Making a List

Right after I started cleaning out the refrigerator this afternoon I decided that blogging sounded like much more fun, so here we go. It's not a super exciting post--just a catch-you-up on our fall happenings.

We've been working down (and across) our list of document requirements provided by the agency. As you can see, there really isn't much left that needs to be done for our dossier prep! Right now, the majority of our paperwork is being authenticated by the U.S. Department of State; once we get those back then we send the documents to the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. to be authenticated.

You might have to squint to see it, but there are two line items that are pretty blank. Last night we were checking our list of what still needed to be done and realized we had somehow completely skipped one of the documents--whoops! Plenty of time to get that done. We're also waiting on approval from USCIS/immigration, which is the other big blank space on our To-Do list. Once all of those blanks are checked for each document, then we send to CCAI for critical review before it all goes off to China. If you want to feel really cool and special, I'd recommend you brush up on your adoption alphabet soup, so you can say fun things like "So once you're DTC, how long before you're LID?" or "I'm so excited you're LOA! That was the shortest time ever from your LOI!" Just a side note, once our dossier completion is only the beginning...nothing can happen until that's done!

If you're interested, here's a list of everything!

So what else has been happening? Well, we went to Florida for a last trip before our Next Big Trip to China. We had planned to go to Seattle, the Rockies, or San Diego...but both of us just wanted to sleep, eat, and sit on the beach. If you have never, ever been to Seaside, you need to go. Best beach vacation ever. But...more on all that at a later date.

Shortly after we got back from Florida, we went camping at Starved Rock with our friends Clint and Jessica. You may remember our last (and only) camping experience (see here if you need a refresher), so I was skeptical to say the least...the very least. 

But, it didn't rain, the weather was beautiful, we were close to the restrooms that included showers, and we went hiking and to a couple wine tasting rooms. It was a win-win for everyone! The worst thing that happened was that my nutella fry-pie burnt to a cinder block. We'll take it!

We're still working on fundraising for the adoption, and we're so thankful to everyone who has helped out so far! A few highlites:

• We had a Pampered Chef fundraiser around the beginning of October that raised over $200 that went to our account with our agency. Thank you to everyone who came--my aunts even drove down from Chicago to come! 
• Tomorrow I'm having a Noonday Collection Trunk Show with 10% of purchases going to our agency! (Click here if you're interested in purchasing!). Every little bit helps!
•  My sister also made a bunch of these ornaments (below)--there's only a few left I think! Amazing! 
• Last but not least, we've sold over 60 puzzle pieces so far. Again, words cannot express how thankful we are to every single person who has contributed so far. Yes, indirectly you're helping us, but ultimately you're helping a child receive a family. 

Last but not least, Derek is hard at work fixing up the bedroom and making furniture for the baby/toddler/child (we really don't know what to call him/her). I don't want to steal his thunder because he's been taking pictures every step of the way, but here's a teaser photo of the room. Hopefully we will be able to move the table saw out before we're home from China. Casey has learned to adapt to the noise level by cowering as far away as possible at night and sleeping all day long to recover. What a life! 

So that's it. Enough of my ramblings, it's time to actually finish cleaning out the fridge. Next week we have our fingerprinting/biometrics appointment up in Chicago, so check back with us soon to find out if we've been approved or not!

Happy Monday

Setting: This past Thursday at 1:30 while at work.
Cast: SW: Social Worker; M: Me

SW: Mary? Is this a good time?

M: YES. ALWAYS. YES. WHAT? YES. 

SW: I'm afraid I have some bad news.

M: Multiple scenarios race through mind--Um...what?

SW: We will be closing our adoption program, and you're going to have to find a new agency to complete your home study. 

M: *crickets*

SW: *crickets*

M: Um....what?

SW: We will be closing our adoption program, and you're going to have to find a new agency to complete your home study. 

M: Just.....what? 

M: Tries very hard not to throw phone through the wall because I'm at work. 

To put this in perspective, we were pretty much done. We've been visited, interviewed, CPRed, fingerprinted, blood tested and background tested. We were good to go! And...then this happened. 

And so, as of Thursday at 1:30, we had no home study, no plan, and no clue. To summarize, we were going to have to either find or transfer our home study (depending on how new agency would handle it) and go from there. This would add at least a month (not terrible), and in the interest of full disclosure, an additional $2,500 to the final cost (a lot closer to terrible). 

Talk about disheartening. Frustrating. Anger-inducing. 

However, through a series of phone calls, emails, texts, posts, and prayers...we've gone from last Thursday's "I have some bad news" to this:

We reached out to friends almost immediately last Thursday (really, I'm pretty sure I updated our Sunday School class before Derek was able to contact me after the phone call...sorry Derek) and knew you all were praying for us. This wasn't life-altering or devastating, but it was a serious expense and inconvenience. To be sitting on the other side, it's easy to think "oh, we must have overreacted, because this was SO easy to solve." 

But I don't think that's the case. 

Instead, we're choosing to believe God heard and answered our prayers. CCAI approved our homestudy. Our original agency signed off on our home study--and is delivering it tomorrow. Our new social worker/agency is visiting tomorrow afternoon. Done, done, and done. Plus, (best for last) we only have to pay our new agency a $250 deposit/credit that will be used for our post-adoption visits. Honestly, I don't know why we are continually surprised when our prayers are answered. We are, and we shouldn't be. Once again, we've been reminded that we are so definitely not even a little bit in control of our situation, but God is. And once again, I'm thankful for a God that doesn't get tired of reminding us of that.

For an updated list of prayer requests, please visit the Get Involved page. Thanks! 

Opposites and Marriage

In case anyone thinks that working on adoption paperwork with your spouse is a great way to pass the time, let me just say this...

BAHhhahahaha. 

Sorry, no. It's really not, at least for us. 

Never has it been more clear that we have completely different personalities. 

Before we were married, our pastor required us to take a personality test for couples as part of our premarital counseling. (By the way, I just checked; it's still available. You can take the test with your spouse here. Good luck!) Derek got cautious thinker, because hello, engineer! I got driver, because genetics. I think the point for us taking the tests was for the pastor to note any red flags for us to work through and beware of, but I really don't remember him saying anything other than "Hmmm, interesting. Those two personalities are excellent complements!" And I thought "Well, that's a good thing; opposites attract!" 

You are correct, Pastor Ken. It's interesting. 

Here is what those two personalities essentially have in common: we each need to be right. 

Here is what those two personalities do not have in common: one of us has to arrive at the decision by weighing out every possibility and dismissing the incorrect ones, and do not rush me, and the other sees one answer immediately and it's right, and why don't you believe me!

Honestly, it's really a wonder that things are completed in a timely manner. 

What we've finally learned (but don't always practice) is that those personality differences aren't actually bad. One of us is really, really good at catching minute details that the other overlooks. The other can make an on-the-spot decision when a situation arises. When we trust and have patience with each other, it really is amazing how quickly we can power through some of these processes. 

Tonight, we had an off night. We filled out a form that really should have taken five minutes (both of us agree on this, not just me, the driver) but actually took almost two hours...and that's okay. We live and learn, and move on to the next. Instead of letting these personality quirks get to us, we just need to remember that this is why we married the other. We're opposites. 

And that keeps it interesting.