Thursday, August 26, 2010

Home study

We had the in-home portion of our home study this afternoon.  I'm terribly glad I cleaned my bathroom and made my bed, because the social worker DID look in every room!  She did not, however, check my cabinets for child safety latches, my end table for dust, or my outlets for plugs.  (Future-adoptive-parents-yet-to-have-a-home-study:  Don't quote me.  Yours may get checked.)  The results of that examination would have been: Yes. No. Yes. 

All in all, it was mostly no big deal.  Unless one is uncomfortable talking about the strengths and weaknesses of one's marriage, that is. 

We will each meet once more individually with the social worker at the beginning of next week. 

Now I'm off to figure out how to get my kids to obey. 

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Call

If you were at Harmony Vineyard Sunday you saw a promo video for The Call event taking place in Sacramento on September 3-4.  My descriptors can't really do justice to this movement and its impact over the last 10 years.  So follow the link and check it out yourself. 

If you find your heart resonating with this message and call, I encourage you to participate in some way.  We plan to watch as much as we can online, free, via GOD TV .  For those of you who love great worship music--Rick Pino, Matt Gilman, Brian and Jenn Johnson, and Leeland (and plenty of others, I'm sure) will be at The Call leading worship. 

It was while watching Lou Engle speak last fall that we knew with certainty we were called to adopt.  We believe that adoption is a strong prophetic act which directly counters the spirit of abortion and which demonstrates the lavish adoptive heart of the Father.

So watch with caution.  You might just get your heart broken over the things that break God's heart, and you may never be the same.

I happen to think that's a good thing.  :o)

Friday, August 20, 2010

Just wrote a big check...

...to pay the home study invoice.  It's in the mail!  Let the home study commence!  I think our social worker should be calling us next week to schedule it.  Now who would like to help me clean my house? 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Baby steps

Let's see...what's new?  I added an adoption timeline to the blog.  Kinda sparse right now.  I'm looking forward to getting our home study finished within the next few weeks (I hope).  We applied for passports yesterday; that definitely adds an element of reality.  We're traveling!  To China!  They should arrive in the mail in about four weeks, and we'll need to photocopy the first pages to include in our dossier. 

Adoption is gradually becoming a reality to our children, and I've greatly enjoyed overhearing their conversations and everyday play infused with the topic.   The other day S introduced me to her adopted baby (her doll).  And A created some adoption artwork, revealing a surprising grasp of the process.  (Can you figure out which part I mean?) 

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Holt picnic

S giving the pinata a whack
My good friend with her son from Ethiopia
Candy!
At the last minute we decided to attend the annual Holt picnic for the KS/MO region.  We had a great time with our friends who recently adopted a son from Ethiopia and our new friends who are in process to do the same.  We also met some other nice folks in various stages of the adoption process and saw some REALLY cute kiddos!  Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), I look forward to being at next year's picnic with my very own adopted son.