I have been trying to put into action my good intentions. For awhile now, I have sloughed off on the blogging because we have had a plethora of things we have had to deal with since we moved into our house. But, because I truly want to document this adoption process, AND because all of you that keep up with our family have asked me several times what is going on with our adoption. Todd and I had to make the tough decision to move agencies. Not that we disliked the agency we originally signed with, it was based on some very key things. The first being that they did not have a license to serve families in the state of Georgia. We were under the impression that they would be getting a license very soon, but it was taking a very long time. We honestly were getting tired of waiting. We have been trying to add to our family for over three years now, and we had prayed about adoption for a year. It was time. So Todd called and broke the news. Our social worker Emily had given us some information about another agency that DID have a license in Georgia, was very ethical, and was in the business of not just getting children adopted, but giving the Gospel. We filled out the paperwork, cut a check, and we were back in business! I wish I could convey to people how overwhelming this whole process is. The mounds of paperwork, the background checks, the running around, the correspondence. It is a lot. We had started much of our homestudy paperwork with our previous agency Small World. When we switched over to Lifeline (our new agency) we felt very defeated. We knew that we would have to start the process all over from the very beginning. I tell you what, I almost came close to throwing in the towel. Tapping out. Questioning our call to adoption. Exactly what the enemy wanted. So I pulled out my big girl panties, and we dove into the mountainous paperwork once again. If it wasn't for Todd's amazing paperwork organization, we might be 100 years old before we ever adopted if I was in charge of all that. Todd was able to sift through the paperwork, prioritize, and execute. We literally plowed through our first round. All of the credit for that round goes to my amazing husband. I am telling you, he amazes me. We were able to schedule our first homestudy visit this past Monday, and we will have four total visits. What I loved so much about our first visit was that Emily was able to breakdown a timeline for us. We know that there are a lot of unknowns ahead, but because China's adoption is very consistant compared to other countries, the agency sort of already knows what questions they will ask, and what they expect from prospective adopting parents. Todd and I love that part the most. When it comes to surprises, about things we invest time and lots of money in, we prefer that we just do what you ask, pay whatever you ask, and we are done. No surprises. Even though adoption comes with surprises (I will refer you back to said agency change) God comes back to us with His peace. He wants us to learn something in this process. He is REALLY working on me, folks. I mean R.E.A.L.L.Y. When I first started the process with our first agency, I was very unemotional, unmoved, just going through the motions type of thing. NOW, my heart is aching. My mind is racing. My eyes long to see a photo. My brain longs to know a face so I can give them a name. My arms ache to hold. We are moving closer friends. If we plow through paperwork, the rest of the homestudy visits, immigration, FBI fingerprints, we could be finished with our homestudy by the end of September. WE could possibly have our Dossier finished by Thanksgiving, and logged in by Christmas. Then after that, we wait for matching, and then after we are matched, we WAIT for China's approval. Which folks that is what takes a huge chunk of time. Once we are approved, then we FLY to get our children! So please pray. I am excited to share with you our journey. I want to really write this stuff down because, one day I want to show my babies what we were going through before they came to us. I am however very lackadaisical when it comes to writing things down! I will try to post a blog for every major milestone in the adoption, and also what God is teaching me!
I am including this next topic into the same post because, I was completely caught off guard, moved, uttered speechless, by some great people that I love! First off, let me explain to you, JUST HOW HARD it is to surprise me. Todd has been attempting this feat for 13 years. Mainly, for things like gifts. Not so much for events. Every year for my birthday, or Christmas, I just give Todd a list of things I would like to have, and he ALWAYS picks something from that list. So never really a surprise. If we are going somewhere, I usually have to know about it. Because I am the one who plans, and Todd is the one who executes the plans. I am not by any means saying I wish that it was different. I don't. I have grown to LOVE knowing things in advance, so I CAN plan for them. I am a planner. Well, my fortieth birthday is on July the 19th. I never have any type of hoopla for my birthday. Which never bothered me, because I am usually in different places for them all. Todd usually takes me to a nice restaurant, we take the kids usually, and they give me a card and a gift, and we call it a night. This time I assumed that it was going to be the same. Todd called me from work like last Monday, and said to me he made reservations for Henry Campbell Steakhouse. Which here in Albany, is a very nice restaurant, and it is very expensive, so we only go for birthday's and anniversary's. So I was like "Sounds Great!" Fast forward to tonight. Todd made sure to tell me that I should dress up and be ready to go by 6:15. No problem. Got it down. We pack the car full of Todd, myself, the kids, and my Mom who is in town for a little visit. We head over to HC, which by the way is next door to a restaurant called Shogun. It's my favorite place to eat sushi. While we pull up into the parking lot, I see a good friend of mine walking into Shogun. I call her name, but she did not respond. I think "oh well, she didn't hear me, I will just text her." Todd is like "just poke your head in and say hello." I am like "it's okay!"" I can just text her." So Todd opens us the the door to Shogun, and I see another good friend of mine, Kendra. I was like HEY!!! I said "I just saw Cara walking in too!" "What are you doing here?" Kendra says she is on a date with her hubby, do I want to say hello to Zak? I was like sure I can do that!! Well, I get inside, and I see a huge table with about 17 of my closest friends, and in my heart I got all of a sudden sad. Because, I was like "WOW, all of my friends are eating out together tonight, and they didn't invite me!" Then, I said, (to myself) well "they must know I was going to HC for my birthday." Then the entire group yelled SURPRISE!!!! They were there for me! I lost it. Half shocked that someone pulled this off, and I.had.no.clue. and that I was so surrounded by such love, I was overwhelmed. Todd kissed me goodbye, grabbed the kiddos, and I sat down to an amazing night. I laughed so hard, and cried so much!! The cards, and gifts, and the web of deceit and secrecy!! It was so full awesome!! Ya'll!! I just have to speak about the cards! I received some of the most heartfelt cards from these beautiful women, that I wish I could take a snapshot of, and post them all here for you. Cards so full of love and writing that my heart could not take it. As tears stream down my face right now!!! I will cherish and keep them always. The gifts. Oh my gosh, I was just floored by how much love went into picking out each one. Things that I love the most, carefully handpicked. I was a mess. I still am a mess. When I went to bed last night, all I could muster to pray was "Thank You Lord. Thank You Father." Because I was so incredibly blown away, and so thankful at who the Lord has put into my life. He does redeem folks!! Last night was proof of how much. From a loner girl who grew up in utter dysfunction, chaos, and never knowing Christ, to turning 40 with the love of so many pouring out, and Christ at the center of it all! I will never, ever, forget that. Here are a few photos from the night!
