Shopping Alone

June 28, 2014 – Saturday. Papa took the boys fishing this morning so that I could have some personal time. So, after a shower (I took the time to SHAVE my legs!!), I went to the Stay-at-Home-Mom’s Dream Palace, aka Target. Because I was alone, I was up to going on a Saturday. Trust me – this is rare. After picking up some medicine for our Little O, I took. my. time. Oh, the secret joys of shopping ALL ALONE! I did some price-checking, looked at some new snacks, discovered that Target indeed sells their own brand of chocolate-covered raisins (good news for Jonah), and found myself in the little girls bedding area!

Oh My Word! I had no idea so many cute things existed – and, what?!! We need them all? What is going on? I am a rational, frugal lady. I like to stick to budgets and, did I mention that we are saving money and praying for big bucks to come our way for the purpose of this adoption? But the cutest, most precious little girl toddler bedding set was on Clearance and it found its’ way to me! Maybe she will not like it? Doubtful. But it has multiple colors and will surely match the aqua blue wall in her room! I had to have it. I was nearly teary eyed as I placed this in my basket. How can I have so much love for someone that I have never even met? I instantly thought of God and the love that He has for all of His children. Loving parents want to give their children good things – not everything – but good things. He knit us together in our mother’s wombs. He knows the plans that He has for our lives. How amazing and comforting to know that He planned on this special little girl to be our daughter, long before we were even born!

This little child has miraculously already become our own, even though we have yet to meet her. We pray for her –even our boys do- think of her often, are reading books and taking courses – all in the hope that her transition (and ours) will be smooth. Her Papa and I talk about her daily. We are in love with this little girl, and have yet to see her face or read her story. I cannot conceive of anyone or any being able to piece a family together like this except for my God.  Just as He promises to graft those who call his Son, Jesus Christ, their Savior and promises to adopt them into His family, so can this same God graft human families together. I find this to be nothing short of miraculous.

p.s. – I bought the bedding. Just could not help myself!!! Big O has yet to tell me if I can keep it or not. Fingers crossed:)

Things and Thoughts

June 26, 2014 – a Thursday. I called the Home Study office today to check on our status. Once this is completed, more money is exchanged and then we can submit our dossier to the Ugandan government. They are waiting on the state of Texas to come back with their checks, needed two more references from us, a revised Special Needs form and some of Big O’s recent pay stubs. Within 24 hours, I emailed our contact back with all of these items. Moving along!

June 27, 2014 – a Friday. I called and spoke with Carla, our adorable contact in Iowa. She spent another hour on the phone with me discussing the online training that we can begin for the adoption, along with some other books that I should pick up and absorb. This whole thing is so exciting and terrifying. However, we know, we can just feel it, that we are making the right choice for our family and being obedient to God. How gracious is He that we can love one of His children as our own?

Home Study Day

June 7, 2014 – a Saturday. The day of our Home Study has arrived! We are a buzz with excitement and a bit of nerves. Was our home clean enough? Will the boys behave? Do I need to have child locks of every single drawer already? Aaaagh! A person, whom we have paid for their services, is flying in to “judge” us. Crazy, right?! But, I tell myself, they probably want to pass us – they are looking for the handful of crazies that one comes across every now and then. Surely, that is not us. (Please, keep your comments to yourself!)

I drove to the airport to pick up our Home Study person-lady and she was delightful. She had lived abroad before and so we hit it off immediately! Upon coming home, I walked in and found my husband and both boys sitting peacefully on the couch! (Do I live here?) Wow! Totally normal right?.

Our children charmed her, showed off their room and their new bunk beds. They proudly showed her what would be “sister’s” room. She asked them questions alone about getting a sister and things about living in our home. She spent some time interviewing us as a couple, and then separately. Then she said that she was done. She thought that we were pretty normal and could provide a good home for a little girl looking for one. Hallelujah!

I drove her happily back to the airport. Then, I came home and took a nap! Life moved on normally and we are still all smiles. 

First Installment!

May 22, 2014 – a Thursday. This is a momentous day for us. We are sending in ½ of the payment for our chosen Adoption Agency in today! This stuff is REAL! We are really going to get a precious little girl to love on at some point in time. This is HUGE!! Little Olaf is having his last day of Kindergarten today. Jonah is home with me today. He took my picture and put this envelope in the mail. This is REALLY HAPPENING!!!!

Just a note – the price of our adoption agency is considerably less than the actual price we need to come up with to pay the Ugandan government for their services. While we currently are unsure how we will pay for this all, we have complete faith in our God to provide the funding for this venture. We believe that if He called us to do this, that He will provide for this. We are planning on doing a few fundraisers, of course. However, we are looking to our Lord to do some BIG THINGS in order to grow our family. Stay tuned to watch Him move!

Texas-Sized Fingerprints

June 1, 2014 – a Sunday. Papa and I have (more) fingerprinting to get done in Lubbock. This time it is done for the State of Texas, so that they can make sure that we have never been accused or convicted of any crimes against children. There is nothing to worry about here. Fortunately, we like children and live pretty boring lives; however, we were told to get this done and so we will. The boys went to this fingerprinting session with us. We all had fun and the fingerprinting-guy even took a family photo! So nice! 

Home Study Date Set!

May 23^rd, 2014 – a Friday. After submitting a gazillion documents and speaking with the Home Study person that I selected (ok, your Dad helps but really leaves this part up to me), she agreed to send a qualified person to Lubbock to conduct our own Home Study before the boys and I leave for a two-week summer trip to see grandparents, great-grandparents, friends, and family. We are sad that Papa cannot come along, but he has work obligations for those exact two weeks that he must attend to. Your Papa is a hard worker who loves his family dearly. We are all very blessed to have him lead our family. So, before the little boys and I head off to the lands of humidity, we will get to have our Home Study! Once this is approved, we are officially moving forward!

What do you get when all 4 people go to the doctor (at separate times)?

May 21, 2014 – after running around for a solid week gathering documents (birth certificates, copy of marriage license, etc.) we are ready and anxious to move forward! For a Type A person, these are the last couple of steps that we can take in which we have control. I have been careful to check off every box, gather every possible document, in order for things to flow smoothly. We are doing our part to get to you, Sweet Girl!

On this day, all FOUR of us will visit the doctor in order for him/her to fill out our necessary Medical Forms for international adoption. This is also Little O’s last week of school – so we are really cramming a lot of “business” into today. Big O saw our doctor at 8, I cruised on in with Jonah T. by my side at 8:30 (had to take Olaf to school), then after little O’s half-day and a traumatic visit to his allergist, we brought the boys to see their Pediatrician so that she could fill out their forms. Whew. I took the boys out for ice cream after all of that. A small celebration was in order. We are coming for you, sister!

Round One - Federal Fingerprints

May 16, 2014 – a Friday. FBI Fingerprinting was accomplished today! Easy-peasy. I received and printed out my results within an hour of submitting my prints. The FBI confirmed that I had not been convicted of any federal crimes – duh. Oh well. I have done what I was told to do.  On Monday, May 19^th, Papa had his fingerprints taken and submitted to the FBI, as well. Same positive result. Yay! Moving forward, slowly but steady. 

We are adopting!

April 24, 2014 – a Tuesday. After much prayer, discussion, more prayer, more conversation, we have decided to “go for it!” and will officially adopt!!! I feel like a newly-pregnant Mama again! Feelings of excitement, a bit of anticipation, but more excitement run through my body. I am pregnant and expecting a new little one – in my heart! And, I do not have to worry about the fatigue and hormones that come along with a typical pregnancyJ Thank you, God, for finding us worthy enough to care for and love one of your little ones. We are grateful, terrified, and so, so excited!

April 24^th was the date that my husband and I verbally committed to one another to adopt a little girl from Uganda. After two weeks of intense fact-finding and reading reviews of both international and domestic adoption agencies – we have made the best choice for our family. We are partnering with a small international adoption agency in Iowa. The first time that I spoke to Carla – our case worker – on the phone, there was an immediate connection. It just felt right. I could tell within 3 minutes that she too, was a Christian and that finding “forever homes” for children was her passion. She gave me over an hour of her time that day. She listened, answered all of my questions and then after asking questions about our family suggested two Christian orphanages where our little girl will come from. I was able to go to the websites immediately and view a small portion of their world. Wow! What an amazing opportunity we have before us. We are shaking but humbled to do our best to make a positive difference in this child’s life.

I called my Mom today and shared the news with her! She was immediately excited for us, she knew that we had been talking about adoption for a while. Then, she told me that she could not wait meet her new granddaughter! Thank you, Mom. My heart is full.