We spent several hours today with Judy, our social worker with Summit - the agency that is updating our home study. We had been anticipating at least one more visit with her. However, she is pretty sure that with today's time and our domestic home study, she will be able to put together everything for our international home study. Mark and I still have to pull together a little bit more paperwork, financial documents, letters of recommendation, physicals, etc - but we are hoping to everything sent by the end of next week. Judy will write up a draft of our home study and once it is finalized, the agency will get notarized copies ready. We will need to apply for an immigrant visa to bring our child into the US. We will also begin compiling all the documentation for our dossier which is basically our formal application to the Ukraine government requesting the referral of a child.
Things are moving - slowly, yes... it is not a quick process. I'd like to be on a plane tomorrow. But, one step at a time. YAY!!!
Fall 2013
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thankful Thursday
More than anything today, I am thankful that tomorrow our home study agency social worker Judy will be coming to our home for a visit. I really had hoped that Becky (our domestic social worker) would be able to update our home study for international adoption - she has been so awesome to work with! But, there is a reason that God sent Judy to us as well. As soon as I got her information on Tuesday, I emailed her to set up our appointment. She responded Wednesday AM and said she could meet with us this Friday. As I shared, there is an urgency to get our paperwork completed as quickly as possible. So, it means a great deal that Judy is willing to spend Friday of a holiday weekend with us!
Of course, that brings us just a little closer in our adoption plans. I wish I could share with you all that is in our hearts right now. Not only is there urgency with our process, there is purpose. I think that some day, I may need to take the time to sit down and write about our adoption story. Our journey has been more than a full circle - it has been a circle and a half. From the time we started talking about adoption, our path has turned 180 degrees three times. And here we are - eager to be taking the path we are currently on. Excited about the chance to bring home a little one from Eastern Europe. Knowing that God has our child(ren) in the palm of His hand right now - that He is caring for him/her/them until we can get there ourselves. I am thankful to be on this journey!
Some bloggy friends are in Ukraine right now, hoping to bring home 4 precious kiddos. Their trip has been difficult to say the least, but they got good news today and are now waiting for their court date to make their adoptions official. I'm so happy for them!
What are you thankful for today?
Of course, that brings us just a little closer in our adoption plans. I wish I could share with you all that is in our hearts right now. Not only is there urgency with our process, there is purpose. I think that some day, I may need to take the time to sit down and write about our adoption story. Our journey has been more than a full circle - it has been a circle and a half. From the time we started talking about adoption, our path has turned 180 degrees three times. And here we are - eager to be taking the path we are currently on. Excited about the chance to bring home a little one from Eastern Europe. Knowing that God has our child(ren) in the palm of His hand right now - that He is caring for him/her/them until we can get there ourselves. I am thankful to be on this journey!
Some bloggy friends are in Ukraine right now, hoping to bring home 4 precious kiddos. Their trip has been difficult to say the least, but they got good news today and are now waiting for their court date to make their adoptions official. I'm so happy for them!
What are you thankful for today?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Quick post
Just a quick note - feeling a little stressed this evening. Just want everything to be moving as quickly as possible for our adoption plans. Although I am not able to share much in specifics right now, there IS a sense of urgency in the process!
I am studying for my certification exam which I will take next Tuesday. Talk about competing priorities... I guess studying is probably the immediate priority. After the exam is over, I can focus on compiling all of the necessary paperwork for our dossier.
I sent a few more items off to our home study agency this afternoon. There are a couple of things left, will probably have Mark work on them this weekend so that we can get the forms in the mail next week. Waiting to hear back from the social worker about scheduling the time for her to visit us.
So... trying to remind myself that God's timing is perfect. He is in control - not me!
I am studying for my certification exam which I will take next Tuesday. Talk about competing priorities... I guess studying is probably the immediate priority. After the exam is over, I can focus on compiling all of the necessary paperwork for our dossier.
I sent a few more items off to our home study agency this afternoon. There are a couple of things left, will probably have Mark work on them this weekend so that we can get the forms in the mail next week. Waiting to hear back from the social worker about scheduling the time for her to visit us.
So... trying to remind myself that God's timing is perfect. He is in control - not me!
Monday, June 28, 2010
the weekend
I have not put much on the blog for a while. This weekend was way to short. Friday I went to my inlaws place in Redwing to get my skidloader. I found out that my little Ford F-150 with an inline 6 is not enough to pull a skidloader. I did not push it too hard but we also only got up to 40 mph. I took the skidloader to the airpark in Wanamingo.
Saturday I spent the day at wanamingo playing with my new toy (the skidloader) That was a lot of fun.
Sunday we went to Albert Lea to have dinner with Marge, She had a little storm damage to a tree Saturday night so we helped clean it up for her, now I have a pickup full of tree branches sitting in the driveway.
Mark
Saturday I spent the day at wanamingo playing with my new toy (the skidloader) That was a lot of fun.
Sunday we went to Albert Lea to have dinner with Marge, She had a little storm damage to a tree Saturday night so we helped clean it up for her, now I have a pickup full of tree branches sitting in the driveway.
Mark
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thankful Thursday
Today, I am very thankful for awesome friends! The first picture is of Denise, Guy, Jeanne, Ken, Mark and me. There truly are no words to tell you how much the friendship of these 4 has meant to me - they have seen me at my best and my worst, shared the happiest and saddest moments of my life - and still manage to put up with me. The picture was taken last weekend at Josh and Maddy's wedding - too bad the father of the groom was hiding - lol!
This is a picture of me with my friends Joan and Denise (yes, different Denise). We have been friends since my first go-round in nursing school. They were bridesmaids in my first wedding. We manage to get together once or twice a year and always have a great time!
This is a picture of me with my friends Joan and Denise (yes, different Denise). We have been friends since my first go-round in nursing school. They were bridesmaids in my first wedding. We manage to get together once or twice a year and always have a great time!
I am also thankful for my new job! I can tell that I am going to really enjoy it. From the time I was young, I have felt that God gave me a special heart for working with the elderly. He has truly blessed me with this opportunity.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Our EXCITING news!!
I've been so eager to share our news with everyone, but wanted to wait until we had some of the process started. We also wanted to tell family and a few close friends before posting it here. So, here it is:
We have officially started the process to adopt from Eastern Europe! It has been a long journey to this decision - one I will share later, but we feel that this is where we are supposed to be. Out of respect for the country's confidentiality guidelines related to their children, we will not be sharing any child specific information while this blog is public. Haven't decided whether or not we will make the blog private at some point so that we can share more. For now, we think we will keep it public and perhaps in the future create an private email distribution list where we can keep people more updated.
We are able to share our movement throughout the process and I will continue to blog about the journey itself as we move ahead. As of right now, our service agreement for the agency we will be working with has been signed and is on it's way to them. Because we already have an approved domestic home study, it will just need to be updated. Unfortunately, our awesome social worker Becky will not be able to assist us with this so we are working with another home study agency (our adoption agency is out of state and is not able to update our home study) to get this accomplished.
From what I have heard from others, international adoption is a huge paper chase. The perception is that it is an easy process. I don't think that is the case. I'm sure it will be a learning experience for Mark and me. For everything that is in our control, we will move as quickly as possible. For things that are out of our control, please pray for expediency and leniency on the part of the foreign government.
I will post more soon, but that's all I have time for right now. We are so excited to be on this journey to bring our little one home - please join us and follow along!!
We have officially started the process to adopt from Eastern Europe! It has been a long journey to this decision - one I will share later, but we feel that this is where we are supposed to be. Out of respect for the country's confidentiality guidelines related to their children, we will not be sharing any child specific information while this blog is public. Haven't decided whether or not we will make the blog private at some point so that we can share more. For now, we think we will keep it public and perhaps in the future create an private email distribution list where we can keep people more updated.
We are able to share our movement throughout the process and I will continue to blog about the journey itself as we move ahead. As of right now, our service agreement for the agency we will be working with has been signed and is on it's way to them. Because we already have an approved domestic home study, it will just need to be updated. Unfortunately, our awesome social worker Becky will not be able to assist us with this so we are working with another home study agency (our adoption agency is out of state and is not able to update our home study) to get this accomplished.
From what I have heard from others, international adoption is a huge paper chase. The perception is that it is an easy process. I don't think that is the case. I'm sure it will be a learning experience for Mark and me. For everything that is in our control, we will move as quickly as possible. For things that are out of our control, please pray for expediency and leniency on the part of the foreign government.
I will post more soon, but that's all I have time for right now. We are so excited to be on this journey to bring our little one home - please join us and follow along!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Thankful Thursday
First, I'm thankful for health. Saw my surgeon yesterday - everything looks good and I was given clearance to go back to work. Am I thankful to go back to work? Weeeellllll, I can't say that I would complain if Mark told me that I could be a housewife. However, I am thankful that I am able to work. Besides, I am excited about my new job and thankful for the opportunity to care for the elderly. Being a nurse practitioner in a nursing home has been my dream for many years.
Second, I am thankful for this time that I have had to recuperate and rejuvenate. I may have mentioned that in a previous Thankful Thursday post so forgive me if I am repeating. It has been a much needed physical and mental health break. And I am thankful that my supervisor at work was generous in allowing me to have this time off, knowing that I would only be back for a few days before transitioning to my new job.
Lastly (for today anyway), I am thankful for ice cream! I had an oh, so yummy amaretto ice cream with brownies, carmel, hot fudge, and pecans this afternoon. Talk about indulgence!
What are you thankful for today?
Second, I am thankful for this time that I have had to recuperate and rejuvenate. I may have mentioned that in a previous Thankful Thursday post so forgive me if I am repeating. It has been a much needed physical and mental health break. And I am thankful that my supervisor at work was generous in allowing me to have this time off, knowing that I would only be back for a few days before transitioning to my new job.
Lastly (for today anyway), I am thankful for ice cream! I had an oh, so yummy amaretto ice cream with brownies, carmel, hot fudge, and pecans this afternoon. Talk about indulgence!
What are you thankful for today?
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