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! :)