"A rose can say I love you

Orchids can enthrall

But a weed bouquet in a chubby fist

Oh my, that says it all!"

from Stick A Geranium In Your Hat & Be Happy

Home Study Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just finished about two hours ago! Our social worker told us "Congratulations" when she left, so I'm thinking it's all gone fine. Thank you to all of you who have encouraged us & prayed. Thank You God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We actually have to wait to get two more reference letters back from friends & have them notarized & get them to the agency before they can finish it all up, but our part in the work is pretty much done now. Phew!

Also, we are excited because Beacon House (orphanage) told us to scan them the completed home study & they will begin to chose a child(ren) for us! This is great news since I thought they might have to wait until we can send them the Immigration paperwork, which we haven't received yet.

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands."

Kristi Larson

Getting Ready/Painting Everything!

The home visit is just days away now & as a result, I've been painting everything in sight! I've painted Mark's bedroom furniture, all the doors & trim in the entire house, as well as the picnic table. I still want to paint Marks' bedroom and stain the deck furniture (which a friend just gave me - so nice!!!!). Oh, I've also stained the swing in the back yard. It's been great to get it all done & it's making good use of my nervous energy.

"Expecting"

Ok, I'm feeling like I'm pregnant! I mean, not really pregnant, but kind of like that... let me try to explain. I feel like we've been in the early stages of "expecting" when it's still a new idea & hasn't really sunk in yet. Nothing looks really different yet, but you still know it's going to be eventually.

Now I feel us entering a new stage where the excitement and also the anxiety (just a bit!) grows. We have nearly finished the home study & have heard from the Immigration Dept. twice so we know they are at least looking at our file already. That's all we have left before we can send off our dossier & get matched with our new child(ren)! Unspeakably exciting! A little scary! Wow!

Two Down, One To Go!

We did our second home study meeting last night & I think it went well! Phew! We talked about how John & I met & got together, how we resolve conflict in our marriage, how we have prepared for our new child(ren), how we plan to talk about adoption with our family & others, how we will handle being a bi-racial family, as well as our discipline strategies. Our social worker, Kim, is very sweet & makes us feel so relaxed - I am very thankful for her!

So, we only have one more meeting to go & this is the BIG one where our home & finances get checked out. This is the most intimidating one for me. We've got it scheduled for August 19 at 7pm. so if you think of it, PLEASE pray that it will go great! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

We also got a note in the mail yesterday from the Immigration Dept. saying they have cashed our check & have received our I-600 petition. We are praying for speed with this VERY important document. We are also a bit concerned with our plan to have our child(ren) escorted from Ghana to the USA. Apparently that might not be an acceptable plan after all, so I have to do some "digging" this week to find out. Changing plans is no easy task, as it involves a lot more money (more plane tickets) & also an amendment to our filing with Immigration. Phew! I am so glad God is in control of every detail!

Oh, we have requested approval on our home study to adopt up to two children, ages newborn to five. It's intentionally vague so we have lots of wiggle room. Please keep praying for our kid(s). We don't know who they are yet but our loving & kind God, who cares deeply about orphans, does.

Next Home Study Meeting

OK, we're trying again! Our next HS meeting is Wednesday, August 6. After that, we'll only have one more to go!

21 Memos From Your Child

21 Memos From Your Child

1. Don't spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all I ask for. I'm only testing you.

2. Don't be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it, it makes me feel more secure.

3. Don't let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.

4. Don't make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly "big".

5. Don't correct me in front of other people, if you can help it. I'll take much more notice if you talk with me in private.

6. Don't make me feel my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.

7. Don't protect me from consequences. I need to learn the painful way sometimes.

8. Don't be too upset when I say, "I hate you." It isn't you I hate, but your power to thwart me.

9. Don't take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.

10. Don't nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.

11. Don't forget that I can't explain myself as well as I would like. This is why i'm not always very accurate.

12. Don't make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.

13. Don't tax my honesty too much. I'm easily frightened into telling lies.

14. Don't be inconsistent. That completely confuses me & makes me lose faith in you.

15. Don't tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real and you can do so much to reassure me if you understand.

16. Don't put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and find my information elsewhere.

17. Don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover you are neither.

18. Don't ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.

19. Don't forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be difficult to keep pace with me but please try.

20. Don't forget I love experimenting. I couldn't get on without it so please put up with it.

21. Don't forget that I can't thrive without lots of understanding love, but I don't need to tell you that do I?

**************************

I don't know who originally wrote this "Memo" but I thought it had some good reminders in it.