A Little Fun

I have been doing a lot of dreaming and playing online with decorating ideas for Abby's room. I have found three bedding sets I really like. I thought it would be fun to vote(it will be good practice). Please look at the 3 choices and then vote for you favorite. The winner will be posted on Nov.4th



The first Choice is called Flower Basket
The second bedding picture is Pink Shabby Chic
and the last choice is called Gracie's Garden.
Please vote on the poll provided on the side. I can't wait to see which one wins.

A Step in the Right Direction

Just wanted to let you all know your prayers are working,I recieved the notice for Brandon's fingerprinting. He goes October 29th,a few weeks for clearance and that part of immigration will be complete. Every step is step to bringing Abby home :)

Who says God doesn't speak to you?

So last night I wrote my post titled "Let go and Let God",I was missing Abby and feeling a little discouraged.I went to bed and prayed,got up this morning, checked my email and then on to daily word.com and this is what I found ....
Daily Word — Saturday, October 18, 2008

Let Go, Let God
I let go of all concern and trust God for the perfect outcome.
Awaiting the outcome of a situation can challenge my peace of mind, but only if I let it. I choose not to let it.
Looking to God in prayer, I call upon my vital source of inner strength. I deepen my spiritual understanding and gain greater insight and patience. During my prayer time, I release any concerns and preconceived ideas about how the situation will unfold. I am ready for great results.
My faith in God helps me replace any negative perception with a positive outlook. With renewed strength, I relax into a realization of God's presence and let events develop according to divine timing.
Through greater strength and deeper faith, I trust God for the right resolution and the perfect outcome.
"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?"--Job 6:11
I feel like he is speaking to me and letting me know to trust him, not to worry. I have a little more peace of mind and heart.

Let Go and Let God

I received an email from our SW who said she turned the homestudy in to DCFS when it was completed. I think that was late August.She supposedly was contacting them to find out the status but ahven't heard anymore. I suppose it is possible for it to sit in a pile for 6 weeks. The hardest part of this whole mess is that I have very little if any control over this. These government run agencies are on their own schedule. They see paper work not a child.I am really trying to be faithful and not fearful but I have to be honest,it is a daily struggle for me. Hopefully Brandon's fingerprint appt will come soon and I will at least feel like I am moving in the right direction.Until then all I can do is let go and let God.

HELP

Today I went to the mailbox and saw 2 envelopes from immigration. I was excited, thinking one had to be Brandon's fingerprinting appt.-NOPE! One was a check they were returning because they found our first set of paperwork, the second was like a punch in the stomach. It seems our SW was suppose to have our home study approved by DCFS before it can be sent to immigration and it was not, so they can not process out request until be have DCFS approval. I am really MAD at her for dropping the ball and really scared about further delays causing us to not get our paperwork into China on time. I am about at my wits end with all of this. Please keep the adoption and my sanity in your prayers

Thank you God!!

I heard from both immigration and the adoption agency. Immigration has no record of receiving the paper work so that was a bit of a bummer. I gathered it all up again and sent it UPS next day air. Hopefully,they will QUICKLY begin processing all of that. Now for the great news,the attestation the agency added to our documents worked! They have been certified through Washington Secretary of State! Yeah:)
I really don't know if I would have been able to keep my wits about me if I would have had to redo it. I am just praying Immigration moves quickly, that is the last piece to the puzzle. I want so badly to get our dossier over to China so I can feel one step closer to bringing our little girl home!!

Lori and the terrible,horrible, no good, very bad day

I am ready to end one of the worst days I have had in a LONG time. It started out bad and got worse- I won't bore you with all the details but I will share with you some adoption news that is causing me to worry. I contacted our agency because I thought it had been a long time since I mailed immigration the request for Brandon's finger printing,change of country etc. I mailed it on Sept.9 and they have not even cashed my check. When she learned of this she suggested I contact them to make sure it is not lost..WHAT!!! If it's lost that is a BIG deal!!! I had Chuck buy delivery confirmation but he threw out the paper because he thought they had received it. If that alone isn't enough. Half our paperwork is being returned because of a problem with the notary. Which means it will all have to be done over again. I feel like I am taking one step forward and ten steps back.There is a possibility that our adoption case worker can provide a "footnote" on each document that "this is a genuine and true document" sign it and have it notarized there and then have the Washington(that the state they're in)Sect. of State certify it. Please pray that God will put his hand in this and lead us through all these problems and red tape. I am starting to get nervous about not making our pre-approval date. I don't think I could bear it if I somehow lost her after seeing her sweet face. I am trying to focus on tomorrow and this day from the time I got up , through work with all its problems, until 10 minutes ago when I was cleaning up dog XXXX for the third time, is almost over and tomorrow is a new day full of hope.