Referral Acceptance :)

We happily accepted our referral yesterday!!!!!!! I wish I could post his name and pictures, b/c he's SOOO stinkin' cute!!!!!!!! As an awesome and totally unexpected surprise, we received some updated pics of him yesterday. I'm going to be staring at those quite a bit until we travel :)

I can't wait to find out when we travel to meet the little guy - I hope in January!!!

God is SOOOOO amazing, and I wish I could type all the amazing ways He has knitted this story together so far.....even down to the little things.

I'll post again when I know more!!!!! yay!!

REFERRAL!! Early Christmas Present!!

2 of my friends had said that maybe we would hear something of a referral as a Christmas present, and I didn't think that was going to be a possibility........I'm glad I was wrong :) God is SOOOOOOO good!!!

YAY!!!! We received a referral for a 10 month old little boy, and he's SO cute! We are trying to get in touch with our International Adoption Specialist to have a consultation, but he came with a lot of information. We are thankful for that!

I'll be singing songs of praise all day :)

7 Months & Counting

Ok, so once we were registered into our region it was only supposed to take 2 months to get a referral for our little boy.......or so the trend HAD been. Even though you know that it could take longer, (b/c there are SO many things and/or reasons why it can) I didn't think it would. I guess it's that thing where you never think it's going to happen to you.

Although we are waiting and praying for our little boy, we have been busy moving and enjoying the holidays so far. We are liking being in Jackson and being closer to family. Kate has adjusted very well to the new house and her new school that she goes to 2 days / week while I work in Memphis. We have been very blessed in many ways and we are thankful, but we can't wait to hear word of our little one.

We pray now that our 2nd long trip (whenever it may come) won't disrupt the opening of Wes's shop too much and/or that God would provide a way to work everything out as He has so far.

Moving

SO, to those of you who don't know, we are moving to Jackson, TN...........in 2 weeks!!!! Yikes!! Anyway, we've known for a long time that we would be moving, we just didn't know when. We are very excited, and the Lord has blessed us tremendously with timing, work, selling our house, finding a rental, etc. etc.

I had hoped we would be further along in the adoption process than we are, but I'm sure that's also all part of God's plan and timing :) I spoke with our family coordinator yesterday, and, of course, it all means more paperwork.....and re-doing a lot of paperwork. It won't be difficult, just MORE!

Hopefully, life will be less crazy in a few weeks and we'll be more rested and prepared for when we get "the call."

5 Months and Counting

So, it has been 5 months since we were registered into our region, and we still have not received a referral. The "expected" and anticipated wait was approximately only 2 months. I emailed our family coordinator yesterday. She said that she would let us know as soon as she even had any information on a referral, however, she hadn't heard any news of one yet. She said she knows the wait is "excruciating"........I think that word describes it perfectly. I have to know that (for some reason or reasons) it is best for us in the long run that things are happening as they are.

Hopefully next time any of you check back I'll have good news :)

Officially Next on the List

Yeah!! The family ahead of us officially received their referral AND accepted (today)!!!! SO, we are officially next to receive a referral!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope it's this month, but we'll see what the Lord has planned. It's been SO hard to be patient. I once read in a Bible study that waiting upon the Lord IS a spiritual action, and I think it can be one of the most difficult.

Referral Update

In my latest email from my family coordinator regarding paperwork, she told me that they had word the family ahead of us should be receiving their referral in the next few weeks – hopefully sooner. They have already received word of a referral available for them but we have not officially received it yet.

WooHoo!!!!!! That means we're coming up.....it could still be several weeks, but still good to know one is picked out for them :)

Home Study Update

Since it's almost been a year since we completed our home study we are required to do a home study update. Our social worker is great, and she came over last week to visit our home. $471 later......we should have a 2-3 page update ready soon. Crazy huh? The good news is that she will be able to have it ready in a couple of weeks, so we could take it on our first trip to include in our court paperwork. And, we've completed all other possible regional/court paperwork, so that we will also have that ready to take as well. All in an effort to shorten the time between trips......once we get a call, all we'll have to do it have it apostilled (county and state level here in TN).

I think we'll have to do our medicals before trip 1 now as well....which would be good. One less thing to worry about before trip 2. Hopefully, we'll hear something in September :)

Song in my head

God has his funny ways of making me laugh sometimes! Every time I pray for our future little boy, I start to think of how far away he is and how I hope that the Lord is watching over him...ALL the way OVER there in Russia. And then it happens......

that song "Somewhere Out There" pops into my head (remember the song from the movie An American Tail?), and I can't help the words running through my head. The words are very sweet and very applicable to the situation, so you might ask why it makes me laugh...........all I can think of is trying to learn the music when I played the piano (years and years ago) and how I don't think I ever mastered that song very well at all :) It cracks me up. See lyrics below:

Somewhere out there,
Beneath the pale blue night,
Someone's thinking of me,
And loving me tonight.
Somewhere out there,
Someone's saying a prayer,
Then we'll find one another,
In that big somewhere out there.

CHORUS
And even though I know how very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star,
And when the night will start to sing
A lonesome lullaby,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the
Same big sky.

CHORUS
Somewhere out there,
If love can see us through,
Then, we'll be together,
Somewhere out there, out where dreams, come true.

I'm a dork....I can't help it! :)

Whenever Kate plays in the kitchen with her tennis shoes on, the velcro on her tennis shoes inevitably gets stuck to one of the rugs. She pitches a little squealing fit as Kate likes to do, b/c she gets very frustrated that she's stuck to the rug. It's kinda funny to see it in real life....anyway, this happened around lunch time today. So, I went in the kitchen and helped her take her shoes off, and I then told her to take her own sock off. This is to protect her from slipping and busting on our slick hardwood floors. I came into the kitchen later, and the pictures above is what I saw................She is a girl after my own heart.......she put her socks inside her shoes, JUST LIKE ME! How cute?! That's why I'm a dork :)

She also recently got two new toys. We got her a little tennis racket, and she got Disney Princess roller skates from her Aunt Heather, Uncle Ryan, and cousins Buck and Theodore. See pictures and videos below.

No Updates

I'm just writing to say that I have absolutely no updates. I wish I did, but we're still waiting....I think I'll email the family coordinator next week to see if the family ahead of us has received a referral yet.

Kate's Bday (a week later)

We celebrated Kate's 2nd birthday last Saturday (bday was on Sunday the 12th), and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. She had a blast!!! Both sets of grandparents came, her cousins Addison and Mckenna, and our friends, Neal and Ellie. She had fun opening presents, and loved eating her Dora ice cream cake on her Ariel plate/fork/spoon set. Dora and Ariel are our two favorite characters right now. She was so tired after all the partying, that she was just walking around bleary-eyed :) Her favorite items were her Ariel doll, dress up shoes, Dora boombox, outdoor slide and safari table and chairs. Here are some pics........

Quick Funny Story

We've been reading Kate's toddler Bible to her a lot lately, and on the page with Joseph it illustrates all his many brothers. I always ask her if she wants a brother, and she says "yeah." Well, this morning when I was changing her diaper she said "I wanna broter, I wanna broter" in her cute little toddler talk. It was SO cute.....don't think she totally understands what she's saying, but I think she might have a little clue :)

Encouragement

I've run across the same verse twice within the past week, so I thought I would share.

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

The verse first appeared in my Streams in the Desert Bible study (it was on July 4 day, but I didn't read it until several days later). The second place this verse appeared to me was in an email I received from our family coordinator tonight. The email explained that she had taken a job at a local chuch and would be leaving our agency in a week. How sad and discouraging at the same time!!! This is the girl whom I've never met in person, but who has guided us through the entire adoption process so far. She has been very patient with me and all my many questions....she has been someone I have depended on this entire time. Of course, someone will be there to take her place when she leaves, but the uncertainty is still there.....

I decided to just go the the Bible and read Habakkuk (I would recommend this great short book...only 3 chapters) to get the full context of what the Lord wanted to teach me. Although his situation and discouragement stems from different context, he is asking God some tough questions as to why He is allowing certaing things to happen. The Lord answers him and lets him know that he is working behind the scenes and that He has a plan, He is in control and His timing is perfect (see verse above).

Once I read through the entire book, I also found this verse toward the end that was also a clear lesson:

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 17-18

Even though I can't see any current progress on the adoption, and even though I don't know when I'll hear anything, I can know that God is working and I should rejoice for the plan that He has for us as a family!!

July 4th Weekend

Ok, I don't have a single picture from this weekend, but we had a good one! Friday was pretty uneventful. Saturday I took Kate to the downtown Frankling 4th celebration and mainly went to look at the petting zoo. We didn't go in the fence to pet them, b/c I think she would have been a little overwhelmed. She enjoyed watching the baby cow the most, along with the ducks and llama. We then went for a late afternoon pool trip. We made improvements there, b/c she got to where she was wearing her foam swimsuit (the ones that help you learn to float) and and little intertube around her. Wearing these 2 items she would float all on her own....and was very excited about it.

Yesterday, the 5th we went to the Pennel farm for a fun-filled day with family. Kate had a BLAST! I think she had more fun than anyone. She kept runnning around with her cousins, calling their names and was on "go" nonstop. I didn't even try to put her down for a nap. The pics I've posted below are of her in her hula skirt that the Wanats sent her from their party the day before. She loves it!! She put it on yesterday and immediately started kicking her legs in front of her to look at it. She wanted to put it on again this morning, so this is her modeling her skirt.

Two months have passed since being registered into our region. It is typically not more than 2 months before families get a referral for a little boy in our region, but we know God's timing is perfect. We hope to hear something soon. As far as we know, the family "ahead" of us in line hasn't gotten a referral either. I'll post more when I know more :)

Beach Trip

Kate and I took a trip to the beach last week to meet my parents at their condo (already been home a week before posting this), and we had a blast! Wes couldn't come, b/c he was finishing up his big custom home for Psycho Lady. That's what I call her anyway....not very nice, but she's been horribly difficult through the entire process.

Anyway, Kate loved it all! The beach (loved the sand), pool and even the ocean on our last 2 days! It was a much needed get way from our normal schedule. Kate liked the crab dip at Dewey Destins even had a few bites of my grouper too. She had a coke float with "andaddy" one day while Mom and I were shopping and overall watched entirely too much t.v. But, hey, we were on vacation :) I kept saying she was going to have to go through t.v. detox when we got home, b/c I normally limit it so much (at least I try!).

Her new favorite thing to watch is Dora the Explorer. She is totally mesmorized when she watches it. So, to those of you who don't watch this lovely cartoon every day, there is a song at the end of each program that says, "We did it, we did it...do dah doh dah, we did it! Yeah!" Anyway, the funniest little video clip of Kate on this trip is the one posted below singing this Dora song. My Mom was putting on her makeup while Kate was performing for herself in the mirrored closet doors right behind my Mom. I had to be sneaky and get on the other side of their bed to get the video, b/c I had walked into the room just prior to this and she told me to "Go, Momma." (meaning, leave the room please) Obviously, this was a private concert.

I love the singing and dancing......it cracks me up.

New Adoption Info

I was emailing back and forth with my family coordinator today asking her a question about paperwork, and I did find out a bit of info. There is one family ahead of us on the "waiting list" for our region that has requested a little boy. So, once I see on our agency's blog that another family has accepted a referral for a little boy, I know we'll be next to receive one!

I asked for the update, b/c it's been almost the full 2 months that we expected to lapse before receiving a referral. She said that a lot of the officials take vacation in the summer, so that may be the reason for the slower time frame.

SO, I will post when I know that we're next in line!!!!! Yeah! Need to post beach pics and videos of our trip last week next.....

Paperwork

Just found out from our family coordinator that we don't have to have a piece of paperwork from Zambia that we thought we might have to get.....unless, of course, the judge requests it later. We're going to pray that doesn't happen! Woohoo!

One Month Has Passed

It's been one full month since we've been registered into our region, so we hope to receive a referral sometime within the next month for our little boy!  We're so excited, yet the Lord has really blessed us with a calm that has not made us anxious.  Wes is actually trying VERY hard to finish the custom home he's been building and hopes to finish within the next couple of weeks.  SO, God knows good timing, b/c even if we recieve a referral tomorrow, he'll hopefully be able to leave a couple of weeks after that knowing things are in good shape.  It can be overwhelming to think about it all, b/c it goes from just normal every day life to BOOM, we're going to Russia to meet our little boy!  Craziness!  We hope Wes doesn't have to have paperwork from Zambia, but we haven't heard a definite answer on that yet.....otherwise, I think we're in good shape.  God continues to reveal himself in mighty ways through this process, and I know He'll continue!

Very entertaining

I hope our future little boy likes to be entertained, b/c Kate loves to perform and have an audience!  

Becoming a little girl

Kate is growing more into a little girl from a toddler every day.  She loves to watch Ariel (she prounounces it A-yul) on The Little Mermaid and Dora (she calls her Doh-wa) the Explorer.  We had a Dora nightgown in the hand-me-downs my sis gave us, and when I brought it out for her to wear the other night, she was SO proud and excited!  We also discovered that with a little prompting, she can count to ten!  Who knew?  We were all playing outside, and I don't even remember the conversation, but I said the number 8.  Kate immediately said "nine"!  Wes and I looked at each other and said, "did she just say the nine?"  So, we found out that she knew her numbers 1-10 (must have learned at school!)

Memorial Day Weekend

So, I'm really late in posting these pics of Kate with her cousin Buck on Memorial Day weekend.  We went to the farm, and we all had a blast.  Kate and Buck LOVED playing with GrandBubba's poker chips, and we were trying to get them to put all of them in the big popcorn bowl.  Well, you can see that Buck had another idea of what to do with that bowl!  Kate was amused to say the least.  The other pics are of the 2 of them on the bridge overlooking the little fish pond.  SO cute!

Trying Not to Sink

The Lord brought the story of Peter to me the other night when I was feeling very overwhelmed with all that we have going on over the coming year.  Along with the adoption, we have several other changes coming up in our lives....all good (we hope), but still a LOT change.  When Peter sees Jesus walking on the water toward their boat, he gets out and walks on the water toward Him.  As you all know, there is a storm with large winds and rough waters.  Peter becomes afraid of all that's going on around him, takes his eyes off Jesus, and he then begins to sink.  He cries out to Jesus, and when Jesus grabs his hand he asks him why did he doubt?  My goal is to keep my eyes on Him, and not on all the craziness around me.  He is so good and faithful to take care of us.....why would I doubt??

We've Been Registered!!!

Happy Mother's Day to me :) So, Kate and I came to see my Mom and Dad on Friday for Mother's Day weekend (Wes had to stay for work, unfortunately), and I traveled and visited friends at my office all afternoon. I happened to check my email around 6:00 pm, and I saw an email from our family coordinator saying she was trying to get in touch with us (and the email was received around 2:00 our time) and that she had news from Russia. I was SO thrilled, b/c I thought that meant we had been registered into a region. I emailed her back with my cell phone and told her that if she got the email this weekend and wanted to call me she could. Well, about 15 min. later, she called!!!! YAY!! She was so sweet to call, b/c it was around 7:00 pm on a Friday for her.

We were registered (as I suspected) into a region. PLUS, we were actually registered at the end of April, and she just found out. This is a HUGE step in the process, and we could get a referral any day now :) Once we get a referral and if we choose to proceed, we will travel for our first trip very soon after that. It may sound strange, but the adoption actually seems REAL now, and we are so excited :) God is so good, and His timing always perfect (I have to remind myself of that sometimes!). What an amazing gift to hear the news for Mother's Day weekend.

We will also go ahead and begin our regional paperwork :) More to come later.......

Boys vs. Girls

I had to take Kate to the dentist today, and while we were in the waiting room we observed several boys playing with the toys and video games they had there at the pediatric dentist.  One in particular was SO cute, and had actually finished his appointment and was playing while his Mom filled our some more paperwork.  He came over to her once and said, "Hey Mom, will you hold my snake?"  It was his little plastic prize he had gotten for being good as his appointment (I know this b/c it was one of our choices as well...although Kate didn't really pick that out for her prize!  ha).  I had a moment where I thought that I can't wait to have our little boy say something like that to me!  He also brought over a dinosaur and said, "Hey Mom, I have this one at home!"  I know this may sound silly to have a moment with two simple sentences, but Kate has (so far) proven to be a very girly girl with much drama.  And, while I LOVE that, I think it will be so much fun to have a little boy in our lives.  I am one of two girls, and my sister has 2 little girls.  So, adding a boy to my side of the family will definitely be a change!

Spring Weather!

We've really been enjoying the nice weather that's come our way.  Kate LOVES the park....well, she loves being outsides perio d.  Don't say the word "bubbles" unless you're ready for hours of fun.  And don't take her to the park unless you're ready to push her in the swings for quite a while.  Here are some pics of the playtime at the park and our photo shoot the other day.

Learning new words

Kate is learning more and more new words every day...and even putting a few together. Yesterday, she said in her cute baby talk "I want fish." Goldfish that is. Her new favorite word is "book," and, in particular likes her Dr. Suess Foot Book. She has also altered how she says "milk," and now calls is "muk." Her Daddy taught her the wonderful opposites of "up" and "down," and anytime you say up or down she starts doing squats saying "up, down"........of course it reminds me of Karate Kid. I can hear Mr. Miagee (sp?) now. Ha!

Her other favorite thing to do right now is run. She loves to run and say "run, run, run!"

Blog Beginnings....

Well, I've finally broken down and started a blog. I love to read others, and I thought it would be a great way to keep others updated of what's going on with us and our adoption.

We are currently in the waiting period of our adoption process. We submitted our dossier in early January, and we are waiting to be registered into a region (hopefully in the next few months). Once registered, we hope to receive a referral for our little boy. We hope to make our first trip late summer...but, only the Lord knows the true timeline!