Sweet Home Alabama

I keep getting e-mails asking if we're back. This has got to be the longest we have been gone from home since we traveled to England back in the year 2000.

I even got an e-mail from a friend who says she's been getting my mail! I think this is funny since 1) They put it in the wrong mail box and 2) I asked for our mail to be held!

We're still in Alabama and the kids have really enjoyed playing with their cousins. Morgan and Austin are very close in age so they've had a lot of fun together.

Andrew has been working from the hotel room with his laptop and blackberry. I got my hair cut today and that was fun.

No news from India (I'm expecting her official "release" papers any day now--they were hoping to have that before the end of the month, but no news.)

We hope everyone has had a great Holiday Season so far!

Merry Christmas!

Our family made it safe to Alabama. We spent all day yesterday at PaPa and Grandma's house. The kids got to visit with Aunts Lisa, Lindsay, and Kristen, as well as Ma Dunn (Great Grandma). Nana and Ma Loop (other Great Grandma) are traveling down from Tennessee this afternoon so we should see them tonight. Aunt Melanie is supposed to come over as well.

Morgan is just old enough now that we're considering taking her to The Space and Rocket Center--I grew up in this area, so visited the center a lot as a child and they've changed it quite a bit. It's still a cool, educational place (this is also the location of Space Camp), but I think it's different every time I visit.

We're hoping to visit our "home church" while we're here. We haven't been back as a family. I visited 2 years ago, but the kids stayed at the house and Andrew was back in Arkansas.

I'm also planning to visit my best friend from high school while we're in town too.

To all of you who follow the blog, the kids also say Merry Christmas! They've had an eventful morning already and have enjoyed all of their presents. Some of the highlights though: Morgan received her first, very own Bible (something she's wanted now for a long time), Elena received her own laptop game, of which she has grown rather possessive, and Jared received a stuffed Curious George, which is nearly as big as he is! There are others--those are just the ones they're all clinging to right now. I'm sure by this afternoon, they'll have new toys they're attached to. :)

Dossier is in India!

I just got a call and our Dossier is officially in India! It's weird to know that these papers we have filled out, prayed over, cared for as though they were the child herself, stressed over and have touched and counted a thousand times are now on the other side of the world.

Next our file will be sent on to CARA and we're hoping to get that NOC Clearance soon. This can take 6 weeks to 3 months.

Wrapping up for the Holidays

We've been very busy this week trying to get ready to leave for Alabama this weekend (hopefully, if all goes well).

We're still trying to find that "perfect balance" of how to transport the children happily on a 10 hour road trip. Our children have started going to bed at 7:00pm lately. I couldn't figure it out at first, but realized yesterday that they are not sleeping at naptime anymore. We still have "quiet time," meaning that we take 2 hours a day for everyone to go to their own spaces and read a book, look at pictures, do school work, etc. And mostly, someone will fall asleep as well. So I guess this explains the hour earlier bedtime? Last night, Elena was becoming quite fussy around 6:30 and was out cold by 6:45. Jared and Morgan also followed suit, going to bed at 7:00.

So the plan is to leave in the afternoon sometime this weekend so that the kids will hopefully still fall asleep between 6:30-7:00, causing them to rest for the last part of the journey. Then they can wake up in the morning to visit Papa, Grandma, Nana, Ma Loop, Ma Dunn, Aunt Lisa, Aunt Melanie and Uncle Stephen, Cousins Austin and Houston (not twins--so many ask me if they're twins), Aunt Lindsay (and possibly future Uncle Morgan), and Aunt Kristen. Then of course there's Aunt Becky, Uncle Bobby, cousin Christina, and I heard a rumor that Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Bill, and cousins Jennifer, Erin, and Josh will be there as well. What's the saying? "Southerners have so many good stories because they have so much family," or something like that.

Daddy is HOME and very tired. He got in very late last night and was back out the door about 6:00 this morning. I'm told he'll be working 40+ hours between now and Saturday.

Meanwhile, my laundry isn't finished, I'm still organizing the office, trying to finish some school work, getting Jared's therapy schedule worked out, and have other things that need to be taken care of before we leave.

We're all in this together

"I am soooo very excited!! I almost feel like I'm the one getting the little girl! Oh I cannot wait!!! Praying for you daily!!!

((hugs))"

I got the above e-mail this afternoon from a friend and it really touched me! I keep saying that while we're the ones who are taking her in and are agreeing to take care of her as our other children, are spending the hours filling out paper work, worrying about her well being, trying to think up creative ways to raise her funds, applying for financial aid, etc, all of you who have written letters, prayed, or contributed funds, you are all responsible as well for giving this little girl a family--parents who will endeavor to see she receives the best education, upbringing, and medical care God enables them to give and siblings who will be her friends and companions--all inside a Christian Home.

Thank You!

Homeschool Family Video

I got this off of a friend's site--I have NO idea if this is a real homeschool family, but it made me chuckle.

http://www.doublesharpevideo.com/HomeSchool2/Homeschool2.html

Mama, can I do that for you?

I often praise my five year old, Morgan and how well she helps me around the house. When she sees me sweeping, she'll ask, "Mama, can I do that for you?" She is currently walking around with my big feather duster and explaining how she runs her finger through the dust to see how dusty it is and then she "does it again to make sure it's all clean."

Last week, she carried the dirty laundry out of their rooms and put other items away. She helps Elena down from her high chair (rather, Elena screams that she wants Morgan to help her--that girl is SO attached to her big sister) and helps me sort the laundry.

She was so excited and exclaimed, "Mama! I'm a mama!" I thought it was sweet until she began to go out into public and announce that she was a Mama now, because I told her so. Haha. I explained that she was doing lots of things that Mamas usually take care of but wouldn't be a Mama for many, many more years. She said, "Yeah, I can't be a Mama until I learn how to cook." Morgan is just picking up cooking now and loves to help--she has her cookbook from homeschool group and it's her prized possession.

I'm going to have to create new goals

"I'm going to have to create new goals," Erica said.

Ms. Erica is Jared's Occupational Therapist. I'm so amazed at how well he has developed over the past few months. I am also thrilled that he's actually receiving Occupational Therapy, that he's meeting these goals in Occupational Therapy and that there are MORE goals for him to meet in Occupational Therapy. He really is beginning to progress and become more "typical."

I have met some wonderful families, parents, and have been exposed to a whole new world because I had a son some deemed "not typical." I have come to despise that word "typical." Even typing it here, it makes me cringe. Actually, I don't think any of my kids are "typical" kids. In fact, I'd like to think of them as peculiar indeed, set apart, and distinct from all others :)

Jared has been an incredible blessing in my life (as have all of my children) and I wouldn't be who I am now if God hadn't blessed me by making me this little boy's Mama.

The Countdown Begins

I received a very important message from the adoption agency. Our Dossier has been sent to India and the countdown officially begins today, December 17, 2007.

Here's what happens next:

We have to get our NOC Clearance--this takes 6 weeks to 3 months. Our Dossier is reviewed by the India adoption "powers that be" (CARA) and they will hopefully issue us a "No Objection Certificate." After this, everything else is a formality, but important nonetheless. CARA only reviews cases twice a month, so I hope ours is reviewed quickly.

Then her case goes to court. The judge only reviews adoption cases on Wednesdays and we're praying that her case will be reviewed before May, because all of the courts in India close down for the entire month of May. So, if her case doesn't go to court before May, it adds on another month. The time for the Judge to give approval is usually 6 to 8 weeks.

After we are approved by the Judge, we can expect to travel within 6-8 weeks. However, during those 6-8 weeks our file will not only be going through translations but will also be sent to the Arkansas ICPC (because we will be her Guardians until we officially adopt her in the State of Arkansas). Once the Arkansas ICPC approves her to come to the state of Arkansas, we can officially pick her up.

All of the above time lines are averages--some have taken longer and some have been approved in record time.

Our fundraising is going along fairly well--we have received some funds from adoption groups as well as cut way back on the budget. We're currently a family in the Kingdom Kids Family Grant Program and are waiting to hear back from about 12 other adoption grant programs. All of her fees will be due in the next couple of weeks and then we have to cover the travel fees, which are nearly as much as her adoption fees, but we keep praying and as one woman told me in the beginning, "These are His orphans and He'll provide. Now repeat that until you know it."

Mama, Mama, Bree!

"Mama, Mama, Bree!" Elena said as she folded her hands and tucked them under her chin.

Even a 2 year old knows that we don't eat until we "bree" (Pray). Yesterday we had to get some drive-thru and she still yelled to me from her back seat, "Mama! Bree!"

It's so sweet to see her understanding that we show appreciation and thankfulness for what God has given us.

Elena's speaking skills have really exploded over the past month. We can pretty much have a full conversation with her (as well as one can with a 2 year old). She still uses "that," for way too many things, but she definitely knows how to get her point across and is a smart little cookie. :)

Just 5 Children left without sponsors

Here's a link to the Reeece's Rainbow Waiting Christmas Angels. It's been fun watching the many kids have more and more funds added to their sponsorships. There are still five children who haven't had a single sponsor. Please take a look, even if you don't feel led to contribute, they could still always use your prayers. :) Many times it's the financial side of adoption which keeps the kiddos from their families. There's funding out there but it takes a lot of work to find and attain (we're getting first hand experience with this right now), so when a child already has his or her own personal grant to offer, it helps out the adopting family quite a bit.

http://www.reecesrainbow.com/waitingchristmasangels.htm

Here, Mama, Here

I nearly had the camera in time, but missed out on a fantastic opportunity.

I heard, "Here, Mama, here." I looked down to see my two year old baby girl holding out a gigantic black bug kicking its legs and desperately trying to get out of Elena's grasp.

I immediately began screaming for her to drop it, just to realize that it was nothing more than a huge cricket. I have never seen a cricket so big in my life.

Elena has no fear. When I say no fear, I'm saying she desires to get on the roller coasters, she walks into walls and laughs, she bangs her head and thinks it's funny, and yes, she'll pick up any bug she can find. And she pins them between her thumb and pointer finger, as though that's the proper way to hold them. I'll catch her climbing into the van holding a beetle or some other creepy crawly. Yes, I've even caught her holding onto a little spider. Thankfully she's never picked up one that is recognized as poisonous.


I wish I'd taken the picture though of her holding the cricket out to me. She looked so bewildered that her mother was yelling for her to "Drop it"!

Two Big Pieces of News!

First off, Arkansas Apostilles arrived TODAY! This is great, so Arkansas and Alabama are taken care of. Now we just wait on the Missouri Apostilles.

And.........even BIGGER news!!!!

I think it's fair to say that Jared is potty trained! He's been wearing his big boy underwear for a week and has been doing GREAT!!!! He's still wearing his pull ups at night and at nap, but has done very well so far, even during all the tumbling he does in Physical Therapy. I was concerned that he would become so invovled in PT that he would forget to tell his therapist he needed to go potty. In speech and occupational therapy, he does more sitting and it's just a calmer environment, but so far, he's just done a terrific job.

Have I mentioned that adoption isn't for the faint of heart?

Oh and yes there's a change in the blog--I decided to make it a bit brighter. I have added some new links to some favorite sites and even some new books I've recently read (can you tell I read a LOT?)


This afternoon we have finally sent off all of the required documents and other items and hopefully everything is good. BTW this is the 2nd time some docs have been sent off.

Meanwhile we have received Apostilled documents from Alabama!!! Yay!!! One state down, two more to go!

It's amazing. They will know every thing about us (even quite possibly right down to our DNA) by the time we pick up this little girl.

Once everything is back in, I will make 2 copies of every single page of our Dossier. So we're talking about walking out with about 300 pages in hand.

Then one copy of our Dossier, as well as our orginals will be sent to Bethany in Branson. She'll take a look at it all, make sure all is well (praying fervently here) and if all's well, will send our Dossier off to India.

Once in India, our Attorney will make sure it all looks good. Then we're up for NOC (No Objection Certificate) Clearance. From what I understand THIS is the biggest thing to clear. After this, everything is just a formality. This can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months. They only review cases twice a month.

After we receive NOC Clearance, her case will go to court. A Judge generally only looks at cases on Wednesdays. We are praying that we get this approval BEFORE May, since the courts close down for the entire month.

Once this is approved, a social worker then reviews our files.

If she gives the go-ahead we're notified to get ready to travel in about 8 weeks.

During that 8 weeks her case will go to the Arkansas ICPC for approval and THEN we can fly over and pick her up. :)

But for right now, we're just wanting to get the Dossier out and focusing on NOC Clearance.

I have also added a therometer showing how close we are to our goal. All funds provided so far have been through cutting back on the budget, receiving unexpected checks in the mail (as in medical refunds, insurance refunds, rebates, etc.), and adoption funding provided by organizations which give no interest loans and grants, that do not have to be re-paid. This thermometer does NOT include expenses we've already paid to date (as in homestudy, INS fees, mailings, etc)--this shows only the amount remaining to pay, as of December 6, 2007.