DOSSIER COMPLETED-CHECK

We received an email today from our Case Manager that our final document for our dossier has arrived!!! I'm not sure if there are only two families in this batch of dossiers, but I know that it is the first one completed. God has enable us to meet up through our blog with the "other" family that is in our batch. We're praying that their documents will be ready to go in hopes that maybe we might travel together, so to speak. At any rate, we were told that even if the other families' papers were not ready, ours would not be held longer than 2 weeks from today. Please pray that the other families, whether one or more, will have quick transit with their paperwork so that they can all go together! Alot of times, paperwork is out of the parents hands and waiting on other people to do their job currectly and in a timely manner. The "other" family, The Hurleys, had 7 of their dossier documents lost by the state that they live in...totally out of their control!!! I can't begin to imagine how frustrating that must have been. Please pray for these families who are so desperate, as we are, to bring our children home!!!

Family Fun

Jadon loves playing with the bendaroos
Grace loves Oma's "Go Sarah Go" visor.

Sisters!

Sydney, Paige and Alivia

Back Row: Michael, Alex, Adriana, Jadon, Grace

Front Row: Parker, Sydney, Paige, Alivia

My niece and nephew from Wyoming arrived this weekend and we have truly enjoyed our time together. The younger kids have enjoyed having their older cousins in the pool...they've learned about chicken fights, which we had to explain to Jadon that it didn't mean it was like a boxing match. We've taken many pictures and once my mom sends them to me, I'll be able to post more of our precious family.

My nephew Michael is 19 and my niece Adriana will be turning 18 next week. It seems like just yesterday we were waiting for Adriana to be born. We got a kick out of our nieces Adriana, Alex, Paige, Alivia (home from China since 11/07) and Grace (home from Vietnam since 2/09) singing Taylor Swift. Too funny!

We hope you enjoyed the pictures of our ever growing family! Thanks Opa for cooking hamburgers and hotdogs out in the thunder/lightning storm! It was yummy!!!

THOUGHT FOR THURSDAY

Ok, I'm still trying to figure out how to post a video from YouTube so that you actually see the video on my blog. But, until then, I think you just have to click on the link. This is a wonderful video from LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES. We pray that your hearts will be touched.

YouTube - Adopting the Waiting Child

Wordless Wednesday

Almost There!!!

Whew! The drive to Tallahassee was longer today...must have been from our late night game of Scrabble Slam! This morning, Sydney, Jadon and I drove to Tally to have our I800A certified by the Secretary of State. We then drove to Publix and got a money order and then searched for a Fed Ex box...many UPS boxes on the side of the road. Thankfully I remember most of the major roads and can manuver my way through the one way streets even though it's been 20 years since my days at FSU! We did even better than a FedEx box...the FedEx Kinkos is now a FedEx store and we delivered it right to the computer to be processed and on the truck tonight. Our final dossier document will arrive at the Chinese Consulate in Houston tomorrow morning, will be authenticated and then will be sent directly to WACAP. Our case manager at WACAP said that there is another family that is expected to have their final document to them the middle of next week like us. If no one else is expected to be dossier ready by the middle of next week or so, then the 2 family's dossiers will be sent as a batch to China. We could possible be DTC by the end of next week or the 1st of August...I'm praying for next week!

I will be spending the next few weeks working on my last Gifted endorsement class for my teaching certificate. I was able to extend my class due to all of our adoption paperwork, so I am greatful!

Now we will be starting grant applications and preparing for our garage sale. We haven't decided on a date yet. I must say that I truly dislike having a garage sale...I would much rather put my things at the end of the driveway at the curb and watch people come by and be blessed, but I know this is to bring our sweet, precious Jackson home.

We are trying to decide on whether to send a care package to Jackson ourselves or use Ann at Red Thread China. Any thoughts or experiences with either? I would love to hear from you about your experiences...pros/cons, etc. I can't remember if Ann at Red Thread does this, but I know of another place that can actually deliver a birthday cake. With Jackson being in Foster Care I am not sure how it all works. If we send an outfit, what are the chances that he will actually get to wear it?

Time to get dinner warmed up...nothing better than leftover meatloaf! Yummy!

In Christ,
Stacy

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!!!

We returned from the beach this afternoon to find our I800-A approval in the mail! That means we are one step closer!!! I can't believe it! I had read about some people receiving their approvals last week that were fingerprinted around the same time as us but in different states, so I have been prepping myself for at least a 2-4 week wait! Can you believe it...1 week!! God is GOOD....ALL THE TIME!!! Monday we will photocopy and notarize it. I will probably drive back to Tallahassee on Tuesday and then search for a FedEx box in Tallahassee to mail it to Houston to be authenticated!!! Houston's turn around time has been quick and hopefully nothing will be spilled on our documents like last time! Our agency said that they have seen worse!! We are hoping that it will be 4 weeks at the max that we will be officially DTC!! Keep hanging on, Jackson!!! Your Mama and Baba are coming!!!

Mission Minded

Since we have answered the call to adoption, we have been talking so much with our children about orphans, and other people that do not have what we have...mommies, daddies, brothers, sisters, grandparents, toys, blankets, pj's, favorite stuffed animal to sleep with, food, a church to go to, etc. Somehow today, I stumbled upon this website of a young girl that was adopted who has been obedient to God's calling on her life to help the orphans! Her story and her life is beautiful and all of a part of God's plan from the moment of her conception!!!!! I can't wait until Sydney and Jadon come home tonight to share her story with them. I have truly felt from the very beginning of our journey to Jackson that God is calling our family to more...just haven't known what it all will consist of and how far it will take us. But I know that it will be a lifelong journey! I pray that Josie-Tatum will be an inspiration to you and that you will open up your hearts to God's voice and His calling on your life!

In Christ,
Stacy

FingerPrints

Saturday we went to Orlando for our fingerprints. We were blessed that our request to have them rescheduled from July 3rd to July 11th was accepted. I'm not sure how long it is taking to receive the I800-A approval, but once we have it, it will be the final document to be certified by SOS and authenticated in Houston. We are really hoping to be logged in before mid August so that we can send a care package to Jackson for his 2nd birthday.

We enjoyed our time on vacation. Jadon caught a 21" Northern Pike but had to throw it back because it had to be 24". Sydney LOVED the American Girl store in Chicago!! On the drive back, we were fortunate to see the King Tut exhibit at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis.

Sydney and I have started our cooking project of planning and preparing meals ahead to freeze. I am hoping that this will become a regular part of our lives...I know that it will be helpful and I pray that it will be a skill that Sydney acquires and becomes a part of her life.

We'll keep you posted when anything new happens!
Stacy