Home Study Agency

We finally decided on a Home Study agency...Villa Hope in B'ham. We sent in our prelim. app and the fee and were approved. I ordered our birth certificates from MO and KY; have scheduled our doctor's appt. for Dec. 22nd, am preparing our financial statement; wrote our Letter to CCAA; have compiled most our photos that have to be submitted; etc.....

We are learning the finer points of AL adoption. Why does every state have to be soooo different when it comes to adoption requirements. AL requires one more post-placement report, than we had to submit in MD....translation...more money.

Villa Hope is requiring more training....translation...more money. I know it's all going to be very expensive..it's just hitting hard this time; I guess with the timing of Christmas being now; coupled w/the fact that we're going to Israel; although that was really a gift and we'll be spending money for some things..food, souvenirs, etc.

Tonight we have to complete our Clearance packet for the Home Study; which will basically show that we are not criminals, in a nutshell. We have a fingerprint appt. in B'ham on the 18th to verify that we are not criminals. We are also working on our formal app. for Villa Hope, which is a lot of duplicate paperwork as required for our Dossier; so a lot of cutting and pasting will be taking place.

After the New Year, we hope to have our 4 Home Study visits completed and then we also have to attend a 6-hr. training in B'ham; while we finish the 8-hr. online training as required by the Hague Convention.

BUT most importantly, there's a little girl in China, whom we love greatly, who is waiting for us to come get her and bring her home. This whole process is suppose to be for her protection, to verify that we are 'fit' to adopt; but it is still very difficult.

We cling to the Hope that we have in Him; knowing that He will provide ALL we need (and Lord, right now it's finances) and the strength and peace to endure the journey. I am trying to "taste and see that the Lord is good"--Psalm 34:8; in the middle of this process; which at times is very trying.

Hopefully a year from today, Dec. 8th, 2010, I'll be tucking in my oldest, a 12-and-a half, little almond-eyed beauty; singing her songs and praying her to sleep.

We love you, little one!