Summer is here!

As a teacher, the hardest part is saying goodbye come the end of May. These kids become such a huge part of my life. I can't even express how special they are to me. The students and their parents are like family and I learn so much from them. Every little hug and smile makes each day brighter. If you want to feel loved...become a teacher. Those babies will love you to pieces. I love my job and l love my kids. Throughout college I felt that I would go into the classroom and teach the kids....but I had no clue of all the little things they would teach me. I love differently because of them. It was in the classroom that my heart grew for adoption. I tell my students everyday that I love them...that I believe in them...and that I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that they will do amazing things in their life! I believe there is power in the words we speak and I strive to speak great things over them! These little ones are going to change this world for good! They are special and they are loved!!!!!!!!!! Here is a little info. on our adoption process-We recently found out that we were cleared through immigration! We were so happy that the process went so fast! Now we are just waiting on a referral......it's all in the Lord's hands....I wouldn't want it anywhere else! Be blessed everyone!

Scrapbooking...and a little info...

We applied for our i600a a couple of weeks ago. Soon after we received a letter by mail stating that they would send us some fingerprinting cards along with a time and date to get them done soon. HH is moving into a new facility soon...so that means more room and more sweet babies! It would be such a blessing to receive a referral by summer.....it's all in the Lord's timing. Jason and I have such a peace about HH. We trust and believe in this ministry! Our information has to go thru the AL icpc office before immigration. Our goal is to have this portion of paperwork completed and be cleared through immigration before we receive a referral. The sooner that is clear...the less time our little one will have to wait. I have met so many precious families online that have adopted or are in the process of adopting from HH. We are so excited to see what the Lord has planned this year! Jason and I recently went to Hobby Lobby and bought Lily's scrapbook. We plan to share her life story with her often. It will be full of the adoption process and of course her culture and heritage. Some of our closest friends are planning a Tea at our church as an adoption fundraiser! I have never seen a tea like this done before. All of the tables will be decorated in different themes....I will post pics of everything! The tea will be April 9th.....it's going to be great!

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy to say that we got an email from Taiwan lastnight.....and we were approved to adopt from His Hands Taiwan! I can't even express what a divine appointment this is! Jason and I decided that we wanted to change agencies back in Dec......we just were not sure where to start. And then we came across His Hands and I saw a blog that caught my attention on the HH page. As a teacher, I really enjoy reading other people's stories! I sent this sweet girl that looked to be somewhere close to my age a request on fb, and we have so much in common! We are both teachers, love the Lord, and our b'day's are even on the same day...lol! Anyway.....it ended up that she helps out at the home we applied to adopt from (now tell me that's not the Lord at work)! We got our approval letter, but are not sure where we are on the waiting list! We should find out in the next few weeks.......GOD IS JUST SO GOOD! I'm so excited that I feel like this post isn't making much sense.......! We are so blessed to work with such a precious ministry! We plan to apply for immigration on Monday! So...let the fundraising begin:) LOVE U ALL!

Homestudy Visit #2

Yesterday was our 2nd homestudy visit. Everything went very well! We are officially finished with our homestudy...now we're just waiting for the rough draft to come in for review. Now it's time to apply for our I600a for immigration. We are still waiting on some info....that I CAN"T WAIT TO POST!!!!!! So just be patient with me....:) I have a feeling we will hear something soon! Be blessed everyone!

Complete change of heart....

At one time I would say that someone who gives up their own child is selfish.....boy was I wrong. These women are choosing LIFE! NOT ABORTION!!!!! Taiwan has more abortions than live births and unwed mothers are frowned upon and usually abandoned by everyone and everything they have ever known. These are brave women that are willing to stand up to the situation and do what is right. They are showing a true mother's love by being selfless. Adoption is such a wonderful thing and I have the deepest love for someone who is going to give my future baby the chance to live. Every life is worth fighting for. Today was the first chance that we got to meet our social worker. She came out for our homestudy visit #1. I couldn't of hand picked a better lady to work with. She is so nice and fun to be around. We will meet back up with her on Monday for visit #2 and the chance to discuss parenting.

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!!!!!!!!!!!