I am at home with sick kiddos today, so I decided I should take advantage of the solace and update my blog! I had no idea that it has already been 2 months since my last posting! Time flies when you're up to your elbows in raising little boys and completing adoption paper work!
Just an update of where we are on this adventure...we have done all our initial application paperwork and orientations...had 2 home visits with our wonderful social worker...and have now completed the homestudy process. We just have to wait for the home study to be edited and reviewed by our agency, and we then get an opportunity to read over it and make sure everything is documented correctly. (It's apparently 17 pages long...who knew we were THAT interesting!) When we get that back- which could be this week or next we will send it off to the Department of Homeland Security for our initial approval- pretty much a form from the US government telling the Chinese government that we are suitable to adopt a Chinese child. They have up to 90 days to process that form- please pray they don't take that long! That document is the last and final piece of our dossier- the honkin' huge packet of documents that we will send to China as a representation of our family!
We are currently working on several grant applications, and fundraisers. It has been such a blessing to see all the people who have come together to help bring our mei mei home! So many have donated clothing to mei mei's closet. My best friend Sarah has donated countless hours organizing all the clothes that have been sent to us from all over the place! We will be posting information about other things you can be a part of soon...pancake breakfast, photo mini-sessions, bags, jewelry, present wrapping! But, for right now, please pray for mei mei- that she's healthy this winter, that she feels loved and secure, and that her belly is fed (that's what our boys pray every morning!), pray for our family as we continue to plan and save and prepare our hearts and the hearts of our boys, pray for protection from the Enemy in our home, pray that we would see and seize opportunities to testify of what He's doing through adoption in our family!
So, that's it in a nutshell (very, very small nutshell)...but we are pluggin' right along! It has been a tedious, but exciting process! I've thought a lot during much of the time I've spent filling out papers to convince others that we are worthy of their trust to care for our sweet girl. It's reminded me of how much time and patience God has when wooing us, calling us, whispering to our hearts..."You can trust Me. I'll take care of you. I will always love you." Yet another beautiful reminder along this journey of how it mirrors God the Father adopting us as His Sons and Daughters!
