Checked Off

Another item on the list checked off! Blood work is complete (except for waiting for the results to get back). Since I mentioned before that I strongly dislike needles, as my blood was taken this morning I tightly squeezed two stress balls, turned my head, closed my eyes, clinched my teeth, and sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children" in my head. I also prayed for our future daughters because the blood work is for them.

Please be praying for a meeting we have this Saturday morning. At 9:30 a.m. we will have an interview with a grant committee. Having this grant would be a HUGE blessing.

Transformed Thoughts: Thinking Like a Parent

For eight years Eric and I have been without children of our own in our home. However, we have worked and still work with children on a consistent basis. Even working with children and after hosting our daughters-to-be for two hosting programs already, it is still mind-boggling to think about how in only a few months there will be four permanent people in our home instead of two. We will go from no kids to an almost teenager and a 2nd grader! Unbelievable, but exciting at the same time. Many months ago we began the process of rearranging our budget, considering schools for our kids, thinking about extra curricular activities, discussing various situations, reflecting on what it was like to be parents for a month, thinking about how our schedules will change, etc. Just recently has this all been becoming very real, especially since we are finally in the paperwork stages. We went from talking about adoption to researching adoption, meeting two amazing girls who fit perfectly in our family, waiting for the girls to be available for adoption, submitting an initial application, having a home study, to now waiting for an application to come back to us indicating that we can bring the girls into our country to be called our own children! Now that this is really happening, I am really almost speechless. While thinking about the things I will be saying goodbye to in order to be a mom, I am also thinking about the things I will finally be able to say hello to. For instance, this will be my last summer break without children (except for the hosting program), but how exciting it will be to have summers to pour into two precious children.

Where are we at now in the process? Eric and I go to the doctor at 8:00 tomorrow morning for blood work. This is required for our international paperwork. I'll just think about our princesses while the needle is in my arm! I hate needles, so that means I really love these girls!!! :) The next two weeks will be filled with international paperwork and getting everything ready to send over to our girls' country for translation. After papers are translated, they will be submitted for approval.

Our main focus right now is raising support. We have been researching and applying for grants. We have already completed some fundraisers and are in the middle of a fundraiser now. In the next week or two we will need to submit a payment of around $2,000, of which we still need $1,840. Pray for God's provisions and share our story with others. Tell people about our puzzle piece fundraiser and how much $10 can change two lives forever!

After speaking with our oldest daughter-to-be last weekend via skype, I can see even more why it is so important that these girls, as well as others, have a loving, forever family.

Thanks so much for reading our blog. Please keep visiting our blog as we keep you posted on our adoption process!

Do you have any questions about our adoption? Leave your questions in the comment section.

Faces of the Fatherless: You Can Make a Difference