Home Study

On Monday, we received an e-mail from our adoption agency letting us know that all of our paperwork had been received. They said they were requesting our home study and that we should be hearing from our assigned case worker within thirty days. Well, I guess God wanted it done a little quicker because I just heard today that our home study will be done NEXT Wednesday! I can hardly believe it! I'm so excited! I'm sure I should be nervous, but I'm not in the least. I've talked to our case worker twice now, and she seems extremely nice. I'm looking forward to meeting her. I am amazed daily at how God works out even the finest of details. If there's one thing I'm learning along this journey, it's to enjoy the small victories. We serve a God who cares about the details and provides small victories along the way so we can see His glory! Please continue to pray for us as we anxiously and patiently (ok, maybe not so patiently) wait until our precious child is in OUR arms! We're one step closer!!

Paperwork.....DONE!

As of 5:30 pm, yesterday, I mailed off the last 2 documents needed to complete the humongous amount of paperwork our adoption agency needed!! YEA!!! I'm going to enjoy this small victory before I look ahead to the even more humongous amount of paperwork that Russia needs! (I'm beginning to realize that you've got to celebrate the small victories along the way so that the race doesn't seem so daunting!)

Doctor, Doctor...Give Me the News.

Troy and I FINALLY have our physicals completed and the kids and I are about to head out the door to pick up the last 2 forms that the doctor had to fill out! I had NO idea that trying to find a doctor to get a physical would be such a difficult task! As soon as we got our paperwork (around the 2nd week in May), I started calling around to make an appointment for Troy and I to have our physicals done. I called our family physician that we have used for many years, and the first available appointment he had was in November! Yes, you read that right....November! So, I proceeded to get the name and number of the doctors of just about everyone we know. The absolute soonest appointment I could find was September. We were discouraged, to say the least. We can't proceed with the adoption process until these medical forms are filled out by an internal medicine or family practice MD. Fast forward to week before last (June 8th to be exact). I went up to the church to have a form notarized. As I was talking to my friend, while she notarized my form, I mentioned that I was having the hardest time finding a doctor. She told me about her doctor and told me she would call and just see if maybe they could fit us in. Not only did they find a way to fit us in, they found a way to fit us in the very next week (June 15th). I had never been so excited in my life to go to the doctor. Troy and I both LOVED the doctor that we saw (Dr. Aguillar.....just in case you're in need of a fantastic, kind doctor). Not only did he take the time to talk to us for forever, but he got all of our forms filled out in just a few days and even had them notarized for us. While we were visiting with him, he commented that he couldn't believe we were able to get in with him so fast. He said his current wait time for physicals is about 3 months. Troy and I both knew exactly how we got in so fast.......God got us in!!

I continue to be amazed time after time of how God keeps providing the right people at the right time for us to get all of this stuff done! Just today, my brother took off half the day to come to my house and sketch out a floor plan of my house for me. (I never knew his architecture degree would be helpful. LOL) God is good, all the time! And all the time, God is good!!!

1st Packet....Check!

We have officially received all the forms (i.e., birth certificates, passport renewals, etc...) we need to send in our first huge packet of paperwork. God willing, we should be mailing in the packet (along with our deposit) by the end of the week! That does mean, however, that we just move on to paperwork packet #2! I completely understand now why they call it the "paper chase"!!

I have been amazed at all the people God has been placing in our path that are adopting right now as well. Some are doing international like we are, and others are doing foster to adopt. I have been blessed beyond measure to see so many people following the call that God has placed on their hearts to care for orphans! It also gives me encouragement to know that we're not going at this alone! It's nice to walk along this bumpy, bumpy road with others.

Please continue to pray for us throughout this entire process. Pray that God would give us strength, patience, peace and supply our every need along this journey. Although we don't have a name or face yet, please also pray for our sweet child. All day today, I've been reminded over and over just how precious EVERY life is to God and that he has a purpose for them all....big and small!! I long for the day that my arms are wrapped around our precious child! You have no idea what your prayers and support mean to us. We will be forever thankful!