HELLO? hello...? (hello........?)

 Yes, that's an echo. And yes, I've been MIA (missing in... adoption?). I could spew out all of the lame valid excuses I have, but after months of such a hiatus, I hate to bore you now. Let's just say Satan knows Derek and I are up to something good.

So, let's get on with it shall we?

We have made SO MUCH progress! Our interview with our placement agency went well, despite learning of such despicable news less than 30 minutes after our arrival. Meeting with the staff really made us even more confident with our decision to use them. I can't imagine being in better hands. While media has reported otherwise, adoption in Russia has yet to cease—at least not in the regions we may adopt from (Moscow and St. Petersburg). Our agency continues to help families receive referrals and court dates, so we're still moving full steam ahead!

I've created a new section of my blog: Milestones (see panel at right). It contains the important... well... milestones... ;-) in our journey thus far. While there is much that has been done and much that has been received that is not listed, these dates give you an idea of what we've been up to concerning the adoption.

Now that I'm getting back into the swing of things with my blog once again, I plan to recap some of the high- (and LOW!) lights of the hoops we've had to jump. Stay tuned... And, seriously, if I slack on blogging again, someone please get on my case! ;-)

CHECKLIST:
• Psychologist administered MMPI
• Compiled dossier documents (including, but not limited to):
      Notarized home study letters, licenses, etc.
      Personality/psycho-analysis results
      Financial statements
      Letters of employement
      Property ownership letter
                                     Certified marriage certificates
                                     Passport & family photos
                                     Medical letters
• Fingerprinted/biometrics
• Received I-171H

Word is Spreading!

Well, outside of our immediate family we began telling people of our adoption just a few months ago. It seems, however, that word is spreading. How exciting!

I've been so wonderfully surprised to see so many people look almost as excited over our journey as we are! The "congratulations"—just as I would imagine we would receive if we announced I was pregnant—have been unexpected, but oh-so-heartwarming! It makes me think, what was I timid about in the first place?!

We finally have a day scheduled for our interview with our placement agency! We'll be driving up in the beginning of April with folders full of required, notarized documents which will be put into our dossier, translated into Russian, and submitted so that we can receive a referral (information about our potential child/children)!

Without getting into the details, Derek and I might have witnessed the first time our particular future child/children have been referenced. It's odd... I've never been referred to as a "mother" in any way, neither have I ever referred to any person as "my child," whether directly or indirectly. But today, this all is feeling even more real! Our child/children are out there... now... continents away... and lonely. While I've been praying for our babies for months, today it's hitting even closer to home that our children are out there, desperately needing our prayers to God on their behalf.

Please join us in praying for our children today. Pray that they feel our Lord's love and comfort, and that it prepares them to accept the love and comfort we will be committed to giving them once we can bring them home.

CHECKLIST:
• Received final copy of our home study
• Coordinate/schedule trip to placement agency

Focus on the Positive, Right?

Yesterday was a rough day. I can't even explain why it was rough without hearing myself sound like a whining "Debbie Downer." Seriously, nothing terrible happened... it was just one of those days that I let all the little negative things that happened get to me.

There's no need to go into details—not on a blog that may become public again one day, anyways. Pretty much two people were outright rude and disrespctful to me. One has treated me that way in the past, so I usually try to brush it off. The other was someone I don't know personally, but still got offended nonetheless.

I know, I know. I shouldn't let silly stuff like that bring me down—especially when there was quite a lot that got accomplished that same day! We received a rough draft of our home study from our social worker. It looked great! We have just a few things we need to clarify and change for her and we should be all set! We filled out and mailed the I600-A (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) along with the required $670 fee. *GULP* And we filled out and mailed our application to the placement agency we plan to use, along with its required application fee *GULP* *GULP* Despite the holes in our pockets that day, there was a lot to celebrate.

So, why is it when we finally feel like we're making headway on this stretch of God's path, things start to go wrong and we get flustered and lose focus...?

hmmm...
yeah...
I think we all know the answer to that...

I've always loved the imagery of Matthew 14:22-33. At some point, the Lord commands us all to "come." Peter was doing just fine after answering Jesus' call and focusing on Him. Peter was walking on water for crying out loud! He was doing something man deems impossible. Then Peter loses his focus. He notices the storms and winds, becomes fearful, and sinks.

If only we weren't so easily distracted by the storms and winds of life. If only we could ALWAYS keep our focus on the Truth and the Light. But even when we don't, I'm so thankful that God reaches out his hand and pulls us back up.

Next time maybe I can keep my focus, enjoy the journey, and skip the soggy shoes.

CHECKLIST:
• Submit I600 A to USCIS
• Send in placement agency application

Making Headway!

We're getting somewhere! After being poked and prodded for our medical exams—which includes everything from a drug screen to an HIV test—and completing financial statements, background checks and filling out paperwork after paperwork, we have sent our social worker everything she needs to complete our home study! Hooray! We may have a draft in hand by Tuesday!

International adoption is a long process, and we're still just at the beginning. But this is our first big step! Now, on to our placement agency paperwork!



CHECKLIST:
• Family/Adoption statements
• Financial statements
• TBI and local background check
• Mail last of home study documents to social worker!!!




Oh, and happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Derek is rather under the weather, so ours was spent at home. :-)

Father Knows Best

Two weeks ago I put 70+ hours of work into my job. This past week I was well on my way for another 60+ hour week. While I do work quite a lot of hours outside of my home, this is not the norm. However, in a deadline-driven, project-juggling occupation, it’s going to happen from time to time.

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready to head into work—thinking about all the things I had to cross off my list and get done before the weekend—the weatherwoman on the morning news announced that Middle Tennessee was estimated to get .25 to .5 inches of snow.

Fast forward to 10:45 a.m. The snow started coming down fast and substantial. Five inches of accumulation, two worn-out and abandoned cars, and ten helpful friends later, Derek and I are safely “snowed in” at our house for the weekend. Big change of plans for finishing off my work week strong and diving into the weekend’s pre-planned activities.

With things to do, but no mode of transportation to navigate the encumbered roads even if we were brave enough to try, we’re stuck at home. While some facebook statuses express complaints of cabin fever and painful boredom, this career-girl is reveling in the excuse to be home! (See the sledding video—poorly shot with my phone—below as proof!)

Would I have taken a break from crazy work-weeks, Upward cheerleading practices, small groups, Chamber of Commerce activities, etc.? Eventually, I’m sure. But God knew I needed a break… before I broke!

Now, before you call me crazy, I am fully aware that it can be unhealthy to be on the go as much as I am. But, there’s a season for everything in our lives, isn’t there? With no children at the moment and thousands of dollars to save for our upcoming adoption, why not work? With families in our community wanting positive and empowering activities for their children, why not help spread to Gospel through Upward sports? With amazing Christian friends who want to learn more about God, why not learn with them in small group? I want to be an effective tool for my Savior. I don’t want life and its opportunities to make a difference pass me by.

All that being said, I’m so thankful my Father knows the best for me, and is willing to nudge me a tad when need be. I’m so thankful He reminds me to make “me” time. I’m so thankful He allows me slow down and simply know that He is God.

As I begin prepare for a new week tomorrow—one which will hopefully including sending the last of the needed documents to our social worker so that she can wrap up our home study—I hope that I can remember this recent time of relaxation and how beneficial such times can be to my soul. International adoption will surely send more twists and turns my way, but by being equipped with the peace of the Holy Spirit, I’ll be well-prepared.



CHECKLIST:
• Bloodwork
• Medical/physical

There’s No Place Like Home

…at least that’s what we hope we conveyed to our social worker today!

We completed the home visit portion of our home study this afternoon.

In a nutshell, the adoption home study is a detailed written report of our family, compiled and prepared by a social worker (SW), submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and eventually to the Russian Federation. Pretty much, a complete and positive home study pleads our case that we would make good parents.

Each state has different rules that apply to a home study. We are required to submit a gamut of documents: written autobiographies, medical exams, financial statements, references, etc. Prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) are basically put through the wringer to prove that they are suitable to bring a child home. Today, we were able to cross off our list the one-on-one interviews with our SW and our home visit.

The one-on-one interview consisted of me talking about… me… for one hour… Awkward? A little. But I do have to admit, it’s exciting to finally be taking big steps toward bringing our child home!

We dusted, swept, cleaned and primped to put our home’s best foot forward. While the SW only seemed interested in fire extinguishers and adequate living space for a child, I was beaming as I imagined fun places to build forts, spend family game night and create memories for years to come.

We’re making some headway!



CHECKLIST:
• Signed with local home study agency
• Wrote autobiography (4.5 pages!)
• Completed couple interview
• Completed one-on-one interview
• Completed home visit