Home Study Update

It was only about a year ago that our Home Study was finalized. In some ways it doesn't seem possible that it's been a year already, yet in other ways it feels like a lot longer.

Since January 1st I've been trying to be much better about writing in my 5 year journal. As I have been writing each day, these are some of the things that have stood out to me from the previous year: January 11, 2015 Tyler had an elder meeting to talk about a few potential lead pastor candidates. January 13, 2015 I spent some time looking at our finances, the housing market and if it was a possibility to sell our house. January 16, 2015 we got a call from our agency saying we'd been approved for two children.

And now back to today, January 20th, 2016. We begin our Home Study update tomorrow. Tyler has a new position, we moved and now we have one boy within our sights. All of these items will be updated. We are hoping to have this update completed by March. I don't know what all an update entails, but I'm ready to get working so that we can be as current as possible when our referral actually does come!

We have had to change our Home Study agency due to staffing changes at our prior agency. I'm not nervous, but it does make me a little more anxious than I'd like to admit. Someone we don't know and have never met will be coming into our home tomorrow. It seems interesting to me that someone from outside my world is going to come in and examine my family and my home. In some ways I understand how it's good for someone to come in with no bias. On the other hand I wonder how well they can really know what they need to know about us. So yes, I may not be a nervous wreck, but I'm for sure going to go and dust now!



Penny made this on our white board the other day. She said it was for her little brother so that when he came home it would help him remember his brother and sisters names. I love how the kids think of him and pray for him. Thought I'd share that little tidbit too. :)

We Bought a Zoo

Ok, not really. We didn't buy a Zoo. I saw that movie once and for some reason when I think of saying what I want to say, that comes to mind. Seriously though, we bought a mattress. No big deal. People do that. But this mattress is for my boy. My son. I don't know his name. I've never seen his face. I don't even know how old he is!

We've been given what's called a "soft referral" by our agency. There is one boy that our agency is trying to match us with. Our paperwork and his paperwork are both being processed by the Haitian government. And at some point they should hopefully come together for an official match. Until then, we know nothing about him. Well, not nothing... we know he's somewhere between the ages of 1 and 5. Not much to go off of. :)

It's an amazing experience to feel your love grow for a child you've never even met. So many similarities to what it was like before we met each of our other children. And I thought 9 months was a long time to wait!! It's been 18 months so far... now that's a long pregnancy! 

While we were settling into our new home I think I hit a bit of a nesting phase and bought matching sheets and bedding for our boys. Crazy. I know I'm crazy. Yes, it makes some days difficult seeing the empty bed and wondering how long it will really be before he comes home. Other days it makes me smile in wonderful anticipation.  It reminds me to continue preparing in any way I can for him. It also reminds me to pray for his relationships with his siblings as they prepare to welcome him into our family. Most of all though, it reminds me to pray for him and where he's at right now.

Now some of you might be wondering why only one child when we'd been desiring two. Currently there are no siblings within our criteria available at the orphanages our agency is partnered with. At first I was a bit surprised. I mean, we'd clearly stated that we felt God was calling us to two children. I still feel that way! We are over the moon for this little boy, no doubt about that. But our hearts are open and ready for whoever God has planned for our family. It may not all come together how I imagined it. But it will be even better when God puts our family together just as He desires. One boy for now. Another boy or girl later? Only God knows!

Changes and Thankfulness

In the past few months we have gone through a big season of transition. In June, shortly after our Dossier was officially submitted in Haiti, we sold our house. It was the house we first purchased when we moved to Stayton. It's the only home my three kids have ever known. When we moved into the house it was just Tyler and I. It was such a great home and we were so thankful for it. We also were beginning to feel a bit like we were busting at the seams in it. Not that it was packed full of stuff, but as we have grown in our hosting and in our number of family members it had begun to feel tight.

We began praying about what we should do. We spoke with our friend who was a real estate agent. We listed our house with him and sold it three days later!! The hunt began for a new place... nothing seemed to fit us. Either the price was too high or the house just didn't feel right. We began to feel a bit panicked over what to do! (Ok, maybe me more than Tyler...) In God's timing a rental home owned by some other friends of ours became available. They so graciously let us rent the house from them even knowing we were looking to buy a home and not stay there long term. We were so thankful to know we had a place to move in to!

The day our house closed, the house we had really been wanting to purchase came back on the market. We put in our offer and waited to hear if we'd gotten the house. Days later.... We got the house!! We were so excited! It was a bank owned property that needed some renovations done (Fixer Upper anyone?? I love that show!! :)). The closing process was long, God has really been teaching me a lot about patience! Once we got the keys to our new home there was no more waiting as there was a ton of work to do! We were so blessed by family and friends who helped us do the work, bring us dinner and helping out with the kids. We are settled in and it feels like home. There are a few small projects to finish up, but what house doesn't have projects waiting to be finished?!

We are now in the process of having our home study updated. With moving we have to make sure that all our documentation is current. It was about one year ago we were just finishing our home study! So much has changed since then! Even in the waiting now for our additional child(ren) we are so thankful for a home that is ready to welcome whoever God has planned to join our family.