DTC tomorrow!

Karla told me that she talked with the courier and the "delayed document" will be arriving to her tomorrow.  Immediately after, she will be sending our dossier to China!  She said to get ready for the March shared list!!  This list is compiled of SN children and is updated and sent to agencies at the end of every month. We missed February by a few days but we should be logged-in in plenty of time for March. 

I will feel so much better when the end of March comes and we receive a referral.  It, of course, will be better when we are matched and even better when we pick her up.  This process has not been easy.  Jeremy has had to put up with a lot of emotions from me.  There could not be a better man for me and he proves it every day...every minute.  Even through the difficult times though, I am very thankful.  We took a risk and said yes to something so huge that God led us to do.  The outcome will be amazing.  She will be the perfect gift for us!  I pray we can meet all of her needs too...

Much love,

Special!

Special was the word of the day!

Yesterday Jeremy, Mom and I worked on collecting and organizing yard sale donations for the majority of the day. We took home 2 car loads!! I expect this sale to be even bigger than last year. I'm thrilled! We also have more friends that plan on donating as they do some spring cleaning.

We also were very blessed to meet up with such a special friend, Jenny and her husband Michael. They were traveling through and donated the most amazing collection of china and stemware. We will be looking for buyers for this beautiful collection. I met Jenny through our adoption agency. Please say tons and tons of prayers for them as they should be receiving a referral for their sweet angel Tuesday morning! I am SO stinkin' excited for them! God placed Jenny in my life at the perfect time. She has given me a wealth of knowledge and encouragement. And what a blessing to help us with a huge fundraiser!

Good day during a special time in our lives :)

Much love,

40 days!

So today was Ash Wednesday and marked the beginning of Lent. Although our church doesn't "practice" the ashes and fasting etc., we still like to give something up during this time. This year, Lent will serve two purposes for us. Jeremy and I have decided to give up eating out. As we will be doing this in honor of Him we will also be putting aside the money saved in our adoption fund. I encourage more people to do this! Donate your money to your church, special organizations, anyone in need. I have friends that give up caffeine or chocolate during this time. Money normally spent on that can also be donated. This is such a special time that can be used to grow your relationship with God. Just a thought!

Much love,

Delayed Document

I talked with Karla on Monday and she had not yet received the document back from Texas. She expects it in this week. As soon as it is delivered she will send it along with the remainder of our dossier to China (DTC.) I do not expect for us to be matched with Gracie bug in March. We have come to understand that she does not want to make her debut until April or even later. It's okay because we will wait as long as necessary.

We are so fortunate to be able to make this huge step!

Much love,

Fundraising and Grants

Jeremy and I have been working diligently on preparing for our next fundraiser, constantly trying to sell our t-shirts, and planning for new ways to raise money.  Now we are applying for grants.  That is a challenge.  I thought the initial adoption process (home study paperwork and dossier) was difficult but we had Karla guiding us through every step of the way.  When something was wrong, it was noticed and sent right back for revision.  This is not so easy.  We have so much to gather and turn in.  It must be perfect and there is no one to tell you what needs to be revised.  If it is not to their liking, you are out of luck...no grant for you. 

I am such a planner.  I think I get the pre-adoption finances worked out in my head and then SMACK, here's an increase.   Since adoption takes years and not months the prices inflate over time.  In some ways the length of time is good because it allows you to save and raise funds a little longer but it also continues to raise in price.  It somehow still comes out to be very stressful!  Then you have to consider the post adoption expenses. 

It always works out though.  We have fabulous family and friends that help us in so many ways.  Pray for us during this grant process that we are currently working through.  If we are not selected to receive the funds, there were other families in greater need.  At least there are so many orphans finding forever families!  That makes my heart happy...

Much love,

Minor Setback

Yesterday we received a call from Karla. She said there was a document in our dossier that had to be revised. That has now been taken care of but it had to be sent back for re-authentication.  This puts us days behind again.

I asked her if there was still a possibility to look forward to a match in March and she said she is not giving up yet.  My gut feeling is it might not happen but I'm not giving up hope.  Karla still feels a "strong possibility" (her words exactly) and I trust her words!  If we don't make it DTC by the end of this month then we look to receive our referral in April. 

PLEASE pray for smooth processes ahead.  We long for our baby girl and I know she longs for her forever home.  Today the revised document will be overnighted to Texas to be authenticated.  Tomorrow it will be authenticated and overnighted back to our agency.  Hopefully Karla will receive it on Friday and send the revised document with the rest of our dossier to China.  If they receive it next week and get us processed, maybe just maybe, we can be referred with a child on this shared list.

Much love,

Coming Together!

We worked so hard on Grace's room this weekend.  Mom came over on Saturday morning to work on trim work while I finished the walls.  After a best friend's much deserving (and might I add beautiful) house-warming party that afternoon, Jeremy and I decided to work on re-organizing the attic to fit more yard sale items.  We FROZE in the garage but it is finally to a point where we can begin to move around again.  This just means we can accept more yard sale items from people!  LOL.  

Yesterday after church, grocery store, and our early Valentine's dinner :)  we came home to make so much more progress!  I finished trim on two more walls and painted the first coat on her bookshelf.  Jeremy took on the challenge of the vinyl tree.   It was a challenge but he mastered it!  It of course looks amazing!  The picture was taken on my phone so the color of the wall doesn't show that well but it is a pastel green.  We are so pleased.  It's really coming together!

Follow HIM

There are times that I want to question why it is so difficult for Jeremy and I to have a child. I'm not even referring to biological anymore. That makes no difference to us. But the fact is we have been "trying" for a child (either biological or adopted) for over 4 years now. I'm not sad anymore because I see all the blessings I do have. I also am extremely thankful that God chose us to adopt. But being human, it still makes me want to question situations. My friend and I were having this very conversation yesterday and it really made me think. Why are babies born to babies? Why are babies born to thiefs, murderers, rapists, that have no intention of changing? Why do children have to suffer with parents that would rather have their drugs than to read a storybook with them?

The answer is this...Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)

I have to let all worries go and as long as I'm following Him, I am on the right path.

Much love,

Tough Day

This is such a tough day for us.  We have some how escaped this form that we were supposed to fill out early on in the adoption.  It's now to the point that it must be done.  Karla emailed it to me last night.  It is called the "Child Desired Form."  It sounds bad I know, but it is one of those forms that give the agency a better understanding in order to match you with a child.  We knew this day would come. The form was shown to us at the very beginning and Karla said to research it and begin thinking about it well over a year ago.

The form is very specific and you have to choose (yes or no) whether you would like to be matched with a child with that need.  This is so difficult.  I don't want to decide.  I think about all the precious little ones that need to be loved and need safe stable homes.  It hurts me if we check no then it turns away a child.  I know that I can't adopt them all and that Grace is God's perfect pick for our family.  But I still can't help those feelings that I'm dealing with in regards to this form. We just have to make it through this day and through this step.  Pray for our strength to make the right decisions.  We want to make sure that all our decisions are completely led by God.

Thankfully, I know a wonderful man who also has a passion for children in China.  I am going to visit with Dr. Wang who is going to help me by giving me better knowledge of the medical conditions that I am unclear about.  We need to know as much as possible about the short/long term of conditions before marking yes or no.

Thanks for your prayers!

Much love,

MoRe

This picture may not mean as much for some of you but to my family this means a lot.  This is our saying.  We have always said this to each other.  It is especially said daily with Jeremy.  The best part of this picture is how it was made.  This is Grace's wall in her new bedroom. 

Later this year she will find love and comfort within the walls of this room.  She will hear these words daily from her new mommy and daddy.  She will feel the hugs and kisses from us each day.  Grace will be tucked into bed in this sweet bedroom and read her favorite books before sleep.  She will be prayed for each night within these walls.  We will play with her precious toys and write notes with her magnets on her wall.

I cannot wait to love on her unconditionally.  I already do but she just doesn't know it yet.

I gotta feelin! (oooo-oo)

Sorry, now you have that song in your head!

We have been watching the bank account each day to see what checks clear.  And why is this so important??!!!  We had to send several different checks to Karla for our authentication process of our dossier.  They have all cleared!  Yay!  Now hopefully the authentication is coming to an end and our dossier will be on its way to China :) 

Hoping for LID soon!

Much love,

Memories

This post really has little to do with Grace but yesterday was fun and I wanted to share.  We started the day early with an estate sale.  I am looking specifically for four old (all different) chairs for my kitchen table.  While searching through the home of the sale, I spotted a table in the corner filled with 1950's style hats with veils.  I felt an immediate connection to my Grandma Dayus.  I could see her wearing these.  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I don't just buy things unless I really need them or see a useful purpose for them. The hats- there was no option.  Of course they were only $2 a piece so that helped. If Grandma was still here I would have been to her house immediately after the sale to find out stories about those style hats.  I still long for those stories.  On our drive home I looked at the hats thinking, "What on earth am I going to do with these?"  To those not aware, Jeremy laughs at me because I am on the other extreme end of a hoarder.  Instead of keeping everthing, I go through everything almost every 6 months.  If it clutters, I don't want it!  However, I bought the hats not only because they are beautiful but because I felt the connection to my grandmother that recently passed.  Watching enough episodes of Hoarders that scares me to death! LOL  That is what they do!!  Now I'm on the search for a unique way to display them...

I had lunch with my mom, aunt, and uncles yesterday.  One of the first things I did was of course tell them about the hats.  Mom said exactly what I needed to hear. Grandma had tons of those hats and they all remember them.  Made me feel great!

I finished my day with my friends.  What an awesome night!  We have a supper club and last night the menu was Greek.  I could not make it without friends and let me tell you...I have the best!!

Much love,

Alabama Gives Day

So, today is "Alabama Gives Day."  It is a day encouraging every single person in the state of Alabama to give to a non-profit organization.  I have so many non-profits that are dear to my heart.  I think this is a great opportunity to share with those in need!  It can be those financially in need, medically in need, need clothes and shelter, pets that need homes, children that need forever families, people that need strength and hope, the list goes on... Just help!

I am very thankful for parents that instilled such a giving nature in me.  My parents have always given to charities and non-profits. From when I was very young my dad has volunteered with United Way.  Because of those values that they taught me, I was eager to become so actively involved in organizations when I became an adult.  I also volunteered for United Way during college.  After college, I served on the committee for Relay for Life (American Cancer Society.)  I see the difference that can be made for so many unfortunate people when we all work together.

I have to share this one story that is just a small example of how giving my father has always been.  When my parents bought their home they live in now, it came with a very nice playground in the backyard.  Now I am not talking about the 80's playset that was metal and the nails rusted fast and the chains pinched your fingers when you swung.  I am talking about the wooden two story with slides, monkey bars, ropes to climb, DELUXE playset.  Now that I am looking for one for my backyard, I truly understand their worth :)  He said, we don't have children or grandchildren (at the time there was no sign of any!) so let's give this away.  He went down the street meeting his new neighbors and found a couple that had small children and gave, yes gave the playset to them.  Now who does that these days?  With Craigslist and Ebay, we just don't do that.  I'm guilty too.  Recently it has been all for adoption fundraising...but still!  Same point!

Now make this day unforgettable and give, Alabama!!!

Much love,

so real...

Last night we started painting Grace's room.  The color is beautiful!  It is a Disney color called "Christopher Robin's Swing."  It is a light shade of green.  Her room will be accented with a pastel pink and splash of browns.  I caught myself walking back in to her room at least 4 times before bed and twice this morning.  The best part was I even caught Jeremy sneaking in there once or twice.  It is all becoming so real now. 

Today is the first day of THE month that we should be "DTC" and "LID."  These are the adoption terms for dossier to China and log in date.  To break this down...our dossier (important paperwork that China requires) will be sent to China.  After they approve everything, they will log us in the "system" as parents able to adopt in China.  There is a shared list with approximately 2000 children on this list each month.  It is shared with the associated adoption agencies (i.e. Lifeline Children's Services- [our agency :)]) at the end of every month.  Since we should be LID by the end of this month, we hope to receive a referral from our agency in March!  So, this month is huge.

Specific prayers:  1- Thank God for blessing us with the ability to be on this path right now!  2- Thank God for the fabulous family and friends that love us and give us 100% support.  Grace is so fortunate. 3-  Pray for that sweet baby that is patiently waiting for a home.  We are coming, angel!  4-  Pray for families for all of her precious little friends in the orphanage with her.  5- Pray for DTC and LID to happen in FEB!!!!

Much love!