Stay tuned... :-)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Homestudys, Fortune Cookies and Garage Sales
Our Homestudy WAS APPROVED by our agency! Woot woot! That means we get to fill out the I800A (thx Mary!) Form (Application for Determination of Suitability to adopt a child from a Convention Country form). This is a form we send to the American Government. It's currently a 2-3 month wait for approval.One more step closer! :-) Forgive the image quality. I took a picture of my computer screen and had to lighten it enough for you to read...making it a bit distorted:)
Also,I firmly believe that God can use crunchy pieces of goodness to deliver encouragment! Panda Express is a weakness of mine, but that was okay because the closest one to my house was 40 minutes round trip(making it difficult to indulge) Well,one was opened in my hometown right next to my other addiction(Starbucks!!!). Literally right next store. I was one happy girl. So, needless to say, my husband begrudgingly has been dragged there for dinner on more than one occasion. Each time I cracked that yummy fortune cookie I would ask God for maybe some special little fortunre for us about this adoption. Sure enough, he has delivered on more than one occassion! :-) Okay, I know these were pre-made...but out of the million of fortune cookies in their storage room, we got this one! This one really made us jump for joy...believe what you want, but I think it was divine :-)
And lastly! We had some things to get rid of. While normally we would just give them away or take them to the Goodwill, we decided to sell them at a Garage sale to help offset some of the expenses.
We had it at my In-Laws. I can't thank them enough! They went ABOVE and beyond anything I expected:) My Father in Law power washed his Driveway, trimmed the "Evil Cherry Tree" and made sure we have plenty of Tables. My inlaws also went and purchased a really nice White Canopy tent for my friends and I to sit under to escape the Heat ( It was pretty hot those days) My Mom in law priced, organized, and really made it all come together beautifully! Thanks Mom and Dad VanG!
I also wanted to thank my Mommy, she donated so many wonderful things. My sister Katie for all the toys, My Aunt in Law Gina for the Puzzles, My Mother in Law for all her misc. Items and Aunt in Law Aunt Judi for allowing us to sell some of her things for her to make our sale bigger:) And for my In-Laws neighbor Stacey who is just a Angel :-)
And, last but not Least, Amalia and Janeen. They sat out there with me in the Heat, and Amalia worked a crowd like no other. These two were pretty great considering I'm a sucker and can't stand my ground when it came to price bartering. These two really ROCKED! Here's me and Amalia on Saturday, Janeen was on Sunday. By Sunday I was too worn out and feeling oh so not pretty and avoided pix like the plague:-)
We still aren't matched yet, but it's coming! :)
Also,I firmly believe that God can use crunchy pieces of goodness to deliver encouragment! Panda Express is a weakness of mine, but that was okay because the closest one to my house was 40 minutes round trip(making it difficult to indulge) Well,one was opened in my hometown right next to my other addiction(Starbucks!!!). Literally right next store. I was one happy girl. So, needless to say, my husband begrudgingly has been dragged there for dinner on more than one occasion. Each time I cracked that yummy fortune cookie I would ask God for maybe some special little fortunre for us about this adoption. Sure enough, he has delivered on more than one occassion! :-) Okay, I know these were pre-made...but out of the million of fortune cookies in their storage room, we got this one! This one really made us jump for joy...believe what you want, but I think it was divine :-)
And lastly! We had some things to get rid of. While normally we would just give them away or take them to the Goodwill, we decided to sell them at a Garage sale to help offset some of the expenses.
We had it at my In-Laws. I can't thank them enough! They went ABOVE and beyond anything I expected:) My Father in Law power washed his Driveway, trimmed the "Evil Cherry Tree" and made sure we have plenty of Tables. My inlaws also went and purchased a really nice White Canopy tent for my friends and I to sit under to escape the Heat ( It was pretty hot those days) My Mom in law priced, organized, and really made it all come together beautifully! Thanks Mom and Dad VanG!
I also wanted to thank my Mommy, she donated so many wonderful things. My sister Katie for all the toys, My Aunt in Law Gina for the Puzzles, My Mother in Law for all her misc. Items and Aunt in Law Aunt Judi for allowing us to sell some of her things for her to make our sale bigger:) And for my In-Laws neighbor Stacey who is just a Angel :-)
And, last but not Least, Amalia and Janeen. They sat out there with me in the Heat, and Amalia worked a crowd like no other. These two were pretty great considering I'm a sucker and can't stand my ground when it came to price bartering. These two really ROCKED! Here's me and Amalia on Saturday, Janeen was on Sunday. By Sunday I was too worn out and feeling oh so not pretty and avoided pix like the plague:-)
We still aren't matched yet, but it's coming! :)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Still...waiting.
Seems to be the nature of Chinese adoptions:) But I know it will be worth it:) In the mean time, we are keeping busy enjoy the summer with friends, and finishing up some last little details in decorating our home. I find myself wandering into what will be Madelines room and daydreaming about actually SEEING her in there:)
I've already got her room all planned out, we just need to know who and how old she will be:) We originally were going to have her in the larger bonus room, but decided instead that the room at the front of the house is much cuter...even though half the size, and alot girly'er. Well, and ALOT less work for the Dad to be to prep. No installing closets or closing off "windows".
For those of you who have asked where we are at in the process...:)
Our Homestudy is back in the hands of our social worker for edits and additions. Once that's done, and our agency approves it, We fill out a I800A form...and wait another 2 plus months for approval on that. I'll post a timeline on my next blog entry :) But...almost there:)!
In the mean time, we are enjoying Quality time with our Canine Kids :) Who were SCARED TO DEATH that they were about to get a bath in that river on our hike. Aren't dog's supposed to love water?
I've already got her room all planned out, we just need to know who and how old she will be:) We originally were going to have her in the larger bonus room, but decided instead that the room at the front of the house is much cuter...even though half the size, and alot girly'er. Well, and ALOT less work for the Dad to be to prep. No installing closets or closing off "windows".
For those of you who have asked where we are at in the process...:)
Our Homestudy is back in the hands of our social worker for edits and additions. Once that's done, and our agency approves it, We fill out a I800A form...and wait another 2 plus months for approval on that. I'll post a timeline on my next blog entry :) But...almost there:)!
In the mean time, we are enjoying Quality time with our Canine Kids :) Who were SCARED TO DEATH that they were about to get a bath in that river on our hike. Aren't dog's supposed to love water?
Monday, July 25, 2011
One more step :-)
Our homestudy! We just completed it and it's at our agency for review! YAY:)! We still have documents to mail for certification and then again for authentication...and a few more forms to fill out, but this is one step closer to bringing home our little one:)
We gathered our pictures for our dossier that goes to China. They want to see what we look like, our lifestyle...(etc) to better match us with a child. I put a few of them below that my Dad took for us yesturday. These will go in the batch we are sending of other misc. pictures ( I.E us with friends, us doing activites, and various other "snapshots" of our lives:)
Here is us in front of our house!
And here is a picture of us in front of one of our Fireplaces
and one for fun because we were DIE HARD HOT...and heat makes us goofy. Safe to say, this picture isn't going to China:)
Again..Too China:
and..Not to China ( I'm telling you...for Washingtonians...IT WAS HOT :)
This was the only usable one as it's been 10 years and 70 pounds ago since I've rollerbladed. All the others I have a look on my face of PURE FEAR, and I think a few tears too :) I"m determined to get comfortable on Rollerblades again:)
And the one of our faces Close up :) There are a few more we are sending, but these are the ones of mostly just us( Don't want to post other peoples pix without their permission:)
We gathered our pictures for our dossier that goes to China. They want to see what we look like, our lifestyle...(etc) to better match us with a child. I put a few of them below that my Dad took for us yesturday. These will go in the batch we are sending of other misc. pictures ( I.E us with friends, us doing activites, and various other "snapshots" of our lives:)
Here is us in front of our house!
And here is a picture of us in front of one of our Fireplaces
and one for fun because we were DIE HARD HOT...and heat makes us goofy. Safe to say, this picture isn't going to China:)
Again..Too China:
and..Not to China ( I'm telling you...for Washingtonians...IT WAS HOT :)
This was the only usable one as it's been 10 years and 70 pounds ago since I've rollerbladed. All the others I have a look on my face of PURE FEAR, and I think a few tears too :) I"m determined to get comfortable on Rollerblades again:)
And the one of our faces Close up :) There are a few more we are sending, but these are the ones of mostly just us( Don't want to post other peoples pix without their permission:)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
What's in a Name?
Call off the adoption! We have reached a point of contention... Lee won't give, I won't give. It's all over! We can't agree on the most serious issue of all!
Her Name.
Well....
The SPELLING of her name :)
I know...really serious issue right? Well, if you had access to our Work Email inbox's today, you would think so, we just can't agree:)!
A special little girl named Cara Madeline told Lee and I years ago that we should name our daughter Madeline ( we were telling her how once Sarah turns 30 we were adopting a little girl). We had already had it on our list of narrowed down names and when Cara made the suggestion, we just had to do it:) It was so cute:)
Well, here comes the hard part... How do we spell it?!?!? :-) Lee likes the traditional Madeline, I was thinking Madelyn. Neither of us are backing down...and I have a feeling until we board that plane to China...one of us is going to hope the other gives in:)
Her Name.
Well....
The SPELLING of her name :)
I know...really serious issue right? Well, if you had access to our Work Email inbox's today, you would think so, we just can't agree:)!
A special little girl named Cara Madeline told Lee and I years ago that we should name our daughter Madeline ( we were telling her how once Sarah turns 30 we were adopting a little girl). We had already had it on our list of narrowed down names and when Cara made the suggestion, we just had to do it:) It was so cute:)
Well, here comes the hard part... How do we spell it?!?!? :-) Lee likes the traditional Madeline, I was thinking Madelyn. Neither of us are backing down...and I have a feeling until we board that plane to China...one of us is going to hope the other gives in:)
Friday, June 17, 2011
Can't Adopt? You still can help!
Did you know that there are over 140 million orphans? I didn't until I started our journey of adoption. Can you imagine, 140 million babies and children?!? Heartbreaking! It seems like so many, where do you start in helping them?
If you see the link on the right of my web page, there is a WONDERFUL organization called an Orphans wish. They are having a "Summer Wish" drive until the 30th of this month, trying to raise enough monthly sponsors to cover expenses. You also get a pretty cool teeshirt :)
I encourage everyone to click on over. I know times are tough, and sponsoring a child right now isn't financially practical for some, but even if you can't sponsor a child there are so many other ways you can help.
Check out their Igive link. It's pretty neat! Or maybe check out their supply needs, or a one time donation( even a few dollars add's up).
I have a few other links on my blog as well. Check them all out:) Even if you can't offer money or supplies, prayers can move mountains as well! :)
God bless you all!!
If you see the link on the right of my web page, there is a WONDERFUL organization called an Orphans wish. They are having a "Summer Wish" drive until the 30th of this month, trying to raise enough monthly sponsors to cover expenses. You also get a pretty cool teeshirt :)
I encourage everyone to click on over. I know times are tough, and sponsoring a child right now isn't financially practical for some, but even if you can't sponsor a child there are so many other ways you can help.
Check out their Igive link. It's pretty neat! Or maybe check out their supply needs, or a one time donation( even a few dollars add's up).
I have a few other links on my blog as well. Check them all out:) Even if you can't offer money or supplies, prayers can move mountains as well! :)
God bless you all!!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Much A'Do about nothing
Nothing really new to post about our adoption. Just drudging through all the paperwork. There was a particular little toddler we had hoped to adopt, however, the moment her file was listed, a family quickly locked it. To say we were disappointed would be an understatement ( as we have watched her grow over the last year...sent money for her to go on field trips ETC...) But, in the end, the peace is that God placed her in the family HE intended for her.
We are making good progress on our paperwork, but our homestudy is still ( in sorts) frozen. Our social worker wants to hold off on proceeding until he receives the FBI finger print clearance. But, even if we are DTC ( Dossier to China) September, we for sure won't be able to travel until Jan-March of next year. That's only 6-9 months away, but it feels like a lifetime!
We are still toying with ideas for her room. I found this ADORABLE bed, and had this grand idea about a castle theme room with chandelier's, silk curtains, ETC. I found the perfect bed...until I saw the price
$23,000.00 FOR A BED??? ARE THEY NUTS? I guess it's safe to say this room
idea is OUT :)
We are making good progress on our paperwork, but our homestudy is still ( in sorts) frozen. Our social worker wants to hold off on proceeding until he receives the FBI finger print clearance. But, even if we are DTC ( Dossier to China) September, we for sure won't be able to travel until Jan-March of next year. That's only 6-9 months away, but it feels like a lifetime!
We are still toying with ideas for her room. I found this ADORABLE bed, and had this grand idea about a castle theme room with chandelier's, silk curtains, ETC. I found the perfect bed...until I saw the price
$23,000.00 FOR A BED??? ARE THEY NUTS? I guess it's safe to say this room
idea is OUT :)
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