- TWO amazing, generous, completely unexpected donations towards our adoption came recently. Thank you thank you thank you.
- This week we both were able to get our physicals completed and doctors letter (for our homestudy and dossier) finished while we there. When I checked in, I noticed a sign that said certain paperwork requested from the office would be $35 and would take 5-7 business days to complete...thankfully neither of our doctors considered this paperwork part of that group! Derrick's physical was a little more complete than mine, including an EKG and blood work. He was there for at least an hour and a half. I waited for 30 minutes then was with the doc for 10. :) I did have to get a tetanus/whooping cough shot and he didn't have to do that (he had his last year). But, we're both done!
- We were able to get our finger prints done-the man at the store even let me do after fingerprint hours were over and I had forgotten my ID #-I accidentally brought Derrick's paperwork instead of mine! But he was super nice and searched for me and let me do them anyway. Whew. No having to rearrange my entire schedule!
- We are almost done with our online adoption training seminar. If you're adopting...I'd seriously suggest Because They Waited. Amazing! And, they talk, have videos, diagrams, etc through the whole thing, you feel like you're at a live seminar instead of just reading something online. We're learning a lot and are honestly really enjoying it!
- Our taxes are done and we've got a good refund coming ready to jump straight into the adoption fund! Thank you Jesus!
- We've had some great conversations with people interested in adoption and in why we are adopting. At first, I was really worried about sounding 'too churchy' or making people uncomfortable with our reasons why-but it's been an amazing opportunity because there just isn't a way to take Jesus out of it, He's at the very center of it and that makes it pretty awesome.
- I had the most encouraging and uplifting conversation with a friend who just wanted to let me know some ways her family is attempting to raise some money for our adoption-in real ways that also encourage prayers for us throughout their daily life. I can not tell you how much this meant to me.
- My sister and her husband have decided to do a 5k as a fundraiser for our adoption! I'm super excited about this-I've wanted to run a 5k for a few years now but really struggle with motivation to train for it-I'm super excited I have an awesome reason to work towards this goal AND that Maggie and Chad are willing to donate their time to make this happen. A true family affair in bringing our baby home! Completely warms my heart. It's June 8 and in Union, MO for those of you on the St. Louis side. We'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you there.
Thank you Thank you Thank you for all of your prayers, donations, and conversations. We are so thankful for Christ for making this happen and to each and every person praying for us and thinking of us!!
Specific Prayer Requests:
Our last homestudy interview in Tuesday, March 12- pray for our social worker (who talked to Addi about praying for our baby brother and sister!! told you I liked her!) to quickly and efficiently get the paperwork done. Addilyn's 4 year doctors appointment isn't until the 21st so it won't be done until then (because there has to be paperwork on our kids physical condition as well.), but hopefully not much after that. We're creating a great list of grants we hope to qualify for (you have to have your homestudy done to apply for them).
For Addilyn and Josiah to understand what adoption is and what we are doing a little more each day.
For a complete ethical and as smooth as possible adoption process.
We are working on paperwork saying which special needs we will definitely accept in our future child, which we will consider, and what we definitely won't. Each and every disability breaks my heart. I picture Addilyn or Josiah and would never, ever turn them away no matter what struggles they may face in their lives. How can I do that to our future baby?! But, we know going into this process, God has called us to doing this, He has specially designed us to care for and love our future child while having two young kids at home without family living near by and without much extra money for lots of medical expense. We have to put all these things into consideration-and prayerfully decide what things we really are equipped to handle and handle well. We also know going into this that an Ethiopian adopted child in our suburban white world will create its own special needs, without anything to document them, not to mention the possible attachment struggles we will face. So, anyway. That could use some prayer.
