Just when we thought it was a 1/2 marathon it became a Full!

Today we went to our agency to drop off all of our dossier information and I left feeling so frustrated. I am so ready to be a mom and all this paper work is really draining. I now understand why people say adoption is exhausting. 

Honestly, I was really excited today about turning everything in. I totally thought we had it in the bag. But after going through the package I started feeling frustrated. As if I had just finished a 1/2 marathon and came to find out I had actually signed up to do the full.  We were missing one document, then one of our documents wasn't notarized correctly which now means that we have to get the cover letter redone and notarized because it has to be dated after all the other documents. It was frustrating; I wanted to cry! 

Anthony is so calm through situations like these. He has this great ability to lean on God through this moments and I admire his patience-- I could learn a thing or two from him. I will have a bed of white hair and wrinkles all over my face before he does. The funny things is I know that stressing won't do anything, I know that if I just leaned on the Lord it would sooth me, but for some reason I try to solve these problems on my own. It takes me a while to realize what I'm doing to myself and it takes Anthony's encouragement for me to get it together and know it will be alright. 

Out side of what I just updated I haven't written about our adoption  in a while. One: we don't have internet yet and  two: I haven't really had an up date. Well I guess I could have blogged about the home study approval, but I suppose I can do it now. Here are some of the most recent updates.

While on our beach vacation we received the good news on our home study being approved. We were both really happy. I mean it's not like we thought we wouldn't pass the actual home study part, but I was worried about the questionnaire part. Anthony and I, both have a had a ok of crap happen in our past and I wasn't sure how that would go down. I guess our baggage wasn't too bad because they approved us. When we received the email with the approved home study, it was a glimpse into the life ahead of us. It was a glimpse of life as parents. 

Two weeks ago, after a few months of going back and forth, back and forth on whether we should adopt one or two children we finally figured it out. After consulting with our social worker and lots of prayer we finally decided the best thing for us right now is to adopt one child. Both, Anthony and I, know that we will adopt again in the future, therefore it gives me peace with this decision. 


We wish we could tell you all when to expect our little one, but as soon as we find out you will all know. From my understanding, it'll be 6 months before we get a referral. There are 4 families before us waiting for a boy between the age of 0-3 years old and we are waiting for a child between 0-4. Basically we will have to wait for all those families to get a placement before we can unless there is a 4 year old that comes along. A 6 month wait puts us at around February of next year. I am assuming from the moment we get our referral we will have weeks to travel to Ethiopia for the final mile of this long race. 

Anthony and I have decided to rejoin the Air Force reserve. We miss it so much and I am excited about this next step in our life. With us joining the reserves a lot may change. Anthony will possibly leave for training since he wants a different job than what he had while he was active duty. He is really excited about this transition, as am I, but it does scare me a bit to be with out him for so long. Thankfully I have a great community here in Orlando that will care for me. Once he gets back from training he will be taking some courses in school for a A.S. Degree in physical therapy. I will continue working as a teacher for as long as I need to and honestly if I find a good job closer to home I will continue working for a long time. 

These are all OUR plans, but we are so aware that our plans are not necessarily God's plans for our lives. Truly, there have been times when my plans have sounded awesome, but then He intervenes and before I know it the plans are even better. I have also had the opposite happen, but something great has eventually come out of it. Whatever it maybe that God has in store for us, I know that it will be great. Even through this adoption, I know that he is holding all this up because he has a spectacular finale awaiting us. One that will consist of Anthony and I being parents to a wonderful child.