Waiting . . .

We are waiting for the mail to bring us our Homestudy. 

Oh where oh where can you be?

I'm ready to send in my USCIS (Immigration paperwork)

But--today I will wait somewhat patiently. (Sort of) :)

Our Completed Home Study is On it's Way Here!

Yeah!! Doing the Happy Dance!  We just got an email that our homestudy is finished.  Now it has to travel to Savanah, then to Atlanta, then it will arrive in our happy hands and we will then mail it to the USCIS and then we will-----WAIT some more! :)  First we will wait for a fingerprint appointment, and then we will wait for approval.

In the meantime, we are collecting the rest of our dossier documents.  Marriage certificates, birth certificates etc., yes- we had to get new ones that were--pen-in-hand for Georgia.  Every state has different requirements, and Georiga is a pen-in-hand state. (That just means an actual person has to sign their name with a pen.)  However, we did find this out last time that it can't just be anybody to sign your documents.  Their name has to be on THE approved list.  It was correctly done the 3rd try. :) 

Anyways, we are making progress.  And we are not bored.  My calendar is rocking!  I have several cakes booked in the next few weeks, I have a photo shoot on Saturday, and we have lots of events planned in the near future.

Other news in our family... 

• Jordan got a job this weekend at Shoneys.  He pulled his first shift on Sunday afternoon.  He was so funny when he came home he said, "I just worked a four hour shift and I still owe them $6 for uniforms."  I just chuckled--that's a little reality check for a 16 year old. 
• Austin got a 2nd interview with another place--he is hoping for a call back this week.  (Note: We are too!  Have you priced car insurance for two males under 25 lately?  :) )  
• Leighanne had her first gymnastics meet on the 15th.  She did a fabulous job!  She came in 5th on the bars in her age group and 6th on the floor.  We are so proud.  It was a princess classic--and I think she was most proud of her tiara.  Pictures down below.
• Zach is still making beautiful pens from wood.  I'll post a couple of pictures of his pens also.




Leighanne doing her floor routine.

 



Getting her award.





Leighanne with Nana & Papa on the left and Bum Bum and Granny Bum on the right.




Tada!  Look at that Tiara Shine!





Pen  Zach made from Marble Wood





Pen made from Cocobolo Wood



Pen made from Lighter-Knot wood from Ben's family--the wood is estimated to be over 200 years old.

Do you Wanna Dance?

We just got this adorable video of Hannah!

She's the one dressed in pink, up front and she is dancing away!

I hope this brings a sweet smile to your face as it did ours.

So sit back and get ready to dance with Hannah!

A Little Bit of Sunshine to Tide us Over!

No--I am not referring to Auburn winning the National Championship!

Even though in my household--all the males are walking around like peacocks!

No, I'm talking about an e-mail from our agency--Great Wall.

It came early in the evening.  It was from a family who traveled to China in November.  They met Hannah when they adopted her foster brother.  So they took pictures and a short video of our soon to be daughter.  She sent a few last night.  She also sent a few fostercare reports of when Hannah was younger.  We can't believe that we have been given such a treasure of information.  We were not able to get that kind of information about Leighanne.  Sometimes my heart hurts for the unknown about her birth parents. (But that is another story for another day.)  Today I will rejoice in what we do have!

The family that adopted her foster brother felt compelled to advocate for Hannah when they returned from China.  Little did they know that we were already praying and taking steps to adopt Hannah.  When they returned, the family searched for Hannah's picture on the waiting list and couldn't find it.  They found out from a teenage girl who advocates for children to be adopted that Hannah had gotten a family--us.  So they contacted Great Wall and we were able to connect.  It IS a small world after all!

So until I can hold Hannah in my arms, and love her like a mommy--I will hold onto my little bit of sunshine!





This is Joan holding Hannah in November.  Look at the date--3 days after Orphan Sunday!
Joan is the mother of Nathan--Hannah's Foster Brother.


Pray for Hannah--to remain healthy--her eye appeared to be a little infected we were told.

Our house is Soooo Clean!

Well we just completed our In-Home visit with our social worker. 

I think we should tell our kids that the Home Study lady is coming every week--our house looked great and smelled clean! (not that we live in a pig sty, but some rooms in our house, whose owners we will not disclose, are now CLEAN!!!

Like--look there IS a floor Clean!

Like--oh--that's what the washer/dryer is for Clean!

Ok--I digress, but anyways, another step was completed today.

We also went to the doctor today to get our paperwork completed for Ben and myself.  We had to get an outside notary to come in to the office because the doctor offices notary's stamp expires in May 2011.  We didn't know who to ask because our Doctor office is about 15 minutes away in Florida.  We ended up finding this really awesome Notory (after a few phone calls to the North Florida Association who sent us to Yulee Baptist who sent us to our notory) who brought her 6 month old granddaughter with her to our Doctor visit and waited for about 45 minutes before the doctors were ready for the forms to be signed.

Yet another need prayed for, and answered.

We are thankful!

Ok--all of our prayer warriors--we need another BIG miracle soon.  Please pray and pray often.  We really depend on the prayers of our friends and family.