June's Progress

What we've done in June:
Finshed our home study visits
Begun our I800A (US immigration's permission to adopt from C*a)

What's the next step:
Wait for our home study report to be completed
Attach it to our I800A paperwork and mail it off
Wait for our biometric fingerprint appointments, and ultimately, our approval from immigration

It feels good to be on our way!

Toddler Stuffics Anonymous

So....My name is Elizabeth, and I am addicted to toddler stuff.  I'm a therapeutic shopper by nature.  Okay, fine, a couponing cheapie but a shopper nevertheless, and I have had all this baby shopping and nesting bottled up for 5 or 6 years....Okay , fine, maybe add a couple decades to that estimate!  My mother in law has got me figured.  During a wonderful trip to Arizona, she was trying to make us let her buy breakfast (US Egg protein pankcakes- y'all, not to be believed!), and she threw in "put it in your baby fund"...and I dropped it like a hot potato.  Clammed up.  It's a disorder.  Everything now is either a buy instinct for our little one, or a total scrooge instinct because every other purchase is as if I'm taking away from this adoption.  I know, I really need a gray area!  To complicate matters, I do also the Dave Ramsey voice in my head.  Cable?  Cut it, focus on the goal.  Eating out?  Over, focus!  Cute clothes on unbelieveable clearance sale?  Weeallll.....okay okay only if they are supremely pack-able and cool for C*a travel!  My name is Elizabeth, and I am addicted to toddler stuff.  It has been 6 days since my last toddler stuff purchase.  Anybody know where to find really precious, gender-neutral design toddler bedding?   

Goodness

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows- this is God, whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families.       -Psalms 68:5-6

Lord, You are our child’s Father. Though we will forget time after time, it is not a government, or an individual, or a set of rules, but it is You who places children with their intended families.  We praise You for giving us this assurance!

You are the helper of the fatherless.  Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.                -Psalms 10:14, 17-18

Even though we cannot be there, You are there.  We can trust this little one into Your capable care while we wait.  You are our child’s Helper and Heart-preparer.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you a hope and a future."     -Jeremiah 29:11

You have plans for us and for our child, and those plans are good.  Not expected, not predictable, not without risk....good! 

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.       -James 1:27

You press us into persistence and remind us of the bigger picture beyond our immediate awareness. 

For as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”     -Romans 8:14-16

Thank you, Father, for adopting us, and for making it clear that we are not Your “adopted children.”  We are simply Your children. 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.   Galations 4:4-6

You sent you Son to redeem us, at such a cost, and you deem it all well worth having done….because now we are Your children.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.            -John 14:18

Love, we are coming, with your heavenly Father’s help!