A little update

I don't know if anyone actually follows our blog, but in case you do, I feel I need to update it.  If you noticed my last blog changed,  I thought we were number 14 on the wait list.  When I turned in our dossier I thought we were done.  Nothing else could go wrong.  We had a number!    So our person at Holt said we tentatively, could be 14 on the wait list.    Of course I am ecstatic. I literally wait 2 seconds to tell my family and a few friends.   I even posted it on the group I follow......
Then we get the email our dossier is not accepted.  Our medical report did not specifically state we were free from HIV and TB!           WHAT!

Luckily we just need to add the additional letter.   Thank The Lord we do not have to send our entire dossier back to the Secretary of State and Thai Embassay.
But our luck strikes again. Our dr is out that week so we have to wait until the next week to be tested, with results taking up to 10 days.    So here we are waiting again.

Waiting

Waiting

WAITING

I talked to our person at Holt today,  just to give her a heads up of what was going on.  And ya know I had to ask if we were still looking at number 14, and she couldn't give me an answer, just somewhere around there.     My heart is a little heavy today.

I knew our adoption adventure would be full of obstacles and waiting,   I also thought now would be the only time frame we could control.   Boy O Boy was I ever wrong.  God has a plan.  I keep telling myself this.  He is in control, only HIM.   Our child just might not be number14.  Only God knows. 

Dossier Complete!

Finally!  Our dossier is complete!   We sent it to Holt today, and will get a number soon.
So a little update on our time frames.
Home study complete 2/12/13
Received completed, notarized copies 3/8/13! (Really almost a month later!)

On March 12, Jude and I went to the state Capitol to get our dossier State seal of approval.  Here I thought I would get a cute picture of Jude at the Capitol, like I had seen in some other blogs I follow. But no....Jude was being her sassy self and refused to get in a picture.  Two year olds are so funny. We never know what they will say or do next.
Upon arriving at the Capitol, Jude said look mommy a castle!  Are we going to see a princess? Ummm...probably not.   And I guess it's kind-of like a castle in an exaggerated way......

Well let me tell you, as we were waiting for our turn we were told we could walk around the dome.
And guess what we saw!  Princesses!    All kinds of girls with MISS "so in so" sashes and crowns and dresses!   Our trip to the state Capitol will forever be the day we went to the castle with all the princesses.

Dossier was sent to US Secretary of State and Thai Embassy on March 13!


Look at all that work!  

Yesterday we received our dossier back from the embassy with all seals, stamps, and approval!  
Today we sent out our Dossier to Holt!  WhoooHooo!  Tracking it of course.  Hopefully my next post will be our wait list number.   Shooting for 14,  So that probably means we still have a year until we meet our little Thai button!

Jude's Thoughts and more

Since we have started the adoption process, we occasionally ask Jude random questions on her thoughts of having a sibling.   We began when she was around 2 1/2 years old.
First question is always,  would you like to be a big sister?
          Jude- Yes!!
Would you like a little brother or sister?
          Jude- A SISTER!  So we will be the same!  (Hence this answer must come from her obsession of Tinker Bell and The Secret of the Wings we watch at least once a week.)


Yes, little one in God's eyes we are all the same.


I loved the other day she walked up to me and said,  "I love Thailand...with the elephants and dragons."

Not sure where that came from, other than I caught her looking at one of our Thailand culture and travel books we have recently purchased.

This past Sunday she opened up to the idea of accepting a brother,  She said, yes I could have a brother like (cousin) Brady. lol

So in our home study we were approved to adopt twins!!!  I couldn't be more delighted.  Steve on the other hand "twins are not that common"   I believe that is entirely up to God.  If we were to naturally become pregnant again, there might be a slim chance of twins......  I do not want to miss any opportunity we might have for a referral.  I look at adoption just as I would with a biological child/children.  God has already chosen what is in store for us.  We are just waiting on HIS timing.
We are open to either a boy or girl whatever God has chosen for us.    I do love the idea of Jude having a sister, I think this just comes from growing up with a sister and how close we are.  Yet a brother is not such a bad thing either.  Jude and her sibling could be anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4 years age difference.  

So keep us in your prayers.  We are still waiting on Steve's passport for our dossier.....and then on to approval.  

Bwwaaaha ha ha ha

So really! The FBI has denied my fingerprints AGAIN!!!  All 3 copies!!  Due to unclear reading.....REALLY.

The other day, I was finger printed at work for our new drug abuse prevention program.  It's a nation wide pilot program.  They scan your fingerprint to make sure you do not pick up the wrong prescription  drugs or the wrong medical chart when you see one of our doctors or therapists.  (pretty cool)  

And guess what! My fingerprints were perfect!!! 

Luckily our social worker made a mistake and Holt does not require FBI fingerprints for our home study to be complete!  YAY!  Home study is officially complete...Holt approved...now on to the Dossier.

I feel our home study was an epic fail...I wanted it done in record time of 2 months...it was one of the few timeframes we could control.   God has other plans.  HE has the master plan.  There is a reason, HIS.  

Moving along to the Dossier.  A whole new can of questions and miles of paperwork.  Collect items 1-20...check!  Even the psych. eval is complete!  The only thing we are missing is Steve's Passport!  Who knows where it is.....gone.  Everything is together but His passport! Marriage license, birth certificates, my passport....but not Steve's.  Why is it not there who knows.  

Once again we are WAITING on one little detail.   And once again it takes additional time to compete...extra paperwork...bla bla bla.

Psalms 26:2

"Test me Lord, and try me, examine my heart and mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness."

Big Week!!

Finally!!
The results are in!   It is deemed I am not a criminal.
Home study is at Holt waiting for approval!!

So we are moving on to the next pile of paperwork. The dossier.  Hopefully I have a good start on that...  I think many of the papers needed are duplicates.

Finger Prints!

Who would think my fingerprints would be holding us up on completing our home study!!  After having them consecutively taken for my previous position, WVBTT, with only one retake. 

So I have been denied by the State 3 times and the FBI once.  I should have been a secret spy like Jennifer Garner in Alias.  

So I thought, this is the only time frame we can control?  Ha ha GODs timing alone!  He has a plan.  This really is all in HIS timing. 

We have proof read our home study, made corrections, it should be sitting on our case workers desk ready to send to Holt for approval.   We just need the clearance on my fingers. 

In the mean time, we are collecting the papers for our dossier.   Papers, documents, notarized, pictures, and repeat.   Let me tell ya!  More paper work than I have ever seen in my life.   

Almost ready!