The queen of impatience.....

Ok....so I'm becoming a little...well a lot IMPATIENT!!!! I am obsessed with having a plan...it doesn't even have to be organized. I just like to know what is going on. We are praying for a huge transition right now. I can't share that information at this time, but will let you in on it as soon as I can. Just pray that the Lord's will happens in every way. The main thing that I have to remember right now is that Christ is in control. Even at times when I think my say might matter.......God's say overrules mine big time. We just want a sweet little one bad....really bad. On the bright side, I really love helping others. I was talking with a good friend lastnight on fb and she told me that her and her hubby were wanting to adopt domestically. I have another good friend that might can help her out ....so I'm really excited to see what the Lord is going to do there. Oh...I can't believe I didn't mention that we finally met all of our requirments and were assigned a social worker. She is coming to our home in a few short weeks and then next month we will go and meet her in her town and finish everything up. I looked her up on fb ( I know.........I'm sneaky) and she is really pretty and looks nice. She even has a grandchild named Lily........I say wonderful minds think alike:) I have also become a blog-stalker..LOL. That sounds kinda scary. haha. But I have learned more from blogs than I have anywhere else. So many sweet adoptive parents have given me words of wisdom and advice through this journey. Jason and I really buckled down over the past couple of weeks (while I'm out for Christmas break) and finished up A LOT of paperwork. I think that's why the impatience has grown into a monster. I go back to work next week....and school.....so I won't have time to breathe muchless worry about anything. I can' t believe that this is the last day of 2010. I am claiming it now....by this time next year...we will have our sweet baby girl! Happy new year everyone! 2011 is coming in fast and it's gonna be a year full of sweet surprises and blessings!!!!!!!!

New year is on it's way!!!!!!

I can't believe this year is already almost over. I am really excited about 2011 though....a lot of cool things will happen this year with our journey through adoption. Along with adoption....comes a little frustration...ok..a lot of frustration. I once read that adoption is not for the weakest of hearts....and I believe that now. Luckily, we have an awesome agency that we really like. As a teacher, I have many students that I would take in a second! So many of my sweet little ones read this blog continuously......and keep me on my toes. My kids are so smart........they are getting a strong understanding of geography to go along with the international adoption. So many of them ask me if Lily is born yet...and that they are wondering what she is doing....it's so sweet. The hardest part about being a teacher (especially when you are self-contained and not departmentalized) is that you form a little family and it's so hard to let them go. I am with them all day everyday and I love it. I really do wonder at times if Lily is born....and if she is....I hope that her birth parents or caretakers are taking care of her......and giving her lots of love. Our homestudy actually begins next month. We still have a small amount of paper work to complete...but not much at all. I am off work for the next couple of weeks so I plan to dive in and get the remaining documents completed. I am also getting a little break from college this month...wheewww. I started my Ed.S back in August....so I'm very thankful for the small break. I figured it would be a good time to go back to school since we don't have kiddos right now. For those who read this for adoption info...I'm very sorry for not posting more. I will have more info. over the next few months. I spoke with my agency last week and I was just wondering about the waiting program. The cool thing about the waiting program is that you can view the children's profiles. Most children who are in this program have some type of special need. Most are easily corrected. At this time they do not have any in our age range. Jason is doing very well after his surgery! His surgery was on 9/16 and he has just started walking on his leg this past week. We are so thankful for his doctor and his quick recovery!!!!!! We had to put the adoption on hold for the past 4 months...but we are picking it all back up now. Please keep us in your prayers daily....and of course little Lily. I know the Lord has her in the palm of his sweet hands!!!!!!! I wish you all a Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!!!!!!

A little bit of everything.....

Hello everyone! We have almost completed all of the paperwork required for our homestudy. Our homestudy will begin in January.....we are waiting a little while since Jason recently had knee surgery. We have currently started planning some great fundraisers for next year! We bought a house so that we could make some room for little Lily when she gets here. I am going to decorate her room in Shabby chic! I got an adorable antique dresser that my mother and I are going to crackle paint (white and pale pink). As a teacher......she must have a good library at her fingertips...so I have started a mini-library for her. One of my sweet parents in my class this year bought me the book that Steven Curtis Chapman's wife wrote.........it's amazing! But if you get it....have plenty of tissues nearby. Another friend of mine (sweet Jamie) bought Lily her first Christmas ornament...so cute! Since the adoption is super slow right now....I have decided to just blog about life from time to time! So you just never know what you might find...lol! If you are just a visitor passing through I hope that you find this blog somewhat helpful in your journey!

Exciting News!!!!!

Hello Everyone! Lily Fest was Friday night and it turned out so great! We had a very nice and super supportive crowd. Our event was pruned for the better....and extremely blessed! We raised $7,000 this weekend to go towards our baby girl. So many people took time away from their family to make this happen. It went so smoothly! When I was standing on stage looking out at each precious person I was so overwhelmed.....I just couldn't hold the tears back. To see that there are people who care about a baby they have never met. That there are people who don't mind to reach in their pockets and donate to enrich the life of a family that they may only know in passing. This event encouraged my heart! It showed the sacrifices that special individuals are willing to take...they inspired me to help others and to love more deeply. Eryk Anders was awesome...he went over and beyond what was expected. Mark Price and Buddy Mullins did an awesome job leading worship to open the event! Gadsden Christian Fellowship has been so gracious to us and full of love! Our families have been extremely supportive of our adoption from the very beginning. Thanks again for everything! The Gadsden Times, Z93, The Anniston/Gadsden Christian Magazine, and The Carl Brady Show on TV 24, and Ronnie Watkins Ford....have all supported us and made time to support Lily! I love to see local businesses that really care! Over the past couple of weeks we have randomly bought a few things for sweet Lily.....since she will more than likely speak Mandarin......then we just know that she is going to love Ni Hao Kai-Lan..lol. So we bought her a book the other day, and today we got her a sweet doll, and a yellow dress with Ni Hao Kai-Lan on the front...so cute! The doll is wearing a green necklace that means "loved" in Mandarin. It's so sweet! My mom and sister loved them too! We will officially pay off our homestudy this week! YAY! That's one more step closer to officially being placed on the waiting list in Taiwan....and that's when the official wait begins! Please continue to pray for us! Much Love! Emily

Lily Fest UPDATE

Hello Everyone! Lily Fest is still on!!! Aug. 20th 6-8 at Gadsden Christian Fellowship.....MINUS Dr. Robert Bentley. Eryk Anders from the 2009 National Championship Team at Alabama will be there speaking on the importance of family and of course on some great football. There will also be a other former players there as well. The silent auction is growing daily! You guys have to come and check this out! God Bless!

Lily Fest 2010

Hello Everyone! Rick and Bubba are helping us out by talking about our adoption on their show. They are going to advertise an autograghed Bolt's jersey that has been put on ebay. They also are putting the link on their website to make it easy for their fans to help out by bidding. We have also officially booked "Lily Fest 2010"!!!! It will be held at Gadsden Christian Fellowship from 6-8. Eryk Anders (football player from 2009 championship team at Alabama) will be there ready to talk and meet some fans. Our good friend Fred Sington (Former bama player) and of course me and my hubby will be there sharing our hearts and dreams as well. Uncle Sams BBQ will be catering the event and their food is so GREAT!!!! BBQ and sweet tea will only go so far down south...so you better get a ticket! Tickets with a meal included are $50 and tickets without meal (silent auction and speakers only) are $40. We are only selling a limited number of tickets so you need to let me know ASAP if you are interested in joining the event. The silent auction is FULL of awesome autographed memorbilia. Please email me for tickets: emilysmk@hotmail.com. We are so excited how everything has fallen into place! The Lord is so GOOD...ALL THE TIME!

Update

Well...a lot has happened over the past couple of weeks. We met with VH earlier this week to go over LOTS of paper work and to discuss the homestudy process. They were incredibly sweet and understanding. As soon as we get the homestudy completed...they will send it to our agency. Once the agency receives our homestudy, they will send it to Taiwan and then we will be placed on the waiting list (if I'm understanding this correctly). So...once we are placed on the official waiting list it usually takes a year or so to receive a referral. In other words....I've gotta get some serious paperwork completed and fast. We also owe $6000 by the end of the month...lol! Good luck to myself:). If anyone is interested in adoption or has a question about anything.....please feel free to email me! emilysmk@hotmail.com I know that I have learned SO MUCH from other blogs! Well folks that's all for now!