get it notarized!
Well, you can imagine my frustration. After waiting 2 months for this and it isn't complete!!!
I was reminded by one of my best friends ;) that this was God's timing! I wanted her to be mad right along side me! She calmly said that this is God's way of saying that this girl I have picked out for you isn't ready yet. She has been my voice of reason today and I thank her for that! God knows my girl! He knows when the right time to send our dossier over to Russia. At the exact time SHE will be ready to come to our family!
So, yes, while this is yet another small set back, I know He is in control!! Once we get her signature and the form notarized, I can send it to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) with our "application to adopt". Once that is approved we'll get our FBI fingerprints and wait for those results and send all of our hard, long, exhausting paper work to our agency and then on to Russia!!! Sounds so simple! Ha!
On a positive note, one of my good friends received her referral last night! Talk about a Christmas morning experience! It wasn't even my referral and I cried and smiled and felt butterflies all at the same time! It just made this experience so real! An orphan is waiting to have a home and that's just one more child rescued!!! The orphan population is minus one more today (and who knows how many more amongst the world).
I had the extreme privelage to attend a Together for Adoption conference this weekend with Scott. I can't even begin to explain the profound impact it had on my life! We were bombarded (and that's a good thing) with so many facts about the fatherless. Scott met a newly married couple , (with no children), and they left there inquiring about adopting a child....they came there with their church for a fun weekend away! Awesome! We were called to "defend the cause of the fatherless" Psalm 82:3. No, I'm not saying go out and adopt a bunch of kids, but seek out how YOU can make a difference in an orphans life! I found one simple, (and fashionable) way! Clothing! I met the 2 cutest Nashville women, who between the 2 of them, have 13 children-7 adopted! They make cute t-shirts that say, "147 million orphans" on the front and "feed 1" on the back. The money goes to feeding 1 orphan! How simple is that?
Their website is www.147millionorphans.com
Hopefully the next time I blog is to say we've sent our i600 form to USCIS!!!
Blessings to you all, and please pray that I will be OK with God's timing:)
As soon as walked in the house I threw everything down (no, not Brady, he was at school), and ripped it open, just like a kid at Christmas. I knew there was going to be 4 copies of it. I found the 4 copies which were held together with paper clips. Then I found page 11, with 4 copies, paper clipped together as well. Hm, well, maybe this was an extra sheet? So I read the last page of the homestudy to find out it was page 10 and it ended with an incomplete sentence. Hm, again! I figured out that the page 11 sheet definitely was the last page. But what was it doing all by itself? Too bad paper can't talk! On that last sheet of paper, I noticed there was a place for our social worker to sign her name and at the bottom of the page it had a place for a notary to sign...but where was the signature and notary????? NOT THERE!!!!
So yes, our home study has arrived at our house...incomplete! From what we can figure out, she sent it forgetting to sign and get it notarized!
Well, you can imagine my frustration. After waiting 2 months for this and it isn't complete!!!
I was reminded by one of my best friends ;) that this was God's timing! I wanted her to be mad right along side me! She calmly said that this is God's way of saying that this girl I have picked out for you isn't ready yet. She has been my voice of reason today and I thank her for that! God knows my girl! He knows when the right time to send our dossier over to Russia. At the exact time SHE will be ready to come to our family!
So, yes, while this is yet another small set back, I know He is in control!! Once we get her signature and the form notarized, I can send it to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) with our "application to adopt". Once that is approved we'll get our FBI fingerprints and wait for those results and send all of our hard, long, exhausting paper work to our agency and then on to Russia!!! Sounds so simple! Ha!
On a positive note, one of my good friends received her referral last night! Talk about a Christmas morning experience! It wasn't even my referral and I cried and smiled and felt butterflies all at the same time! It just made this experience so real! An orphan is waiting to have a home and that's just one more child rescued!!! The orphan population is minus one more today (and who knows how many more amongst the world).
I had the extreme privelage to attend a Together for Adoption conference this weekend with Scott. I can't even begin to explain the profound impact it had on my life! We were bombarded (and that's a good thing) with so many facts about the fatherless. Scott met a newly married couple , (with no children), and they left there inquiring about adopting a child....they came there with their church for a fun weekend away! Awesome! We were called to "defend the cause of the fatherless" Psalm 82:3. No, I'm not saying go out and adopt a bunch of kids, but seek out how YOU can make a difference in an orphans life! I found one simple, (and fashionable) way! Clothing! I met the 2 cutest Nashville women, who between the 2 of them, have 13 children-7 adopted! They make cute t-shirts that say, "147 million orphans" on the front and "feed 1" on the back. The money goes to feeding 1 orphan! How simple is that?
Their website is www.147millionorphans.com
Hopefully the next time I blog is to say we've sent our i600 form to USCIS!!!
Blessings to you all, and please pray that I will be OK with God's timing:)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Waiting and Following Him
Well, I thought it was too good to be true...to have the home study done and mailed to us in a month, that is. I got an email from our social worker the other day,(we love her....we really do) saying she hasn't even started on our home study report yet! Ah!!!!!!!!!!! What? Not even started???? She said it would be another week or so. Hm, or so...what does that mean?
I'm slowly realizing that this entire process has really gone somewhat smoothly, so far, compared to some other families I know. The term "waiting" is taking on a whole other meaning!
"Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10, comes to mind! Me, be still? Are you kidding? Scott teases me that I am an "instant gratification" type of person, you know, like the girl, Violet on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory..."I want it now!" If I see something and get my mind set on it, it will either be bought, or we will get it done! (Sorry, Bud, love you, but you married a non-patient person) He reallyis a saint for putting up with me! I admit it, patience is one of the virtues I struggle with the most! This whole process is just reaffirming the fact that I NEED to work on it!
I think the whole nine months of pregnancy is the perfect amount of time to mentally, physically and emmotionally prepare you for a newborn (unless they were like Tyler, who was very colicky, and then you need more time :)).
Is there any amount of time that will prepare you for a child, from a different country, who doesn't speak your language, who has been abandoned for whatever reason and "cared" for by someone else for possibly the first year of their life. I don't know if there is? We've have been given MOUNDS of books to read, contacts to speak with, and websites that will help "prepare" us for what is to come. Although, we don't know what is to come. Yes, it is important to drown ourselves in the pool of information given to us, to prepare us, and our home to receive this child.
I believe that this time is given to us to prepare us for what God has in store for us-what HE has mapped out for our lives. Not what WE are mapping our lives to become!
To keep my mind off of the waiting, I am excited to help start our church with an orphan ministry and to increase the awareness of God's children in the world who are needy and starving for a forever family. There is a song that I have become in LOVE with! It's by Leeland featuring Brandon Heath. It's called "Follow You" and it has really spoken to me. I hope you will listen to it.
(You might need to turn the volume down on my "playlist" at the bottom of this blog before you press play for this video).
Enjoy!!!
I'm slowly realizing that this entire process has really gone somewhat smoothly, so far, compared to some other families I know. The term "waiting" is taking on a whole other meaning!
"Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10, comes to mind! Me, be still? Are you kidding? Scott teases me that I am an "instant gratification" type of person, you know, like the girl, Violet on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory..."I want it now!" If I see something and get my mind set on it, it will either be bought, or we will get it done! (Sorry, Bud, love you, but you married a non-patient person) He reallyis a saint for putting up with me! I admit it, patience is one of the virtues I struggle with the most! This whole process is just reaffirming the fact that I NEED to work on it!
I think the whole nine months of pregnancy is the perfect amount of time to mentally, physically and emmotionally prepare you for a newborn (unless they were like Tyler, who was very colicky, and then you need more time :)).
Is there any amount of time that will prepare you for a child, from a different country, who doesn't speak your language, who has been abandoned for whatever reason and "cared" for by someone else for possibly the first year of their life. I don't know if there is? We've have been given MOUNDS of books to read, contacts to speak with, and websites that will help "prepare" us for what is to come. Although, we don't know what is to come. Yes, it is important to drown ourselves in the pool of information given to us, to prepare us, and our home to receive this child.
I believe that this time is given to us to prepare us for what God has in store for us-what HE has mapped out for our lives. Not what WE are mapping our lives to become!
To keep my mind off of the waiting, I am excited to help start our church with an orphan ministry and to increase the awareness of God's children in the world who are needy and starving for a forever family. There is a song that I have become in LOVE with! It's by Leeland featuring Brandon Heath. It's called "Follow You" and it has really spoken to me. I hope you will listen to it.
(You might need to turn the volume down on my "playlist" at the bottom of this blog before you press play for this video).
Enjoy!!!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Back from Beach and ready for Business
We had such an awesome time at the beach this year with our family! It was such a good break from all the cleaning and projects we had done to the house to get ready for our home study. I loved seeing how the boys grow every year and the "risks" they are willing to take at the beach! Tyler boogie boarded most of the time, while Jake eventually waded out into the deeper water towards the last day. Brady made a friend with a 70ish year old man whom he named Maggie! Don't ask why he named him that, his name was Raul! He was his shadow the entire last day! Funny kid!
All in all we had a fabulous time and are now ready to start getting this adoption process underway!
Many friends have been asking how our home study went with our social worker. Hmm...what to say, what to say, other than, it was AMAZING!
Over 3 days, and four visits later, we knew we were OK! It's true what everyone says, about how you would clean your house like never before and they don't notice you've vacuumed! I will admit, I was a little upset she didn't go out to the playscape to see that we had sanded it!!! J/K. But, it would have been nice if she looked in the pantry to see how "organized" and "clean" we are, or were! Get the picture.
The day she arrived I went to pick her up at the airport. Scott stayed home with the kids because if anyone has ever taken a ride in our car, with all the kids, they'd know that would not be the perfect, quiet scenario! It would even be a good idea to wear earplugs in the car at times. So, battle #1 was fixed. When we walked in the door I thought Scott had drugged our kids, or the invasion of the body-snatchers had come to our house. They were angels. Not once did they argue, scream, or even use one of their familiar bodily functions! Sorry! They sat on the floor in the living room for an hour while we talked. That has NEVER happened!!! I think I prayed TOO hard for them to behave. I almost hoped (almost) they would have shown some signs of the "boys" they are. Oh, I forgot, Brady did point a gun at her and say, "I shoot you," and Jake told her to "kill all girls". Luckily she laughed and played along with them.
Our social worker couldn't have been nicer! She was definitely an answer to prayers! She even complimented us on how we were a "fairy tale" family, (whatever that means:)), and that she has never had a family she has worked with be so prepard to take on the task of adopting a possibly "special needs" (meaning probably needing speech therapy and ot) child. A lot of it had to do with how we had already gone through the process of speech and language therapy with Tyler. She was very impressed at both our family lives! I don't want to brag, but we do have the most awesome family!!! We wouldn't be the parents we are today if it weren't for our upbringing , (and our awesome friends/support system).
She said it would take her a month to complete her report. So, that's 2 more weeks! I'm calling her the day the two weeks are up! Once we get that, we can send it to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), with our "application to adopt" and wait for their approval (which usually takes 2 weeks). Then we will get fingerprinted and once we get those results, we can send that in with our dossier to Russia! Sounds so simple, right? Wrong! Russia makes EVERYTHING you notarize (which is a lot), apostilled. So, there's a lot of legal things, and dotting of i's and such to be done correctly.
Pray that everything goes smoothly so we can be put on the list in Russia! I so badly want to meet this little girl God has picked out for us!
On a more fun note, I purchase my first "girl" item! It was the cutest little bathing suit with ruffles on the bottom. I couldn't resist! I figured if I got a 2T she'd eventually grow into it at some time (or I could squeeze her into it:) ). Well, that's actually the second "girl" purchase. We needed a shower curtain for the other upstairs bathroom. Guess what color it is! Hot pink...with a little green!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Home Study Almost Here
If you ever wanted to thoroughly clean your home, get projects done that you've been putting off, fully baby-proof, (and somewhat adult proof) everything, get rid of clutter and all those toys that have pieces missing...then just schedule a home study! We've painted, put up curtains, new shower curtain (for the girls bathroom, of course...hot pink and green!), carried off 7 or 8 lawn trash bags full of just junk, (that's not counting the mountains of trash from our pantry) sanded the playscape, sanded and painted the front porch chairs, cleaned the garage, closets, etc, etc, etc. I know, I've heard many people say that everyone cleans like mad when their social worker comes to their home and she doesn't even notice you've vacuumed! At least I will have peace of mind that I did ALL I could to get ready. We want this week to go without a hitch! Funny, I've got three boys, there is NO way it will go smoothly, and that's OK. I just need to keep telling myself that!
So, yes, our social worker is coming here from Dallas on Tuesday and staying through Thursday. That's a long time! I have such mixed emotions about the whole visit. One side of me is thrilled that she is coming because it just means we are one step closer to getting our little girl! On the other side, I am freaking out because my children have been so crazy wild this summer...but, they are boys, right? I just hope and pray she has had a boy! Having boys means a loud and crazy fun home! My little boys are anything but calm! They are so sweet and loving in their own way. Our home is never quiet, or calm, or dull and boring. It's loud, messy, and full of little boy laughter...as well as some tears and screams (mainly from B)! I wouldn't want it any other way!
I am just praying that in the midst of all the madness, our social worker will see a wonderful, loving, fun family that ALL want to open their hearts for a little girl!
As I sit hear typing this, Jake is looking over my shoulder wanting to know what I am doing. I told him, "I'm writing a story to our friends and family about your sister." Jake replied, "Is she coming this week!" He's so excited and wants to meet her. I think he thinks our social worker is going to bring her here. He has no concept of time, and I envy that a little bit!
So, with all that being said, I would like to ask you to please pray that our visit this week will go smoothly. Pray that she will see the love of Christ pouring out of us onto this future daughter of ours. Pray that Brady will have a calm week (that sounds crazy...but it's necessary). Pray that Tyler and Jake will be able to show her how much of a WONDERFUL big brother they each are (couldn't ask for better big brothers!). Continue to pray that this little girl God has picked out for us will continue to feel His love and if she's not born yet, to continue to help the birth mother make wise choices.
As I'm typing this, I am reminded of one of my favorite verses; Philippians 4:6,7 " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension , will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." How refreshing!
Will let you know how it goes!
We are headed to the beach on Saturday with Scott's family...will post some pics when we get back! A great way to relax after the past few weeks we've had!
Kirsten
So, yes, our social worker is coming here from Dallas on Tuesday and staying through Thursday. That's a long time! I have such mixed emotions about the whole visit. One side of me is thrilled that she is coming because it just means we are one step closer to getting our little girl! On the other side, I am freaking out because my children have been so crazy wild this summer...but, they are boys, right? I just hope and pray she has had a boy! Having boys means a loud and crazy fun home! My little boys are anything but calm! They are so sweet and loving in their own way. Our home is never quiet, or calm, or dull and boring. It's loud, messy, and full of little boy laughter...as well as some tears and screams (mainly from B)! I wouldn't want it any other way!
I am just praying that in the midst of all the madness, our social worker will see a wonderful, loving, fun family that ALL want to open their hearts for a little girl!
As I sit hear typing this, Jake is looking over my shoulder wanting to know what I am doing. I told him, "I'm writing a story to our friends and family about your sister." Jake replied, "Is she coming this week!" He's so excited and wants to meet her. I think he thinks our social worker is going to bring her here. He has no concept of time, and I envy that a little bit!
So, with all that being said, I would like to ask you to please pray that our visit this week will go smoothly. Pray that she will see the love of Christ pouring out of us onto this future daughter of ours. Pray that Brady will have a calm week (that sounds crazy...but it's necessary). Pray that Tyler and Jake will be able to show her how much of a WONDERFUL big brother they each are (couldn't ask for better big brothers!). Continue to pray that this little girl God has picked out for us will continue to feel His love and if she's not born yet, to continue to help the birth mother make wise choices.
As I'm typing this, I am reminded of one of my favorite verses; Philippians 4:6,7 " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension , will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." How refreshing!
Will let you know how it goes!
We are headed to the beach on Saturday with Scott's family...will post some pics when we get back! A great way to relax after the past few weeks we've had!
Kirsten
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Reason to Blog
I never believed that I would ever be a blogger, and the jury may still be out on whether or not I truly am. Many know that our family is in the process of adopting a baby girl from Russia. While we are not even close to seeing her, we have begun the process, the long process and wanted a way to share it with everyone. I will not be blogging everyday, until the day we go to Russia to get her (watch out blog world!). I can hardly wait for that day.
First, I wanted to share why we are adopting and how God has shown himself to us starting from the very beginng. I believe that God has a plan for our family and we are so anxious to see what he has in store for it.
The day after Christmas this year, my grandmother became very ill. She was in and out of the hospital for 4 months. Praise God that she is doing great today. But during that time the women in our family came together to care for her; in the hospital and at home. Selfishly, I kept thinking of wanting a girl! I knew my three boys loved me, but there is something to be said about the bond between a mother and daughter, or just being women! However, I KNEW I didn't want anymore kids. I was done! I was happy with my 3 wild boys! We started casually joking about another one, but I was done (get the picture!)! Oh, but God had a different plan! He revealed it to me through 2 of my closest friends who told me they were going through international adoption with Ethiopia. Wow! I was so thrilled for them! Tears of joy were streaming down my face. Slowly, we felt the tug on our hearts that international adoption was something that God wanted us to do. Yes, we were still playing with the "idea" of it all (Scott had secretly been wanting and praying that I would want another child...funny). So, a few months ago, after putting kids to bed, I felt compelled to drop what I was doing, get on my knees and pray. I asked God to show me through His word what it was He wanted me to learn (this NEVER happens to me:) ). I closed my eyes (sounds so cliche) and flipped the bible open to James 1. As I started reading, it kept talking about trials we go through and how that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (I kept reading...I was intrigued, He had my attention). Asking how much longer I was to read, I kept on!. Verse 17 is a verse I hold close to my heart, "Every good thing and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shifting shadow." My precious children (most of the time:) ), are His "precious gifts" to us. Now I was asking for another precious gift. As I came to the last verse, 1:27, it says, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." WOW!!!!!!!!! I have never felt God's presence more than at that moment. I KNEW this is what God had planned for our family!! ( I think I cried for about an hour!)
Through a ton of prayer and just asking for God to show us what country to pursue, He "closed" the doors to every country except Russia. Sounds crazy, huh? Especially because this was the time when the Tennessee woman sent her 7 yr old adopted child back to Russia on a one way ticket alone! Russia, at the time, was on the fence with allowing US to adopt their children. However, it really wasn't as bad as it appeared in the media. If anything, it helped with follow ups and the actual process of adopting...making it quicker and hopefully more safe!
We know we want one as young as we can get. They have to be on the international registry for 9 months before they are able to be adopted. Then, when we get a referral, we will go to Russia for 7-10 days to meet her and do more paperwork. They hard part is we have to come back, without her, for possibly 2-3 or more months in order to get a court date. Then we can head back to Russia for a longer trip (possibly 4 wks) to bring her home!
We have already gone through SO much paper work it's unreal! We keep thinking of the "end product" and persevere! We have our home study appointment scheduled for August 10-12. Once she completes her report, we can send it to Russia with our dossier (along with a lot more paperwork and fingerprinting done in between). From the time our dossier is sent, it could be anywhere from 9-15 months before we get a referral. So who know, in another year (maybe 1 1/2 yrs) we will have a little girl toddling around. We keep saying she has to be tough!
Please pray for our whole process, that God's hand will be upon every small inch of it. Pray for this little girl, who might already be born, to stay protected and kept sayf and to have God's arms wrapped around her. Pray for the birthmother, that she will make wise choices during her pregnancy. So many more prayers to be had. This is only the beginning!
First, I wanted to share why we are adopting and how God has shown himself to us starting from the very beginng. I believe that God has a plan for our family and we are so anxious to see what he has in store for it.
The day after Christmas this year, my grandmother became very ill. She was in and out of the hospital for 4 months. Praise God that she is doing great today. But during that time the women in our family came together to care for her; in the hospital and at home. Selfishly, I kept thinking of wanting a girl! I knew my three boys loved me, but there is something to be said about the bond between a mother and daughter, or just being women! However, I KNEW I didn't want anymore kids. I was done! I was happy with my 3 wild boys! We started casually joking about another one, but I was done (get the picture!)! Oh, but God had a different plan! He revealed it to me through 2 of my closest friends who told me they were going through international adoption with Ethiopia. Wow! I was so thrilled for them! Tears of joy were streaming down my face. Slowly, we felt the tug on our hearts that international adoption was something that God wanted us to do. Yes, we were still playing with the "idea" of it all (Scott had secretly been wanting and praying that I would want another child...funny). So, a few months ago, after putting kids to bed, I felt compelled to drop what I was doing, get on my knees and pray. I asked God to show me through His word what it was He wanted me to learn (this NEVER happens to me:) ). I closed my eyes (sounds so cliche) and flipped the bible open to James 1. As I started reading, it kept talking about trials we go through and how that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (I kept reading...I was intrigued, He had my attention). Asking how much longer I was to read, I kept on!. Verse 17 is a verse I hold close to my heart, "Every good thing and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shifting shadow." My precious children (most of the time:) ), are His "precious gifts" to us. Now I was asking for another precious gift. As I came to the last verse, 1:27, it says, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." WOW!!!!!!!!! I have never felt God's presence more than at that moment. I KNEW this is what God had planned for our family!! ( I think I cried for about an hour!)
Through a ton of prayer and just asking for God to show us what country to pursue, He "closed" the doors to every country except Russia. Sounds crazy, huh? Especially because this was the time when the Tennessee woman sent her 7 yr old adopted child back to Russia on a one way ticket alone! Russia, at the time, was on the fence with allowing US to adopt their children. However, it really wasn't as bad as it appeared in the media. If anything, it helped with follow ups and the actual process of adopting...making it quicker and hopefully more safe!
We know we want one as young as we can get. They have to be on the international registry for 9 months before they are able to be adopted. Then, when we get a referral, we will go to Russia for 7-10 days to meet her and do more paperwork. They hard part is we have to come back, without her, for possibly 2-3 or more months in order to get a court date. Then we can head back to Russia for a longer trip (possibly 4 wks) to bring her home!
We have already gone through SO much paper work it's unreal! We keep thinking of the "end product" and persevere! We have our home study appointment scheduled for August 10-12. Once she completes her report, we can send it to Russia with our dossier (along with a lot more paperwork and fingerprinting done in between). From the time our dossier is sent, it could be anywhere from 9-15 months before we get a referral. So who know, in another year (maybe 1 1/2 yrs) we will have a little girl toddling around. We keep saying she has to be tough!
Please pray for our whole process, that God's hand will be upon every small inch of it. Pray for this little girl, who might already be born, to stay protected and kept sayf and to have God's arms wrapped around her. Pray for the birthmother, that she will make wise choices during her pregnancy. So many more prayers to be had. This is only the beginning!
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