Approval and Dossier Preparation

Well it sure has been a whirl wind around here lately.  On Thursday I got a call from our agency congratulating us on being accepted into the China program.  I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I started to cry my eyes out on the phone and had to ask her to hold on a minute so I could compose myself.

Thursday night I came home to an email with a bunch of paperwork we needed to fill out to agree to the terms of the adoption agency.  Of course I was too excited to sit on it so we both read all the fine print, signed our names, and sent in the first big payment.

Yesterday, (Tuesday), I got an email telling me they received the paperwork, the payment and all was well.  She told me that I should be expecting a phone call from our Family Coordinator the following day.  She also informed us that we could now sign up and proceed with our home studies and Adoption training.

So, today (Wednesday) our Family Coordinator got in touch with me and sent me two emails chalked FULL with information.  I should have prepared myself better for what I was about to digest.  I was so excited and ready to get started and then when I saw all the information it completely overwhelmed me.  There is SO much to know, do, and ALOT of money needs to go out up front.  So, needless to say we are going to be having ALOT of Origami Owl parties and will be checking into some other financial avenues.

We knew this when going into the adoption process, and none of this is a shock, but we will be leaning on Jesus and trusting that He will go before us and that He paves the way, we will not be afraid or discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).  He provides for the birds and how much more valuable are we?! (Matthew 6:26, Matthew 10:31)   So we will trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.  In all our ways we will acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

We will be clinging to His promises because we will need that assurance along the journey.

We're Having a Baby!

It's Official we're having a baby!!!  Just got the call from our Adoption Agency today where they informed us that we have been accepted into the China program!  

I was and am elated!  I cried my eyes out to the lady on the phone (poor girl) and thanked her probably a million times.  

What was also very neat to experience is when I called home to share the information my children's reactions.  

Isaac: REALLY?  No..... REALLY?!  Oh, YES!!!!!  
Jacob: Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay!

I had to tell Jordan to explain to them that it didn't mean we were bringing her home today.  I can't wait to walk through the airport and see their faces when they finally get to meet her.

So tonight I spend most of my time working on the mound of paperwork that was emailed to me so hopefully I can drop it in the mail tomorrow.  

Here's to the next steps of my journey to Mei Mei. 

It's Official!

It's official, it's official!  Money is now invested and the Adoption Agency now has all of our information.  We are on our way to a baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phase 1 - Application Process

So I have had about 75% of our application filled out and ready to go, tonight I filled in a little bit more, and hopefully by next week it will be completely filled out and ready to submit.  I'm so stinking excited I can hardly stand it.  

So for those of you wondering what the application process consists of here it is in a nutshell.

• Submit Online Application
• Upload a Family Photo
• Submit the "Letter of Request"
• Submit the Processing Fee

But first before I can submit my online application I have to sign up with a Home Study agency, this phone call will be made tomorrow.  Then I will know more about what all of that consist's of and what we are required to do through them.  I know one thing we have to do is have some kind of "adoption training".  I'm really interested in what that will all entail and how much I will learn that its exciting.  

I can't wait to be able to post my next post!