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!

Origami Owl

In November 2013 Jordan and I sat down and discussed adopting.  No sooner than when we agreed and started bathing it in prayer and discussing the financial side of all of it a friend of mine called me up and told me about Origami Owl.  

I had heard about it before but wasn't sure what it exactly was.  She said, "Dusty all I could think about was you the whole time I was there, I knew you would just love this stuff."  So when I got off the phone with her I looked it up and then the next night I became an Origami Owl Independent Designer.  

It seemed only logical that if you're praying for the finances for International adoption and the rather steep bill that comes along with it and something just happens to fall in your lap as this did, to look at it as Gods provision.  Now I've been in the home party industry before, not typically my cup of tea, but this one... this one was different.  For two reasons, one to provide funds for a purpose worth working my tail off to achieve, and two the commission rate was shocking.  You make good money selling with Origami Owl, in fact currently they offer the highest commission rates of all other home party businesses. 

So I decided to jump in with both feet and trust God to keep me afloat. :)  And so far He has done just that. I had my first O2 party (debut) with my mentor Karen by my side.  It was a HIT!  Then just this past Saturday I had my very first solo party and it was SO much fun.  My February calendar is already full and my March calendar is about 90% full.  So to say that God had His hand in this would be an understatement!  
100% of my commissions will be going towards the adoption and I am well on my way.  Now I just need to create two living lockets.  One for myself and one for Mei Mei to remember that this was instrumental in bringing her home.  

To those of you who follow my blog, and who purchase any Origami Owl jewelry or host a party from me, your support means the world to me and I will forever be grateful.  xoxo

In Waiting

With each new day, the waiting gets more difficult. 

 I just want to move on to the next step.  Just saying.

Somewhere in Between

What a fitting title for this blog, somewhere in between.  Because that is exactly where we are at, somewhere in between.  We are closing in on being able to file the final application we are just waiting for some final things to happen and then we are on our way, oh how I long for that day.

I feel like every next step I will long for, dream about, pray on, and look forward to with great excitement and anxiety.  Every step of the way I will faithfully put in the fully capable hands of my Lord and Savior with great anticipation that He is in control and He will guide us.

There is never a day that doesn't go by that I don't think of our Mei Mei.  I wonder so many things about her. Has she been born yet?  Why did her family choose to abandon her?  Will she accept us?  What will she look like?  What kind of personality will she have?  And the list goes on and on.  I'm sure my questions will only reflect all the many questions she will have as well growing up.  I know I will never have all the answers for her, but will always pray that she finds peace in knowing that the God of this universe perfectly orchestrated our lives coming together as a family.

I may have many questions for the rest of my life, but there is one thing I know for sure, that she is loved.  I know this because I don't even know her and yet I love her already.  I know that Jordan and my boys love her already.  And I'm sure so many more will too.  I know that she will never have to worry about being abandoned ever again, and that even if there is a day where we fail her, that Jesus never will.  I pray for her salvation, and her desire to walk hand in hand with Christ.

Now I anxiously await the "next step" and pray on.  Would you please pray along with me?