Home Study Approved

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