5 For Hope

Thanksgiving

So much to be thankful for this year!  Two new jobs underway, a refinancing on our house coming soon, and discussing other financing with our credit union so we can officially start the paper chase.  We are very excited and nervous!

I worry about all kinds of things all the time regardless.  Now that I can take a breather from worrying about A job (although I am still worried about finding THE job), I have more time to contemplate all the ins and outs of adoption.  It's funny, though, because all I have to do is envision M3 in an orphanage and all those fears seem so inconsequential and small-minded. 

I remember a friend of mine told me months ago:  start that paperwork because once you have a job, you'll have less time and you'll be surprised how much time it takes.  She was right.  I, however, avoided doing much aside from printing everything off because I didn't want to jynx anything.  It will be okay, though.

Tomorrow and this weekend are major paperwork days.  Not only do we have a bunch of stuff to gather for the refinancing appointment, but I need to find some papers for my bar prep training class.  While I'm done there, I can make sure I have all my documentation printed off for our adoption file and just get started!

Such exciting times! 

Big Day

Today, I exchanged e-mail with our caseworker at the adoption agency.  They have approved our pre-application paperwork.  They have invited us to send in our documentation (and our money) and start the ball rolling.

Given all the news of the day, I feel much more confident in our ability to pay for the portion of the paperwork that will put us in a position to apply for grants.  Additionally, we have been looking into some other fundraising vehicles and short-term things which may provide us with just the right recipe to move this along.

The caseworker pointed out that M3 is READY.  The only thing she is waiting on is us to get our rears in gear, submit all the documentation and paperwork, and complete our homestudy.  This means this process will move as fast as we can move it.

Which made me wonder...perhaps all this ulcer-inducing job searching has only been minimally fruitful because the very thing I have prayed about and believed in is truly going to happen.  I am going to be granted an opportunity to be a mother to this precious little soul.  And, if it happens as quickly as it appears it could, she will need me here. 

If we are able to pull this off before I land 'the' job, it will probably be for the best as I will be able to take the necessary weeks to help her bond and adjust.  To schedule her visits with a pediatrician, dentist, occupational therapist (if needed), and grief counselor (if needed) in a comfortably spaced manner.  And, to form some relationships with the Ethiopian students on our local campus so that when I call one to come to the pediatrician and dentist with me, they will agree...I sense some sort of dessert will be involved?  They are, after all, college guys.

My friend, KB, has offered to have a Welcome M3 party to 'shower' us with love, affection and some loot prior to M3's arrival.  And, although my other friend APM is opposed to this entire idea (he likes my family just the way it is), I hope he will come and bring his buffalo chicken dip.

So much paperwork...I better find a good pen!

Deep Breathing

I knew the e-mail or letter or phone call would come.  It has been on my mind several times each and every day.  I also had hoped that things would develop in such a way that when the e-mail arrived, I'd have a master plan.

The e-mail arrived tonight from the adoption agency that works with the NGO who has Hope in their care.  The caseworker informed me that 1) they are in receipt of our pre-application; 2) they are in receipt of our letter of intent; 3) they have reviewed both; 4) waiting child adoptions move fast; 5) adoption is expensive; 6) they want to know how we're financing the adoption.

If that isn't the $20,000 question, I don't know what is.

Time for another pow-wow with my husband.  I had so hoped to have a job by now.  I'm not even sure a bank would finance some kind of loan for this without me being employed.  I will definitely make a call or two, but I'm not sure.  Of course, if a bank would hand over $27,000 for us to have a new covered patio room, perhaps they could float us a loan so we can move this process along?

Oh, how I hate this.

I so want this to be over and have Hope here with us.

I'll need to think of a good way to respond to this e-mail.  Pray for guidance for me...oh, and a job too, please.

Another Day...Five More Toward the 4,000

Our current count stands at 36 who have joined our campaign...only 3,964 more folks to go!  Thanks to our latest contributor who generously filled five spots all by himself. 

After being notified that our Letter of Intent (LOI) had been submitted to the agency, I have heard nothing else in the way of an update.  I am hopeful that by the time we are notified, I will have a job and be working toward my first paycheck.

I'm being very resourceful this week...no grocery trip for me.  I have been looking around at the food we have on hand and making myself be creative.  So far, no unrecognizable or questionable combos.  Monday night, my husband made Hamburger Helper and some freezer breadsticks we ordered from Market Day a few months ago.  Last night, I finished off 1/2 box of pasta and made a baked pasta dish everyone (except M2) loves.  We added in Pepperidge Farm garlic bread from the bulk-sized box purchased ages ago from Sam's.  Tonight, I made crockpot Taco Soup...super easy and super yummy.  Tomorrow, I think I will make parmesan chicken strips (even M2 will eat it!) and Friday we can still have pizza night, but we'll make it ourselves.  We haven't had pizza in awhile.  The good news?  I've lost 12 pounds in recent months.  The bad news?  Cutting back like this isn't saving us extra money.  I have to look on the bright side and realize, though, it isn't putting us deeper in a hole either so when money DOES start to come in via my new job, we can start saving right away.

My grandma usually gives me money to purchase Christmas gifts for myself.  I have been considering wrapping up some things that I already own and using the money toward the girls' Christmas or even toward our adoption expenses (if the girls' Christmas is covered).  It isn't like I need anything especially when the only thing I can think about is Hope and bringing her to the U.S.

I continue to try and practice patience.  I keep trying to have faith.  Both aren't easy, I assure you.

Our Letter of Intent

Just a quick update today...

First, I received a notice from the head of the NGO taking care of Hope that our letter of intent to adopt her has been forwarded on to the adoption agency.  If that is approved, I think this ship starts sailing.

Second, I had a great interview today for a job.  40 hours a week at a fairly decent rate.  Good experience.  Nice people.  This would SO help me be able to catch up on some obligations, prepare for M1's birthday and Christmas PLUS invest in M3's paper chase.

Third, my OB/GYN gave me a clean bill of health at my annual appointment today.  He also agreed to complete my doctor paperwork for my homestudy if he needs to do so.

Nearing Thanksgiving

I spent a wonderful weekend working (volunteering) in Tacoma, Washington and had a terrific time seeing some very dear friends again.

I was officially sworn in as an attorney today.  I have a job interview tomorrow and another on Wednesday.  I truly hope a job comes soon.  We need it to get this dream off the ground!

I spoke at my daughter's Girl Scout Troop meeting today.  We discussed our Ethiopian sponsorship child, talked about international adoption, and then the girls made colorful bookmarks for the children in the sponsorship program who attend class with our sponsorship child, E.

After this weekend, our $5 from 4,000 number is updated to $5 needed from 3969.

THANK YOU to all those who have been generous with their mondy and their prayers.

A $5 from 4,000 Update

Our newest numbers are in:  it's now $5 from 3973.

Once my freelance writing job sends me my check, we can subtract another 40 "people" from that list.

One step at a time...we're getting there!  THANK YOU to all you who have joined our journey. 

In Perfect Time

I have been fretting more than a faithful person should these past couple weeks.  Desperately wanting to find a job so that we have the money in our budget to put our paperwork in motion, but not having any luck finding anyone nearly as motivated as I to allow me to start working. 

We have received some lovely e-mail and have had a half dozen people decide to be one of our 4,000 and that has been tremendously heartwarming.  As I told one of them, I have done this for others (sent money to a virtual stranger/friend) and yet doing it for someone else and having someone do it for you are two, completely different things.

In explaining our current situation in an e-mail to an adoptive mom whose little girl came home in August (and had been staying at the same orphanage as our daughter), she replied with the most wonderful response..."all in perfect time."

She's so right.  I need to remain motivated and keep pushing.  I need to keep turning over stones and pressing forward.  And, I need to remain mindful that God doesn't put more on our plates than we can handle and that if this is what He wants for our family, it will happen.

I can't wait to show Hope the album I will be making for her.  She will be able to see the way in which strangers prayed for her and even contributed to her being able to come here to live.  It will be a wonderful lesson in how God takes care of even the littlest ones...a lesson that should be repeated often.

Pushing On

I'm poised on the starting line of the Paper Chase.

Our pre-application is in and, apparently, approved as an emblem reading "Child Placed" now fills the spot on the Waiting Child List where M's photo once beamed.

Now, I need to submit the application to the actual adoption agency ($600), schedule our home study ($600 at start and $550 when finished) and be ready to hand over $1500 in a dossier fee to the agency once our application is approved.  The other agency fees which would usually be spread over several months will come due all around the same time, I suppose.  (These will be so much easier to stomach once I have a darn job!)

Fundraising needs to be started in a meaningful and hard-hitting way.

I have a post office box ready to start receiving $5 donations from friends and strangers alike.  I'm still interested in finding someone who could use the Typepad tools to create a template specifically for this blog (I think it uses CSS language) and to make some handy, sidebar access available for people to link to important places.  I don't need anything complicated, so if you know of someone whom I might be able to bribe with leftover Halloween candy or freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, e-mail them my info or e-mail their info to me. 

What I also have is a husband who is knee deep in the HOOAH of an impending, no-notice deployment.  In my experience, this means he will be of no help, which is totally cool with me.  What is decidedly NOT cool with me is when he becomes a hindrance.  His behavior lately reminds me a lot of Dory from Finding Nemo.  And, even though like Dory he is very cute, it is no less maddening when the chips are down and you are constantly filling in blanks and reminding someone--we already decided that.

At least he has FINALLY taken the gigantic step to tell someone in his family, namely his favorite cousin (who happens to be his only relative who lives in our county), that we are looking to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia.  She was thrilled and very interested in hearing all about it.  I hope this interest will calm him unfounded anxieties about familial reactions.  It certainly did lead to an immediate change in his demeanor. 

This weekend, I'll be posting detailed information on 3 potential ways these 4,000 people can lend me their $5.  And then, perhaps I will enlist some blogging buddies to join me in a Blogburst of international proportions. 

Until then, it's time to print off some forms and start filling in the blanks.

Being Bold

Boldness is not something for which I'm necessarily famous.  But, sometimes, I even surprise myself.

I had a conversation with my husband last night which led me to believe that it would be okay if I filed the pre-application for M3 with the NGO.  It didn't cost anything to do and is considered the first step to adopting her.  I completed the paperwork today and had my husband sign it tonight.  I will mail it in the morning.

I held my breath when I e-mailed the NGO director to tell her of my intentions.  I was scared she would e-mail me immediately and tell me M3 had another family who had already filed paperwork.  That didn't happen.  In fact, I received a very excited e-mail from the director and then a second one containing photos of M3 from the day in May when she entered the official orphanage.  She looks sooo sad.  Even though she didn't look the happiest in the DVD from August, I could tell a difference in her from even May. 

I also contacted the homestudy agency I think we will use.  They are much cheaper than other places and you only have to pay for 1/2 up front.  The rest may be paid when the study is completed.  That means rather than $1750, we only need to come up with $1200 to get the ball rolling.  Still a ton of cash, especially given my unemployed status, but I'm getting a job of some kind this week come heck or high water.  Even if it's just something I keep for a bit, I need some income ASAP to start paying down bills and saving toward adoption expenses.  Once the home study is done, I want to start applying for grants, etc.

It appears we have officially "begun" but the paper chase still awaits.

Boldness abounds!