Family Picture

Family Picture

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Homestudy meeting

The first meeting at the home study agency went well!  I handed in many documents and was given many more to turn in.  I don't have a future plan but it seems like everything for the home study will be wrapped up around the middle of March.  Then it's on to the 'beast'-otherwise known as the Dossier. 

Over the next few weeks, I will be gathering documents for that and finishing up the home study paperwork.  Please pray that I would gather everything,  and everything would go smoothly with nothing getting lost.  Anyone know a traveling notary?

In the next few weeks, we will be starting loads of fundraisers to help us raise the money needed for the home study and the Dossier.  Please prayerfully consider supporting us through fundraisers or simply contributions.  An ongiong fundraiser through walkonwatercolors.com is available.  Code word: China.  Up next, T-shirts, subs, cookie dough and lip balm.  What a combo! Thank you for helping us bring her home. 

A boy and his ponytail, oh and a home study

Thanks to those that supported us through the Walkonwatercolors.com fundraiser.  In the next three months, I have to gather about 6K, so I will be offering some other fundraisers.  Please continue to explore walkonwatercolors.com and make any purchases you want using our code word "China". 

Today we meet with the homestudy agency.  Pray that the process doesn't overwhelm us and cause me to faint.  I have gathered all the required documents except my birth certficate(they took it for my passport, I didn't know they did that) and the water potability test.  We have to prove our water is drinkable.  So, I order a kit for relatively cheap, but what they don't tell you is you have to overnight the water sample for $18 bucks.  Annoying.  Anyway, everything else is gathered and I hope we have a plan after this meeting. As most of you know, I am a planner and start to wig out when I don't have plans.  I'll update later tonight.

The great haircut hasn't happened.  I can't bring myself to do it.  Gender stereotypes are out the door in this house! 


Monday, December 27, 2010

Who wants an awesome painting?

A friend of ours, Andrew Lindberg, is an excellent painter and has volunteered to provide our first fundraising opportunity.  Apart from his normal day job, Andrew runs a business, Walkonwatercolors.  Accessible from walkonwatercolors.com, he sells prints of his paintings for $29.99.  He paints scenes from the Bible and depicts them in an abstract manner. He has plenty of examples on his site.  He has been gracious to allow a very considerable chunk of his profit to be forwarded to us for every print purchased using our promitional code. 

Here's how it works:  Visit his website and select which ever print(s) you find strikes your fancy.  In fact, shop as you always might.  Then, when you go to check out, you will find an area to enter a promotional code.  Our code is: China 

You will know that your entry was successful, as it will knock a penny off your total cart price. Then continue with the normal checkout procedure, entering your payment info, etc. and in a few weeks you'll have a brand-new matted 8x10 painting to enjoy or to bless someone else with as a gift that will fit into any 11x14 frame opening.

Once again, thank you for your support.

Christmas Pictures


We had a great time this Christmas and the boys were so excited.  A few of my favorite comments were as R(1) opens his gift "Maybe it's a submarine" and "I almost really wanted this!".

****Pics removed due to privacy concerns.****



R(2) stealing one of big brother's trains.  Take a look at the beautiful baby hair, because it's getting cut.  It's getting too long and I get disapproving looks when I put it in a ponytail.  Have we not come far enough that a boy can wear a pony tail and not be given weird looks?

Ever since another three year olds party that they attended, they have wanted this. 


R(1) hamming it up for the camera.


All R(1) for christmas were the wings, so we decided to get him the full suit.  Doesn't he look cute?
  
C loves phineas and ferb and got a really cool boom box. 

More to come about an awesome fundraiser that we are in the works of setting up.  We hope everyone had a chance to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Blog things

Later today, I will posting some Christmas updates and a neat fundraising idea.  In an effort to keep this blog public, I'm asking that people keep our kids names and our last name out of the blog.  Thanks for your help! 

Today, I am off to apply for my passport...yippee!  Stay tuned for some cute pics.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Accepted into the Program

We received word yesterday that we were accepted into Holt's Child of Promise Program(China).  The next step is the home study process and preparing the documents for the Dossier to be sent to China.  For the home study, I had to gather atleast 20 documents.  For the Dossier, it seems to MUCH more.  Every document for the dossier needs to be notarized, and authenticated by the state.  I am a bit overwhelmed with the prospect of all of this, but I know it will get done.  How am I going to get my supervisor's letter notarized, or my medical form notarized?

We meet with our home study agency on Dec 30th and I should know more about how the process will work.  Pray that I have the diligence to obtain all the forms I need and that I complete them accurately. 

Holt International's China Child of Promise is a expedited process(12-18 months) for children with minor special needs that are correctable.  Some examples include: cleft lip/palate, minor heart conditions..etc.

Although adoption is a costly matter(to the tune of about 30K), what we really need is your prayers.  Please pray for the process as it is a difficult and lengthy process.  It will mean LOTS of paperwork, LOTS of time, LOTS of waiting and LOTS of money

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Welcome to our Site!

Thank you for visiting our site.  We have just started the process of adopting a little girl from China's Children of Promise Program.  We are very excited.  Please join us in prayer over this long journey.