Would ya look at these faces?

I'm not very technical when it comes to this blogging thing...so sorry the video isn't actually here on the page! Click the link, or go to that web address.


http://vimeo.com/3565906


*We are one trip to the mailbox away from being on the "wait list"....and we are so excited to wait!

(Pictures and post from our trip to USCIS to come soon!)

Oops! Our first adoption mistake....

Charlie is reading up and practicing so next Christmas he'll be ready to entertain his little brother (or sister, but we're thinking brother). Sometimes when I think of having two kids by this time next year I can't catch my breath for a second. :-)

Well, I have tried to be extremely "on top of it" through this whole paperwork process because we know that one little mistake can add on a month or two, to the already long waiting time. BUT...I messed up (and had a small meltdown over it). On December 15th, I sent off our application to USCIS to get an appointment to get our next round of fingerprints and apply for an orphan visa. I checked and double checked that I had all 30 or so papers accounted for and in order, and I did. I didn't think much about it until after Christmas, when we still hadn't heard anything from whoever we sent it to...who knows?! Of course my worrying self kept letting it creep into my thoughts... and then begin to consume them. Finally I prayed and basically promised that I would trust that He has it all under control....something I find myself doing on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. 2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." A SOUND MIND....stop worrying! This is a verse I've probably said in my head literally thousands of times in my life, and the cool thing is usually after I think it, I feel much better! So anyway, on we got home on Saturday at about 9:00pm and I went out to check the mail. I saw a large envelope with some a return address to USCIS....a giddy feeling comes over me! "One step closer" I think as I wave it in front of Jeff and grin. I rip it open and THUD my heart and stomach seem to hit the floor. The one word I notice is the big bold REJECTED. Immediately my eyes are full of tears and Jeff walks back into the room to return to a complete opposite personality he just left. I wrote the check for $1 more than I should have. ONE STINKING DOLLAR!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!? My roller coaster of emotions went on quite a ride for the next few minutes. I've said it once and I'm sure I'll say it again, I'm so glad Jeff is laid back and reasonable in times when I'm not! He simply told me to write a new check and we would overnight it the next day.....and when we looked at it closer it already had signatures and stamps showing it had already been processed, and a note saying it would be put at the top of the list when returned.

Lessons learned:
His timing is perfect.
Be EXACT and precise next time.
Relax, somethings are out of our control!

Current News

I don't feel particularly "wordy" today so here is a short list of what's been going on here at the Britton household...

-Home Study approved YAY!
-I'M GONNA BE AN AUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo!!!
-I'm now 25
-Charlie is painfully and pitifully getting 2 new teeth.
-Only one more Christmas gift to buy....I feel like I've been unusually "on top of it" this year
-I'm coaching a 13 year old volleyball team, now this will try one's patience
-At this very moment I have laundry coming out of my ears.......

Sigh of Relief, After a Bout of Panic

So, as I wrote in my previous post, our home study was Monday. Jeff and I both had double checked on the time it was scheduled...1:00pm. I had cleaned the house in the previous days, so when I got up that morning and got ready to workout, I left the house, knowing I would have plenty of time to straighten up, make our beds, and pick up the trail of toys Charlie had left behind.

It's now 10:30am, on Monday. I had been home long enough to shower and put Charlie down for a nap. (Hair still wet, bed unmade, breakfast dishes still on the table, toys in the floor)

DING DONG!!!!

I peek around the corner to try and see who it is, without them seeing me. I was expecting it to be a neighbor, mail man, etc. Nope, to my surprise our social worker was standing there...clip board in hand! Can you say panic attack?!?!? I answered the door and she obviously saw a little panic on my face....to make a long story short she had gotten our appointment mixed with another one and left soon after she arrived.

And if you're wondering, the second time around went great! Whew!

PS...Look at this cute little Lion! (I know it's a random picture to go with this post, but I love it)

BIG Weekend Ahead

After completing our first round of paperwork, we are ready to "be studied." That's right, this Saturday we meet with Holt for the first time and then on Monday our home study will be completed....and in between on Sat. and Sun. we will attend over 12 hours of parenting classes. Let's be honest....I'm nervous. My house is the cleanest it's been in a while, I've been imagining what we'll be asked and how I'll answer, and praying that Charlie will be his charming self when they meet him :-). I've already gotten a good "chunk" of our dossier ready, and when we finish that we will officially be on the waiting list.....just typing that takes my breath away! We are ready to wait!!!

What has been consuming your thoughts?
This is one of the questions my Life Group has been discussing at our meetings. Obviously, this whole adoption process is on my mind. The past week or two I have really been overwhelmed with thoughts of, not just my son that will be born on the other side of the world, but with thoughts about his mama. Who is she? What is her story? Is she young, scared, ashamed, lonely, and has no other option? Is she older, a widow, mother that can't afford one more mouth to feed? I will probably never know as long as I'm on this earth. But I love her! Jeff and I have prayed for her every night since we've made this decision. We are so thankful for her and the precious gift she will give us. More importantly, (I cry as I type this, just like I cried with the group last night) we pray for her salvation. Can you imagine what it would be like to hug her in heaven? I'd love to be able to spend an eternity sharing everything from his first steps to his first t-ball game to his wedding day with her. WOW! It's possible, with my God, it is SO possible!
There is a girl on the other side of the world that needs prayer. Could you pray for her today?

Home Sweet Home

After two weeks of traveling with Jeff for meetings and a trade-show, we are enjoying being at home in our own beds! We had a lot of fun in Arizona and Dallas, but it always feels good to come home (minus the unpacking and laundry). As far as any updates with the adoption.... We got a call accepting us to the Ethiopia program just 5 days after we mailed in our application! Yay! However, I didn't mention in my first post that you must be 25 in order to adopt from this country. I will be 25 in December, so I thought we would basically be waiting until then before we could go any further.....I just didn't have the patience to wait that long to apply :-)
BUT, I found out today that we can begin filling out the pre-homestudy forms! Paperwork may sound boring to you, but to me it is the beginning of a GREAT thing! We can get our packet all ready so when December comes around, we can really get the ball moving!!! As I have started reading all the guidelines and outlines of what will happen and what to expect, I have to be honest that I get a little overwhelmed. (I may or may not have already cried and told Jeff I wasn't sure I was smart enough for this :-) ) But, as soon as those feelings hit me, it never fails that God brings peace into my heart....
"And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?"
...I just love that song!

Application....check

(*Please excuse the un-made bed)

We told Charlie the news....and he's excited too! What a relief?! :-)

Our application is in the mail!