More pics of Cannon Mills

I went over to visit Deedee and Cannon tonight. Oh my goodness did I feel a ton of emotions. That baby is so cute. He is strong, sweet, busy, smells good and likes to give eye lash kisses. He is also starting to get some teeth. He used my fingers to break them in. I loved it! Deedee is doing such a great job with him. He was just gazing up at her while she was feeding him and talking to me. You could tell he knew who his momma was. You can see that she has mastered multi-tasking. Great visit. Thanks Deedee!

Deedee and Cannon Mills

My friend Deedee Mills just arrived back from Ethiopia with her son. She has kept his name a secret this whole time. All along we have been calling him Junior. He now has a name, Cannon Mills! I am looking forward to meeting Cannon and seeing Deedee. Thank you God for a safe trip for Deedee and her son.

1/2 marathon weekend

Back at SeaBrook Island this weekend, but for a different purpose. I ran in my second Kiawah 1/2 marathon yesterday. It was a beautiful day for a run with 3,200 other people. I will have to say that all week I spent way to much time worrying about not being prepared. I did not train well for this marathon, but I made it and it is over. One more thing to mark off of the list for year 2008.

There are so many things that I am thankful for this year. I am probably going to have to dedicate a post to just the things that I am grateful for in 2008. My dossier is over in Ethiopia at this time and it is being translated. Not sure what the time frame will be, but it is good to know that it is in another country. I am trying to find out the name of the orphange that my agency works with. Also...there is a website that is giving shoes to Ethiopian children when you buy a pair. The shoes are different, but trendy. Take at look at the site. It is called Tom's shoes.

Kiddy Furniture

I have just spent the last three weeks with my mom visiting me in Charlotte and then us flying back to Rolla for the holiday. It has been a great time with family. Many things have happened on the adoption front.

My friend, Deedee, is flying to Ethiopia next week to pick up her son. We are all very excited for her. She had shared some information with me about Ethiopia closing its borders to single people for adoption. After checking this news out with Carolina Hope, they told me that I was going to be alright and that my dossier was being sent over to Ethiopia next week. It is up at Washington DC this week. It is true that they are considering closing the adoption process by single people. I hate to hear that for future moms. Once again, God has shown His favor towards me and my future family.

I have also had a chance to talk with my family about travel plans. My brother, Larry, has decided to travel with me when I go to get Samuel. I am really excited about this addition to the trip. He is such a great dad and I know he will help me out tremendously. I am so thankful for my family and the support they have shown me thus far.

I guess the time to "Wait" is now at hand. Everyone says this is the hardest part. I am not in a hurry. When I got in today, I opened the baby's room and my friend, Kari, had put together the crib. I think I may have to build onto this room inorder for the crib to fit. What was I thinking? All the other furniture looks like kiddy furniture. Good thing it is a kid room. :)

SeaBrook...Rest sweet rest...

I just arrived with Heather to the island and am looking forward to a weekend of fun in the sun. This means sitting all day at the beach and reading or sleeping. Enough about my rough life and on to the adoption information.

I talked with Carolina Hope on Monday and they sent the last items that I needed to fill out for the Hope Adoption Agency in St. Louis, MO. I still can not believe that we are using an agency from my home state. God is so fun! I had my friend at school notarize everything and I will be sending it out on Monday. This is it everyone!

The next steps are to have a courier take the dossier to a very important place for notarization. (Obviously, I don't remember what it is called or where it is located.) This should take 5-8 days and then it gets sent over to Ethiopia to be translated. The lady said we are looking at a timeline of March for a referral. This would mean travel in May or June. Praying that this all works out for June.

On the car ride down to the island, we talked about how adoption is based on "loss". I heard this in a class that I am taking at my church. I guess I had never thought of it that way. It seems like such a great gift to me that I would have never considered it as a loss. This is certainly a process for me and I am keeping my eyes and ears open.

Thank you God for your timing and sovereignty in my life. Have a great weekend everyone!

Immigration has arrived!

Woah...it has been awhile since I last wrote. Things are busy on my end. School has been going well and I have been fighting a cold virus for about three weeks. Crazy!

I have started training for a half marathon in Dec. at Kiawah. I have struggled with being consistent with running since the cold, but feel like I am turning the corner on that excuse. There always is an excuse. :)

Well...God did it again. I emailed my adoption agency and homestudy last Wednesday to see when my 171-H would potentially be coming back to me. After a few emails, I realized I had the information on a sheet in my 3-ring binder. I have alot of information in that binder. It said late Nov. or Dec. and to not call until Jan. 10, 2009. Sometimes it is just good to know what to expect. Here is where God comes into the story. As I was walking Raps, my dog, I got the mail and there in the back was my immigration paper work! God is so personal to me. He knows our every thought and desire.

I am reminded once again that He provides all of my needs and He knows what I can handle. Often times I ask myself "What are you doing?!" Then He reminds me of the best gift that I can give and also receive all at the same time. A precious life...I am so thankful for His care. Be encourage that God knows where you are at this time in your life and He loves you.

Have a blessed week!

Notary issues

Hello family and friends! What a week this has been. My mom had to take two radiation pills this week and then be sanctioned to her room for three days. She was not allowed to talk on the phone or get out of her room for fear to contaminate the house and my sister. It was good to hear her voice today. I am so thankful that she is doing well.

I received an email from Carolina Hope about my dossier. Turns out I have several notary signatures that need to be in a longer commission then they are. My doctor's letter is also not correct with the date and signature. I spent this afternoon getting a few things done with this. Looks like it is all going to work out.

I have read a few blogs that are dropping their service with Carolina Hope. I am praying that I have made the right choice with this agency. They have been helpful so far. We will see what happens next.

So the weekend is here and I am looking forward to some rest and potential sleeping in. That is kind of a joke. My body doesn't really let me sleep in anymore. I guess I should say, " My dog doesn't let me sleep in". She has gotten me up at 4:00 AM the last two mornings.

My dad's 85 birthday is this Sunday on Sept. 14th. I have seen a website called http://www.charitywater.org/ that I am interested in supporting for the month of September. If you get the time, take a look at this sight. It is in response to providing clean water the people in Africa.

Thanks for your love and support through this process. God is so good to all of us!

Sunburned and relaxed...

Yes, you guessed it...I am at SeaBrook Island with Heather and Kari and we are enjoying some serious down time. The weather has been beautiful. Constant seabreeze on the beach front. Couldn't ask for better weather. The waves were a little choppy today. Must be from the storms heading this direction.

Happy Labor Day weekend!

I have completed all of the paper chase for my dossier. I am waiting to hear back from CIS and getting my homestudy finalized. Things are looking good. I am sure there will be some changes on the way.

I received some information about the group that my adoption agency is partnering with in Ethiopia. Please pray for Carolina Hope and the work that they are doing in Ethiopia. I know many families are ready to get their children and there seems to be some issues of communication.

Saw my first BOB running stroller on the beach. I pretty much stalked the owners. I am sure I will stike up a conversation with them tomorrow on the beach. Man am I weird lately or what? :)

Praise God !

This has been a great day! Mom's surgery went well and the dr. seems to think the cancer was in stage one. I am so thankful that this was found so quickly. I was able to talk with her this evening an hour or so after her surgery. It was so difficult to be almost 900 miles away while she was in the hospital. My brother, sister and niece were with mom all morning. I am so thankful for my family and the love that they have for our each other.

More good news...I received my finger prints back from the FBI and it was stamped with "No criminal record". I don't know why that was such a big deal to me, but it was so great getting my hands on to that piece of information.

Secondly, CIS sent me a letter of appointment for the 28th at 1:00. Not sure what to expect, but I need to have an interview with them. My homestudy also called me this week and said my homestudy should be done by the beginning of next week. I am still waiting for my birth certificate to be sent to me.

I have met so many people this past week who are looking to adopt from Ethiopia. It is amazing how many people are looking for their future family over there. I know that God has allowed me to meet all of these different families for one reason or another. I am looking forward to getting into a support group at Church at Charlotte.

Lots of stuff going on in my life. Phew...Thank God It's Friday!

Woah...slow down

I am sure that many of us are feeling this way as we enter into the month of August. I am getting ready to start another year of teaching 5th graders as of August 18th. Am I ready? I believe that we have every possible thing labeled and looking fun for the new faces. I am asking God to show me the gifts and talents of my students this week.

I have been reminded in our orientation meetings this past week that what we do and say make huge impacts. Let me be very conscience of how I am perceived this week. First impressions are big at this age. I have met alot of neat kids already through our extravaganza day on Saturday.

Onto adoption news...I have come to find out this week that a co-worker of mine is also adopting from Ethiopia. It is neat to see how God continues to place the right people in my life. I am getting more and more excited about this whole process. Also thankful that I have done the majority of the paper chase before school starts. The FBI called me this week and asked where I wanted my results sent to. I guess I labeled the envelope incorrectly. It should have gone to Carolina Hope. Also received two letters from CIS to let me know that they will be scheduling an appointment with me in the future. My case will be looked at towards the end of Nov. to Dec. I did call my homestudy group this weekend and asked about the report.

Still waiting on a few more recommendations and some pics and I will be ready to send everything to Carolina Hope. So...all appears to be good. On another note, I have found out that my mom has papillary thyroid cancer in her neck. She will have surgery this coming friday. I appreciate all of your prayers. God is good and I am thankful this has been found out now and not later.

Finger prints mailed to FBI

Well...another item to check off of the list. I sent in my finger prints to the FBI today with a prepaid envelope. It will be interesting to see how long it will take for the return. I am still waiting to hear back from CIS in Charlotte.

My friend, Deedee, is the fourth on a waiting list for her son from Ethiopia. She is so excited. I am looking forward to meeting her son and hearing all about her trip. She has gone through AGCI in Washington. They continue to keep in touch with me, because I sent for their information at the beginning.

I received word from Carolina Hope that they are looking to umbrella through another agency so that they can get to younger children. It appears that infants are in high demand. I keep hearing that the adoption process for Ethiopia is growing.

School is starting up for me next week. Looking forward to another year and fresh starts with new kids. Praying that God prepares my mind and heart for this new year. I am so thankful for my job and network of family and friends. God is good!

Big mailing day

I mailed my CIS form for the second time today along with my request for my birth certificate from MO. Each time I send out a check I think how much closer I am getting to the end. It was weird calling the police department today to set up a time to be finger printed. I have an appointment next Tuesday.

I know that many families are waiting to hear about their court date with knowing that the courts are closing in just a few days. What little research I have done, I have found out that the courts close from Aug. 7th-Oct. 7th in Addis Ababa, for what they call the rain season. I am in no hurry, but I know many people are waiting.

I feel the urgency to read as much as I can about Ethiopia, so that I will be prepared when the time comes to travel. I think the next book I will buy is "I'm chocolate, your vanilla". When Heather and I were in NYC we managed to walk through a book fair in Harlem. A lady had a book that she was selling for $5 that said "What white people know about black people". When I glanced over at her table, she proceeded to engage me in conversation. She said "Don't be intimidated by the book, it really is not that bad, take a look. " So I did...it had absolutely nothing on the pages...pretty funny. She said it was a great conversational piece for the coffee table. I agree.

July 28, 2008

Thank God for an ending to this day. I decided to take on the dossier and type up a bunch of letters and get them notarized at the bank. I also have copied the things that I am sending out to Carolina Hope and made a binder to organize it. I started out with a folder and have now graduated to a three ring binder with pockets. I am sure this is only the beginning to the madness of organization for me.

The bank would not notarize my signature for my 1040's. That was a little frustrating. After talking with Lisa at the adoption center, she told me this could be a problem. I am going to try a lady at my work place next.

I also asked her why the CIS place has not called me in for finger printing. Thank goodness I asked. Throught the questioning, I have found out that my home study did not give me the correct information for the price. Now I am trying to get in touch with these people who have in bold letters at the bottom of their form "Do Not Try To Contact Us". That is a little annoying. I gues the price changed a year ago this month. Hello!

Looking forward to getting this homestudy done. Enough said about that. :) God is good and I am thankful for this day and things that I was able to accomplish.

July 26th 2008

Here I am at SeaBrook Island with my nieces for the weekend and have managed to start a blog page. After much talk about creating one, I just managed to fall upon this one. I have received all of the paper work from Carolina Hope Adoption Agency. This weekend I have spent reading and initialing all of the items required by their agency. I feel like the hectic journey is about to begin.

I have my last home study visit on July 30th, which will be the home visit. Deb, my niece, has changed out all of my outlets. The house is officially baby proofed. Are we getting the cart before the horse? I am sure we are...I tend to plan ahead of time. Way ahead.

I have enjoyed reading blogs this weekend from many families who are adopting from Ethiopia. I feel like I learn a little more each time I sign on. Thank you friends and family for your support. God has blessed me with a wonderful support system. Peace...