We have our homestudy and immigration appointment scheduled!

I am so excited! Yesterday we got an appointment with immigration for Friday morning at 8:30. We get to go give them lots of money, get fingerprinted for homeland security or something and get permission to bring our little one to the US. :0)

Then our social worker called and scheduled our first homestudy visit for Saturday at 9:00 am. YEAH!!! So we're totally excited that things are starting to move right along! We're also a little frazzled trying to get everything done on time. I'll let you know how it goes.

We made it home..

We are officially safe at home! We wanted to let you all know. Here is what has happened the last week.

Last Tuesday- We're thinking Hmmm... there's a hurricane coming our way. We should keep an eye on that. Tuesday night we start gathering important documents and sentimental stuff just in case.

Last Wed- WHOA! Now it is a momma cat 5 hurricane and it's coming straight after our HOUSE. We decide to get out quick and head to grandma and grandpa's house in central TX. Our electricity goes out with a slight breeze! Kaitlyn is so excited about a surprise trip to Pop and Nonny's house but she's on edge all day. I think she's picking up on our stress. Thanks for taking in the evacuees grandma and grandpa.

Last Thursday-We watch the weather and news ALL DAY AND PRAY!!! Then we walk around grandma's and remind ourselves that our house is just stuff and it's not what's important. Then we check our insurance policy. :0) I explain to Russ that it will be VERY DIFFICULT to do our adoption home study if WE DON'T HAVE A HOME!!! We watch more weather and news and feel SO SORRY for our friends stuck in horrible traffic. Some for 24 hours!! There is no gas on evacuation routes and no food in the stores and restaurants.

Last Friday- We hang out with our friends who have evacuated to my parent's house. Thanks mom and dad!! It was their little girl's 3rd birthday and we weren't going to let some little cat 5 ruin that!!! Sam and Wendi and the girls also join the crew. They are staying at Sam's parent's house.So we head to Cameron Park Zoo in Waco. (Which is so great by the way) and have pizza and cake at the house. The girls are in little girl heaven. Cake, animals and ring-around-the-rosies!

Hurricane Rita is downgraded to cat 4 and then 3. Then she heads away from us. By the end of the evening we are feeling like we may have a house when we get back to town but the gas to get there may cost $20.00 a gallon. We're still praying.

Saturday- We dodged the bullet. Amazing!!! Our electricity at our house didn't even go out. That is nothing short of a miracle! We feel so bad for those who have no electricity and damage to their homes and businesses. Mostly we're just so relieved that everyone is OK. We start to pack up to go but then we hear the mayor ask people to stay put and come home in stages. No work or school on Monday. So instead we visit with the family and go hang out with Sam and Wendi. Good times!

Sunday- Sounds like things are SLOWLY getting back to liveable in Houston. Convoys of food and gas are being delivered. Kaitlyn hangs out with Polka Dot and Grandpa. Russ and I go to see Flight Plan. I like it. I think it just stresses Russ out! When go to pick Kaitlyn up she tells us, "Bye Bye Mommy. Night Night. I stay Olka Dot House. I play here mommy!" So we let her spend the night. What happened to my baby??? She's all grown up and independent!

Today- We pick up Kaitlyn (who still doesn't want to leave) and head back to Richmond. There is a lot more traffic than usual on our route but it's not horrible. We get back really easily.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Our hearts and hands will continue to do what we can for those who have lost so much during Hurricane Katrina and Rita.

We are changing countries!

Russ and I are going Guatemalan! We have decided to switch from the Korea program to the Guatemala program. We are staying with our agency. (we love them) Just switching countries.

The Korea program and the Guatemala program are similar in many ways and are wonderful programs. Originally we were very interested in the Guatemala program but were scared away by the price tag. It is a LOT more expensive than the Korea program. We were very concerned that we would not be able to handle the additional expense so we went with Korea.

As we have gone through the process we have discovered that there is a great need for families to adopt from Guatemala. We feel like God is asking us to take a leap of faith and trust that He will provide the funds. We are so excited to see what the next year holds for us. Here are some things you might like to know aboout the Guatemala program.

-we have requested a girl

-most babies are referred (matched with parents) at about 1 month old

-most babies come home at 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 months of age

-the majority of babies in Guatemala are given up due to poverty

-we can visit our baby girl once in between referral and bringing her home

-we may be able to meet the birth mother

-our little girl will be in foster care until we go get her

-we will get pictures and medical reports once a month until we go get her

We will complete a home study and submit our paperwork/dossier to Dillon International for approval by the Guatemalan government.

We will wait 2-5 months for a referral/match of a baby girl.

We will receive travel clearance to travel to receive our child 5-7 months after accepting an assignment.

What Is Our Timeline?

Many of you have been wondering where we are in the process of our adoption. I thought I would share that with you. At this point we have are about to start our homestudy. I'll give a timeline of what has happened so far. Keep in mind that Russ and I have not been rushing the process. We are not in a hurry. So the process is perhaps a little slower than for somebody who is really pushing to get it done.

MAY 16, 2005- Sent in the initial application. This is just a short form with basic info. They also ask you basic questions about why you want to adopt and your family support unit.

JULY 16, 2005- Attended the Dillon International Adoption Conference in Dallas. It was very helpful and informative. We really enjoyed it.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2005- Our formal application is officially approved!!! The formal application includes medical exams saying you are healthy, fingerprinting, marriage license, birth certificates, references etc.... It seems overwhelming but if you just take it one task at a time it's really not that bad.

Right now we are just waiting to get our homestudy scheduled. It could take a few weeks or a few months depending on the schedule of the social worker. She will come to our home and interview us and make sure our home is a safe environment for children.

After that we will be placed on a waiting list for Korea. How long we will wait is dependant on so many factors. Korea's wait is longer right now than many other countries but we felt God leading us that way. I'll discuss why we picked Korea in another entry. Anyway we are open to special needs children that have correctable or minor issues. That may shorten the wait significantly. I just really have no idea!!! It could be soon or two years from now. This is the part where I get to embrace my COMPLETE LACK OF CONTROL!!!!! SWEET!!!

How Can You Pray?

Please pray for God's perfect timing in this process. We believe that even though this baby will not come from my body God knows who he/she is even now. Just as he brought us Kaitlyn- our pure gift- He will give us this child. We want to be ready and willing and PATIENT!!! I don't want to be tempted to rush this or drag my feet.

Psalm 139

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Why Do We Want To Adopt?

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" — Romans 8:15

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:26-27

Of Course not everyone is called to adopt. We all have our gifts. The way we share with the world. 1 Cor 12 is clear on how important all our gifts are when we use them as a unified body.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=12&version=31

However, I have known for a very long time that adoption was a large part of me. I have what I call the "adoption gene."

It all started a long time ago in a little town called Heidelburg, Germany. I (Angel) was an army brat overseas and attended a youth group in a nearby town. The youth ministers were Todd and Karla and they were amazing. While they were in Germany they adopted a baby boy from Romania. They named him Caleb. He was like the youth group baby or something. He was always around and such a joy. From that point in time I knew that God was calling me to adopt. Where would Caleb have been if Todd and Karla hadn't taken that leap of faith? What joy and growth would they have missed if they hadn't had such amazing courage. They changed their lives. They changed a little boy's life. They changed my life. They changed the life of the baby we will adopt..... The ripple effect of their faith goes on and on. I've been out of touch with them for years but I pray that someday they know what a profound impact they have had on me. Todd and Karla if you see this let me know!!! I love you both.

So needless to say the question of adoption actually became part of my dating criteria. Along with the question, "So what is your major?" I would ever so casually slip in the question, "So what do you think of adoption??" Russ was very open to adoption AND he hates seafood so I knew we were a match made in heaven!!! :0)

We don't see adoption as a "plan B" only to be made by those experiencing infertility. I am so grateful for this opportunity. According to my faith God treasures adoption and chose to adopt us as His own children. He also chose for his son Jesus to be "adopted" by Joseph. Joseph raised Jesus as his son although he was not biologically linked to him. I feel honored to have an opportunity to experience God's heart for adoption.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

Ephesians 1:5, “…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

http://awaa.org/stories/adoptiongene.aspx

This is a website of a wonderful agency. They have so much wonderful info that truly expresses my heart on adoption. We chose another agency based on country and post adoption support but we have great respect for America World. In fact Steven Curtis Chapman adopted through them from China several times!

If you want to check out our WONDERFUL agency Dillon International here is the link

http://www.dillonadopt.com/

Welcome to our blog...

So I guess I'm joining this new generation of "bloggers". I know some of you techie type people know exactly why it is called blogging. Please fill me in! BLOGGING?? I have many reasons for wanting to start this blog.

One main reason is that Russ and I are adopting from Korea. I have been so blessed to see other blogs where people are sharing their experiences and pictures. It brings hope and clarity for me to read their rich experiences.

When we discovered Kaitlyn (our first baby) would have to have surgery for metopic craniosynostosis we scoured the internet. The most helpful things we found were websites made by parents telling us about what we were about to face. We recorded Kaitlyn's surgery day by day on our family website. www.russandangel.com We have had many families e-mail tell us it helped them.

My prayer is that this blog will serve as

1. An encouragement to other families who are going through the adoption process

2. A tool for those considering adoption

3. An update for our friends who want to keep up with the process

4. A journal of this journey of faith we are embarking upon

5. Just a record of life in general to look back on

The reason I am naming this blog Faith's Journey is that I believe that is what adoption is.Generally this is what my life is. Believing in what we cannot see.

FAITH=Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence

Hmmmm sounds scary huh? Even irrational.... Or maybe it's the most reasonable thing we do as human beings. To believe in more than ourselves. To embrace the fact that we don't know or see everything. Why is faith so hard for me? I think it's because I have give up my illusion of control.

From what I can tell adoption is going to be such a lesson in Faith's Journey.

Our Summer