We have the file of a precious little girl...

The first child we were originally interested in has found her forever family. She was placed last Thursday and I am thrilled for her. We will forever remember that cute, chubby face and that she was the one who opened our hearts again regarding adoption. She was an instrumental part in us pursuing this at this time and now we are on to find our baby girl.

Each week is like a new beginning to me. On Monday, I was glad to see that Holt had some new referrals. One particular cutie caught my eye and I immediately called Michael at work. We looked over her information and decided to e-mail the Waiting Child Program at Holt and request her file. We didn't hear anything on Monday (despite my stalking my e-mail like I crazy person).

Tuesday was a pretty wild day. I was working on the boys' clothing for consignment and running on very little sleep, but then a phone call from Eugene, OR changed my day! It was Erin with the WCP (Waiting Child Program) and she was sending us the file of this sweet little baby girl. When I say little, I mean little: she is tiny! When I hung up the phone, I literally did a "Happy Baby Dance" right there in the kitchen! I set my phone to ding when I got an e-mail and after many false-alarms dings (thanks to the 20 people who decided THAT was the best time to e-mail me), there it was! We have the file of a baby girl in Korea and I especially enjoyed all the pictures they sent of her. Michael and I sat down last night and went through every page of her file together last night. We both feel optimistic about pursuing this child, so we said a prayer for her and for us to have clarity on how we should proceed.

I had big plans of sleeping in this morning, but I just couldn't. I wanted to get her file to our pediatrician, Dr. Christian this morning as soon as I could. I gathered up her file, threw some clothes on and Andrew and I headed out with file in hand. I dropped off her file and now we wait. We adore our pediatrician; she is fabulous! I got a call back about an hour later saying she had the file and that she would review it, but things were pretty crazy there today, so it might be later in the week. I reminded them that we have 10 days to say "yes" or "no" and she said she would remind her of that time frame and would call me back when she wants to sit down and talk about this child.

I decided to go ahead and contact another local pediatrician who specializes in International Adoptions and ask about having her review the medical files as well. I am waiting to hear about when we can get in with her, but I indicated to the lady on the phone that there was a time sensitivity regarding this particular case, so she went ahead and e-mailed the doctor (since she as off today). I expect to hear back from her today and then I will send her the file.

So now we wait. I'm praying this verse today: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." We appreciate your prayers as we make a decision regarding this baby.

~Paula

Every Child Deserves a Home

The title comes from the quote from Holt International Children's Services founder, Harry Holt when he said, "Every child deserves a home of his own." Here is a video Holt produced that I think truly conveys their mission. (You should pause the playlist over on the right before hitting play so you can hear this.)

Waiting and Paperwork are the Names of the Game!

We have just begun this adventure and I am quickly learning that waiting plays a BIG part in adoption. I find myself checking the Waiting Child Photolisting several times daily and since we've contacted Holt and submitted our application, I find myself stalking my e-mail inbox hourly waiting for a new update.

Knowing that my child is out there, somewhere, waiting for her mommy and daddy to come get her makes me want to speed this whole thing up. "Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14 I am praying that my heart can have courage AND that I can wait for the Lord in this.

Michael and I have been knocking some of this paperwork out and we had to fill out a "Medical Conditions Checklist" indicating which conditions we are open to. Let me first say that that list breaks my heart. Everything from HIV/AIDS to autism, missing organs to asthma. As I was choosing which conditions we are open to accepting, I was praying that every child with every condition on that list would have a mommy and a daddy to love on them. I sat there with several tabs open on the computer and googled (yep, that is a verb now) medical conditions that I can't even begin to pronounce. As I sat there clicking those little circle buttons (my computer programmer-hubby informed me they are called "radio buttons") my heart was breaking for those kids whose medical conditions are a huge barrier in them being adopted, but I thought "God didn't guarantee us healthy, whole children when I carried my boys". We finished the list and I felt wiped-out. One step closer.

It's all part of the process and at the end of this long tunnel, there will be a baby: our baby. God, protect our baby girl until You deliver her to us.

Here is a bit of the paperwork that has to be completed and there will be lots more where that came from. ~paula

Gotta love a good bargain!

So yesterday, several of us mommies got together with our clothes ready for consignment (the sale is a little over a week away). We dragged in boxes of clothes and dug through each others' piles of clothes. This was the first time I could shop on the "girls" side, so I did! Check out this loot! Yes, 90% of it is Gymboree, cause that's how these mamas roll!

No, we do not have a placement yet, but we are believing God for a baby. We have only applied for a girl and let's face it, all kids need 2T, 3T and 4T and if our baby is bigger than some of the clothes when she gets here, I'll consign them and get my money back. So after hours of eating (God bless the Pioneer Woman and her Sleepin' In Omelette!), socializing, eating some more and digging through piles of adorable kids clothes: I walked away with 12 outfits, 1 skirt, a sun hat and the cutest zebra-print bathing suit (EVER) with matching sunglasses and Becky is throwing in the matching flip-flops to boot! Well, sweet girl, wherever you are, whenever you get here: you'll be one sassy-dressed-sister! Check out this cute bathing suit and shades. :)

Today I dropped Andrew off at preschool and had decided I was coming home to work on consignment, but Buffy twisted my arm to go to Kohl's and boy am I glad I did! I hit the clearance racks (from winter) and walked away with a pile of adorableness for a whopping $22. Not too bad for 2 nice Christmas dresses, 4 things from OshKosh's polar fleece line , a shirt and some leggings. 8 pieces for $22, now that is what I call clearance! The nicest dress was priced $44 and I got it for $8. Here are a couple pictures of today's hot finds!

I love, love, love shoppin' ahead. Now I gotta stop until I know when this baby is getting here. I'm off to clear some space in the closet! ~paula