Wow, Evan's HOT...literally

Evan had a hair cut...a short one. I'm posting a picture below that shows what happened. Wednesday Evan was warming himself by our wall heater when I smelled something burning. It was only later I discovered what it had been...he singed his hair! So, out with the beautiful curls and in with the spikes. I'll also post a pic of his new cut. It looks really cute...when spiked, otherwise it's very jagged in front (thanks to the singes).

No, that's not food!

Evan's new cut

Dossier!!!

Wow, surprise, surprise...We aren't supposed to start our dossier until we are a few months away from a referral (which would mean about a year from now) or we have been matched with a child off the waiting child list. However, I have been asking about so many children on the waiting list that my agency called today and told me to start my dossier!! This is so that if we do choose a child off the waiting list then we don't waste the time putting together our dossier. This will cut off a couple of months of waiting if we choose a waiting child. Wow, this was NOT what I was expecting today. I'm going to be swamped with paperwork now...but it's a good thing. So now I am ordering birth and marriage certificates, getting Dr. letters, police reports, financial statements...and the list goes on...But most off all, I am checking the waiting child list on-line constantly! I am really praying our child will appear soon...

(If you have any questions about some of the terms, check the bottom right-hand column on this page)

More Pictures...

I promised to post some more pictures so here they are. The first one is of Ellie with milk in her hair. We have no idea how this happened. I turned my back and next thing I know Ellie is screaming for me and has milk driping down her hair. The best I can come up with is she was trying to see the bottom side of the bowl. Even she's not real sure. :)

"...?"

Kisses for Mommy

"Huh?"

My sweet heart

Mama's Girl!

My Lil' Superman

Wow...we have SO long to wait before anything at all happens with the adoption! So for now my goal is to make a list and do all those things I'll never get to once I'm a mom of 3! Also, I thought it was time to stop boring you with all these long post and just send cute pictures for a while. So here are some of Evan, the cute ones of Ellie are still on the camera. Evan is wearing his new Superman hat which he loves. We also got one to match for his brother...whenever he shows up!! (oops...what if we end up with a girl off the waiting child list or something? we didn't think of that!)

What a Stud!

Aww...look at the tear

"Sure wish my brother was here!"

Our ways are not His ways...

Last night we got an email from our agency that said the other family had chosen to adopt Tran Le Phat. Tyler and I just sat there in silence for a long time. I still don't think it has quite soaked in yet. Since he went off the list back in December and then the family backed out, I keep thinking, that could happen again. Tyler and I have been tempted to ask God to "smite this family" so they wouldn't complete the adoption!...Just kidding (we really do wish them the best). Back in December it was easy to deal with because we weren't even done with our home study. However, this time we missed getting him by just days and it has been much more difficult.

With that said. We know that God in in control and that he has that perfect child already planned for us. We know that once our son (or possible daughter) is in our arms we'll understand. But for now we wait...and wait....and wait....They say that the wait time for a referal right now is 12-15 monthes! So unless we choose a different child off the waiting child list, it will be over a year before we travel! It's a little hard to get my mind around this after thinking there was a possibility we could have our kid home by this Christmas! But, God is good. He knows best and I praise and thank Him for his guidance.

171!!!!

WooooHooo! We got our 171 (CIS approval) today!!! We are now on the "waiting list" for a child (see the bottom of the right hand column)! The timing is amazing. I was told 6-9 weeks before we would get it. At 6 weeks I got a letter that said they needed more information. I was then told they usually take about 2 weeks to fix things after that. And now, here we are 4 days later, 2 days before the 7 week mark, and we have it! I think they processed it before they had the extra information. Praise God!

As far as Tran Le Phat is concerned, we are still waiting. Last Tuesday another family with CIS approval started reviewing him. They haven't decided yet so there is still a chance we can get him. However, we won't know until they make up their minds. They could take another week or so if they wanted.

I trust that God is in control of everything. But it has been hard to wait. I keep thinking, if our social worker had done the homestudy properly the first time we would have had our 171 on Monday and would have had the chance to review him before this other family. I just have to keep remembering that God even knew that! Please pray for this other family to decide quickly. Also pray for patience on our part while we wait!

Regardless, we are on the WAITING LIST!! Praise the Lord!

Trust...Rest...

I take a deep sigh for the hundredth time today. These past 10 days have been the longest and most trying days I've had in years. Just trust...deep breath. My God is omnipotent. My God is omniscient. My God is love. If these are true, which they are, He is deserving of my undivided trust. Just rest...deep breath. Trust leads to rest. If I am trusting God fully and completely, I have no cause for worry. My heart should be calm and stayed upon the Lord. At rest.

A family with CIS approval is reviewing Tran Le Phat, and we still wait for our approval. They have first choice and unless they choose not to accept him he will be theirs, regardless of when our 171 arrives…deep breath. My God is omnipotent. My God is omniscient. My God is Love. He knows, He is able, and He is love. He will bring about HIS will, in HIS time, and in HIS way? He will gently guide me into His perfect plan…whatever that may be. Who am I to question? I would never be happy outside His will so why ask for it? Just trust...deep breath. Just rest...deep breath. Just breathe... 

"Trust in the Lord...Delight thyself also in Him...Commit thy way unto the Lord...Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." -Psalm 37:2-7

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

More Information for the CIS...

Today has been interesting. It started off with a letter from the CIS. I was hoping for the 171...but no. For those who may not know, I have a misdemeanor on my criminal record. For those who know me well, you are probably laughing. Yes, I am the girl who feels that even speeding is a sin. I don't have a single driving ticket and I've had only a few sips of alcohol in my life. But yes, I have a criminal record for selling alcohol! I was working at a gas station and accidentally sold alcohol to a minor during a sting operation. I told our social worker about this multiple times and gave her documentation. Yet she still failed to put it into the home study and wrote that, when ask, I had stated I had no criminal record. I didn't catch the mistake until after we had submitted the home study to the CIS. I corrected it immediately and had a new copy sent. However, I got a letter from the CIS and they not only want certified documentation (I'd given them just a photo copy) but they want a full explanation of why I lied to the social worker! I've been on the phone all day with my brother-in-law who was helping me get the documentation from the court house where the offense took place. I'm sending everything priority mail to the CIS. With both letters (one my brother-in-law is sending) I'm paying around $30 for postage! Outrageous? I agree, but what ever gets us the 171 sooner the better. I think we should have the 171 early next week. For now, I know there are some other families checking out Tran Le Phat but they are also waiting on their 171. Hopefully ours will come soon!! I think I've given way more details then you wanted so I will sign off for now.

Umm...culture shock?

Vietnam...along with most of the world, seems to have very different standards of road "safety". For example, "stop, look, and listen" is more like "don't look, just go, and walk at a predictable pace" But this beats all. May I introduce the "Vietnamese Car Seat!"

"New 2007 Family Vehicle (car seat included)"