While We Wait...

I know it has been awhile since I posted on this blog, but I really have nothing new to say. We are playing the long waiting game that so many adoptive parents are playing right now. I e-mailed our program coordinator and asked her what our dossier was "experiencing" right now, just for something new, and basically it is being translated and shown around while the orphanage works on finding us a match that fits our home study parameters. I'm sure glad that God is in control and ultimately will bring the perfect little girl for us into our family!

The need of funds is still there, as are many, many cookbooks. So, if you would like to order some cookbooks as Christmas presents, please let me know...I would be happy to oblige!

Pray without ceasing...

In Taiwan

Our dossier has arrived in Taiwan, according to Fed Ex! Yippee! Now the long wait begins...possibly as long as 24 months according to our agency. Plenty of time to raise the funds needed for the orphanage fee and travel. We still have five boxes of cookbooks left...they would make great Christmas presents. Please let me know if you would like some to help us bring Sophia home!

Waiting on GOD to bring Sophia home...

Tomorrow is the Day!

According to our FedEx tracking device, our dossier should arrive in Taipei, Taiwan, tomorrow, September 14! And according to our adoption agency, we could have up to a 24 month wait for a referral! That was not the number we heard originally when we began this journey, but God has a plan, I'm sure. The adoption process in Taiwan is similar to domestic adoption here in the U.S. in that if there is a birth family still involved with the child, they are involved in choosing the family to whom their child is given for adoption. Therefore, as I understand it, if there is a birth family who finds a family with four sons who live in small town USA, and enjoy fishing and traveling, attractive as a family for their daughter, we could find the wait to be much shorter than 24 months. As far as we are concerned, God is in control and He will guide the orphanage people in Taiwan who are helping to make that decision, and He will guide us when we are given a referral to know if the child referred to us will fit in our family. But we would appreciate your prayers as we wait! (And as we continue to raise the orphanage fee and travel funds!)

Waiting expectantly for Sophia...

On a Wing and a Prayer!

Our dossier is on its way to Taiwan! I received the official word from our agency today. I'm so excited, yet extremely nervous. This means that our referral is the next step, and then we need the money for the orphanage fee. But, God knows all of that, so we will continue to pray and wait and do what we can to raise the funds. Cookbooks, anyone?

One step closer to Sophia!

No News...

Just a quick post to say that we have not heard anything since sending our dossier to our agency. We know our home study is being authenticated for Taiwan, and then the whole dossier will be sent to the orphanage in Taiwan. As soon as we hear it has been sent, I'll let you know!

Waiting for Sophia...

Dossier...Check!

On Saturday I took our dossier to the Post Office here in Jonestown and entrusted it into the care of our friendly neighborhood mail clerk! Talk about faith! But thankfully, it arrived in Kansas on Monday and it looks great (says our agency contact)! Thank you Lord! The next step is to have all of our documents authenticated for Taiwan, and then it will be translated and sent to Taiwan (or maybe sent to Taiwan and translated?)...you get the idea! When I hear that it has been sent to Taiwan, I'll let you know! Thanks for praying, and don't stop now! When we get and accept our referral, we need to pay the orphanage fee, which could be anywhere between $4,000 and $10,000. Most likely, it will be around $6,000. But our God is able!

Praying Sophia home...

Paperwork Update

Today Dave and I finally had the time to go to a notary together and get some paperwork notarized. We praise God for the kindness of the notary who did not charge us saying, "Adoption is expensive enough!" I also sent two copies of our home study to Harrisburg, PA, to receive the state seal of Pennsylvania which is needed to authenticate the notarization, I guess? Goodness me there's a lot of hoops to jump through! But we are getting closer! Once I receive the home studies back, everything will be sent certified mail to our agency in Kansas and it will be out of our hands...yeah! We are getting closer, baby step by baby step!

In other news, we are planning an interesting fundraiser for the next few weeks. It involves selling flower bulbs that can be planted this fall to come up in the spring. If you are interested in helping us sell these (think Girl Scout cookie-like brochure...really easy!) or would like to purchase some bulbs ($6 a packet and the number of bulbs per packet varies depending on the flower type) let me know! We get 50% profit on these!

Each step brings us closer to Sophia...guide our steps, Lord!