Preparing the Way

     As part of our education criteria Brandon and I had to attend the International Adoption Clinic at Children's Hospital. It was last Saturday from 8:30 until 5. It was a very long but an informative day. Both of our mom's attended the conference with us and we were really excited to have them there. At the conference they talked a lot about building the childs self image by getting them involved with other adopted children and children of their same race. They also talked about the importance of teaching them about their culture and heritage.
     How blessed we are to already have some amazing Chinese adopted families in our lives. God clearly was making plans for this little one long before we knew. At our church (North Glencoe Baptist Church) we have three other families who have already adopted from China. Just this week we were invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year with this group along with other people from our community. We are so excited and can't wait to go! It will be the first of many Chinese celebrations and it makes my heart smile a little to know that this is a first milestone. It is like the first time I felt Cooper and Avery kick in my belly before they were born. I was so excited and it made me anticipate their arrivial. This Saturday is like "the first kick". I am actually going to a place, with a group of people who can relate and share the joys of Chinese adoption. Today as I write this I have an overwhelming peace knowing my Father knows me, my family, and my soon-to-be daughter. He knows us and the plans He has for us. Plans for a future full of HOPE! Thank you Father... You Are Amazing!!!

Home Tour Down and Another Interview or Two To Go!

     It has been a little crazy over the last few weeks at our house. No time for blogging, just surviving! Cooper has been extremely sick but is doing much better now. He returned to school today and was so happy to see all of his friends and especially Ms. Cannon. He loves her so much and we are very blessed to have her as his teacher this year. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have prayed for us and him during this time.

     We have a lot to update you about as far as the adoption goes. We had our home tour and it went really well. We heard horror stories and were a little apprehensive but it was really like having a friend over and giving her a tour of our home. Except when she asked to see our firearms. LOL! She more than likely will have to come back just to meet the kids and interact with them for awhile. She did not tell us they had to be present and the grandmothers had them to make it a little less stressful for us. Round two should not be as bad unless Cooper tells her he doesn't want another sister! After watching several adoption videos together last week I asked Cooper if he was excited about getting another sister. He looks at me with his deep brown eyes and as serious as he could be, with a worried look, says "no." I said well buddy why not? His response was, "well mom it is going to just be to hard." Of course I reassured him thinking maybe he heard us say something about it being difficult. He said to me, "No mom it will be to hard to take care of all of you. I already have to take care of you and Avery and another sister will just be to hard for me." Boy his Daddy is good!!! He is already preparing that boy for high school. You better check with Cooper before you look his sister's way.

      We also had our one-on-one interviews as part of the home study process. Brandon and I went at different times so we drove to Birmingham separately. It was a little weird going through the process individually. They asked a lot of personal questions about our childhood, our parents, and growing up in general. Brandon didn't have as easy of a time as myself :) Not to brag but at least I could remember how old my parents were and about how long they have been married. LOL! When the social worker asked Brandon how old his parents were his response was "I have no clue." Then he asked her how old I said my mom was and then he knew his dad was around the same age. Good thing I went first!!! When she asked him how long they had been married he said he thought around 25 years. Then I guess he realized he was 31 so that couldn't be right. He added 10 years and felt a little more confident with his answer. :) I think she thought it was a little funny and gave him the sympathy vote and passed us on to the next interview. I'm just kidding. Besides that little issue I think he did really well. We both were blessed with wonderful childhood memories. I hope that we can be good parents to our children as our parents were to us.

     The next step will be to complete our education and paper work. We have one or two interviews left. Our social worker said that she may get it approved to combine the last two interviews into one. If this is the case we can finish fast and speed up the count down. This will also help me preserve my days at school. I will not have to take an additional day to travel for another interview. I need to save all the days I can get because I will have to take a maturity leave next year and I already know that I do not have enough days. Pray specifically for God's perfect timing and that this process will be completed quickly and His  favor would be shown on all of those who are working on the process. Thanks friends!

Happy New Year!

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great first day in 2012. We had a great holiday and are getting ready to get back into the swing of things on Tuesday. One more day of vacation!

    On the 29th we went to Lifelines office in Birmingham for our second Home Study interview. It was nice to put names with faces of the people we have been talking with on the phone and through email. They were very nice and to my surprise the hour and a half interview wasn't that bad. It is amazing all of the things that they ask you!! WOW! I guess it is fine that they are learning all the details of our lives considering the fact that we will be on a journey with them for at least the next six years. We found out that the post adoption process continues for five years after the child is home.

     So what is next... A LOT! Before we schedule our next home study we will need to start our education process (at least 10 hours worth of classes, websites to visit and two books to read), start on our autobiographies, and gather some medical information. Needless to say we have some work to do. We are also raising money for the adoption as well. Through generous donations by friends and family we have enough raised for our next installment! We pray that God will bless all of those who have been so generous to us and that one day our little girl will be able to meet each one who has made this possible for our family. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Pray specifically that we will be able to move through the process smoothly and quickly. Also pray that our daughter has someone to love her and provide care for her until she gets home. It was kind of hard during Christmas when all of our family was together, we did not feel complete. Thanks for your prayers!

     I have to share a sweet Cooper moment. One the way to dinner the other night I begin to tell the kids how much we loved them and that I wanted to make sure that they knew we loved our family just the way it was but we were going to make it even better. Cooper pipes in with, "We know mom this is something we have to do because God told y'all to do this and He is going to take care of everything and she will be part of our family." It is amazing what little ears pick up and remember and really how they put it into prospective. I thought well I couldn't say it any better myself! :)