Tomorrow marks a week that we were discharged from the hospital.
They did so good on our drive home and have settled in just perfectly at Joe's mom and dads.
We are learning so much about each other and learning how to work together as a team.
Team Morrow! From 2 to 4 in the blink of an eye!
Cooper and Clara had their first doctors appt on Tuesday and have both gained weight. Clara has gone from 4 lbs 4 oz to 4 lbs 9 oz and Cooper has gone from 3 lbs 10 oz to 4 lbs 6 1/2 oz. They are both a little over 17 inches long and seem so tiny at times but so mighty at others.
They are eating 2 oz of formula every 3-4 hours. Joe and I are learning how to divide and conquer with diapering and feeding. We are sleeping when we can and napping when we can too.
Marie and Brent (Joe's mom and dad) have been a ton of help and we couldn't have gotten through the last week without them! They have lent the helping hand, fed, diapered, burped, and just loved on the babies which has been a true blessing.
In the adoption process we have to wait for the state you adopt from to exchange paperwork with your home state to allow you to bring the babies home. This is called Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). We knew the state of FL typically takes 7-10 days and we were told to be fully prepared to stay the entire 10 days because that is what it was taking these days. Our adoption agency sent the paperwork to the state of FL on Monday, 11/18/13, they received it on Tuesday, 11/19/13 and we got the call today that said that FL had approved our paperwork and they were sending it tomorrow to Nebraska. (Isn't God amazing...2 days!) That means we can leave FL, we just can't go to NE yet. FL is sending NE the paperwork today so hopefully by Monday, 11/25/13 we will have our clearance to go home.
What a reason to be thankful! God has opened the right doors, smoothed the right paths, and shown us the love and kindness of others throughout this process.
Our plan is to have Thanksgiving here in FL with Joe's family on Saturday, 11/23, enjoy Sunday together and then leave Monday, 11/25/13 for my mom's. We are so excited to get to see her and for her to meet her two new grand babies. We will stay there and fly home on Thursday, 11/28 which is Thanksgiving. Its such a much bigger day that just Thanksgiving.
The twins will be a month old, its Thanksgiving, and we are beyond blessed to be able to bring our bundles of joy home on such a great day!
Please continue to pray for their growth and their health as we travel.
Please continue to pray for Joe and I as we are adjusting to new schedules and taking care of new beings.
Please pray for the paperwork and that God would open the doors to make NE's side as smooth as FLs side.
Peace and Blessings to you all!
God is GOOD!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Everyday I'm more amazed....
Everyday I'm more amazed by how fast the twins are growing and how amazing God is!
Our lives have changed in what feels like a blink of an eye! Its hard to believe that today is November 9th.
It seems like just yesterday we were packing up to move from AZ to Omaha (1 year on Oct. 13, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were planning a wedding (Feb. 14, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we started with Christian Adoption Consultants (April 24, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were home study approved (June 21, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were applying to agencies (July 1, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were matched! (Oct. 1, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were told the twins were born! (Oct. 28,2013).
What a truly amazing and awesome 2013 we are having!
God has put people in our life who have made tremendous impact on us.
When we signed up with Christian Adoption Consultants (http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/) we were contacted by a woman who has opened our hearts and our minds in ways we never knew possible. She has educated us, cried with us/me, laughed with us, and loved and prayed for us, our journey and our children. Karalee Alvey is such a dear, sweet woman who has changed our life in more ways than she will ever know. Karalee has walked in my shoes of wanting to be a mom and has been the rock that has helped us to sift through the situations that were presented to us to help us open our hearts in preparation for being matched with the twins.
Adoption is a journey that is extremely difficult but so rewarding!
If you stand near me long enough, you will hear me talk about our journey.
When we were preparing for Christian Adoption Consultants to create our family profile, we needed some pictures to be taken so I started asking around work if anyone knew of someone who could help. A great co-worker told us his niece was a photographer and she could help us. Her name is Hannah and such a sweet soul and amazing photographer (http://www.perspectivechangesphoto.com/). When Hannah came to take our photos we started talking about our journey and she shared with us that her brother and sister in law had adopted previously. Hannah's sister in law, Meg and I had a lot of similarities and Hannah put us in touch with each other.
Meg and I began emailing, talking about my hysterectomy, our adoption journey, their previous adoption...it was a great start to a friendship that has continued to grow. I'm a true believer that God puts people in our lives at the right time and Meg was put in my life for so many reasons but most of all to share the roller coaster ride with!
As I said, if you are near me long enough, I will tell you how awesome Christian Adoption Consultants are and how they have changed our life. Well, Meg and her husband wanted to adopt again and so I shared the information about CAC and our amazing adoption consultant, Karalee and so Meg called and they signed up with CAC.
They worked hard to get their home study updated and they were ready on Sept. 29th. Soon after they started applying to agencies and today, they got the call....they are matched! They are expecting a little girl around the first of December.
God's plan for our lives is a mystery. We have to have faith and if we are walking with Him, he will open the doors that he has planned for us.
As I sit and watch the twins, who are 12 days old today, grow, and get ready to be able to come home, I'm simply amazed that God has entrusted these amazing little lives to us...
If you are interested in adoption and hear that call and pull to adopt. Please think about contacting Christian Adoption Consultants. They are all adopted parents who can answer your questions, give you guidance and they will open your hearts to what God has planned. They work with a lot of smaller agencies and all those agencies focus on the birth families while your consultant will help and focus on you, the adoptive families. They can also help you build an amazing family profile that tells the exact story you want the birth mothers to know about your life. Its a great story and they know exactly how to show it with words and pictures.
Cooper and Clara are doing fantastic! They are back up to birth weight, bottle feeding, and just waiting for -the ok to go home. We will have to stay in FL for 7 to 10 days once we are discharged so FL and NE can exchange info. We are so blessed to be able to stay with Joe's parents so we can be surrounded by love and family while we wait for approval to leave.
Please pray with us as we pray for the twins to grow so we can go home.
Please pray with us as we pray for our friends, Meg and Chris and their match with their baby girl.
Please pray with us as we pray for all the children out there that need to find their forever families!
What an awesome National Adoption Awareness Month!
God is Awesome and Amazing....ALL THE TIME!
Our lives have changed in what feels like a blink of an eye! Its hard to believe that today is November 9th.
It seems like just yesterday we were packing up to move from AZ to Omaha (1 year on Oct. 13, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were planning a wedding (Feb. 14, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we started with Christian Adoption Consultants (April 24, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were home study approved (June 21, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were applying to agencies (July 1, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were matched! (Oct. 1, 2013).
It seems like just yesterday we were told the twins were born! (Oct. 28,2013).
What a truly amazing and awesome 2013 we are having!
God has put people in our life who have made tremendous impact on us.
When we signed up with Christian Adoption Consultants (http://www.christianadoptionconsultants.com/) we were contacted by a woman who has opened our hearts and our minds in ways we never knew possible. She has educated us, cried with us/me, laughed with us, and loved and prayed for us, our journey and our children. Karalee Alvey is such a dear, sweet woman who has changed our life in more ways than she will ever know. Karalee has walked in my shoes of wanting to be a mom and has been the rock that has helped us to sift through the situations that were presented to us to help us open our hearts in preparation for being matched with the twins.
Adoption is a journey that is extremely difficult but so rewarding!
If you stand near me long enough, you will hear me talk about our journey.
When we were preparing for Christian Adoption Consultants to create our family profile, we needed some pictures to be taken so I started asking around work if anyone knew of someone who could help. A great co-worker told us his niece was a photographer and she could help us. Her name is Hannah and such a sweet soul and amazing photographer (http://www.perspectivechangesphoto.com/). When Hannah came to take our photos we started talking about our journey and she shared with us that her brother and sister in law had adopted previously. Hannah's sister in law, Meg and I had a lot of similarities and Hannah put us in touch with each other.
Meg and I began emailing, talking about my hysterectomy, our adoption journey, their previous adoption...it was a great start to a friendship that has continued to grow. I'm a true believer that God puts people in our lives at the right time and Meg was put in my life for so many reasons but most of all to share the roller coaster ride with!
As I said, if you are near me long enough, I will tell you how awesome Christian Adoption Consultants are and how they have changed our life. Well, Meg and her husband wanted to adopt again and so I shared the information about CAC and our amazing adoption consultant, Karalee and so Meg called and they signed up with CAC.
They worked hard to get their home study updated and they were ready on Sept. 29th. Soon after they started applying to agencies and today, they got the call....they are matched! They are expecting a little girl around the first of December.
God's plan for our lives is a mystery. We have to have faith and if we are walking with Him, he will open the doors that he has planned for us.
As I sit and watch the twins, who are 12 days old today, grow, and get ready to be able to come home, I'm simply amazed that God has entrusted these amazing little lives to us...
If you are interested in adoption and hear that call and pull to adopt. Please think about contacting Christian Adoption Consultants. They are all adopted parents who can answer your questions, give you guidance and they will open your hearts to what God has planned. They work with a lot of smaller agencies and all those agencies focus on the birth families while your consultant will help and focus on you, the adoptive families. They can also help you build an amazing family profile that tells the exact story you want the birth mothers to know about your life. Its a great story and they know exactly how to show it with words and pictures.
Cooper and Clara are doing fantastic! They are back up to birth weight, bottle feeding, and just waiting for -the ok to go home. We will have to stay in FL for 7 to 10 days once we are discharged so FL and NE can exchange info. We are so blessed to be able to stay with Joe's parents so we can be surrounded by love and family while we wait for approval to leave.
Please pray with us as we pray for the twins to grow so we can go home.
Please pray with us as we pray for our friends, Meg and Chris and their match with their baby girl.
Please pray with us as we pray for all the children out there that need to find their forever families!
What an awesome National Adoption Awareness Month!
God is Awesome and Amazing....ALL THE TIME!
Monday, November 4, 2013
Our journey is just beginning!
November is National Adoption Awareness Month.
Yesterday was National Orphan Day, a day to bring awareness to all the children around the world who need loving homes.
This day and this month mean so much more now, than it ever has!
I have wanted to be a mom my entire life (just ask my older brother).
Now, even after only a week, its hard to think about them not being here.
On Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 at 7:20 PM ET, Clara Bailey Morrow entered this world and 2 minutes later, her brother, Cooper Brenton Morrow arrived. Clara weighed 4 lbs 4 oz, and Cooper 3 lbs 10 oz. They were just 33 weeks and doing amazingly well.
Joe and I flew down to Florida on Tuesday and finally were able to meet them late Tuesday night.
They were 24 hours old, so tiny, so small, and so beautiful!
Tonight, at 7:20 and 7:22 marks 1 week....7 days since they arrived on this earth.
I feel like my world has stopped. They are my focus, they are my world and they are my heart and soul.
I have dreamed what this would feel like. But my dreams can not come close to the feelings I am having. We have intentionally set out on this path to adopt. It has been hard, and scary and just like a roller coaster ride but now...all of that seems like a distant memory.
They are here, they are healthy, they are growing and they are ours!
God has a plan. His plan hasn't always been my plan. He has opened our hearts in ways that we could not have imagined. His plan hasn't always been reveled to us but He had a plan. His plan has always been for Joe and I to parent these wonderful beings. He heard our cries, he heard our prayers, and He delivered far greater gifts than we knew possible.
Our journey is just beginning. We don't know how long our stay here at Miami Children's Hospital will be...but however long it takes to get them to where they should be, I will be with them. Joe has gone back to Omaha today to prepare our home to welcome this amazing souls.
Miami Children's Hospital is a wonderful place. They have apartments for parents to stay in to be close to the hospital. They have a family center that does everything from our laundry, to classes, movies, etc. They take care of the everything that is needed to make sure we can focus on our babies.
The staff is so wonderful. They include us in everything they do, they are as nurturing to us as they are to the small wonders they take care of.
We are so blessed and thankful to all of you who love us.
Many of you have asked where we are registered.
We are registered at Top to Bottom Baby in Omaha, NE. Target, and Babies R Us.
We will be adding to them once we know when they will be coming home this was just a first stab at what we might need.
Please know that if I don't respond quickly to an email or text, its not that I don't appreciate each and every one of them. If I'm in the NICU with the babies, that is where I'm focused.
Please continue to pray for their strength and continued growth so we can come home soon!
Please pray for Joe as he is in Omaha and not with us in person but definitely here in spirit and via the web.
God is an AWESOME God!
Peace and Blessings to you all!
Yesterday was National Orphan Day, a day to bring awareness to all the children around the world who need loving homes.
This day and this month mean so much more now, than it ever has!
I have wanted to be a mom my entire life (just ask my older brother).
Now, even after only a week, its hard to think about them not being here.
On Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 at 7:20 PM ET, Clara Bailey Morrow entered this world and 2 minutes later, her brother, Cooper Brenton Morrow arrived. Clara weighed 4 lbs 4 oz, and Cooper 3 lbs 10 oz. They were just 33 weeks and doing amazingly well.
Joe and I flew down to Florida on Tuesday and finally were able to meet them late Tuesday night.
They were 24 hours old, so tiny, so small, and so beautiful!
Tonight, at 7:20 and 7:22 marks 1 week....7 days since they arrived on this earth.
I feel like my world has stopped. They are my focus, they are my world and they are my heart and soul.
I have dreamed what this would feel like. But my dreams can not come close to the feelings I am having. We have intentionally set out on this path to adopt. It has been hard, and scary and just like a roller coaster ride but now...all of that seems like a distant memory.
They are here, they are healthy, they are growing and they are ours!
God has a plan. His plan hasn't always been my plan. He has opened our hearts in ways that we could not have imagined. His plan hasn't always been reveled to us but He had a plan. His plan has always been for Joe and I to parent these wonderful beings. He heard our cries, he heard our prayers, and He delivered far greater gifts than we knew possible.
Our journey is just beginning. We don't know how long our stay here at Miami Children's Hospital will be...but however long it takes to get them to where they should be, I will be with them. Joe has gone back to Omaha today to prepare our home to welcome this amazing souls.
Miami Children's Hospital is a wonderful place. They have apartments for parents to stay in to be close to the hospital. They have a family center that does everything from our laundry, to classes, movies, etc. They take care of the everything that is needed to make sure we can focus on our babies.
The staff is so wonderful. They include us in everything they do, they are as nurturing to us as they are to the small wonders they take care of.
We are so blessed and thankful to all of you who love us.
Many of you have asked where we are registered.
We are registered at Top to Bottom Baby in Omaha, NE. Target, and Babies R Us.
We will be adding to them once we know when they will be coming home this was just a first stab at what we might need.
Please know that if I don't respond quickly to an email or text, its not that I don't appreciate each and every one of them. If I'm in the NICU with the babies, that is where I'm focused.
Please continue to pray for their strength and continued growth so we can come home soon!
Please pray for Joe as he is in Omaha and not with us in person but definitely here in spirit and via the web.
God is an AWESOME God!
Peace and Blessings to you all!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
What a difference a day makes! The TWINs are HERE!
Last night after I finished up the blog, finished up a few emails, we received an email from the agency around 10:30 PM that the twins made their entrance into this world around 7:20 PM and 7:22 PM.
Baby B is no longer a mystery!
We have a 3 lb 10 oz baby boy and a 4 lb 4 oz baby girl!
Last night consisted of making travel plans, packing and trying to wrap our head around the fact that they were here.
We had very little information other than they were here.
It wasn't until we arrived here in FL that we got the full low down.
They both have abnormal kidney levels so they are being transported from Boynton Beach to Miami.
We hope to get to see them after 9 PM tonight.
Once we have seem them we will update everyone on names.
Please continue to pray for these 2 little beings that God has put in our lives.
God is Good!
Baby B is no longer a mystery!
We have a 3 lb 10 oz baby boy and a 4 lb 4 oz baby girl!
Last night consisted of making travel plans, packing and trying to wrap our head around the fact that they were here.
We had very little information other than they were here.
It wasn't until we arrived here in FL that we got the full low down.
They both have abnormal kidney levels so they are being transported from Boynton Beach to Miami.
We hope to get to see them after 9 PM tonight.
Once we have seem them we will update everyone on names.
Please continue to pray for these 2 little beings that God has put in our lives.
God is Good!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Beyond Excited....Absolute JOY! We've been matched!
It has been a little over a month since we posted last.....and what a busy month is has been.
Joe and I are so excited and pleased to announce that we have been MATCHED!
With absolute JOY we are pleased to announce that we are going to be the parents of TWINS that are due Dec. 16th! (We are expecting their delivery sometime in Nov.)
Baby A is very much a boy and Baby B is our mystery. She/He would not reveal themselves and would not stop moving long enough for us to get a picture. There is a lot to be said for having a surprise! What EXCITEMENT!
Our trip to Florida last week wasn't all vacation...we were blessed beyond measure to meet the sweet birth mother and we were able to go with her to have a 4D Ultrasound. It was so amazing to meet such a selfless woman and have such a wonderful experience with her to get to see the ultrasound of the twins. She was 32 weeks last Monday and both babies were breech and face to face. It looks like Baby A is telling Baby B secrets!
Our adoption journey is not over...only just beginning!
As we prepare for twins, we can not believe God (and this sweet birth mother) chose us....
We are trying to keep things low key until we are all home together.
Once we know more and can share more, we will.
Please continue to pray for us, the babies and the birth mom.
The adoption journey is joyous and difficult...
I read a great blog today from our AMAZING adoption consultant who was kind to remind us that November is National Adoption Awareness Month (Sunday, November 3rd is Orphan Sunday) and she posted something that is a very true reminder....
Adoption is hard. It’s emotional and difficult and expensive and not perfect. There is grief and there is turmoil. But there is the lesson of ultimate redemption. There is love beyond imagination. It’s a beautiful, miraculous thing.
As Joe and I are entering in the final stretch of our adoption journey, we ask you to prayerfully consider helping us with donating to our adoption fund raiser. Every penny you send will go toward the expense of bringing these babies home.
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
We will have to stay in Florida for a several weeks so if you have extra hotel points...they would help a ton with our stay.
Joe and I are so excited and pleased to announce that we have been MATCHED!
With absolute JOY we are pleased to announce that we are going to be the parents of TWINS that are due Dec. 16th! (We are expecting their delivery sometime in Nov.)
Baby A is very much a boy and Baby B is our mystery. She/He would not reveal themselves and would not stop moving long enough for us to get a picture. There is a lot to be said for having a surprise! What EXCITEMENT!
Our trip to Florida last week wasn't all vacation...we were blessed beyond measure to meet the sweet birth mother and we were able to go with her to have a 4D Ultrasound. It was so amazing to meet such a selfless woman and have such a wonderful experience with her to get to see the ultrasound of the twins. She was 32 weeks last Monday and both babies were breech and face to face. It looks like Baby A is telling Baby B secrets!
Our adoption journey is not over...only just beginning!
As we prepare for twins, we can not believe God (and this sweet birth mother) chose us....
We are trying to keep things low key until we are all home together.
Once we know more and can share more, we will.
Please continue to pray for us, the babies and the birth mom.
The adoption journey is joyous and difficult...
I read a great blog today from our AMAZING adoption consultant who was kind to remind us that November is National Adoption Awareness Month (Sunday, November 3rd is Orphan Sunday) and she posted something that is a very true reminder....
Adoption is hard. It’s emotional and difficult and expensive and not perfect. There is grief and there is turmoil. But there is the lesson of ultimate redemption. There is love beyond imagination. It’s a beautiful, miraculous thing.
As Joe and I are entering in the final stretch of our adoption journey, we ask you to prayerfully consider helping us with donating to our adoption fund raiser. Every penny you send will go toward the expense of bringing these babies home.
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
We will have to stay in Florida for a several weeks so if you have extra hotel points...they would help a ton with our stay.
For these children we prayed, and the Lord answered our prayers! 1 Samuel 1:27
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Beyond Blessed....Living, Laughing, and Loving!
At almost 8 weeks post surgery, life is getting back to normal....I am feeling so much better, back at work full time, and focused on our adoption journey! Life is GOOD!
Life for Joe and I is a true blessing! We are so grateful for our amazing family, church family, and friends who surround us with love and give us that little extra squeeze to get through the tough days.
At the end of June when we were getting all of our paperwork together to start applying to adoption agencies and waiting on our home study to be complete, we had no idea what our journey would show us or how our hearts would be opened and changed forever.
We have been so blessed to have friends who have walked this adoption path before us as well as an amazing new forever friend and consultant extraordinaire, who have helped us to understand so many things about what is important, and what is not in the grand adoption plan.
When going through this journey, you are presented with adoption opportunities/situations and you must decided based on the information you are given, if you would like to be presented to the birth mother and from there, she picks a family and that is called a match.
As a hopeful adoptive family, we have been asked numerous times, what gender of baby are you wanting to adopt, what race, what age, how do you feel about the birth mom drinking, taking drugs, smoking....all of these things factor into whether an adoptive family decides to be shown. What Joe and I have learned about ourselves is that we are so much better for being asked these questions and for really having to examine each situation and ourselves.
When an opportunity arises, Joe and I spend time reading through the information we are given and really seek God to find out whether this is an opportunity that we'd like to be presented. We make these decisions together and we try to learn as much as we can before we make this important decision. Opportunity/Situations come in waves, some days to a week...there is nothing....some days to a week....there are many. We have truly felt like the opportunities and situation that we have been presented with have asked us to reach deep inside and to look hard at ourselves to know what our hearts feel and what we know we can handle.
Life does not stop just because you are on this adoption roller coaster ride and journey.
Work is super busy as we work on the system integration, Joe has been involved with the youth at church and in an amazing production of the book of Acts to the theme of Grease, called Grace, Your the One God Wants. I have been trying to get back in swing of things and resting as much as I can.
Joe is so sweet to feed my love of farmers markets, craft shows and shopping at Goodwill or GW as we like to call it!
My BFF, who has adopted 2 children, told me you don't adopt on accident...it is a purposeful journey. Its not a sprint, its a marathon with a great prize at the end. And this is such a true statement. Even with the ups and down, Joe and I have always found a lot of life to make us laugh and most of all we have found a deeper love for each other. We are truly blessed!
We ask that you continue to pray for us, we know that God has a great plan and we must wait on His timing. We know that we will be matched and at the end our blessing will arrive...but until then, we pray, we live a great life, we laugh (a lot) and we love....each other and the life we have together!
We are still fund raising. Please visit our fundraising site and donate. Every dollar helps us to get to where we need to be in order to be able to bring our blessing home!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Peace and Blessings to all!
Karen
Life for Joe and I is a true blessing! We are so grateful for our amazing family, church family, and friends who surround us with love and give us that little extra squeeze to get through the tough days.
At the end of June when we were getting all of our paperwork together to start applying to adoption agencies and waiting on our home study to be complete, we had no idea what our journey would show us or how our hearts would be opened and changed forever.
We have been so blessed to have friends who have walked this adoption path before us as well as an amazing new forever friend and consultant extraordinaire, who have helped us to understand so many things about what is important, and what is not in the grand adoption plan.
When going through this journey, you are presented with adoption opportunities/situations and you must decided based on the information you are given, if you would like to be presented to the birth mother and from there, she picks a family and that is called a match.
As a hopeful adoptive family, we have been asked numerous times, what gender of baby are you wanting to adopt, what race, what age, how do you feel about the birth mom drinking, taking drugs, smoking....all of these things factor into whether an adoptive family decides to be shown. What Joe and I have learned about ourselves is that we are so much better for being asked these questions and for really having to examine each situation and ourselves.
When an opportunity arises, Joe and I spend time reading through the information we are given and really seek God to find out whether this is an opportunity that we'd like to be presented. We make these decisions together and we try to learn as much as we can before we make this important decision. Opportunity/Situations come in waves, some days to a week...there is nothing....some days to a week....there are many. We have truly felt like the opportunities and situation that we have been presented with have asked us to reach deep inside and to look hard at ourselves to know what our hearts feel and what we know we can handle.
Life does not stop just because you are on this adoption roller coaster ride and journey.
Work is super busy as we work on the system integration, Joe has been involved with the youth at church and in an amazing production of the book of Acts to the theme of Grease, called Grace, Your the One God Wants. I have been trying to get back in swing of things and resting as much as I can.
Joe is so sweet to feed my love of farmers markets, craft shows and shopping at Goodwill or GW as we like to call it!
My BFF, who has adopted 2 children, told me you don't adopt on accident...it is a purposeful journey. Its not a sprint, its a marathon with a great prize at the end. And this is such a true statement. Even with the ups and down, Joe and I have always found a lot of life to make us laugh and most of all we have found a deeper love for each other. We are truly blessed!
We ask that you continue to pray for us, we know that God has a great plan and we must wait on His timing. We know that we will be matched and at the end our blessing will arrive...but until then, we pray, we live a great life, we laugh (a lot) and we love....each other and the life we have together!
We are still fund raising. Please visit our fundraising site and donate. Every dollar helps us to get to where we need to be in order to be able to bring our blessing home!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Peace and Blessings to all!
Karen
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Lots of Love with a side of Duck Tape!!!
Most of you who know me, know that I'm a hugely independent person. I was raised to take care of myself. Surgery can sometimes take that independence away from you. I have been so humbled and have felt so loved over the last few weeks. Today is 2 weeks ago that I had surgery. Having surgery where you are told you can't lift anything over 8-10 lbs, you can't clean, you can't drive, makes someone like me crazy. Mentally I know why, physically I know why...but it still makes me crazy that I can't do for myself.
I am feeling really good. I'm not having much pain, I'm just super tired. The smallest things make me feel like I must fall asleep.
I have felt so loved during this time at home. My sweet and amazing mom came and stayed with us for a week to take care of me. I think we should call her the secret weapon. I laugh and told my wonderful doctor that when Joe tells me to do something, I take it as a suggestion...when mom says the same thing...its how things are going to be! So having her here to take care of me in that first week was awesome. She would "remind" me to sit down and let someone else do things like only a mom can do!
Joe has been amazing. He has gone above and beyond making sure that I am watching what I'm doing and making sure everything is done and taken care of so I don't have to sit and worry about things. He has been so incredible and just makes me love him so much more everyday!
My friends are GREAT! The have brought food, drinks, etc over and came to just visit or gone out to eat so I don't go stir crazy! Its such a true blessing to know how kind and loving people are when you are unable to do things on your own.
You may be asking why a side of duck tape.....
As I am feeling better Joe is going to need a few rolls to tape my stubborn behind down and keep me from doing too much!
And for an adoption update:
We are moving forward and are having lots of traffic with our profile.
God is good and we will be matched in His time!
Peace and Blessings to all!
P. S......I know that the correct term is Duct Tape....Duck Tape is a brand of Duct Tape that comes in fun colors etc....and if anything...I want to be fun! :)
I am feeling really good. I'm not having much pain, I'm just super tired. The smallest things make me feel like I must fall asleep.
I have felt so loved during this time at home. My sweet and amazing mom came and stayed with us for a week to take care of me. I think we should call her the secret weapon. I laugh and told my wonderful doctor that when Joe tells me to do something, I take it as a suggestion...when mom says the same thing...its how things are going to be! So having her here to take care of me in that first week was awesome. She would "remind" me to sit down and let someone else do things like only a mom can do!
Joe has been amazing. He has gone above and beyond making sure that I am watching what I'm doing and making sure everything is done and taken care of so I don't have to sit and worry about things. He has been so incredible and just makes me love him so much more everyday!
My friends are GREAT! The have brought food, drinks, etc over and came to just visit or gone out to eat so I don't go stir crazy! Its such a true blessing to know how kind and loving people are when you are unable to do things on your own.
You may be asking why a side of duck tape.....
As I am feeling better Joe is going to need a few rolls to tape my stubborn behind down and keep me from doing too much!
And for an adoption update:
We are moving forward and are having lots of traffic with our profile.
God is good and we will be matched in His time!
Peace and Blessings to all!
P. S......I know that the correct term is Duct Tape....Duck Tape is a brand of Duct Tape that comes in fun colors etc....and if anything...I want to be fun! :)
Saturday, July 20, 2013
What's more important than Family???
Last Friday morning as I typed my last post I was preparing for Joe's mom and dad to come for a visit. As I wrote about the roller coaster ride of adoption I was so excited for our upcoming house guests. The roller coaster didn't stop but we did take a break from the ups and downs to really relax and enjoy our time together.
Joe's parents came in on Saturday afternoon and stayed until Wednesday morning with us. We had such a great time, we laughed, we talked, we visited, we ate at some great places, we watched movies, we played cards, the boys went to the casino to play some poker and they played golf and us girls went shopping. Most of all we were together, and we were a family!
Brent and Marie are such an amazing example for Joe and I. They are Godly people who love each other, love their family and have a ton of friends. I loved hearing stories about their lives and all their wonderful life experiences. They are such an awesome example for how I want our family to be.
As Joe and I shared our adoption journey with them you could feel their excitement for us.
Joe and I both know that God has a plan and even though we aren't privileged to know that plan yet, we know that all things will work out in His time.
We tell stories all the time about when we were kids and the things we want to share and do with our children. Marie told me something about her childhood that immediately went on the list of amazing things to do with our children. She shared that when she was growing up, if they were studying a place or event in school, her family would try to go and actually see the that place. So one Christmas vacation they had been studying Mexico in school so during break, they drove to Mexico City. What a GREAT way to get a child to really see and experience what they are learning! I told Joe that I wanted to try to do that. What a great example of a true family!
In a little more than a week, my mom is coming to visit and I can't be more excited. How luck can I get, 2 visits from our parents in the same month within a couple of weeks! We know we are loved and are truly blessed!
I know that as Joe and I prepare for family to come visit and for our future family our hearts grow and get bigger with every experience. We love having people come to visit, we love spending time with everyone and sharing our hearts and home with them. We really feel like this is apart of our nesting process. This allows us to really share our roller coaster ride with them, share our thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams and allows us to grow with each visit.
Thank you for our wonderful support system we call family...some of you are family by blood, some are family by choice. We love you all and we know that there isn't anything more important that family!
The one thing that doesn't stop is our need for raising money for our journey....if you could possibly help...every dollar helps us to reach our goal!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Joe's parents came in on Saturday afternoon and stayed until Wednesday morning with us. We had such a great time, we laughed, we talked, we visited, we ate at some great places, we watched movies, we played cards, the boys went to the casino to play some poker and they played golf and us girls went shopping. Most of all we were together, and we were a family!
Brent and Marie are such an amazing example for Joe and I. They are Godly people who love each other, love their family and have a ton of friends. I loved hearing stories about their lives and all their wonderful life experiences. They are such an awesome example for how I want our family to be.
As Joe and I shared our adoption journey with them you could feel their excitement for us.
Joe and I both know that God has a plan and even though we aren't privileged to know that plan yet, we know that all things will work out in His time.
We tell stories all the time about when we were kids and the things we want to share and do with our children. Marie told me something about her childhood that immediately went on the list of amazing things to do with our children. She shared that when she was growing up, if they were studying a place or event in school, her family would try to go and actually see the that place. So one Christmas vacation they had been studying Mexico in school so during break, they drove to Mexico City. What a GREAT way to get a child to really see and experience what they are learning! I told Joe that I wanted to try to do that. What a great example of a true family!
In a little more than a week, my mom is coming to visit and I can't be more excited. How luck can I get, 2 visits from our parents in the same month within a couple of weeks! We know we are loved and are truly blessed!
I know that as Joe and I prepare for family to come visit and for our future family our hearts grow and get bigger with every experience. We love having people come to visit, we love spending time with everyone and sharing our hearts and home with them. We really feel like this is apart of our nesting process. This allows us to really share our roller coaster ride with them, share our thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams and allows us to grow with each visit.
Thank you for our wonderful support system we call family...some of you are family by blood, some are family by choice. We love you all and we know that there isn't anything more important that family!
The one thing that doesn't stop is our need for raising money for our journey....if you could possibly help...every dollar helps us to reach our goal!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Friday, July 12, 2013
Roller Coaster Ride!
If you know anything about the adoption process you know there are a few hard and fast rules:
In our very short time since we were Home Study approved and Family Profile ready we have been presented with several potential situations, some that we have asked to be shown to the birth families and some we have decided not to be shown and no matter if we ask to be shown or not, all I can think about is that baby...and all I can do is pray. I ask God to be with that birth family and that baby as they move forward in their journey just like I pray and ask God to be with Joe and I on our journey.
The roller coaster ride is very odd, no matter how detached I tell myself I'm going to be, no matter how much I tell myself that I am going to stay at arms length, there is always a piece that slips out and starts to wonder and what if. That is why the: I'm sorry, the birth families picked another couple is so hard. We know that is always a possibility, but its that hope that lives inside of me that always makes that so hard. The strange thing is it is such a mixed emotion, sad that Joe and I weren't matched but so happy for the family that was and always following each "ride" I thank God for the opportunity, thank God for the birth mother and her difficult journey, thank God for the baby, and thank God for the family that has been blessed.
Our faith is what has brought us to this place in our life and our journey. Joe and I believe that we are called to be parents and called to adopt. We know that God has already picked our child/children out, that it is only a matter of time before we are brought together. We have great faith knowing that we are following the calling of God in our lives. The one thing I know for sure is that knowing you are following your call from God doesn't always mean the journey is easy but it does mean that we aren't alone. The people that God has put in our life to help us with this journey just amaze me. The blessings that come with knowing that others who have walked this journey before us or who are on this journey at the same time as us gives us the strength to get through the hard and rough parts of this ride.
God is Good!
Peace and Blessings!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
- It is HARD! Hard because of the paperwork & hard because of the extreme emotions that go along with the process.
- It is a ROLLER COASTER RIDE! I like things to be smooth, predictable, and drama free....this is anything but! Its hurry, hurry, hurry, then you hear nothing, then yes or no.....hurry, hurry, hurry....I guess this is preparing me for being a parent!
- You do not adoption accidentally! You must be committed, intentional and very in touch with who you are and what you know you can and can not handle.
- You must have a GREAT FAITH!
In our very short time since we were Home Study approved and Family Profile ready we have been presented with several potential situations, some that we have asked to be shown to the birth families and some we have decided not to be shown and no matter if we ask to be shown or not, all I can think about is that baby...and all I can do is pray. I ask God to be with that birth family and that baby as they move forward in their journey just like I pray and ask God to be with Joe and I on our journey.
The roller coaster ride is very odd, no matter how detached I tell myself I'm going to be, no matter how much I tell myself that I am going to stay at arms length, there is always a piece that slips out and starts to wonder and what if. That is why the: I'm sorry, the birth families picked another couple is so hard. We know that is always a possibility, but its that hope that lives inside of me that always makes that so hard. The strange thing is it is such a mixed emotion, sad that Joe and I weren't matched but so happy for the family that was and always following each "ride" I thank God for the opportunity, thank God for the birth mother and her difficult journey, thank God for the baby, and thank God for the family that has been blessed.
Our faith is what has brought us to this place in our life and our journey. Joe and I believe that we are called to be parents and called to adopt. We know that God has already picked our child/children out, that it is only a matter of time before we are brought together. We have great faith knowing that we are following the calling of God in our lives. The one thing I know for sure is that knowing you are following your call from God doesn't always mean the journey is easy but it does mean that we aren't alone. The people that God has put in our life to help us with this journey just amaze me. The blessings that come with knowing that others who have walked this journey before us or who are on this journey at the same time as us gives us the strength to get through the hard and rough parts of this ride.
God is Good!
Peace and Blessings!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Saturday, June 29, 2013
PROGRESS!!! Moving Forward....
While I have been traveling for the last few weeks for work a lot of things have happened with our adoption journey....
Our Home Study is COMPLETE!
Our Family Profile is COMPLETE!
Applications to agencies are COMPLETE!
On Monday, July 1st (which was my goal, and we all know how I like check lists and goals!) we are mailing off our applications, home studies, and family profiles to the different agencies we have selected!
We are so excited to move forward!
Once we apply with the agencies, we wait....we wait for a situation to present itself, we wait to be matched with a birth mother, and we wait for the birth of our child!
Joe and I continue to pray for the birth mother of our future child/children.
We continue to pray for the child/children.
We pray for ourselves as this journey is not for the faint of heart. It is long, it is hard, and it really makes you examine who you are, what you think and what you want for your future.
We pray for our families as we continue down this adoption journey.
And we pray that God will help us to raise the money that is needed for this journey and his plan for our life!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Our Home Study is COMPLETE!
Our Family Profile is COMPLETE!
Applications to agencies are COMPLETE!
On Monday, July 1st (which was my goal, and we all know how I like check lists and goals!) we are mailing off our applications, home studies, and family profiles to the different agencies we have selected!
We are so excited to move forward!
Once we apply with the agencies, we wait....we wait for a situation to present itself, we wait to be matched with a birth mother, and we wait for the birth of our child!
Joe and I continue to pray for the birth mother of our future child/children.
We continue to pray for the child/children.
We pray for ourselves as this journey is not for the faint of heart. It is long, it is hard, and it really makes you examine who you are, what you think and what you want for your future.
We pray for our families as we continue down this adoption journey.
And we pray that God will help us to raise the money that is needed for this journey and his plan for our life!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Happy Times
Praise God
Difficult Times
Seek God
Quiet Times
Worship God
Hard Times
Trust God
All Times
Thank God!
Friday, June 21, 2013
Moving in the right direction!
To be Home Study ready we have been waiting on our finger prints and back ground check from the Nebraska State Patrol office. I called Wednesday and they had mailed it out to our Home Study agency on 6/17/13 and I got a confirmation email last night that our social worker who is working on our Home Study received it and she should have everything complete and mailed out on Monday. Which means we should have the official stamp that we are Home Study complete very soon! That is a huge step in moving forward in our journey!
Creative Adoption Consultants has been so amazing helping us navigate each step of this journey. They are helping us put together our Family Profile and I hope that we will have that complete very soon as well.
Both the Home Study and the Family Profile are 2 key components to being able to apply to agencies and we are so very close!
Please continue to pray with us as we are moving forward on our journey.
Pray that God is preparing the birth mother's heart and the babies that God has picked out for us!
Pray for Joe and I as we are moving toward having a family.
And pray for our families and friends as they wait with us.
Peace and Blessings to you all!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Creative Adoption Consultants has been so amazing helping us navigate each step of this journey. They are helping us put together our Family Profile and I hope that we will have that complete very soon as well.
Both the Home Study and the Family Profile are 2 key components to being able to apply to agencies and we are so very close!
Please continue to pray with us as we are moving forward on our journey.
Pray that God is preparing the birth mother's heart and the babies that God has picked out for us!
Pray for Joe and I as we are moving toward having a family.
And pray for our families and friends as they wait with us.
Peace and Blessings to you all!
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/karen-joe-s-adoption-journey/62934
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Father's Day...
Having lost my father almost 20 years ago Father's Day is bitter sweet.
His smile, his laugh (like Underdog), his kindness, but mostly his love for us are still with me today.
His physical presence is missed tremendously but his memory is alive in my heart every day.
I don't know how many times most each and every day when something happens or someone says something that I think of my daddy. He taught me so many things and I really attribute a lot of my personality and drive to him. His primary goal was for me to be able to stand on my own two feet....
Thanks daddy, I have conquered that blessing and curse!
I know he would be so proud of the woman I have become. He would have questioned some of my choices along the way but he would have loved me through all the good and the bad.
Joe's dad is an amazing man and amazing role model for Joe. Brent has worked hard, loved his family and given them everything they needed and wanted. What he gave without even knowing, he gave Joe a desire to be a good father and role model to our children. Like me, Joe hasn't always made the best decisions in life, but he has been loved through the good and bad.
As Joe and I prepare for being parents, we have a lot of conversations about what we want for our family, how we want to parent, and how life will be in the future. The one thing that we both know is that we, just like our father's (and mother's)....we will love our children through the good and bad.
Happy Father's Day to our dad's on this day...we celebrate you.
Hopefully next year we will be celebrating Father's Day with our new family!
Peace, blessings and prayers to you all! K
His smile, his laugh (like Underdog), his kindness, but mostly his love for us are still with me today.
His physical presence is missed tremendously but his memory is alive in my heart every day.
I don't know how many times most each and every day when something happens or someone says something that I think of my daddy. He taught me so many things and I really attribute a lot of my personality and drive to him. His primary goal was for me to be able to stand on my own two feet....
Thanks daddy, I have conquered that blessing and curse!
I know he would be so proud of the woman I have become. He would have questioned some of my choices along the way but he would have loved me through all the good and the bad.
Joe's dad is an amazing man and amazing role model for Joe. Brent has worked hard, loved his family and given them everything they needed and wanted. What he gave without even knowing, he gave Joe a desire to be a good father and role model to our children. Like me, Joe hasn't always made the best decisions in life, but he has been loved through the good and bad.
As Joe and I prepare for being parents, we have a lot of conversations about what we want for our family, how we want to parent, and how life will be in the future. The one thing that we both know is that we, just like our father's (and mother's)....we will love our children through the good and bad.
Happy Father's Day to our dad's on this day...we celebrate you.
Hopefully next year we will be celebrating Father's Day with our new family!
Peace, blessings and prayers to you all! K
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Hard to wait....
Those of you who know me, know I'm not the most patient person. I like check lists, process flows, order and control. Waiting on things that are outside of my control are not my strong suit. That is where we are now.
We have filled out all of our paper work, we have been finger printed and local background checked, we have provided references and tons and tons of information and paperwork.....and now we wait!
I called the State office that does the Federal Background Checks to make sure they got the paperwork, I called this past week (week 4 that they have had the paperwork) to see where they were in the process...and she told me to call back this week....so we wait!
We have taken all of our pictures, we have uploaded our information and pictures, now we wait for our family profile...don't get me wrong...we are blessed to be working with CAC and they know exactly what to do with profiles..so we gladly wait on our profile! But we wait!
So, what is left for us at this point...PRAYING!
Please pray along with us!
Pray that God will wrap Joe and me with His comfort and blessings to know that what we feel called to do, adopt, is a blessing to Him and that He will give us PEACE when things don't necessarily happen in MY time but that all things will happen in HIS time!
We pray for our future family. Joe and I are so ready to have children!
We pray for our child/children who are out there that God has picked for us to parent.
We believe that through God, all things are possible and He knows who will be our children.
We pray for the birth mother/family who is having to make an extremely hard decision.
We pray that God will move mountains for the children that He has picked out for us...we pray that His hand will move paperwork through the process, that He will speed up or slow down what needs to be done so we will be ready for our children in HIS time!
God is Good...all the time!
But most of all...I will gladly wait on God rather than God having to wait on me!
God's timing is a lot better than me! :)
We have filled out all of our paper work, we have been finger printed and local background checked, we have provided references and tons and tons of information and paperwork.....and now we wait!
I called the State office that does the Federal Background Checks to make sure they got the paperwork, I called this past week (week 4 that they have had the paperwork) to see where they were in the process...and she told me to call back this week....so we wait!
We have taken all of our pictures, we have uploaded our information and pictures, now we wait for our family profile...don't get me wrong...we are blessed to be working with CAC and they know exactly what to do with profiles..so we gladly wait on our profile! But we wait!
So, what is left for us at this point...PRAYING!
Please pray along with us!
Pray that God will wrap Joe and me with His comfort and blessings to know that what we feel called to do, adopt, is a blessing to Him and that He will give us PEACE when things don't necessarily happen in MY time but that all things will happen in HIS time!
We pray for our future family. Joe and I are so ready to have children!
We pray for our child/children who are out there that God has picked for us to parent.
We believe that through God, all things are possible and He knows who will be our children.
We pray for the birth mother/family who is having to make an extremely hard decision.
We pray that God will move mountains for the children that He has picked out for us...we pray that His hand will move paperwork through the process, that He will speed up or slow down what needs to be done so we will be ready for our children in HIS time!
God is Good...all the time!
But most of all...I will gladly wait on God rather than God having to wait on me!
God's timing is a lot better than me! :)
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Family Profile...
As apart of our adoption journey, we have to create a family profile book. It is a scrapbook of our family and our story that will be seen by the potential birth mothers and hopefully our story and profile will connect with one of the birth mothers and we will be a match.
The hardest part for me has been gathering the pictures that are needed. I never realized how many pictures I do take, but more importantly I didn't realize how many events it looks like I have missed out on because I am not in any of the pictures.
Today we had the absolute best morning, even though it was rainy and cloudy here in Omaha! A friend from work told me about his niece that was a part time photographer who could take some pictures for us.
We put together a plan to take some pictures of Joe and I together and doing fun things like golf, tennis, playing games at a place like Dave & Buster's plus she took some portrait pictures of us too.
I can't wait to actually see Hannah's work. She was so awesome and just allowed us to be us! There weren't any of the tilt your head just a little to the right or any of that...we were just us!
Once we get the pictures back (hopefully she will add some color to my pasty white legs!) and get them sorted, we can upload them and Cheri can begin working on our profile! This will hopefully be done about the same time our Home Study will be completed and we will be able to start applying to agencies!
As things are getting checked off the list and we are getting closer to applying, my heart becomes more full and hopeful everyday. God is good and has called us to adopt. Following what you feel like God wants for you and your life is an amazing feeling. Knowing that God's timing is perfect and my timing isn't is the hardest part for me! I know that things will happen when they are supposed to happen...we just have to believe in God!
Peace and Blessing!
The hardest part for me has been gathering the pictures that are needed. I never realized how many pictures I do take, but more importantly I didn't realize how many events it looks like I have missed out on because I am not in any of the pictures.
Today we had the absolute best morning, even though it was rainy and cloudy here in Omaha! A friend from work told me about his niece that was a part time photographer who could take some pictures for us.
We put together a plan to take some pictures of Joe and I together and doing fun things like golf, tennis, playing games at a place like Dave & Buster's plus she took some portrait pictures of us too.
I can't wait to actually see Hannah's work. She was so awesome and just allowed us to be us! There weren't any of the tilt your head just a little to the right or any of that...we were just us!
Once we get the pictures back (hopefully she will add some color to my pasty white legs!) and get them sorted, we can upload them and Cheri can begin working on our profile! This will hopefully be done about the same time our Home Study will be completed and we will be able to start applying to agencies!
As things are getting checked off the list and we are getting closer to applying, my heart becomes more full and hopeful everyday. God is good and has called us to adopt. Following what you feel like God wants for you and your life is an amazing feeling. Knowing that God's timing is perfect and my timing isn't is the hardest part for me! I know that things will happen when they are supposed to happen...we just have to believe in God!
Peace and Blessing!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Considering the costs
Karen and I were working on fund raising ideas, grants and loan applications tonight. We may be romantic about this process and what the end, or the beginning as it may be, means to us, but we are also realistic. This will be expensive. Having said that, what venture that is ever worth it isn't expensive. And, as I eluded to earlier, this is just the beginning of our families journey. I think a realistic outlook is necessary because one can get burdened easily by these issues if you don't go in eyes wide open.
Thanks again to those who are following and who will read about us in the future, your support, both spiritually and otherwise means a lot to us.
Thanks again to those who are following and who will read about us in the future, your support, both spiritually and otherwise means a lot to us.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Checking things off the list...
Adoption = Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork!
Joe and I have been making a ton of check lists to keep track of all the applications we are filling out, pictures we need for our family profile, documents we need, books we've read, video's we've watched and the list goes on!
Even with all the hard work, it is such an exciting time for us!
We are working with Christian Adoption Consultants who are such a blessing to help us navigate this journey.
We have completed our 3 Home Study visits, we have done our local back ground check, our fingerprinting is done and sent off to be validated and verified, our references have sent in kind words, our employment has been verified, our financials have been verified, our doctors visits have been done, we have done our 10 hours of training, we have proofed our preliminary Home Study approval....now we wait for our FBI background checks and clearance to come back so our Home Study can be completed!
Check the box....now we wait!
We are gathering pictures and writing our story for our Family Profile books that will be sent to the agencies for birth mothers to look through and hopefully pick us! We have to send in approximately 100 or so pictures and this may seem like an easy task, but it isn't when we need pictures of me and I am usually the one taking the pictures, so next weekend we hopefully will get the remainder of our pictures taken so we can send our information and pictures off so we can check that box....
We are also filling out applications for the different agencies we will be applying to once our Home Study is approved and our Family Profile is done...more paperwork!
We are praying daily that God will be preparing the birth mother's heart so she will be open and receptive to our profile...
We are praying daily for a child/children that will one day add to our family...
We are praying daily for God to be preparing us for our journey!
Please pray with us!
Joe and I are also trying to raise money for our journey...if you would like to help, please visit our fund raising website....
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Beginning
Ever since we met and started dating we have talked about having a family. Adoption has always been an option towards building our family and now it is becoming reality. We have nearly completed our "home study", had physicals today and are awaiting the opportunity to put ourselves out there in the form of a "family profile book". So exciting!
Thanks to all who are following and who will follow. We are thankful that you have taken an interest in our lives.
Thanks to all who are following and who will follow. We are thankful that you have taken an interest in our lives.
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