Ahhh...One Year!

It's now been one year since we started all our paperwork to begin our adoption.  I really thought by now we would have a referral and be close to traveling.  I can't believe the twists and turns adoption takes.  There have been many times I wanted to walk away from everything but I keep being pulled back and know we are suppose to continue.  Raising the money has been more difficult than I thought.  As soon as we seem to be making progress a big unexpected expense will come along. (having to buy a new van for one)  We have moved and downsized our home to help save more money.  We just received an unexpected donation from a family member.  It was a true answer to our prayers!
We are now pursuing an independent adoption route.  The agency we were with had many problems continue to arise with families and their adoptions.  It was a really hard decision to make to walk away from the money we already spent with them.  I just don't feel confident that our adoption could continue with them without serious problems.  As problems were reported by other families I was trying to keep an open mind and give the agency a chance to correct the problems.  I continued to pray and as much as I didn't want to walk away I know we need to.  I'm nervous as we begin to start over but hopeful we are doing the right thing.
Since it's been a year we have to update all our paperwork.  We will have to submit an updated homestudy.  Here is hoping to a productive year to come!!  Hopefully by this time next year we will have our daughter home!!  Amaya sure can't wait either.  She is still constantly talking about her sister.

TIME

It's hard to believe how much time is going by.  When we first decided to adopt I didn't think it would take this long.  I've been staying busy working part time as a 5th grade tutor.  It has been a great blessing to help us raise money for our adoption.  Since I've been working a lot and busy with kids time is flying by.  I haven't had time to update my blog.  Not that there is much to update.

Many families that are using our same agency are picking up their kids from Congo.  Its been exciting to watch their journey and how they finally are able to go to Congo.  Once we receive a referral it will still take another 9-12 months before we can travel!!  With so much time to think about a million different scenarios you start having doubts.  Are we doing the right thing?  With every doubt there comes peace.  I know there is a child out there that belongs with our family.  I know it will come with many challenges but also rewards.  I pray every day that we will be a good match for a child.  That when the time comes everyone will be able to adjust and love each other.

Amaya still talks about her baby sister.  I'm sure in her mind it feels like it will never happen.  It's hard enough for me to understand the process.  I'm looking forward to the day we receive our referral and move to the next part.  I know it will be even harder than because I will have a name and picture of our child and know they are around the world in an orphanage waiting.

#8

We are number 8 on the waiting list!  I'm hoping maybe by March we will be matched with a one or two children.  We are open to two children if one is a girl.  Amaya still talks about her baby sister.  She asked the other day what color her baby sister would be.  I've always loved watching my children discover that Larry and I are different colors and they are different also.  It's usually around age 4 and it's like a lightbulb goes on.  Jayden asked why I was gray and his dad was black and he was brown.  I told Amaya that her baby sister will probably be more like daddy's color.  We are excited for the day we get to see a picture.  I think about our next Christmas and we will have one or two more children!

Not So Good At Blogging

I knew this would probably happen.  Life is busy and I don't make time to write anything.  I'm really hoping to do better.  My youngest sister had her baby girl, Isabella, on October 9th.  Her due date was Dec. 19th.  So I spend a lot of time at the NICCU with my sister.  She was 1lb 13 oz.  She is having a really rough start.  A week ago she had open heart surgery.  She is still trying to stay stable on her oxygen.  They change her machines often trying to find the right one.  It is amazing the technology they have to save babies this small.  I thought about the babies in other countries if they are born this small.  They don't really have a chance to survive.  In my sister's case both her and the baby would've died if they lived in another country without all the resources we have.  We are so lucky to have all that we do here.
The positive thing about being so busy is time is going by fast.  We've had all our paperwork turned into our agency and now we are just waiting for a match.  I think about our future daughter a lot.  The kids talk about it a lot and can't wait.  I just got a part time job being a tutor at the school I sub at a lot.  It is a great blessing because I will be able to have 5 months of a consistent pay check.  It will help a lot with all our expenses that will be coming up.  Once we are matched we have a huge payment due!  I hope to write another post this week.

I600a Mailed! Check!

One more thing checked off our list of things to complete for our adoption.  Homeland Security office should receive our application for the I600a today.  It is our 'petition to adopt'.  Now we have to wait for a fingerprint appointment.  Once we have the appointment we go to a Federal building to be fingerprinted.  Then we wait for the approval letter.  The approval letter is the last piece of paper needed to mail off our dossier.  It will be so nice to mail off all the paperwork and then we wait some more.  I'm really hoping we have a referral by Christmas.  I'll find out our official number on the wait list when I mail the dossier with another payment.

Sisters

My sisters are my best friends.  As Amaya started becoming older I've thought about my relationship with my sisters.  I really want Amaya to have a sister and be best friends.  I think about all the great things I do with my sisters and how we will always have each other.  This is why I wanted to choose to adopt one girl.  Although, I think boys are much easier to parent so far.  Amaya talks a lot about her baby sister.  She wants to know when she will be here.  She wants to buy clothes for her every time we are out shopping.  She just turned 6 and it's really hard for her to understand we don't know anything yet.  I tell her at the store we don't know how old she is or how big, so we have to wait to buy anything.  I'm hoping this is a start to a wonderful friendship.  It will be interesting when the adoption is finally done how Amaya will feel.  I can only hope that she will have a relationship like I have with my sisters!  We can't wait to meet our new daughter! (maybe son too?) 

Puzzle Fundraiser



Trying to think of ways to raise money for our adoption is very difficult.  We have paid for the first part but once we receive our referral we will have a big chunk of money we need to send in.  I really wish we just had it all and didn't have to think of fundraisers.  I think I'm learning I need to be humble and ask for help.  We've already had a few surprise donations which have been a blessing. 

I don't make amazing blankets or clothes.  I'm not an artist.  So I don't have anything I can make and sell.  I've seen the puzzle fundraiser on a few adoption websites.  I don't know how successful they are but it's worth a try.  I CAN put together a puzzle.  Here's how it works.  For every donation of $5 or more we will put your name on the back of a puzzle piece.  It's 500 pieces so we have enough pieces for everyone!!  We will frame the puzzle with glass on both sides so we can remember all of the people who helped us bring our daughter home.  We will hang it in her room.  You don't have to donate online.  You can mail it to us.  If you'd like our address you can email me at citejere@hotmail.com.  Thanks in advance for helping us!

As I searched for puzzles I had a few options that were African type puzzles.  Then I came across a puzzle that is my favorite painting by Greg Olsen.  The picture shows Christ leading a little girl.  For me it is like He is leading her to us.  When Amaya saw the picture she said "Hey that looks like me!"  That is why I love the picture.  My children can relate to it.  I know our future daughter will relate to it also.  Here is the poem that goes with the picture.  I plan to frame this also.
                                        

HAND IN HAND

Like a child in the woods I lost my way,
Alone and afraid I stopped to pray.

“Father in Heaven,” I cried in my need,
“Please guide me home, I’ll go where you lead.”

Like a light in the forest he sent down His Son,
My heart became warm, a new hope had begun.

“Take my hand and I’ll lead you,” I heard Him say,
“Stay by my side for I know the way.”

Now a child in the woods all filled with delight,
The journey is joyous as I walk in His light.

No longer alone in a shadow filled land,
He leads me home as we walk hand in hand.

Greg Olsen - 2007