Another Check Mark!

Got an email from our social worker today that our homestudy was approved by our placing agency! 

Yay! 

This is very good news!

Now our homestudy has been mailed to the State of IL for approval.

Once it is approved (hopefully by the beginning of next week) we will be able to move on to the next step, which is submitting I800A application.

Basically it is us asking Immigration for permission to adopt a child from another country.

That wait right now is LOOOONG, but we are hoping for a speed-up!

The most common question I get asked is when will we travel?

Good question!

As of right now we are not matched with our child.

Our social worker thinks realistically we will travel any time between July-September,

depending on how long it takes to get a referral.

DIY Stocking Hanger

I am pretty cheap frugal.

I love crafts.

But I especially love when I can combine the two!

It's kind of a joke between the hubs and I...

We see something cute in the store and I say "I could make that, and it would be waayyy cheaper"

And then I take a pic on my phone and file it away in my

"To Make Someday" folder!

But this time......

Our new house has an awesome fireplace and I really wanted it to be beautiful for Christmas!

I don't like the stocking hangers you find in the store....

they either aren't heavy enough, they are too pricey, or they look like they should be the centerpiece at an ugly sweater party.

We found this at Gordman's.  I liked the idea of it, but not the color or design, and it only had 4 hooks...

And it was almost $60.  No thank you.

So I went to the lumber yard, and had the nice man (who still had all of his fingers) cut me some wood.  I bought deck wood because I wanted it to be heavy enough to hold the stockings when they are full.



Then I took my happy little self to the hardware store and bought some screws.  I had no idea what to buy, so I found a package that said "wood screws" and bought them!

I screwed the 4 pieces together to make a box.

I attached some hooks that I bought at Menards.  I put 6 hooks on, since next year we will be a family of 5 and 1 for our sweet puppy!

I painted the entire thing with Rustoleum Brown Satin spray paint.

When the paint was dry, I cut the words and holly on my Cricut and Mod Podged them on

Once it was all dry, we put it up on the mantle and draped some garland and ornaments on it.  Then we hung the stockings! 

 



I really love the way it all turned out!  And the best part....it only cost me about $11 to make!