Exception.....

All of our paperwork has been submitted, all forms have been signed and returned, all questions have been answered, all "t"s have been crossed, all "i"s have been dotted....we just have one last class that we are required to take for our adoption for us to have a green light to move forward.

The staff (or what I would like to call family) at H4G have just been wonderful and have been so easy to work with. They truly are our advocates and each person that we have talked to about our journey to date, has been so apologetic. They can't believe that we stuck with it.

The next adoption class is scheduled for May 15th, but the trainer at H4G found out about how long we have been waiting, and that this was literally the only thing holding us back, that they contacted us to let us know that she was more than willing to do a one-on-one training with us so that we wouldn't have any further delays! PTL! WOW!

So, we scheduled our training for Wednesday morning and we're more than thrilled to see some light at the end of this 16th month! Once the class is completed, we will have a caseworker assigned to us who will basically review our current homestudy and sign off on it. Then we should be all set and ready to go. Again, this is when the true waiting begins....we could get a call the very next day or it could take weeks or months. Either way, we are confident that God is working and that His timing is perfect.

Thanks so much for all your encouragement, prayers and support. Check back in when you can ... who knows what you'll find the next time around.

Before & After

We have been enjoying some beautiful spring weather here in Houston ~ very unusual for us! So, this weekend, we finally got out and worked in the flower beds.

Before............

.....and After......

We planted Jasmine, Hibiscus, Yellow Bells, Lantana, Vincas, Petunias, Zinnias, Verbena, Marigolds, Coleas, Mandevilla, Plumeria, Blue Haze, and Geraniums. (I think that covers it....don't you?!) Yes, we put in quite a bit and we'll be sure to update as it flourishs.

Some might be surprised that I'm a flag junkie, but indeed, it is true! I have the small garden flags, as well as the large "pole" flags, for just about every occasion, holiday and/or season. For those who know me all to well, you won't be surprised to know that every flag is designed by my favorite artist, Mary Engelbreit. Isn't this one just too cute?!

100th Post!

Happy 100th Post (to myself, I guess!) and to my faithful journey walkers.

We attended our orientation meeting on Tuesday night. We didn't learn anything new, but it was nice to meet some staff members of the agency and to be able to stay behind and just talk to them for a little bit. We were more than encouraged by their spirits and genuine enthusiasm to have us join their "family". One distinct difference in the two agencies ~ both said that they were Christian based, but Homes4Good is definitely walking the walk! Our trainer said that they always open up every session in prayer...what a blessing!

We were supposed to attend a class for adoptive parents last night, but it has been rescheduled for May 15th. It was a bit disappointing to know that we have to wait another month to finish up our classwork, but what's another month, right? I mean, it's not like we're counting, or anything. (16+ months)

We have completed all but one item on our paperwork transfer checklist. Our goal is finish up our Narratives (yes, more questions to answer) this weekend. We are hoping that the agency will not put our case on hold, while we wait for the final class, and that we can move forward with getting assigned a caseworker. Once a caseworker has been assigned, he/she will come out to meet us and review our current homestudy. Since our homestudy is so recent (just finalized in January), they just want us to review it and make any changes/additions that we might like. This was good news to hear, because there were a few things we wanted to see changed, that our former agency was not willing to work with us on. We are so glad that the Lord led us to Homes4Good.

As for other news, we're looking forward to a beautiful weekend here in Houston ~ they are few and far between! We'll finally be able to get out into the yard and work on the flower beds. I love this time of year. Then Saturday night, we'll be having our 2nd Guitar Hero 3 party. Last weekend, we had 10 people over to play....not sure how many will come this weekend. I'm not a huge "gaming" fan, I leave that to Michael...BUT this game is so fun and addictive....and even more so as adults. It's a fun way to relax (unless you're super competitive ~ ha!), have a good time and listen to all the classic rock music. I hope that y'all have a great weekend, wherever you may be.

Thanks for stopping by along the way. We so appreciate your prayers, friendship and encouragement!

Oh yeah ~ and here's a quick shout out to Sam & Amelia....Happy 1st birthday! We're so glad that you're here! We love you!

Quick Update

We are slowly but surely crossing off the checklist items, with just a few lingering. Two requirements will be completed this week: an orientation meeting on Tuesday night that every person has to attend with the agency (even though we've already done all of our paperwork ~ we're doing things backwards) and then an adoption training class on Thursday.

I remember when we did our first orientation in February of last year ~ how excited and overwhelmed we were. As I went back and re-read the post, my thoughts and feelings still ring true.

"Even with the huge packet of forms, applications, requirements, and lists of things to do, Michael & I are still so encouraged and excited about the journey the Lord is taking us down. He has truly blessed us. We believe with confidence that our children are being prepared for us, even now, as we are being prepared for them.

“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

We thank God for our children and pray that they are protected until He brings them to us. While we are trusting, God is working, and in due time our faith will become sight.

It is only human to want to see before we step out on the promises of God. Yet God said to Thomas and to a long list of other doubters, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)."

Still Believing........