We finally got the news we have been waiting for - our Home Study is officially done and approved. I am so very grateful and thankful that step is complete. It was not a simple process and obviously not a quick process but it was a very necessary (and required) process. I really think the Home Study is used to weed out those folks that are on the fence or not serious about adoption or foster care. No one in their right mind would go through all of that if they truly did not want to bring a child into their family. But oh wow - what a feeling of great joy it is to know that 1 big hurdle is now behind us. Praise the Lord.
Next items on our agenda: #1 - File our I-800A immigration paperwork (& supplement 1 - because we would not want to leave out that new adult (aka: Josh) from all the fun) and #2 - Send our Dossier to the Philippines and #3 - Apply to Lifesong for Orphans for an adoption fund and possible grants (plus any other grants we can find). I'm going to put my nose to the paper this weekend and file in those final blanks for these 3 items. God willing, all 3 items will be sent to their respective designations by the end of the week. Once that is done, it will be time to wait some more as each organization reviews our paperwork. Decisions on all items should come back in 1-2 months.
In the meantime, we are going to be working hard on our garage sale and other upcoming fundraisers to help pay the various application and agency fees. We have about $5,000 in fees due right now and then we'll have a few months to raise the next set of funds needed. Keep an eye out for more fun things to do to help.
On a side note - our friends the Gale's (http://gale5.blogspot.com/) will be leaving this Sunday (9/16) for Ecuador to pick up their little girl Kayla Valentina. They will meet her on Monday and I know they are excited and scared all at the same time. Tim will be staying in Ecuador for 3 weeks to get thru some of the initial paperwork but Cindy will need to stay in Ecuador with Kayla until the adoption is final (should be a total of 6-8 weeks). That's a long time to be away from your kids, family & friends so any prayers you can send their way would be greatly appreciated. I have so enjoyed following their journey to Kayla - read their blog and you'll see the mighty hand of God at work. So wonderful and amazing.
Thanks everyone for the great love & support. It means so much. Don't forget to unload your unwanted/unused items on us and we'll sell them at our Garage Sale fundraising on 9/29. Drop me an email, text message or phone call for arrangements.
For His Glory,
Chris
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Getting From Point A to B Backwards
Just when you think you might get to take a step forward, you hit a snag and fall back. Oh what frustration it can bring along with disappointment and discouragement. We are still waiting for the Home Study to be finalized so that it can be sent to Columbia, SC for approval by the State. We have been on the verge of filing our HS since the end of July. Because of the delays, Josh turned 18 and we had to make some amendments (see previous blog post) to the study. As we waited for Josh's background checks, we did another review of the checklist to ensure everything was in order - it all looked great. Then last week the Home Study was finally sent to our NC agency for review and they asked for some minor adjustments and clarifications. Not a big deal but just another delay - which was slightly annoying and frustrating. So much of the adoption process hinges on this Home Study and each delay can weight very heavily on your spirit. It's the first really big step and everything else waits on the Home Study. We cannot proceed with anything until it is filed & approved. It feels a little like be stuck in the mud.
As we wait for the Home Study filing - which is so totally out of our control, I continue on my weight loss journey. To date - 33 lbs have disappeared. The stress of the Home Study put me into a bit of a plateau for a few weeks but I've finally handed that issue over to God (because there is nothing I can do about it anyway and I know He has it all under control) and the scale is once again moving in the right direction. At this time, I am 3 lbs from my BMI target to be within the acceptable range for the Philippines requirement. This major milestone has taken a bit longer than I wanted or anticipated but again - God has it in His control and He will make sure that it all works for His Glory!!!
With the Home Study just about done and my BMI almost within limits, our sights now turn to raising the funds that will be needed to bring home our child/ren. We have several things going on this month. We still have our Fundrazr in place if you have $10 or $20 or more that you'd like to donate safely & securely online directly to us (see the Adoption Funds tab or the link on the right side of this blog). We are also accepting items for our upcoming Garage Sale on 9/29. Items can also be dropped off for a consignment sale. You provide the item(s), I'll provide the sale and we'll split the proceeds. If you have items to donate or put up for consignment, please let me know by emailing me at wilsonhouse@comporium.net or calling 803-547-0270.
We may have hit several bumps in the road, got turned around and upside down, moved forward only to get pushed backwards - but we will not be stopped. God has a wonderful plan for our family and through this adoption process, we are going to see the love of Jesus, be the love of Jesus and proclaim God's grace and mercy. A beautiful testimony is already in the works. Each day I am amazed at what God is doing in our lives and others that we know that have gone thru or are in the midst of the adoption process. If I have to take several steps backwards now & then, I'll do it with a big ole smile on my face and Jesus in my heart.
For His Glory,
Chris
As we wait for the Home Study filing - which is so totally out of our control, I continue on my weight loss journey. To date - 33 lbs have disappeared. The stress of the Home Study put me into a bit of a plateau for a few weeks but I've finally handed that issue over to God (because there is nothing I can do about it anyway and I know He has it all under control) and the scale is once again moving in the right direction. At this time, I am 3 lbs from my BMI target to be within the acceptable range for the Philippines requirement. This major milestone has taken a bit longer than I wanted or anticipated but again - God has it in His control and He will make sure that it all works for His Glory!!!
With the Home Study just about done and my BMI almost within limits, our sights now turn to raising the funds that will be needed to bring home our child/ren. We have several things going on this month. We still have our Fundrazr in place if you have $10 or $20 or more that you'd like to donate safely & securely online directly to us (see the Adoption Funds tab or the link on the right side of this blog). We are also accepting items for our upcoming Garage Sale on 9/29. Items can also be dropped off for a consignment sale. You provide the item(s), I'll provide the sale and we'll split the proceeds. If you have items to donate or put up for consignment, please let me know by emailing me at wilsonhouse@comporium.net or calling 803-547-0270.
We may have hit several bumps in the road, got turned around and upside down, moved forward only to get pushed backwards - but we will not be stopped. God has a wonderful plan for our family and through this adoption process, we are going to see the love of Jesus, be the love of Jesus and proclaim God's grace and mercy. A beautiful testimony is already in the works. Each day I am amazed at what God is doing in our lives and others that we know that have gone thru or are in the midst of the adoption process. If I have to take several steps backwards now & then, I'll do it with a big ole smile on my face and Jesus in my heart.
For His Glory,
Chris
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