Progress

We had our second homestudy visit today and it went great!

She was here for about 6 hours! 

And we covered A LOT of ground!

But we are moving forward!!!!!

She will be back 2 days next week to finish up our 4 home visits

(one day for a home tour and one day for individual interviews with each of us and the kids)

and expects to have our homestudy finished by Thanksgiving! 

So our main objectives for the next few weeks are to complete a few "homework" assignments she gave us and wait for background clearances to come back.

The homework will be the easy part.

Waiting on clearances....not so much.



Cross Country 2011

My girl just finished her 3rd Cross Country season. 

This was a very challenging season for her.

She broke her foot 4 months ago, but as soon as the cast came off she was running again.

So she dealt with a little pain and swelling.

She also had several other physical ailments going on this year.

Throw that in with all the growing and changing a 12 year old female body does......

Means she ran almost every race in pain of one kind or another.

But she did great.  She ran in every single meet and made the Sectionals team.

Here are some of my fave shots from this year.

I know most of them look alike, but I love how her facial expressions and body language

show exactly what she is feeling.

*warning:  pic overload!*

 Getting ready to pass!

This was her best meet of the season.  She came in 28th out of 200+ girls!

 Coming in for the finish!

I love this shot because on the right is Rylee coming in for the last 250 meters

and on the left is her coach running to meet up with her to run her in cheering her on!

Running through severe lung pain (my poor baby)

I love this picture.  She didn't have a great race, and the look of disappointment combined with the sunlight hitting her hair just melts my heart. 



Love the determination on her face!

2011 Sectionals Team!

Way to go Rylee!  Sweetie, you faced a lot of physical challenges this year, but you persevered.

You ran in 103 degree heat, pouring rain, and 35 degree temps.  You ran through lots of pain.  You ran early in the morning and late in the afternoons.  You ran when you didn't feel well and you ran when you were having great days.  But the point is, through it all.....you RAN.  You have the spirit of a great runner and are learning to handle the mental aspect of this sport with grace.  We couldn't be more proud of you!  We love you! 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday

Well, hello there! 

It's been a minute since I've done a WILW post!

Fall is here, and I am LOVIN' it!!

Here's what else I love:

I am SO addicted to this website!  I have to be very mindful of my time because I can spend hours browsing and lose my entire day! 

The leaves are so beautiful right now.  In about another week or so, they should be in full foliage.  We love to visit Grandview Drive in Peoria this time of year.  It is absolutely breathtaking!

Pumpkins!  I am obsessed with all things pumpkin!  As soon as the weather begins to cool off and the first hints of fall blow in, I begin to feel the stirrings of my need for pumpkin.  I have tried to fight it, but it's useless!  I love everything!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin dip, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin steamers, pumpkin french toast (thanks, Pinterest!), pumpkin roll or pumpkin marshmallow Scentsy.....pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin!  I love to decorate with them too!  They are just so darn festive!

Although this year, I have not decorated anything and it is KILLING me!  We close on our new house in 2 weeks, so it's pointless to decorate now.  I am thinking at the new house we won't decorate for Halloween this year, but I can still put up my fall loves!

Have a great week everyone!

Little House on the Prairie

Can't wait!!!

Not sure if I will get used to this

I know that most people don't understand adoption. 

They don't understand why others adopt, especially internationally.

They don't understand the dynamics.

They really can't be blamed, it is just because they are not informed.

I expected this when we began this journey. 

But it still leaves me in awe every singe time someone makes a rude comment.

For example:

Last week as I was pulling out of the Y, a man literally chased me down, and asked me if we were adopting from China.  I told him yes.  He then proceeded to give me a lecture on reasons why we should NOT adopt and had to tell me a horror story of someone he knew who adopted from China 10 years ago.

Like when you're pregnant and people feel that they need to tell you their horrific birth experience, or worse.  Like telling you about their miscarriage or some other terrible event.

Not necessary.

And today at the Y, a woman asked me if we were adopting.  She then told me a story that went JUST like this:

"Oh that's great!  My sister adopted a girl from China (because that's all you can get of course) in 1996.  She is very short, but they have been very happy with her.  In fact, they still have her and everything! "

Like she was a sofa they got a great deal on.

Oh boy.  This is gonna take some patience!

Full Disclosure

When two people are contemplating marriage, there are certain discussions that MUST take place.

These conversations require complete honesty.

You should know your potential life-long mate intimately.

You need to know and accept all of these things, regardless of your own opinions.

It's part of the foundation of a good marriage.

This unconditional love.

You not only have to answer questions, you have to ask the right ones.

You cannot go into it blind.

You have been prepared.

But......

When you are sitting in a movie theater watching the preview for the new "Footloose" movie,

and the man you have been with for 8 years looks at you and says.....

(wait for it....you are going to DIE)......

"I've never seen the original Footloose"

All bets are off!!!!!!!

On Our Way!

We had our first official appointment with our homestudy social worker this week.

I was super nervous--as in stomach butterflies, scrub the house from top to bottom, new fragrance in the Scentsy burner, be crabby to (and hang up on) your husband for no reason--kind of nervous.

I didn't really know what to expect.

It's weird.  Awkward.

And I wasn't sure what to expect.

She had told me she would be here for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 

It ended up taking 30 minutes.

She explained her role in the adoption process, answered our questions, gave us some reading materials and some homework. 

And some paper.

This is some of the stuff we have to read through.  This stack is approximately 2 inches thick!

The homestudy application.  Each of these is several pages long.

Foster Care Licensing paperwork

This was the (26 page) application for our placing agency in California!

I don't really consider myself any kind of tree hugger, but geesh.  This is crazy! 

So today Tyson and I spent about 7 straight hours filling out paperwork, digging out financial papers, insurance papers, and medical information.  And we barely put a dent in it all! 

But we will get it all done, as soon as the holiday weekend is over and someone can answer a few questions!

I know this is just the beginning of MONTHS of paperwork, and I am by no means going to complain about any of it!  It all just puts us closer to our daughter!

To the best of my understanding, our next step is to finish all this paperwork, then we will be fingerprinted (probably late next week).  Tyson and I have to get our first set of medical exams and toward the end of the month we will have our training class. 

It feels so good to be DOING something, because I know it will be hard while we are in the "waiting" phases of adoption. 

We are super excited!!!

HERE WE GO!!!!!