November 30, 2011 - Fingerprint paperwork ; This is a slow process

Today we are working on filling out the I600A form which basically lets us “apply” to get our fingerprints done and allows us to bring a child into the country.  It’s not bad overall, but some of the questions have us stumped and we are waiting to hear back from Mandee to get them answered so we can send in the form.  We feel like the whole process is dragging on at this point.  Just waiting for the next step – which we don’t even know what it is?  Waiting for people to email us back. :/

November 21, 2011 - Home Study Complete; Next Step: Fingerprints

Finally!!! We got our home study in an email today!  We are so excited to get that sent off.  I emailed it to Mandee today so hopefully she can send it to Taiwan very soon.  I also found out we need to get fingerprints done through a state agency.  I believe we have to apply to get them done first though, so that will be my next project to get done!  We are moving along :)

November 18, 2011 - Parent's Night Out Fundraiser

So tonight Matt and I are running a parents night out at Elite.  Call us crazy, I know.  But I am actually really excited because this is our first “fundraiser” for our adoption!  Even though most people are not aware of the adoption yet, we are moving forward with our fundraisers as if everything is on track and we will continue to follow God’s lead through this.

November 17, 2011 - Got our Home Study Back and Double Checked

We are still waiting to hear the exact details of the new adoption law passed in Taiwan, but until then we are charging forward with our home study.  I received an email from Cindy stating that she had the copy of my home study and needed me to look over it and make any changes.  Of course I checked it right away and sent the changes back to her.  So we are nearing the end of our home study process and will hopefully get to send it to Mandee very very soon and hopefully be put on the waiting list!

November 14, 2011 - More Confusing But Help from Susie

We are still waiting on answers today.  But, I did email Mandee and ask her about the 3-year law implementation.  There is still quite the confusion about this.  Mandee has heard the law might take effect in 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years.  We are currently waiting to hear the final answer.  Ted and Bev in Taiwan are getting the law translated to English and then we will have more answers. One good thing that did happen today was that I got to talk to Susie (home study agent) tonight.  I explained our situation and she is going to “rush” to finish our home study.  She is hoping to have it completed and off to Cindy to put the final touches on it by November 16!! Yes – in 2 days!  I love Susie :)  Anyway, that is where we are currently at with the process.  We are being so blessed by our family and friends that are praying for us!  I know in my heart that everything will work according to God’s plan….even if I can’t see it right now.  I guess you would call that Faith.   

November 10, 2011 - First Roadblock - Government Rules are Changing

Roadblock.  Today was the first day we went from being on cloud nine with the adoption to feeling completely helpless and out of control.  After logging onto “THOGL” facebook page, it became clear that the Taiwan government would be voting on a law to enforce stricter adoption laws.  I wasn’t aware of the huge problem of child trafficking in Taiwan, but that’s what they are cracking down on (which is completely understandable).  However, there seems to be some negatives that will come out of the new laws.  As I have heard so far, their goal is to allow the Taiwanese people first adoption rights.  The child will be available for adoption with family #1.  They will have a 6-month “grace” period to where they can return the child if it’s not a “good fit” for their family.  The child will be placed with family #2, again allowing the 6-month grace period.  Again, the child will move to the 3^rd family.  If none of the situations work out, then the child will be up for international adoption.  We are currently waiting to hear about a possibility of a 3-year hold on the law.  Meaning, the law will not take affect for 3 years?  We are not sure where God is leading us at this point, but we are learning to trust and believe that “it is well with my soul”--- no matter what the circumstances.  Of course we have a lot of people praying and supporting us and that does help so much.

October 26, 2011 - Making Friends

So we had a random lady send us a message on facebook today and introduce herself to us.  Her and her husband are adopting from THOGL too!  We emailed back and forth today and it we are at about the same place in our adoption process.  It’s been nice to learn about them and their process and where God has led them.  It makes us feel like we are not so alone.

October 25, 2011 - Home Study Home Visit

Almost done!!!  Tonight we had our final home study and Susie came and “interviewed” us and looked around our house.  It went very well :)  I love talking to her because she is so positive and has so much knowledge about adoptions.  I could listen all day about her experiences and different adoptions around the world.  So we are officially done with our home study part and we have all of our paperwork turned in! YIPPEE!  I can’t believe how fast everything went.  We have to watch 10 hours of adoption videos, but I think that’s all that’s left.  Susie will put all of our paperwork together and make sure everything is cleared by the state.  We will look over it and if everything looks great, she will send it to The Home of God’s Love in Taiwan!  It’s been a wonderful day and we are so excited to have this part done and be one step closer to our baby :) 

October 6, 2011 - Physicals

Today was just a little blessing that I just had to write down!  I wasn’t feeling very good and decided to go to the health clinic in Danville for the first time.  While there, I was talking with the nurse and I asked if we could get our “physicals” done at the clinic so we wouldn’t have to pay for them at our normal doctor’s office.  She mentioned they could do that and I told her it was for an adoption.  I was shocked as she told me that she and her sibling had been adopted from Korea!  I informed her we were adopting from Taiwan and she was telling me all about Taiwan!  It’s one of those little things that God has worked out in the most unpredictable ways.  Such a blessing :)  So we will be going there to get our clearance on our health status…….and its free :)

We went to the sheriff’s office today to get our background check done.  It was pretty awkward and the receptionist was very rude…..must have been having a bad day?  I’m suppose to have the letter I need mailed to us :) Hopefully it’s soon because our home study is in less than 2 weeks!!  We also got our physicals done through the Danville Clinic.  Another thing to check off the list (woot-woot)!!

October 4, 2011 - Home Study Meet Up

Tonight we met Susie Herrmann for our first home study.  After going to the wrong Panera Bread restaurant, we finally met her and talked for about 1.5 hours!  She was so amazing to talk to about adoption.  She had some great advice such as buying 18 souvineers while in Taiwan and giving our child 1 gift on their “gotcha” day.  Their “gotcha day” would be celebrated on the day we adopted them :) as we would also celebrate their actual birthday.  I thought that was such a creative idea!  We went over all the criteria and the things we need to get done to wrap up the home study.  She is coming back at the end of the month and I am so excited to finish this, but I am also trying to soak it all in too and enjoy the process.  I think it really hit us that we are “adopting” after our talk with Susie.  We have been ready for so long and it’s becoming so real!  We’ve always felt like we were in a situation where “if” it happens it will be so great, but we are finally starting to feel like “when” it happens it will be wonderful.  God is just filling me with more faith every day.  We came away feeling so blessed to be working with Susie! God is good.