God is so good!

God is absolutely the author and finisher of our faith. But, He is also the sustainer of our faith. It has been awesome to see Him move so quickly and expertly. We have received all of the documents we have requested. Our fingerprints arrived at both GBI and FBI headquarters in record time and we have already had two of our four homestudy appointments. Keith will meet with our social worker next week. Then, we will meet together and the homestudy appointments will be complete. We also got our police clearance this week. So, all we have to do now for our homestudy packet to be complete is to get a rabies letter from the vet, do Keith's medical exam and go through the online adoptive parent training. Like I said, God is good!

I am thrilled that God has allowed us to know a different side of His Kingdom through the miracle of adoption. I pray that He will be honored and glorified in all that we say and do throughout this journey. As we continue, please pray that God will truly show Himself as Jehovah Jirah, our Provider. Adoption is very expensive. God will not let us down, I know, but we must pray believing and asking, as James 4:2 says. We know this is God's plan for our lives, but we also know it will only be through His divine intercession that this miracle will happen. Won't you join me in praying for our future family member? Pray that God would lead, guide, and direct us and that He would provide the funds to bring this child home, so that she/he may one day know that saving power of Jesus Christ.

I count it a blessing to know all of you. Thank you for walking this path with us.

Born into Brothels

Last night, Keith and I watched a documentary on the lives of Indian children who live in the red ligt district of Calcutta. These children are parented by prostitutes and live in the most horrific conditions. If there was ever any doubt as to why we are adopting from India, that doubt was removed for me, after seeing this film.

Jesus has taught us to rescue the perishing. I believe He meant this spiritually as well as physically. I know there will be challenges that we will face by brining in an "outsider" into our neck of the USA. But, as Joshua said as he was building the wall, "I am doing a good work and I must not come down". Even as we pray to be a blessing to this new child who will enter our family, I know that God will bless us as well.

Friday was a busy day for Keith. He had his passport appointment, picked up the kid's medical reports and we both got fingerprinted. My next visit with the social worker is Tuesday, then Keith will have his. We are still waiting on the birth certificates from Gwinnett County, but we have everything else. Our police clearance letter is getting written tomorrow.

Our program director told us that we were in a good place with our documents. Because the Indian courts shut down for part of the summer, we wouldn 't get a referral anyway. So, we are on track to be ready to receive a referral hopefully by late summer or early fall.

Thank you to all who are reading our blog and giving us support with your prayers. We love hearing from you!

The Docs keep rolling in!

Today I had to go back from a much needed Spring Break! It was very hard to get myself and the children out of bed this morning. However, we got through it and when I got home, I had some very good news waiting for me.

Concering all that we need for our homestudy, we found out that our septic tank was pumped right before we moved in. So,if we can just find the company that pumped it, we will save quite a few dollars. Also, I got the 411 on our rabies vacinations and it looks like we could save money there as well. Finally, all the birth certificates and the marriage license came in today!

KW is also doing his part. He has filled out his passport application. Now all he needs to do is go to the post office and send it off. He also has to go the doctor and we still have to do our FBI and GBI fingerprints. But, we are making progress and that's what counts.

There's going to be an Indian moms get together this Wednesday night and I am looking forward to it. I am anxious to hear from all of these seasoned adoptive moms who can give me a shoulder when I am sure I will need it.

Well, I must go. It's been a long day and it will be a long one tomorrow as well. For the rest of you out there in adoption land, good luck and God's Best!

Wow! Now we are moving!!!

Yesterday and today were busy!!!! I went to the bank and got all the signatures and information I needed, of course all notarized....I also went to my doctor to have my medical exam done. I dropped off the medical forms at M #1 and M #2's pediatrician.

Today we had our first home visit. Charissa walked through our house, talked with us for an hour or so, and made us feel completely at ease. I was a little worried because I had just sent the application on Monday and already we are moving right along with a homestudy. But, it's really the perfect time since I am on Spring Break. I think the visit went well. M 1 and M 2 were well behaved and interacted with her well. My next appointment with her is on Monday, the 21st. Between now and then, here's all we have to do:

Get reference letters finished and submit them
Septic tank inspection
Keith's physical at the doctor
Tax info. for the last 3 years
Pets immunized
Marriage License

It's going to be a lot of "hurry up and wait" but I am still excited about the journey. I would love to hear from any of you out there who are doing the same thing. Please let me know how your journey is going.

Until next time....keep praying for our Indian Angel!

The Journey Begins.....

April 9, 2008

Well, it's official. After much prayer, research, and guidance from the Lord and from our friends and family, Keith and I have decided that we are adopting. This is a process that has been several years in the making and I am grateful to God for seeing us this far. We have decided that India is where we need to adopt from and are looking forward to meeting our Indian Angel!

However, before we can do that, we have mounds of paperwork to wade through. Those of you who have adopted before or who are in the process of adopting understand this perhaps even better than I do. So far, the task is not unsurmountable, but it is big! What I am beginning to understand is that so many people will play a part in this adoption process. I am trying to record everything through pictures and blogging so that one day, our Indian Angel will understand our awesome journey to him/her.

So, here's the timeline so far:

Sunday, April 6th: Completed Hope For Children Application, prayed with Small Group for the adoption journey.
Monday, April 7th: Called Hope For Children to schedule Home Study, mailed application (Post Office worker took our picture), filled out requests for marriage license, birth certficates
Tuesday, April 8th: Mailed requests for marriage license and birth certificates (three different counties and two different states), called Doctor's office for medical examination and paperwork, emailed the bank for letter, had a playdate with M #1's friend and mom, had dinner with my friend Sara and also set up the blog (see, I am trying to have fun in the middle of this, too), got Keith's passport application (I am trying to convince him to fill this out himself...we'll see)
Wednesday, April 9th: Worked on blog, went to the doctor and the bank for forms to be signed and notarized, talked with social worker and set our first appointment for tomorrow.

Keith and I covet your prayers during this awesome time in our lives. We are looking forward to partnering with each of you in prayer as we strive to fulfill God's command to care for the "least of these".

Please feel free to leave comments, prayers and advice. We greatly value your friendship. Keep checking back often....it's going to be a wild ride!