Always learning!

When I was a kid I heard someone say "People never stop learning" Of course, being in school at the time this was not something I wanted to hear. Yes, we know it's true...we might not have tests and quizes but we are always learning something new.

Well, right now most of my "learning" is focused on the adoption. I have been reading books about adoption, going to seminars about adoption and now I am researching the educational options that are out there for when he arrives. Our oldest daughter attends a private Christian school but Mark and I are considering sending Adam to public shool for at least a year. I would love to send Adam to the same school Abby attends but I think that public school will have more resources to help him while he is learning English. Please pray for us as we research things to help his transition. I will need to be an advocate for him to make sure he gets every resource available to him.

Right now it is 9:50 am here and it is nighttime in China. Please pray that Adam sleeps well and that he has a good day when he wakes up.

Beth

I have a confession....

Brian and Emily had a snack of cheese crackers and afterwards Brian kept asking for more....so, I distracted my son by asking if he wanted to dress up in my daughters' Princess costumes! And he said YES!!! So much for gender identity! LOL! J/K
Gotta love 2 year old boys!!

On the adoption front, we finished our second homestudy meeting...the last one is at our house on Tues....gotta get cleaning!!

Please continue to pray for Adam's health and safety....as soon as he is officially "ours" I will be able to post a picture.

Beth

Homestudy meeting #1 - check!

We had our first homestudy meeting, we have two more. Yesterday it was all about me....fun, fun! Talking about my childhood, my relationships with my parents, my relationship with my sister, etc. It wasn't too bad. We also had to turn in a stack of paperwork....did I mention I LOVE paperwork! LOL! But, you know what, Adam is worth all the frustration and work.

On a happier note, I've started writing a letter to Adam. I can't send it until he is officially referred to us but this way I can work on it and have it ready to send. I also want the kids to write a little something in the letter as well.

I was searching for all our official papers (birth certificates, SS cards, marriage license, etc) and I found my passport....it expires in 14 days! I would need to get a new one anyway because it has my maiden name on it....I don't think they'd let me use that now! It has a pretty good picture, I wish I could use that one.

Well, I think that's all for now....please pray for Adam that he will be safe and healthy. Also, I've had a heavy burden on my heart to pray that someone will be able to witness to Adam until we are able to go get him.

I hope everyone has a great 2009!

What a blessing!!

From the time that Mark and I told our parents that we were planning to adopt Adam we have sensed a reticence from both my parents and Mark's parents. I've been waiting for them to ask "Are you crazy?" LOL! We were together with my side of the family to celebrate Christmas today. After my sister's family and my aunt and her husband left, my parents have talk with Mark and I. Basically my mom confirmed that at first she thought we were crazy for doing this. (Crazy is my word not hers!) She got to see his picture and that tugged at her heart.. of course! Then she heard a Dennis Rainey radio broadcast about orphans. She said that she felt God was telling her, "Don't fight Me on this!" She said that she supports us but still has some humanly doubts. I told her that I have those doubts as well. All in all, it was a great conversation! Thank you Lord for working in the hearts of our families. I believe that Mark's parents are coming around as well, just a little slower. We have had a lot of support from family and friends. I know that our parents are just being protective of their "baby girl" and "baby boy."

On another note, I recently heard Third Day's "Merry Christmas." It is a song about a little girl growing up in a Chinese orphanage. It is heartbreaking right now for me since Adam is not with us, but it is an amazing song. There is also a video on youtube. Search for the title and the group. AMAZING!

As always, please keep Adam in your prayers. Also, we start our homestudy on January 5th...so, keep our sanity in your prayers as well.

So cute!!!

Brian is our 2 1/2 year old son. Today I pointed to Adam's picture and asked, "Brian, who is this?" He looked and said, "Ah-am" I'd say that's close enough! It was so adorable!! It just touches my heart everytime the girls mention Adam or when they pray for him.

Please keep all of us in your prayers!

Beth

Fingerprints

I was fingerprinted on monday. It was pretty cool, they scanned my fingerprints.
Ink? We don't need no stinkin ink! One more step down...only about 10 million more to go! J/K Next comes the homestudy and we have the dossier to complete. Way too much paperwork!
After the homestudy is complete I can start applying for adoption grants.

Have a good night. Please continue to pray for us and Adam.

Do you know....

...that there are a lot of "older" Chinese boys waiting for a forever home? "Older" means older than 3 years old! We were told by our social worker that there are a lot of 6+ year old boys living in orphanages. It just breaks my heart to know that all these boys are just waiting for someone to find them and love them! Some have medical issues but some are completely healthy. I pray that someone feels a tug on their heart to adopt these little boys.

Beth