And for right now we are not going to pursue anything with the law firm. I called and spoke with them to just get brief information the other day and the guy gave me some costs. The fees he told me were of course more than AOI but we felt that they would be doable with a few more months of saving and then a loan to cover the rest. Once we got the tax credit back, pay off the loan and it would be more than worth it in the long run. However, I got in touch with another lady who sent me their "estimated fees" it was over $10,000 more than what the first guy told me.
The list she sent me is just an "estimate" and they don't expect costs to go that high. It is still possible though. After thinking about it we just did not feel comfortable with getting involved. Maybe after more months go by we'll re-evaluate. For now, we'll just keep on keepin' on!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Wet Face....Lazy Cat
This other picture is of the cat Armani. Aaron says I never post about him so here is a picture. All he does is eat and sleep and get into trouble with Kya. But, I love him!
Monkey
We went to Petsmart on Friday and got Kya a new toy. Its just this little monkey that is perfect for her size. We got it out of the bag when we got home and showed it to her. She picked it up and took it over to her bed and layed down and fell asleep with it. It was so cute!!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Possible Opportunity or Taking Control....Again.
You know how you hear people say that they felt like God was calling them to do this or that? Or that they felt like God was really leading them one way or the other?
I struggle with this. Its hard for me to distinguish if something is part of God's plan or will for us or is this just me trying to take control again rather than leave it in His hands.
This post is about us possibly taking an additional route to having a family. Periodically (ok every day or at least every other day) I check our adoption agency's webpage to see if any new families have been added or other families removed.
When I looked last week there was a new one added but also one that was gone. My brother in law knows the couple that was off the list so I spoke with my sister to see if she knew anything about it. After actually getting in touch with the couple we found out that they adopted from a law firm in Indiana. They had been given this law firm's (Kirsh & Kirsh) name from some friends and ended up becoming a waiting family with them. A plus to this is that they could also stay a waiting family with AOI (Adoptions of Illinois). So, they have an opportunity at both places.
I emailed the husband of the couple and asked a few questions to see if this might be an option for us. He said they were waiting with AOI since August 2010 and in April 2011 decided to also try this other route. Well, they just adopted a baby boy in July 2011. So the process was around 3 months. This is amazing in adoption timelines!
Of course it sounds really great and is very tempting to jump on the bandwagon, but how do we know this is for us? How do we know this is what God wants us to do? I've prayed about it and am still a little unsure. Of course I WANT to do it because it gives us more of a chance. Now, I know this just came about the other day. Here we go back to my impatience... I know I'm not always going to get an instant answer from God but how do I sit back and possibly let an opportunity pass by? Or am I looking at this wrong? If its God's will it will happen regardless of what I do. But, I don't think that means I should just sit idly (spelling?) by either.
The cost is partly what is affecting our decision. It is more expensive and we are so close to having the money all saved if we ended up adopting through AOI. However, if we can become a waiting family with them and end up adopting through AOI we aren't out any money. We don't have to pay anything up front. So, why would we not do it? Also, adoptions with AOI seem to have slowed down a bit. In February we were looking at 5-10 adoptions a year with only 8 families. Now there are 12 families and they say they only do 3-4 adoptions a year.
Ahh..decisions! I'm planning on calling this law firm tomorrow. They have you watch some DVD and then discuss a few things before setting up anything official.
So I wonder..is this a possible opportunity God is providing or is this me just taking control and being impatient by wanting a child SO bad?
I struggle with this. Its hard for me to distinguish if something is part of God's plan or will for us or is this just me trying to take control again rather than leave it in His hands.
This post is about us possibly taking an additional route to having a family. Periodically (ok every day or at least every other day) I check our adoption agency's webpage to see if any new families have been added or other families removed.
When I looked last week there was a new one added but also one that was gone. My brother in law knows the couple that was off the list so I spoke with my sister to see if she knew anything about it. After actually getting in touch with the couple we found out that they adopted from a law firm in Indiana. They had been given this law firm's (Kirsh & Kirsh) name from some friends and ended up becoming a waiting family with them. A plus to this is that they could also stay a waiting family with AOI (Adoptions of Illinois). So, they have an opportunity at both places.
I emailed the husband of the couple and asked a few questions to see if this might be an option for us. He said they were waiting with AOI since August 2010 and in April 2011 decided to also try this other route. Well, they just adopted a baby boy in July 2011. So the process was around 3 months. This is amazing in adoption timelines!
Of course it sounds really great and is very tempting to jump on the bandwagon, but how do we know this is for us? How do we know this is what God wants us to do? I've prayed about it and am still a little unsure. Of course I WANT to do it because it gives us more of a chance. Now, I know this just came about the other day. Here we go back to my impatience... I know I'm not always going to get an instant answer from God but how do I sit back and possibly let an opportunity pass by? Or am I looking at this wrong? If its God's will it will happen regardless of what I do. But, I don't think that means I should just sit idly (spelling?) by either.
The cost is partly what is affecting our decision. It is more expensive and we are so close to having the money all saved if we ended up adopting through AOI. However, if we can become a waiting family with them and end up adopting through AOI we aren't out any money. We don't have to pay anything up front. So, why would we not do it? Also, adoptions with AOI seem to have slowed down a bit. In February we were looking at 5-10 adoptions a year with only 8 families. Now there are 12 families and they say they only do 3-4 adoptions a year.
Ahh..decisions! I'm planning on calling this law firm tomorrow. They have you watch some DVD and then discuss a few things before setting up anything official.
So I wonder..is this a possible opportunity God is providing or is this me just taking control and being impatient by wanting a child SO bad?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
3000GT
We picked the car up on Friday night and he was washing and waxing it up on Saturday. Sounds like Aaron.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Results are in...
Our well water testing reports came back today and everything was satisfactory!! Thats good news. I wasn't for sure what they would have us do if they weren't satisfactory. If I remember correctly I think the paperwork just said you have to provide the child(ren) with another source of drinking water. DUH!
Not much else to report. Hitting the end of another week. However, I do already have my grocery list ready to go and am going shopping tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully before everyone else gets off work. I'm taking Kya to get groomed tomorrow so it works out perfect. I drop her off and then have at least an hour to get all the shopping done. So it fits into my day just right. Plus, I like the Morton Kroger WAY better than the Washington one. Much nicer and cleaner.
Well its off to bed for me! I'll probably fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow!
Not much else to report. Hitting the end of another week. However, I do already have my grocery list ready to go and am going shopping tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully before everyone else gets off work. I'm taking Kya to get groomed tomorrow so it works out perfect. I drop her off and then have at least an hour to get all the shopping done. So it fits into my day just right. Plus, I like the Morton Kroger WAY better than the Washington one. Much nicer and cleaner.
Well its off to bed for me! I'll probably fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow!
Monday, August 1, 2011
3 Months In
We've hit our 3 month mark as far as the waiting process of the adoption. Really this isn't long and it hasn't actually felt that long either. The bummer is that the agency still isn't working with any new birthmoms. Obviously that can change any day or it can remain this way for a long time. We're praying for the Lord's perfect timing and for the baby He has for us.
It seems like things with the agency have changed a little bit since the beginning of the year. When we went to the conference in February and spoke with Amanda she said they do about 5-10 adoptions a year. At the time they only had about 7 maybe 8 families. Now it seems like they aren't really working with many/if any birthmoms and there are 12 families waiting and more coming soon.
I try not to get upset or bummed out about this because God knows and He has a plan.
I spoke with a lady who her and her husband adopted from ABC last year. Their process was only about 6 months long as far as waiting and getting their baby girl. She brought up so many things though that I hadn't really thought about yet.
I asked her if they met the birthmom and what the hospital situation was like. She was telling me that they did meet the birthmom and that their first meeting was perfect. However, before the baby was born things started to change a little bit. I'm not for sure of specifics but I think the birthmom started to change how open she wanted the adoption to be. She wanted to see the baby more often than she initially said maybe? Her and her husband were up at the hospital but could not (for some reason I'm not sure) have any of they're family there. She said it was the roughest 72 hours so far.
Just having her tell me this brought things to my attention that I hadn't really thought of yet. So, more things to be praying for. This whole process is a lot of unknowns. At first it was sooo hard for me and I'm sure at times it is still going to be hard but by God's grace He's giving me patience.
On another note we should get our well water testing reports back this week. We'll see how those turn out. We also have our updated home study visit scheduled for August 17th. We're leaving for WI right after our caseworker leaves so can you say CRAZY? That will be a busy day. I'm hoping to just get it out of the way before we go out of town.
And lastly, we have updated adoption books!! Once we finished them I said to my sister, "What if after we adopt once we go to adopt again and again and again." She replied with, "Can't you just use the same book?" Turns out typing letters and descriptions aren't all that easy in photoshop.
It seems like things with the agency have changed a little bit since the beginning of the year. When we went to the conference in February and spoke with Amanda she said they do about 5-10 adoptions a year. At the time they only had about 7 maybe 8 families. Now it seems like they aren't really working with many/if any birthmoms and there are 12 families waiting and more coming soon.
I try not to get upset or bummed out about this because God knows and He has a plan.
I spoke with a lady who her and her husband adopted from ABC last year. Their process was only about 6 months long as far as waiting and getting their baby girl. She brought up so many things though that I hadn't really thought about yet.
I asked her if they met the birthmom and what the hospital situation was like. She was telling me that they did meet the birthmom and that their first meeting was perfect. However, before the baby was born things started to change a little bit. I'm not for sure of specifics but I think the birthmom started to change how open she wanted the adoption to be. She wanted to see the baby more often than she initially said maybe? Her and her husband were up at the hospital but could not (for some reason I'm not sure) have any of they're family there. She said it was the roughest 72 hours so far.
Just having her tell me this brought things to my attention that I hadn't really thought of yet. So, more things to be praying for. This whole process is a lot of unknowns. At first it was sooo hard for me and I'm sure at times it is still going to be hard but by God's grace He's giving me patience.
On another note we should get our well water testing reports back this week. We'll see how those turn out. We also have our updated home study visit scheduled for August 17th. We're leaving for WI right after our caseworker leaves so can you say CRAZY? That will be a busy day. I'm hoping to just get it out of the way before we go out of town.
And lastly, we have updated adoption books!! Once we finished them I said to my sister, "What if after we adopt once we go to adopt again and again and again." She replied with, "Can't you just use the same book?" Turns out typing letters and descriptions aren't all that easy in photoshop.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)