Our Garden !

We have been working on our garden lately. Chuck built a raised bed and filled it with some wonderful veggies, lettuces, herbs and strawberries. The boys loved picking out what vegetables they wanted to grow. Their favorite thing they picked out was "chocolate peppermint".

We are praying for a bountiful garden full of great food for us this spring/summer. I have never had a garden and really know nothing about taking care of one. My family loves to tell stories about the time I decided to grow tomatoes and had NO clue what I was doing ! So, I have been reading gardening books and talking to "seasoned" gardeners. I really want to learn as much as I can. Of course, Chuck has way more experience with gardening. We pray "The plans of the diligent lead to profit" Proverbs 21:5a

I 800 A

Yeah !! I am filling out my I800 A form today and sending it in tomorrow !!!!

" On 3/23/2009, we received notification from Alabama’s ICPC office that your Home Study was sent to USCIS Hague Unit on 03/19/2009 and processing continues."

While I'm Waiting

It seems my ears perk up when I hear the word "waiting". My eyes are drawn to the word like a thirsty dog to water. I have done a very extensive word look up in my bible for the word "waiting" and every song, poem, and TV commercial draws me in. I think God is trying to teach me about waiting - you think ? I love this song from FIREPROOF ( loved the movie).

Busy, Busy, Busy !!!

We had a great time visiting with family last week. First we helped give my mother and father -in-law a surprise 40th wedding anniversary party. It was so fun and they were totally surprised. I loved seeing all the old pictures of them and hearing all their friends and relatives tell funny stories.
Then, we spent the night with my brother and sister-in-law. The kids love going to their house and playing the Wii. I don't get to seem my precious niece and nephew a lot so we played and talked until we were so slap tired !
The next night, my brother, sister-in-law and their girls spent the night at our house. We stayed up again till midnight talking and the kids played all night.
Whew !!! I am tired. Chuck got back tonight from an amazing Men's retreat at Calloway with our church - 13 men were baptized in the lake where they stayed !!!! crazy huh ?

I am still waiting on my home study to be approved by my state AL ICPC and then I can file my I 800 A form and maybe, just maybe......get my dossier to CHINA !!! It is so difficult to wait, and wait, and wait. Will asked the other day "Mom, how many more DAYS till Maggie ( the name we have given our little one while we wait - not necessarily the name we will use )comes home ?" I wish I could have answered him with a number. Instead I say " Oh, maybe next year." Lately, my heart is heavy thinking of her and knowing she is somewhere waiting on me. I pray God will protect her and hold her close in His arms. It's a very unusual and amazing thing to LOVE this child I have never met, to almost feel her hugs and hear her laughter.

Adoption Update

I am so happy to report that my Home Study has been approved by my placing agency (AWAA) and is headed on over to the AL ICPC office to get approved. Then it will be sent to the USCIS office along with my I 800A application. My Home Study will have to be approved there too. Thankfully, this process is going much faster than in past months. It is taking about 30- 40 days, where it used to take at least 90 days ! So, we have just two more steps until we can submit our Dossier to China and have a LID (log in date ). Once we are LID, we can be eligible for our agencies waiting child shared list. Of course, we know that it will actually be some time before we get a referral. The waiting is hard, but it does seem that tine goes by fast and hopefully before we know it we'll be in China seeing and holding our little one for the first time. Over the six months, that we have been paperchasing, we have slowly updated what special needs we are open to. So far, we have checked off: Congenital heart defect, repaired heart defect, webbed or extra fingers or toes, partial or missing appendages, hemangioma/large birth mark, and repaired medical condition. There is a wonderful site that helps educate families about all the special needs called No Hands But Ours. We have spent so much time reading the family stories and researching the different medical conditions. We are still researching and prayerfully considering other special needs. I am so thankful for the ladies who put this educational site together because it will help so many beautiful children come home to forever families.

Snow !!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Sunday was beautiful ! We woke up to snow and lots of it. About 4-5 inches of snow fell and the boys had so much fun playing in it. They wanted it to snow so bad this year. We kept telling them " I'm sorry, we live in the south, it just doesn't snow that much in Alabama ." Well, snow on March 1rst in Alabama is unusual, but sooo much fun ! I had forgot how the snow crinkles when you walk in it and all the town looked more like New England instead of Opelika. So, now that we've had our one day of snow - we're ready for SPRING in this southern home.