Submitted!

Our paperwork was submitted to Ivy's country today!! And apparently this is the last Thursday for submissions before closing, talk about close! We still do not know for sure if this will allow us to be grandfathered in to the new adoptions department but everyone is hopeful it will.

Now we wait. Once they open we will be issued a travel date to go get our girl!!

In other Ivy news, I've started painting her room today.

Sneak peak?

Happy Anniversary to Us

Yesterday was our 12th wedding anniversary, and I have to say it was much better than the last few!

June 25th 2009 I had a D&C and was recovering from a horrible few months of being sick with a molar pregnancy.

June 25th 2010 we got the official results of our amnio with Jewel.

June 26th 2011 we got word that our paperwork is on the list to be submitted this Thursday. Perfect news to end our bad streak!

We also had a yard sale fundraiser Saturday and made $500!!

So thankful for God's continued blessings!

We must wait

We will not make it to Ivy before her country closes adoptions temporarily. Our paperwork was not submitted yesterday, and even if it was, they are still not handing out any more travel dates. Only those families submitted in May will be able to continue before the closure. The good news is they are still submitting documents and hopefully ours will make it. There are 2 Thursdays(the only days they submit docs) left. If we are submitted that should keep us from having to redo all our paperwork and we will be one of the firsts to get a travel date when the new department opens. This is the best scenario now and what we are praying for, along with a speedy closure.

In the meantime we will enjoy the rest of summer and continue to prepare for Ivy. One thing I was really bummed about was possibly missing the kid's first day of school, and now I wont have to worry about that. Also airfare should be much cheaper since we will not be in peak traveling season. These really aren't consolations to leaving our girl to sit months more alone in her orphanage though, trying to find some bright sides.

If you are the praying kind, here are some specific requests:
-For Ivy's health while she waits.
-That someone will feed her, change her diaper, and give her some loving human contact each day.
-That God will protect her spirit and she will blossom once in our family.
-Our paperwork is submitted Thursday the 30th
-A quick closure.

Thank you!!

I have no idea who, but someone donated $300 to our grant!! Donations are made through Reece's Rainbow and I do not see where they come from. I wish I could so that I could personally thank everyone for giving selflessly to help us bring Ivy home.

So, whoever you are...thank you so much!! We are very grateful for each and every person who has helped us a long the way!!

It is done. Every single document we need in order to adopt Ivy is complete. Three months of paper chasing, phone calls, appointments, notarizing, faxing, shipping documents, and running here, there, and everywhere.

We drove them to Sacramento yesterday to have them apostilled(notary at state level) and then shipped off. First though, Rob prayed over them and asked God to keep them safe, arrive quickly, and most of all - grant us a miracle. Ivy's country is temporarily closing down adoptions beginning July 11th. That means our papers need to be submitted to her government on June 23rd and we need to receive a travel date very quickly. Things do not generally work that fast but we know that with God ALL things are possible. His ways - whether I like them or not, are better than my own. I absolutely do not like the thought of her sitting months more in an orphanage alone, especially when we are thisclose. But I must rest in His perfect plan, even when I don't understand. Please pray for our situation.

While we wait to see what happens we will prepare just in case. If we do get a travel date it will be quick and not leave us much time to get everything ready. I still need to paint Ivy's room and set everything up. She has a crib, bedding, dresser, and some clothes and toys. I still need to get a crib mattress, car seat, high chair, and more clothes and toys. The toys aren't that big of deal since she does have some and that isn't really a necessity. I was waiting to buy most clothes until we met her but would like to have more in case we only make one trip. I'm guessing she will be about 12-18 months size and have been buying mostly that.

We also need some more items for our trip like electronic things I dont know much about. I must have my flat iron so apparently we will need to get a converter for that and any other things we will be taking that need plugging in. Probably some luggage too since we are not regular world travelers.

So much to do with so little time, I hope!