Mini Check-In....

The frustrating thing about adoption is the timeline.  Things can be so slow-moving.  However, I do want to let you know that I ultimately decided to update my passport.  I know there are plenty of people who get along fine with their maiden-name passport and a marriage certificate, but I do not want this to be the reason we can't adopt, you know?  It's such an easy thing to fix, I might as well.  I struggled with this because it's money I don't want to spend if it isn't necessary, but again, the risk ultimately isn't worth it.  Anyhow, the day after I had settled on that decision, some good friends from church gave us an unexpected monetary gift towards our adoption.  WOW!  I was really humbled and unbelievably blessed.  Then that evening we got another monetary gift from some family members.  More blessings!  That, combined with some more online sales, has boosted our adoption total (as you might see on the side).  So thank you to all who have supported us, either with money or via prayer.  It is so appreciated.

Step 1: Passports

After raising enough money to start the process of an adoption, I emailed our prospective agency and they sent us the application.  I filled it out and my daughter went and spilled soup on it.  What a sweetheart.

Thankfully I have time to redo it because the very very first step in the process is renewing our passports.  Well, technically mine is still valid but it has my maiden name on it.  I used it to go to Costa Rica for our 5th anniversary (if you didn't catch my point, that means I was married then), but somehow I'm questioning whether I should attempt to use it for this situation as we're looking at a lot more flights, airports, and security. I googled it and I've found that some people had trouble with certain airlines in this situation, regardless of showing a marriage license.  Any thoughts on this?  Should I just go ahead and renew (FYI: it'll cost us $110, money I would LOVE not to spend)?

With all that said, here's to our first step.  Cheers!

P.S. For those who are OCD and find it is driving THEM crazy as well, I did add a dot to the "i" in "National."

Our second yard sale is over...

Following a very long week of the flu, trying to start school and other activities, and organizing a garage full of stuff, we had our yard sale.  Phew!  We were overwhelmingly blessed by the donations we received so THANK YOU to everyone who gave!!  

Our grand total for this sale was $590 (and some change)!!!

With some money Stuart and I were able to put in, plus some books sales, our grand total has reached 

$3901!

But even more important than the money has been the emotional support thus far.  We had several friends stop by to shop or say "hi."  We even had a neighbor shop, then come back with stuff for us to sell.  At one point, we started a conversation with a young lady who, along with her husband, hopes to adopt one day.  As she was leaving, she ran up and gave us all the cash she had on hand.  It could have been 50 cents and we would have been thrilled.  There is something very magical and encouraging about knowing people believe in your cause.  I cannot wait to be on the other side of this and see all the little ways God chose to meet us where we were at.  So thank you friends, neighbors, and strangers.  You're unbelievable appreciated.

Another Update

I'm glad jigsaw puzzles can only be finished one piece at a time.  Imagine buying a puzzle that's already been completed.  That would be ridiculous.  Or wait, they actually sell those - they're called posters.  But the point of a puzzle is not in the picture only.  Not only is there a sense of accomplishment incorporated throughout the process, especially when the last piece is put into place, but studies have proven that working on jigsaw puzzles can have immense long-term effects, strengthening the brain and warding off conditions such as dementia and alzheimer's.

I feel like this adoption is a puzzle for us:  we're working on it piece by piece, and when we reach the end we will be thrilled to see how it all looks.  But for now, we get to rejoice in the small successes as the process works to strengthen our faith.  And, if you haven't noticed yet, we have a small success that we are definitely taking the time to celebrate - we've reached our FIRST GOAL!!!  I feel like this happened in such a short time - a grand total of 5 weeks since our first fundraiser.

Sure, in the grand scheme of things we are tip-toeing across the Sahara, but progress is progress and I believe even the smallest steps deserve recognition, with all glory being given to God.  So praise God!!