Questions...Questions...and more Questions!

Last night, Tony and I had our individual interviews with the social worker. Despite the fact that it had snowed about 5 inches the night before, we were determined to keep our appointments. So, Tony headed to meet her at her house (that was the only way she would talk to us yesterday!) right after work. They ended up talking for about an hour and a half. I met with her right after for about an hour. I left her house feeling amazing! Tony left, feeling a bit uneasy! He was concerned about some unwise financial decisions he had made several years ago. I, however, was not!

It may be hard for some people to understand, but I know that God put this in our hearts because HE wants to make it happen! I love that I'm totally learning to trust him because in case you didn't notice, we have absolutly no control over what happens in this adoption! I know...I said it! I have no control! So, I've handed this to him because it's something I just don't want to worry about! So, instead, I work hard to give him all of the glory for anything that happens!

So, back to the interview.....I learned that the social worker and I were in the same sorority....Phi Mu! Ok, not going to lie, I was pumped about that! She asked everything from whether or not I'd ever been arrested to how my little brother feels about the adoption. (btw...never been arrested! I'm a goody, remember?) I left there feeling on cloud nine and can't wait to get the home study complete!

If you are praying for us during this time, please remember to pray for Baby China's birth parents! God really got on me last night because I haven't been praying for her birth father.

And God Continues......

To AMAZE me! I'm serious! He has provided for us in so many times when He shouldn't have, but yet He does...and I continue to be amazed everytime! We have been preparing for our next round of interviews. We will meet with the social worker individually tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited because it's been a few weeks and those weeks have seemed like it's all been a dream! I'm glad to be sitting down with her again.
This weekend we hosted a gold/silver party. God decided to provide us with the rest of our home study money through this party. Thanks to a few very generous people. we were blessed with a heafty amount of money. I have been in a state of praise for the past 48 hours. Today, we started our next fund raiser. We will be selling flip flops. You can find more information here. If you want to order, let me know!
Please be praying for us tomorrow while we continue the home study process.

Made in China

I saw this pic today on the news and it just made me smile!

Everytime I see a panda, I think of Baby China. She will probably be called panda a few times around here! Brady has always been Pooh Bear, Kaden started out as Peanut but is now Squirt. And Baby China will be Panda!

This week at school, some of the kids asked if we had a name picked out. We do have one we really like but I didn't share it with them just yet!

For the past few weeks, God has really laid it on my heart to give back to the orphanage when we go. Tonight, mom mentioned that she was going to crochet Baby China a blanket. I asked her if she would make a few that I could take to donate. I think I might make a couple of quilts to take with me. I don't make elaborate quilts but my kids love them so maybe they will too! I will continue to pray about that for sure!

I have been tutoring and making some extra money for the Baby China fund. I just talked to a friend about doing a booth at the A'Fair this year. All of the money I make will go to that fund too! God has been showing off at how he's been providing money for us! I love it!

A Journal Entry

This week we embarked on the 100th day of school. According to Brady's teacher, he was asked to answer the question, "What would you do with $100?" This was his answer in his journal.

"I would make 1000 copies of it (if that is legal) and use the money to go and get my baby sister from China."

I asked him about it tonight and he said, "I was hoping there would be some money left and I could buy her some new toys!"

I know how much I already love her. How is it possible for a 7 year old to understand love like that for someone he's never even met nor is probably even born? Amazing!

You'd think.....

Yes, you would think that I am actually HAVING a baby as consumed as I have been! Tony was at church all weekend, so I took the opportunity to work on some sewing projects that I have ben putting off. I successfully made two baby slings. They are gifts. I have one that I used with Kaden, but it's blue and will need something a little more girley when Baby China gets here. I also had tons of ribbon left after making key chains for Christmas. So, I just spent a few hours making some hair bows. I was productive though, I made some for my step nephew's wife. She's having a little girl in the next few months so I made duplicates so that mom can give them to her.

We have been working on a name for Baby China. Though Baby China is cute, it would be kind of a weird name for say, a 30 year old! We have agreed on a first name that we both seem to like. We're trying it on for a little while just to see. As for a middle name, we're not sure. Both boys have names of people in our family for middle names so I would like to stick with that. On the other hand, I would like to incorporate her Chinese name in some way. We're going to wait and see what her name means in English and maybe use that. We have plenty of time so I guess I should actually finish filling out paper work before I worry about what we will name her!

Fundraising

I'm so excited to tell you about the new fundraiser we have started for our upcoming adoption! We have an e-store with the cutest TShirts in the world! All you have to do it click on the button to the right and it will take you directly to our store. A purchase of one of the four shirts on our page directly benefits our effort to bring Baby China home! I'm looking forward to seeing these shirts all over DeSoto county!

The Paper Chase Begins

It's official! We are adopting! We met with our social worker yesterday and started the process! It's hard to believe because we have waited for this journey to begin for so long! I am just so excited at what's to come in the next couple of years!

Kaden was the first to the door when the social worker arrived. He kept saying, "She bringing Baby China! She's bringing Baby China!" Then, I opened the door and he just looked at her and said, "She didn't bring Baby China!" And he turned around and walked off! I was cracking up. She came in and we introduced everyone and then the quesstions/interview began! She asked us a million questions and gave us all the information that we need to start collecting. We will go back in a couple of weeks for our individual interviews.

We have 90 days to complete the home study and get it sent off. It then heads to several different places to be "certified." Then it's approved and sent to China. Then we wait! China will extend an invitation for us to come and get our baby when we are matched and off we will go! We will spend two weeks there and then come home to the new life we will have!

We have decided to adopt a special needs baby. We will be happy to accept cleft lip/palate, asthma, allergies, or hearing imparied! I'm happy about this because we will have more options! She said the wait time would be 12-18 months but possibly less. She also said that we should put that we preferred the youngest we could get. Though We will be happy with what they give us! I would love her to be around 6 months even though I know that's not really possible!

I will continue to journal about this journey. Until then, keep us in your prayers!