Adoption News

Okay...not trying to trick you here...there really isn't any EXCITING news to tell. However, I did speak to the supervisor at DSS who has our file. You see we've been waiting on our official "approval" letter but have not gotten squat over the past month. We know our Certified Investigator (sounds like CSI) sent in our Homestudy over 30 days ago and we thought we would hear something by now. Getting curious I picked up the phone Monday afternoon and left her a message. Then Tuesday morning I called again and she answered! OMG!!! A live person at DSS! It must be a miracle! All kidding aside, these people work hard and deal with things we couldn't even imagine so I'm just being silly here! I spoke with her for a few minutes and she assured me she had my file and would be reading it this week. Reading it this week? Okay...I expected her to tell me something completely different like, "Oh yes Mrs. Valentin you are approved and have been listed in the data base as potential parents waiting to adopt!" NOT! Here's the drill....

The supervisor has to read the file for grammar and content. If there is anything wrong, she sends it back to our Certified Investigator who makes any changes and then sends it back in to DSS for it to be read again. As you can imagine, this could take months. So...we have to wait. If anything I'm hoping that my call prompted her to look for my file instead of coming across it in a stack of others. Maybe it will speed up the process. Who knows but I've always heard the squeaky wheel gets the grease! I explained to Brenda, the supervisor at DSS, that we were very excited and ready to adopt and I wasn't trying to be a thorn in her side or a pain, just anxious to have a baby! She was very understanding and told me to call anytime. She was also happy to hear how excited we were. That is what they are looking for and unfortunately, you can't exude excitement in a case file! So at least I got the chance to speak to a live human and was able to express that we were ready!

So that's all there is to that. More waiting and praying that God gives us patience and knows what He is doing. He has a child for us and I have faith it will all happen in his time. As simple sinful humans, we want everything our way when WE want it. I am trusting in him, but also very excited about the changes that are to come. Right now I'm enjoying making our house a home and planning vacation time out with Jorge and the family.

Family Updates:
Jose was working at Circuit City and they have closed so he like millions of other Americans looking for a job. He's the perfect candidate! Young, flexible and wants part time with little to no benefits. Who wouldn't want to hire him? The key is for him to start really looking for a job.

Chris is asking for a class ring. While I know this is one of those rights of passage for a high schooler, it is a lot of money for something he will never wear! Besides, he will also want drivers ed this summer along with a car about the time school starts. First...he will have to get a job which will put a hurt on his video game playing time. Nothing too serious, but I want him to learn some responsibility with money. That's not asking too much! In any case, we'll see how it goes. He is also asking us for braces! Now that's worth it to me!

Jorge is doing well and is loving working around the house. This past weekend he installed a beautiful fountain in our front yard, re-mulched and put bed edging up. It looks great. We both loved working in the yard. It had to be 80 degrees last Saturday. A big switch from the snow we had the week before that. Strangest snow storm I've ever seen. Snow was falling and then there was lightening and thunder. VERY STRANGE! This week the weather is great, but it will get colder again tomorrow. All the more reason I put the breaks on planting any flowers just yet...but that project will happen soon as the spring weather settles in.

I guess that's all for now. Love to you all.
Kimberly