Got our finger print appointments!

Woohoo!!  We're getting closer!  Our appointments are July 12 at 3pm.  Once we get those done, it shouldn't be long after that that we receive our approval!  We have almost everything for our dossier.  Just need to get a couple of straggling things left (including new notarized copies of our home study and documents from our social worker :-/  the expiration date of the notary's stamp was for 9 months out, and they have to expire no sooner than 12 months from the signing of the document per Darya's country requirements, go figure).

A Must Read Blog

This family just got back from adopting two precious little girls with Down syndrome.  They have three biological sons, just like us, but then went on to adopt 2 girls from China and then 2 more from Ukraine (through Reece's Rainbow).  Here is an eye-opening, heart-breaking post.  I encourage you to read it (along with their other posts):  http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2010/06/i-left-my-heart-there.html

A smidgen of movement

I just got a call from Officer Larsen at USCIS and she let me know that she got our home study yesterday and it's in her "to-do" pile for today!  So *hopefully* that means our finger print appointments will come by next week???  Now I'll back off from trampling our mailman for the next couple of days :-)

Happy 4th anniversary, Reece's Rainbow!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Anxiety

No one likes to have the feeling of being helpless or out of control.  As far as adoptions go, ours is moving on target.  But I have still been battling anxiety, especially on days when I feel like no progress or movement is happening on the adoption front.  I anxiously checked the mail this morning to find nothing but junk, no finger print appointments and no home study and other documents from our social worker.  I am constantly being reminded of this verse:

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

This adoption experience is like nothing I've gone through before!  It is a sanctifying and patience-teaching adventure, to be sure.  But it has a beautiful end in sight!

Creative outlet

Sometimes I get the hankering to make something.  I'm not a really crafty person but enjoy making simple projects.  It's all about instant gratification.  I took up knitting a few years back, and though I can knit a scarf or a beanie hat, it can take too long.  I have to be in the right mood.  Anyway, lately I've been wanting to sew something and try my hand at appliqué.  It's a way to relieve some of this adoption anxiety!  I made the dress below for my dear friend Shelli's little girl.  The shirt with the bird silhouette is for Amanda's adorable little girl, Naomi.  (Shelli and Amanda are friends from church, and they're sisters, too).  The whale one I made for Darya (it was a hand-me-down and had a stain - the whale strategically covers it!).  Now I want to make a bunch of appliqué shirts!  It was so fun, so easy, and there are so many cute ideas on etsy.com and elsewhere on the web. Watch out friends, you might find yourself the victim of one of my next craft project!  Just hope that it's not a toaster cover ;-)

Oh, also today I received a voicemail from the Missouri USCIS office and the officer is going to be keeping an eye out for our home study!  I hope we get our finger print appointments soon!!!