We Flipping Love You!

Hi everyone! This weekend is our big pancake fundraiser, We Flipping Love You! Below is our flyer with all of the information. We're hoping for a good turn out and it will be great to see friends and family. Stacy will be there with her 31 table and she'll be hosting a party while the event is going on. She is generously donating a portion of her commission to the adoption. She is also donating a bag and we've filled it up with all kinds of goodies! Raffle tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5. If you can't come, but would still like to help us out, please check out our AdoptTogether account. We hope to see you there!

 

Lots of love,

The First Visit

All the nervousness and anxiety were built up for nothing. It's true when people say that the home study agent isn't coming to your house to do a white glove inspection. They just need to make sure that you have enough space and that it's suitable for a child. They're also there to make sure that you are going to be suitable parents. 

As I mentioned in my last post, our home study agent is incredible. I love working with her and the agency. She came in and stayed for about 2 hours. We went over a number of things like how the process works, where we're at financially, our future goals and hopes, our parenting styles and why parenting in certain ways is important, and why we decided to adopt. I don't feel like we're being judged and that was a big fear when we started on this journey. I feel like we have more clarity and the more time we spend with her, the more at ease I am.

We're looking forward to her next visit, when we start to delve into our childhoods and past histories. I'm looking forward to it and I know it will all be worth it in the end.

Lots of love,

Home Study

We were accepted by Hopscotch Adoptions Inc. on August 8th. Since then, we've been gathering paperwork, tracking down certificates, and obtaining certified copies on just about everything you could imagine. Our first batch of papers looked like we had leveled a small forest. We're still waiting on a couple of the city/county checks to come back and next Friday we are getting our finger prints done for the state background check.

I'd been talking with one of the ladies on staff at Hopscotch, since our acceptance, and decided to drop off our first batch of papers during a time when she would be there. It's always pleasant to meet the faces behind the e-mails and we live close enough to their office, so that taking our paperwork to them is easier than mailing it. On Thursday, I announced on Facebook that I would be meeting the home study agent on Friday. I had a sense of relief and nervousness leading up to Friday morning.

When I went into the office, I first met the director. She is fabulous and I loved chatting with her. She asked a questions about the program and how we were doing. She introduced me to the nice woman who I had been exchanging emails with for the past several weeks. Talking with our home study agent was wonderful. We sat down around 10:45 and I didn't leave till right around noon. We spoke about the interviews, my worries and fears, baby stuff, daycare options, financing the adoption, our families, and so much more.

Our first home study visit is next Friday. We've already begun cleaning the house up (more so than usual) and I've picked up a couple of art projects to distract myself from thinking about it. I feel confident that we're going to pass the home study. We have to be honest and show that we're going to be good parents.

I love working with Hopscotch. Communicating with them has been incredibly easy and they've made everything very clear. I left their office on Friday feeling good about the process. I didn't feel as overwhelmed after talking to them. Sure, we still have a lot of stuff left to do, but feeling like you have people in your corner, rooting for you, makes the process much easier.

Background Checks

When an agency tells you that they do extensive background checks, they're not lying. 5 city/county checks, 2 child abuse checks, 2 sexual offender checks, 2 SBI checks, and 2 FBI checks. All of our city/county paperwork was dumped in the mail yesterday and I hope we get those back next week. Finger prints for our SBI checks are in a week and then those will get sent off. At least they'll know we're normal people after everything is all done.

We're getting closer!

Sponsor - Stacy Sink with Thirty One

Our most recent business sponsor is Stacy Sink with Thirty One! Thank you Stacy for your donation and support!

Stacy and I connected through my husband. Once we met and got to know each other, we turned into great friends. Stacy has been with Thirty One for 2.5 years and recently got me hooked on their products. She has been a very successful business person with Thirty One has 2 consultants working with her. She hosts a number of parties every month and is always looking for new people to connect with.

When asked what her favorite new product is, Stacy told me that she loves the Around Town Tote in Very Cherry Pebble.

Their utility totes and thermals are the most favorites pieces I've ever owned. I love how strong and sturdy the fabric feels and it always comes in cute patterns, like the one below. This is my personal favorite because it's an easy grab and go bag with enough space to fit just about anything in it. 

Stacy, Steve and I appreciate your love and support! If any of our friends are interested in connecting with Stacy, check out her Facebook page Stacy's Thirty-One Ladies.

Lots of love,

The Power of 'Thank You'

I, for the most part, am a positive person. I like to smile at strangers, say, "Hello" and "Have a good day" to people on the elevator, and strike up conversations with people I've passed by several times. For the most part, I am rather introverted, but I've learned that a simple smile can change a person's day. A simple act of kindness can turn someone's day around and you'd never even know it.

Part of this process is thanking people who help us. Maybe it was the way I was raised, learning that it was of most importance to write thank you cards to those who have given you gifts or helped you in some way. I purchased a 20 pack of cards for $2 at Walmart and the Saturday after the yard sale, I sat myself down and penned about a half dozen cards.

Snail mail is a rare occurrence these days, outside of receiving bills. When one of my cards was received by its recipient, I received a very nice message in response. I was thrilled to know that such a simple act could make someone happy.

So, for those of you who may be reading this and are in the same boat we are, remember to write those thank you cards! It could make all the difference in the world to someone on the other side.

Lots of Love,