Great News!!!

Everything for our dossier is accepted!!!! We are so excited!!!! The only thing left is to get the home study notarized again (small mistake by the notary). I am hoping that we will be on the waiting list by Monday. I am not sure that is even possible. Thank you to all of you prayed. I know it is all in God's timing. It is definitely a weight lifted off my shoulders.

All we can do is PRAY

I am sorry it took me so long to post after we sent in our dossier. As predicted, we had three things that had to be redone. I did not feel this was too bad, except we were at a cottage with my husband's family which meant it was a bit difficult to get papers signed and notarized. I will say up to this point the past month has been the most stressful. Every detail has to match and be correct in order for the dossier to be excepted. My husband and I tend to overlook the details, so it is amazing we only had a few papers to redo. I am going to overnight the papers tomorrow and pray that all is well and we can be put on the waiting list. I am so ready to start the next part of this process, even if it is just waiting. Please say a prayer tomorrow that all is good and we can be one step closer to bringing home our "little man".

I can breathe...but only for a moment

Our dossier(a collection of papers giving detailed information about a person) was sent yesterday! I will admit it was a crabby mom day. I ran all over Grand Rapids to get this finally put together, and had to bring my three munchkins with me. My van is acting up so I had to fit all three girls in the back of the car. Cars are not meant for three car seats. The day consisted of buckling, unbuckling, wiping bloody lips, stopping for the girls to use the bathroom due to tickle wars in the cramped backseat, and lastly sweating constantly due to extreme heat index. I talked with our caseworker, and she informed me that it would be likely that some of the paperwork would have to be redone. As you can imagine this is very discouraging. I am definitely sick of the paper chase part of this journey. I am so thankful however, that our agency and caseworker take the time to look over our dossier carefully to be sure there are no mistakes. I would rather have this than for it to go got Ethiopia and be sent back. This means we are one step closer to being put on the waiting list. I love to hear people talk about what number they are on the waiting list. It will be great to be given and number and know we are at least in the running!

What I Have Learned

I am so sorry I have been such a delinquent. I am enjoying the summer, but finding it very busy at the same time. Maia still takes two naps, but Alexa and Gabbie keep me going 24/7. We have spent our summer days relaxing by the pool (except when I am chasing a one year old from the shallow end to the deep end), camping, and hanging out with friends. I am reminded often that hopefully next summer I will be chasing a 2 year old and almost 1 year old around the pool. We talk often of our little guy and pray constantly for him. We realize that he still may not even exist, but we pray for his birthparents and caretakers. Many African parents have to give up their children due to disease, death, or poverty. These children are not taken due to poor parenting skills, abuse, or other emotional problems. This makes it so heart wrenching to think that most likely the birth parents desire to raise him, love him, and provide for him. I thought I would make a list of what I have learned since starting this process.


1. Trusting God is the only thing that will get you through this process.
2. GOD WILL PROVIDE!!!!! We have seen this in more ways than just raising $11,000 at our fundraiser. This has been one of the best years financially for our family since I decided to stay home. Coinsidence?..... No God's plan. THANK YOU GOD!!!
3. There is a great number of families that have, or are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia in Grand Rapids, MI. What an amazing support system we will have.
4. I was so worried about how our girls would react, and they talk constantly about their baby brother from Ethiopia.
5. People love to tell you all of the adoption horror stories. I have learned to add them to my "could happen" list, and then remind myself that God is in control. He will give us what we need when we need it.
6. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still have fears, and doubts about this process even though I know we are exactly where God wants us. I have fears of attachment, travel, future, and more. I always need encouragment to keeping praying and give my fears and doubts to God.
7. People feel passionate about adoption. Many who have desired to adopt but did not feel that calling have given us great financial support and prayers.
8. Patience and perseverance!!!

There is my list. If you are adopting and would like to add more to the list of what you have learned I would love to hear it.

Sorry is I spelled anything incorrectly, the spell check would not work.

Not so exciting update

I know it has been way too long since I have posted. Honestly there is not really anything new to update you on. The past month has been crazy with camping, VBS, Jason finishing up soccer, and adjusting to new summer routine. The most common questions lately? What do you do next with the adoption? Our next step is to do the dossier. The dossier is a collection of papers containing detailed information about a person. This is not as involved as the home study, yet still lots of running around to get things signed and notarized. I am beginning to get excited to get on the waiting list. Once we are on the waiting list we will be waiting to be referred a child. We will be waiting for a boy 12 months or younger. The waiting process from what I am told is the longest and hardest part of pre-adoption process. Please pray our last bit of paperwork comes together quickly and we can be put on the wait list by August. I will try to post pictures of camping soon.

Approved!!!

Our social worker called me tonight to let me know that our Home Study was approved. This is music to my ears. Now we just have to wait for copies to be made, and then Jason and I can start applying for a few grants. Every step closer is so exciting. Thanks for praying.

Home Study Review

Our Home Study is in for review! Please pray it gets approved, because if it does not we may have to wait to send it in at the end of July. The person who reviews all of the Home Study packets is getting married and will be out of comission for most of June. I am so thankful for our social workers who have done a rush to get all of this in on time. Our goal is to get the rest of the paperwork finished and be on the wait list in August. From what I am told this is the hard part. The paperwork is still in our control, when we are put on the wait list, we just have to sit back and let it all take place. The only thing that will keep me from thinking about it too often will be that it is all in God's timing. He knows when it is best for us to receive a referral. He knows the child that has been chosen for us. I am so thankful to follow a God that is always in control, especially when we have none.