DONE!!!!

We are finally done with all the interviews, inspections and questionaires regarding our adoption home study. Next we have to wait for the Home Study report to be written by the case worker and turned into "our" case worker. Then we will be "approved". We should get the official approval letter in February.

Once we are approved our information will be put into a database for any SC caseworker to search and match us with a waiting baby. After they (case workers) determine we are a match for a baby they will call us. I can't wait for that day! I can't imagine what it will feel like to get that call! We will go in for a meeting with several case workers and get all the info they have on the child. We can ask all the questions we like about the child's background, health, pesonality, etc that we want. At the end of the meeting, we will then be shown a picture of the adoptable child. You can imagine why they don't show you the picture first! We don't want to fall in love with a picture, but with a child that will fit with our family. They would then like for us to "sleep on it" and make a decision in a day or so. If we accept, we may need to set up visitation with a foster family until we are ready to make a permanent transition to our home. So....that's what is coming down the line.

So many of you have asked where we are in the process....what's next....when will we get a baby. Well, now you know where we are in the adoption process and what comes next. As far as when...only God knows that answer and we are relying on Him for the perfect timing.

The nursery is finished and waiting. So...I've done all I can to prepare for the arrival of a little one and will now just be as patient as possible for a phone call. It's never easy waiting, but it will definitly be worth the wait!

Nursery

This weekend Jorge and I spent most of our time finishing up the nursery! While the furniture has been up and bedding on for a while...we needed to finsh all of the murals on the walls. I can't wait to snap a pic for everyone and post it! It is so cute! I never imagined it would turn out quite like this. You know how you have something pictured in your head and when you're done...it just didn't turn out right? If you like to cook or have ever attempted a home improvement project, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

In any case, I knew I could never have a boring nursery! From the minute I saw the bedding ensemble, I knew I wanted there to be big palm trees, a swinging monkey, a giraffe looking over the crib and an elephant on the walls. It's amazing what you can do with a little imagination and a projector! Mom helped me get it all started and Jorge and I finished the majority of all the work. It was so much fun. I love creating memories for our little one before we even get her!

Now I have to organize the closet and all the clothes we've accumulated. This should be fun. I'll send an email once I've posted a pic for everyone!

Just a reminder...please keep us in prayer for this Thursday as we complete our last Home Study interview.

Loads of Love....

2009...Here we come!

With all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season...I have not updated our blog site! So...here we go.

First let's take a look back at 2008! We sold our old house, built a new one, moved twice in 90 days, began the process of adopting a baby, took a cruise and celebrated our first wedding anniversary! I don't know about you...but it felt like it flew by!

We just spent our first Christmas in our new home and had both sets of parents here in the same house. I know that may sound odd to those who are divorced, but fortunatley for me I have the greatest parents in the world! They all get along so great and when my "dads" are in the room together it is like Ford old home week! They catch up on others they have known for what seems like a century. It's so great they can come and stay in the same house. It was especially great for me because this is the first time I can remember where I have had both my mom and dad together for Christmas. We spent Christmas eve at our church with a very quick service. But it was home! Now the decorations are down and life is back to normal.

We have one more interview on January 8th with our Certified Investigator. They will be asking the kids a few questions and then complete what's called the "Home Study". I'm guessing after that we will be waiting for a baby. We will also determine our "legal risk factor". This is where we tell them what level of risk we are willing to accept to take a foster baby.This will be the hardest part.

This weekend I think I'll finish painting the nursery. I also have to sort all the clothes we have been given by size. I'm so excited to finally get the interview process completed so we can be that much closer to expanding our family.

To help the time go by I am going to concentrate on decorating our home. The plain white walls are driving me crazy! We've painted all the rooms except the downstairs living space and Chris' bedroom. Chris can't decide on a color, but it's his choice so we'll wait and see what he picks out. I have learned over time however...just to pick out paint and be done with it. He makes decisions at the speed of a sloth!

This past weekend we decorated the living room television area with a surround sound system, I'm not usually one who gets into this stuff but this thing ROCKS! We're currently watching Transformers and the sound is awesome! We now have speakers sitting everywhere, but I don't care for the moment. We can take care of the wires later.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas as much as we did. Happy New Year to everyone and may God Bless you!