The room is painted and 99% decorated...pics forthcoming. Cara bought a new digital camera but it didn't load onto our computer,so this post is being done on a laptop we purchased. Once I get all the necessary things going on it, we will get pictures up. We are really pleased with how the room turned out.
The earthquakes in China are major, and we have no idea what that could mean to the time lines etc. I know most, if not all the orphanges in the area were okay, but the school disasters were major, so a lot of loss of young life.
No new news on the US adoption front, we continue to wait and pray a birth mom will pick us so that we can run with that connection...
Cara's sister and baby boy are visiting for a few days so that is fun...
Well, my windows update is done... time to reboot...I sure hope Windows Vista isn't as bad as what the Mac ads say!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
SC baby names
Well the discussions have been intense and long, much thought, discernment, battling it out in the trenches to come up with names...okay, actually it was a pretty fun and enjoyable ride...
The "pet name" at this point is "our little bean".
Because we don't know if we will get a boy or a girl from South Carolina we have come up with a name for each gender...
For a boy- Stephen James. Stephen is my middle name... James... we just like the ring of it, plus the book of James is one of my favorite New Testament books. :)
For a girl- LilyKate ...middle name still in progress. We went with names that just sounded right to us, we didn't research out meanings or anything this time.
And, hope you are all seated for this amazing news....Cara has FINALLY decided on a paint color for the baby room. I know, I know, miracles still do occur ;). We will pick it up this week and my goals is that before the May long weekend is done, it will be painted.
What color is it? Well we will leave that a secret, as I am sure she will be snapping pictures to chronicle the event, so we will post some of those soon.
We also went shopping for baby essentials today, monitor, baby bath, fingernail clippers, bath towel(hooded duck) and face cloths, some bedding...when we bought our car seat months ago, we bought it thinking we would start with an 8 month old or so...fortunately there is something made which you can use in an existing seat that maes it work for newborns, so that was a relief, so we snagged that!
It was REALLY nice to do something that made things feel real, it has been a while due to the China wait.
Our home study is now sitting on Anne Scully's desk awaiting official approval, but we are saying we are open to be matched now, and IF we get a match and the paperwork isn't signed there, we will just be firing a call to that office on the way to the airport telling her to move that thing to the top of the pile and sign it already! :)
I am also sooo jazzed on the prospect of a new senior pastor coming on board. We voted 100% to invite him, we will know later in the week if he accepts. I am excited!! I think the potential to be a great team with him is big and the possibilities are exciting!
Been busy, busy, busy and looking forward to a few extended days off soon to catch up on the rest of life, and so in a nutshell there we have the latest!
The "pet name" at this point is "our little bean".
Because we don't know if we will get a boy or a girl from South Carolina we have come up with a name for each gender...
For a boy- Stephen James. Stephen is my middle name... James... we just like the ring of it, plus the book of James is one of my favorite New Testament books. :)
For a girl- LilyKate ...middle name still in progress. We went with names that just sounded right to us, we didn't research out meanings or anything this time.
And, hope you are all seated for this amazing news....Cara has FINALLY decided on a paint color for the baby room. I know, I know, miracles still do occur ;). We will pick it up this week and my goals is that before the May long weekend is done, it will be painted.
What color is it? Well we will leave that a secret, as I am sure she will be snapping pictures to chronicle the event, so we will post some of those soon.
We also went shopping for baby essentials today, monitor, baby bath, fingernail clippers, bath towel(hooded duck) and face cloths, some bedding...when we bought our car seat months ago, we bought it thinking we would start with an 8 month old or so...fortunately there is something made which you can use in an existing seat that maes it work for newborns, so that was a relief, so we snagged that!
It was REALLY nice to do something that made things feel real, it has been a while due to the China wait.
Our home study is now sitting on Anne Scully's desk awaiting official approval, but we are saying we are open to be matched now, and IF we get a match and the paperwork isn't signed there, we will just be firing a call to that office on the way to the airport telling her to move that thing to the top of the pile and sign it already! :)
I am also sooo jazzed on the prospect of a new senior pastor coming on board. We voted 100% to invite him, we will know later in the week if he accepts. I am excited!! I think the potential to be a great team with him is big and the possibilities are exciting!
Been busy, busy, busy and looking forward to a few extended days off soon to catch up on the rest of life, and so in a nutshell there we have the latest!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
WOW Review room is flying!
Room 2 of 3 has is flying fast. They have processed November and December 2006. They have matched up to January 9 2006.
I have said it before, I will say it again, get those review room folks into the matching room those folks know how to move the papertrail along!
Congrats to those who are thru the review!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
National Geographic info on China
Natioanl geographic video of China
NG has some cool pics etc of China, nothing adoption related, but nice to see some cool pictures etc...
NG has some cool pics etc of China, nothing adoption related, but nice to see some cool pictures etc...
Monday, April 14, 2008
South Carolina update
Updated(ing) the blog to reflect the dual path we are on. We got our home study updated over the weekend. SOOO thankful to our social worker, who has gone out of her way to push things ahead quickly as possible!
So once the editors give it a nod, it if off to the AB gov't for their nod, then we are in the race "officially"!
It is a crazy feeling. Our hearts have been full focus on Julia, while knowing we would look at a second adoption, and it is a crazy shift to think that it is possible that we may end up with a little brother or sister for Julia before we get her. They could end up being around the same age... too much to wrap the brain around, but our hearts are having no trouble being ready to welcome ANY child God chooses to bring into our home.
We have had to adjust our brains though. When you have been on a one way path and suddenly there is an unexpected turn in the road, it is a great twist, but opens up all sorts of fun conversations and things to think through...such as... does the room work for 2 cribs(then the thoughts of what colors would work...what if we have a boy from SC and then Julia...my suggestion of painting the room white didn't fly with my creative wife ;) ).
Because we have said we are open to either gender from SC we have no idea what gift we will get. We have done up name lists for both genders, but obviously don't know at this point what name to put to this "face" of a child who is birthed in our heart at this time.
It is fun looking at the emotions and thoughts you have during these adventures.
For China, Cara and I were totally on board for wanting a girl, considering the circumstances they are in. For SC, it is a totally different thing. Obviously we will take in and love equally whatever gender of child we get, and in whatever order we get them, but as you speculate and talk through stuff at present Cara is more inclined towards a little black girl. I am thinking it will be a boy.
Then the male logic side of me goes,"A girl would be easier, don't have to worry as soon about them sharing a room, they could share clothes, less duplication of things..." Then in the next thought, "YES! Think of the toys I can buy for my son, even though they may be more for Dad..SWEET DEAL! A boy would balance out the genders in the home, that is a good thing..."
Heh, who knows, it will be an interesting adventure. Some of the differences between the adoptions is that for SC we sent a profile of who we are and our Lawyer/Agency down there shows that to birth moms they have contact with and that mom picks us. With China the match is done by the "agency" (CCAA) in China. SC, when the match happens, will be a quick notification and turn around. For China we will know when the match is coming and then have 6-8 weeks to plan for the travel.
Well, there are some random thoughts as we continue on this journey!
So once the editors give it a nod, it if off to the AB gov't for their nod, then we are in the race "officially"!
It is a crazy feeling. Our hearts have been full focus on Julia, while knowing we would look at a second adoption, and it is a crazy shift to think that it is possible that we may end up with a little brother or sister for Julia before we get her. They could end up being around the same age... too much to wrap the brain around, but our hearts are having no trouble being ready to welcome ANY child God chooses to bring into our home.
We have had to adjust our brains though. When you have been on a one way path and suddenly there is an unexpected turn in the road, it is a great twist, but opens up all sorts of fun conversations and things to think through...such as... does the room work for 2 cribs(then the thoughts of what colors would work...what if we have a boy from SC and then Julia...my suggestion of painting the room white didn't fly with my creative wife ;) ).
Because we have said we are open to either gender from SC we have no idea what gift we will get. We have done up name lists for both genders, but obviously don't know at this point what name to put to this "face" of a child who is birthed in our heart at this time.
It is fun looking at the emotions and thoughts you have during these adventures.
For China, Cara and I were totally on board for wanting a girl, considering the circumstances they are in. For SC, it is a totally different thing. Obviously we will take in and love equally whatever gender of child we get, and in whatever order we get them, but as you speculate and talk through stuff at present Cara is more inclined towards a little black girl. I am thinking it will be a boy.
Then the male logic side of me goes,"A girl would be easier, don't have to worry as soon about them sharing a room, they could share clothes, less duplication of things..." Then in the next thought, "YES! Think of the toys I can buy for my son, even though they may be more for Dad..SWEET DEAL! A boy would balance out the genders in the home, that is a good thing..."
Heh, who knows, it will be an interesting adventure. Some of the differences between the adoptions is that for SC we sent a profile of who we are and our Lawyer/Agency down there shows that to birth moms they have contact with and that mom picks us. With China the match is done by the "agency" (CCAA) in China. SC, when the match happens, will be a quick notification and turn around. For China we will know when the match is coming and then have 6-8 weeks to plan for the travel.
Well, there are some random thoughts as we continue on this journey!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Approval gotten
Great news, we got the little white envelope with the approval to adopt from the US within it, someone other than Anne signed it, but it was signed, YAHOOO! We now try to get our homestudy updated quickly and effectively. Smiles around our home this morning! :):):):)
Friday, April 04, 2008
Adoption 2 but 1 status
Our US adoption is clicking away. We are awaiting official word from the Alberta gov't that they give us the nod, the profile and the smaller paper work trail is complete and mailed off to our US contact today. Once we get official Alberta word, we will get our homestudy updated and from there it is full steam ahead.
April 16 we have a phone interview with the US contact.
Got the financial updates and refinancing stuff sent off.
Cara bought 2 sets of PJ's for the baby...here we go again! ;)
So the sooner Anne Scully gets that approval done for the Alberta Gov't thing will go quick for a splurt, and then if the homestudy update goes quick, we are completed in amazing time what we can do.
April 16 we have a phone interview with the US contact.
Got the financial updates and refinancing stuff sent off.
Cara bought 2 sets of PJ's for the baby...here we go again! ;)
So the sooner Anne Scully gets that approval done for the Alberta Gov't thing will go quick for a splurt, and then if the homestudy update goes quick, we are completed in amazing time what we can do.
A day off
What do I do on a day off, well since no one asked, I will tell you anyway ;)
Typically I like to do as little as possible, but to seem like a super hero I will tell you of my last day off.
The day starts with me helping Cara make pancakes and bacon for breakfast, we then talk and plan our calender for the month(visits, meetings, her craft classes, my kung fu stuff...)
I then do some calls contacting some folks about US adoption stuff, getting finance stuff going etc.
Then off to the store, need to check to find a good deal on a lawn mower, stop by Walmart(no good deals yet), browse through the dvd and playstation games, then off to the comic shop to pick up comics. A run across the street to the Christian book store to get some supplies for Sunday(Okay it was work related, on a day off, but it was close!)
Stop by 7-11 for a slurpee and home to read some comics and enjoy a slurpee. From there I went out and raked the front lawn(the snow is gone from the front). I put a lot of work into it last year and I want to keep building it up and getting it healthier and a deeper root base. After that I ironed some shirts(Cara will do it for me, although she hates ironing, but I felt like it and we take turns doing it). From there my domestic gene kicked in and I did some dusting(something we both don't like to do) and washed the floor.
Then half and hour of playstation games, supper, catch Survivor on TV and then off to Kung fu. Home to shower, unwind for an hour then off to bed.
Terribly exciting I know. :)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Concurrent
Been quiet on the blog lately because we have been praying through some stuff, and we have decided to pursue concurrent adoptions.
Some friends of ours have had great success and ease of process with adopting from South Carolina, little black babies.
We have decided to pursue that track while still keeping on track with China.
We have at least 20 months(barring a miracle of speed from the CCAA) before we would be near China bound. Alberta Adoption law(and China) states there must be 1 year between any children/adoptions. So doing the math... 20-12 is 8. So we are going to pursue the US with adoption(we have sent half the paperwork at this point, we need to get updated homestudy and medicals still.)And we don't have to put any US money upfront until a match is made, just costs with updating some paper work now. We will pursue the US avenue until we near the time when we have 1 year til the China match. If it happens, we will receive a beautiful little black baby as the first child in our family. If no match happens, we will, as we initially thought, have our first child be a little China doll.
Our hearts are for adoption, in my mind pursuing a second adoptive child was a no brainer,I figured China would be our first stop, but who knows, it may end up the second stop...but pursuing it this way, with the boundaries on time etc. we are putting in place allows us to be hands off and if God will deliver the gift the US direction first, He is totally in control to do that, and if it is China, same thing, and we would look to the US second.
So who knows what track this crazy train will take, we are just extending arms of love to receive whatever gift God will deliver. :)
Some friends of ours have had great success and ease of process with adopting from South Carolina, little black babies.
We have decided to pursue that track while still keeping on track with China.
We have at least 20 months(barring a miracle of speed from the CCAA) before we would be near China bound. Alberta Adoption law(and China) states there must be 1 year between any children/adoptions. So doing the math... 20-12 is 8. So we are going to pursue the US with adoption(we have sent half the paperwork at this point, we need to get updated homestudy and medicals still.)And we don't have to put any US money upfront until a match is made, just costs with updating some paper work now. We will pursue the US avenue until we near the time when we have 1 year til the China match. If it happens, we will receive a beautiful little black baby as the first child in our family. If no match happens, we will, as we initially thought, have our first child be a little China doll.
Our hearts are for adoption, in my mind pursuing a second adoptive child was a no brainer,I figured China would be our first stop, but who knows, it may end up the second stop...but pursuing it this way, with the boundaries on time etc. we are putting in place allows us to be hands off and if God will deliver the gift the US direction first, He is totally in control to do that, and if it is China, same thing, and we would look to the US second.
So who knows what track this crazy train will take, we are just extending arms of love to receive whatever gift God will deliver. :)
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
January 4 2006
Yahoo!!!! They are finally into 2006 matching!!! They went from dec 27 to January 4 another 8 day batch. that is two 8 day batches in a row. So 4 months and 15 days worth of matching still to go, so approximately 165 days to match, divided by 8 days per calender month...ugh that would mean at least 20 more months until a match if they do 8 days per month, and there is no guarantee they will do that many, or that they won't have some months where they do more... another year and a half of waiting... GAH, yet another reason why I am known for hating math, math sucks, waiting sucks, mid 2009 for a match? BLECH! Why are we doing this? Oh right, there is a little girl out there needing someone to call Daddy and Mummy...the first time we see her face will erase all this other nonsense!
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