I took a picture of this workbook I spent hours filling out. I mailed it UPS and insured it, etc because if I would have died if I had gotten lost somehow. Lots of labor in that one!
So I have obviously done a horrible job of keeping our adoption blog updated. The last few months have been a whirlwind and it was all I could do to keep afloat each day, but I am ready to get back on track!! The timing of everything the past three months has been completely amazing. We listed our house the same week we received our adoption binders full of paperwork. As I was working on all of our paperwork and Matt and I were filling out our life histories, I was also working at keeping the house continuously spotless to show it on any given day, and working on finding a new house in Columbus. Since I have had all of our paperwork sprawled all over the dining room table, before each house showing I would have to gather it all up, stash it in the basement, then lug it back out again. It was getting old. Throughout all of the stress I kept praying that we would yield to God's timing in all of this and know that His timing is perfect. That is honestly the only way we got through it. I know many people think we are crazy to be adopting at the same time we are moving but the whole experience has actually been a blessing. After countless hours of paperwork, 10 hours of adoption training, reading through a 20 chapter workbook and answering questions, getting countless papers notarized, going to the social security office three times, getting in an argument with the man at the social security office, then having to apologize to the man at the social security office, going to the post office and bank countless times, praying for strength to get it all completed...... it finally happened! We got it all accomplished in seven weeks.
The amazing thing is that even though it was completely overwhelming at times, it was never a burden! We just kept thinking of our daughter halfway around the world and how hard we were working to bring her home someday. That and strength from God is what kept us going. On April 28th I mailed in my completed workbook. That was the last piece of what was needed before we could begin our home visits with our social worker. The next day I left for Austin to go visit my sister and new niece. At the airport I get a call from Matt saying we got an offer on our house. Once again I was amazed at how the two big events in our lives continues to come together simultaneously. When I returned a few days later we ended up selling our house the day that our social worker called to set up our home interviews. What relief and joy all at once!
When our social worker showed up for the first time, I wanted to hug her when I met her!! I was so glad to be past the first part of the paperwork phase (I know more will come) that I wasn't even one bit nervous, just very happy. We have had three interviews so far and they have been wonderful. It makes it real being able to sit and talk with someone about our future daughter. Since our social worker will have to come see us in our new home, we decided it would be best to finish the last interview in Columbus in our new home. This will delay us a few weeks but we thought it made sense. Our last interview will be on July 7th. I can't wait!!!!
