Another day, another dollar

Ok, nothing new going on. I finished the book China's Lost Daughters. It was a very good read.
Also, Tony and I (with the help of Robby and Allyson) bought our first big purchase for Abby....crib bedding. It's beautiful :) Robby and Allyson used their faster computer to help us bid on Ebay, and WIN! To look at it, see the web address below:
http://www.beyond-bedding.com/boutique-french-toile-black-designer-crib-baby-bedding-nursery-set.html

Whoo hoo... now Tony is saying we have to pay that off before I can buy more. Heahahah, ok, Daddy. What can I say, a little girl, whose face we have not yet seen (except in our dreams) has us wrapped around her finger already.

Countdown to Dossier Day....3 months 11 days. You're right Patti, who knew 30 would be a GOOD thing?

CHECK!

One more thing done! Well, actually, three more things done! We had our homestudy yesterday and it went VERY well. Our social worker from Adoption Support Center was super nice and put us at ease. The ONE drawback is that we spent hours and hours cleaning for the two-minute walk through! But that's ok. The house is clean now and we are one step closer to Abby!

We also got our passport applications sent off and they will return in six weeks.

Today we are sending off our I600A, petition to adopt an orphan. That means more waiting and one more set of fingerprints!

Now we need to work on our parent workbook (yikes, homework) and do a local criminal history check (hopefully our third and final set of prints), financial statement, and our petition to adopt letter. Slowly but surely it's coming together. Now once we send everything off to the State to have the State seal put on it, that's when we'll probably encounter some delays. But, I'm going to stay optimistic and pray that we get everything back and ready to submit on June 12!

Thanks for keeping up with this. Also, I changed the settings (thanks Cammie) and now ANYONE can leave a comment...even you Patti! Please do so!

Thanks again!
Galatians 6:9

It's me again, Margaret

Well, we ordered some bracelets for Abby. Well, in honor of Abby. They're the Lance Armstrong style bracelets, except they're red. Red signifies the invisible red thread that binds all those who are destined to meet, according to Chinese theory. On the bracelets we have put "Abby's forever family" and "We (heart) Abby. WHOO HOO...They'll be here March 6. We should charge everyone to wear them, and put the money in the Abby fund! HA HA!

Our homestudy visit is tomorrow...the house should be spic and span. We are also getting our passports officially filed and sending off our I600 tomorrow. We HAVE to get the I600 (petition to adopt an orphan) mailed off pronto because it could take weeks or months to get the proper response back! And God willing, we want to send everything out on June 12!

Tony's Dr.'s visit went well! One more thing we can check off!

Ok, well, I need to get busy. Just thought I'd update you all. More to come next week after our visit and after we get started on the parenting workbook we have to complete.

Keep praying for our little Abby-girl!

"Ease on down, ease on down the road......"

Well, my doctor's visit went well. Dr. Hartman just simply rocks! He was very excited to get his part of the paperwork done to get us one step closer to Abby! I also already have my employment letter done. Tony is steadily working on his part (his Dr.'s appointment is Monday).

We (and by we, I mean me) been looking at nursery furniture. We probably won't purchase anything until we send in our items in June, but it's fun to look anyway! My dad is building Abby a bookcase/dollhouse. I think that's SOO sweet!

Sarah L. also gave us a movie to watch called "Lost Girls of China." I encourage anyone and everyone to see this. It's emotional and exciting all wrapped up into one.

Well, our last homestudy visit is coming up. It's on Friday, February 24. We'll keep you posted.

Coundown until DD (Dossier Day) is 3 months and 26 days!

Ok, Stage One

Well, we did it, we made the commitment to adopt from China. We attended a Families Through International Adoption seminar and were hooked. God had been promting us for quite some time, but that day sealed the deal. (Well, after a newspaper spread was printed from God's mouth to our eyes)

• We applied and got permission to continue the process.
• We started our home study and have already had 3/4 meetings. Our two hour in-home meeting is Feb. 24.
• We got fingerprinted for the home study.
• We ordered our birth certificates.
• We got copies of our marriage license.
• We printed the I600A form, to be completed this weekend.
• We got our passport photos taken. (WOW, I look like Alfalfa in mine---those will go to the Chinese gov't.)
• We picked out a name...:) At least the one we love so far. :) She's our little Abrielle. We'll call her Abby.
• We've even started blogging again! WHOO HOO....

Hopefully, I'll have even more to blog about next week!

Please keep us in your prayers!

Galatians 6:9----Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

BIG NEWS!

We're back, and we're going to be parents....um, well, in about a year.
We have officially started the process for adoption from China. It is an exciting adventure that we know absolutely NOTHING about. The more I read, the more I have questions. Regardless, God has cleared this path and we are trying our hardest to listen and be obedient.

China is a fascinating place and our baby girl is going to come from there!

Hopefully, this will help us keep everyone updated on the progress. Read the next posting for where we are at in the journey.

Keep praying for us...and for our little Abby girl (I think that's what we're going to call her.)

GOD IS GOOD!