THE KIDS AND I AT THE BEACH HOUSE THIS SUMMER

Homestudy update complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PIC OF ME AND MY SISTER aSHLEIGH AT OUR BEACH HOUSE THIS SUMMER :)

Prayers to all of the Texas people who were affected by IKE!!!

So excited, my caseworker has finished my homestudy. So, my application has been sent to Hope, and I have finished my dossier documents. I am now formally on my way to get my docs authenicated (which is easy in Mississippi b/c you don't need to send the docs in, you just send the name of the notary). Then off to the Assistant Stork. I finally feel like it may actually happen and feel a little closer to my daughter.

I am so enjoying ready my agencies discussion group and looking at all of those beautiful pictures of the children. Amazing!!

Now, time to pick a stroller and a car seat. All the really fun stuff.

I have decided I am going to do a donation drive at work and at the kid's school so we will have tons of stuff to take to ET!!!!!!!!! I am so excited about doing that!!!!

Anybody have an advice for a 13 year old son who is saying he doesn't want to go, when I really want him to go?????????

Girl, you know it...

YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT WHEN:
1.The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.4. The fact that, if 7% of the population adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convincing to you.5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.7. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.8. You have never taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.9. You believe God's heart is for adoption.10. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.11. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!12. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.13. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.-Author Unknown

Sadness and new hope!!!

Ok, so here I am posting after all of this time. I have made some tough decisions, after months of just feeling really unsettled about my adoption in Kazakhstan. I have decided to terminate the adoption process in Kaz. It is so hard....after all the hours I have spent. I am very disappointed and sad. I just do not have a good feeling about it any longer. I am scared about the time I could possibly have to spend away from work and am terrified of the cost of Kazakhstan adoptions and travel right now. It just seems to be getting more and more uncertain and expensive. I do not want to get near the end and have a blip that could cause me to not be able to finish. This has been weighing heavily on my heart.
There is also different news to report. I have decided to follow my heart and apply to Ethiopia. I have always felt called to adopt. I feel that the greatest need is in Ethiopia. I just swell with energy and love for the nation and their terrible struggles. There are between 4-5 milliion orphans in this country and this is just a staggering number.
Many people I speak with do not understand why I want to adopt. This is simple. I have thought about doing this since 3rd grade. I want more children. There are children without clothes, food, family......and I have the space :) Pretty simple.
It's a big commitment...and sure I am terrified in some ways, but my heart leads, and with prayer....I must follow. Travel, money, and freedom don't mean a thing if you have not followed your heart.

redo, redo

Well, I finished my dossier back in early November, but my home study license for my dossier was set to expire Dec. 31st, so......i had to wait all of this time for it. I got it this week! But, the date on the form letter didn't match the notary date, so it had to be redone. I decided to redo most of of my documents because the dates were getting older due to this delay. I am needless to say, ready for this dossier to be sent to translation. I sent the new docs to my coordinator today and hope they will go to translation soon!!!! I hope and pray everything is in order. I have had to redo things so many times, sometimes it feels you just can't win for losing. I will not give up though!!!!
I will post when I know I am in translation. That is so exciting to me because it means my dos are definitely on their way!!!!! I am ready to move forward.
My sweet sister gave me tons of clothes from her little girl! They are all precious boutique clothes and I am just over the moon about it!!!! I will post some pics of them later.