It's been a little while (as I was informed by a cousin this past weekend...thanks Eric!) so I thought I would give a little update!
We have finished all of the paperwork for our homestudy and are well on our way of completing our dossier.
There has been a new law put in place that will effect us, making us travel twice: after we get our referral for a court hearing (and to meet the baby), then 6 weeks later to bring her home. There are still some questions that are unanswered at this point, but I am sure they will become clear as we move forth.
In august we should have all of our paperwork turned in and hopefully on its way to Ethiopia!
We decided to take our time, in hopes Brock will be in kindergarden when she comes.
I am looking forward to continuing our Thursday "Brock and Mommy date days" and then just being with the baby when she comes the following year.
By the time we turn in all of our paperwork in August, the courts in Ethiopia will be closed for their rainy season, and will re-open after their holiday in October. It is at this time they will look at the paperwork, get it approved and start the process of matching us with a child.
We expect our referral (child) to be picked for us and brought to our attention sometime in the spring of 2011.
We hope to be traveling in the early summer of 2011 to bring her home.
In a way I feel like getting our baby is so far away.... We will go through one more school year with Maddyn and Brock, one more year of holidays with just the four of us, and share so many other moments. But I don't feel rushed to get her here, I know this will only allow us more time to prepare for her and to get a few things in our life settled before child 3 comes.
I feel god has put a peace in our heart about the perfect timing.
With the passing of my grandfather this past week, I look forward to a future filled with a family full of priceless moments as we expand our family (just like the memories I had with my family growing up). Robbie and I talk about leaving a legacy that reflects a life of being an example of Christ. My grandpa wasn't a man of words, but of action. Last week I realized more than ever those actions far outweighed any words he could have ever had. I told him as I dance with him at my wedding I could only dream of having a life as fulfilled as his. Our prayer is, as we raise the children we have now and the one (or ones) we might adopt into our family in the future, would be to have just that... A lifetime of memories that honor a God who gives and takes away...
With small children it seems hard to find the time to think about tomorrow let alone years from now. But nothing excites me more, than to have a room full of kids celebrating with them and all they have accomplished.
Also thank you to our friends and family once again for doing another round of referrals for us, and I promise there are no more. I recruited some wonderful friends from back home to help us with the next round! I know there are only so many ways to say Robbie and I are the best (hahah, just kidding!)
I just love God and how he works on our hearts constantly, and what is truly means to be his hands and feet.
I am sure this adoption is only the start of a journey we never could have even imagined.... And I think I can speak for Robbie too when I say it's a journey we will look forward to and embrace.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Journey is official!
This past week our journey is official.
Our first homestudy was on Friday... and since so many people are following our journey I will tell you as much as I can remember!
We have been assigned a socail worker, but she is going on a mission trip to India, so we have another socail worker that will be filling in named Heidi. She was just as wonderful.
There are two, two hour meetings that we have with her.
Today was mostly paperwork, questions and making sure we were safe ;-)
As far as the paperwork goes... it is not as bad as we thought. We have to get fingerprinted, get well checks, and do an autobiography of our lives. So far we have the autobiography done, finderprints are tomorrow and wellchecks are on Thursday. So I think we are doing good. The figerprints can take up to 8 weeks, then we can start that international paperwork once we are cleared in Arizona to be adoptive parents.
This paperwork process can take about 3-6 months. After this process we get our child, then it takes another 2-4 months to make the travel arrangements.
The children are healthy for the most part. They undergo two health screens before coming home to the united states. Heidi said that they learn at a young age to "take care" of themselves. They will have to get use to hearing our voice and language. Our envirnment will be much different than the orphanage. She did say that they babies are treated well in the orphange, although not as tended to as we might be to our own children.
Robbie will be the one to make the journey back. He will spend about 7-10 days there. The baby will join him at some point in the week. He is very excited to go... and he will bring back some keep sakes for her as she gets older.
When he gets back home with her, that will be the time we give her a name and get her a US birth certificate.
I feel like there is so much I am forgetting, but I will add it as I remember.
For right now, we talk about fun stuff of having a new baby. Looking at cribs, high chairs, talking about possibly a bigger car, and what kind of safety idem she will have :-)
I personally am not going to let myself get to excited until we know who she is... but I am looking forward to that day so much!!!!
Maddyn wants to pick her out a cute pink blanket... and some shoes! I told her we will have to wait to see how big (or little) she will be!
Brock is now asking "when is the baby coming?"... I am happy to see that he is getting more excited.
I will let you know when the paperwork is processed and the steps that are involved in the international process!
Thank you for your love and support!!!! We love you all and are so thankful you get to be apart of this journey with us!!!
Our first homestudy was on Friday... and since so many people are following our journey I will tell you as much as I can remember!
We have been assigned a socail worker, but she is going on a mission trip to India, so we have another socail worker that will be filling in named Heidi. She was just as wonderful.
There are two, two hour meetings that we have with her.
Today was mostly paperwork, questions and making sure we were safe ;-)
As far as the paperwork goes... it is not as bad as we thought. We have to get fingerprinted, get well checks, and do an autobiography of our lives. So far we have the autobiography done, finderprints are tomorrow and wellchecks are on Thursday. So I think we are doing good. The figerprints can take up to 8 weeks, then we can start that international paperwork once we are cleared in Arizona to be adoptive parents.
This paperwork process can take about 3-6 months. After this process we get our child, then it takes another 2-4 months to make the travel arrangements.
The children are healthy for the most part. They undergo two health screens before coming home to the united states. Heidi said that they learn at a young age to "take care" of themselves. They will have to get use to hearing our voice and language. Our envirnment will be much different than the orphanage. She did say that they babies are treated well in the orphange, although not as tended to as we might be to our own children.
Robbie will be the one to make the journey back. He will spend about 7-10 days there. The baby will join him at some point in the week. He is very excited to go... and he will bring back some keep sakes for her as she gets older.
When he gets back home with her, that will be the time we give her a name and get her a US birth certificate.
I feel like there is so much I am forgetting, but I will add it as I remember.
For right now, we talk about fun stuff of having a new baby. Looking at cribs, high chairs, talking about possibly a bigger car, and what kind of safety idem she will have :-)
I personally am not going to let myself get to excited until we know who she is... but I am looking forward to that day so much!!!!
Maddyn wants to pick her out a cute pink blanket... and some shoes! I told her we will have to wait to see how big (or little) she will be!
Brock is now asking "when is the baby coming?"... I am happy to see that he is getting more excited.
I will let you know when the paperwork is processed and the steps that are involved in the international process!
Thank you for your love and support!!!! We love you all and are so thankful you get to be apart of this journey with us!!!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Baby Boddy #3... Coming Soon!
A few of our closest friends might already know some of the details... but we want to keep our family and friends in on our journey ahead. Please pray for our family.
I am so excited to share with you that in about 9 months we should have Boddy Baby #3! We have officially started the process to adopt from Ethiopia.
So we looked into Haiti adoptions about 4 years ago, but soon found out that we didn't meet any of the requirements...so we decided to have Brock! He is great and I am glad God's plan was bigger than me, because I wasn't sure I could do another natural birth after her!
So two years ago I went to Robbie and just told him I still feel really passionate about adopting, but I didn't know if he shared in any of that excitement with me. He said he was open to the idea, so we decided to look into state adopting and find out some facts. Just started to pray that this was the path we should or shouldn't be on....
So with some issues along the way there were just too many things that allowed that from happening. One year ago we decided to give it a one year break and see where our hearts were at that time. Some of that had to do with Robbie's new job and me working full time... we thought time would do a lot for us.
So at the beginning of this year, we felt the passion for the adoption, but not for the state adoption program. So that left us a little confused... so we just started praying and being open to God. The week before the Haiti earthquake we had talked about going back to Haiti and spending time there. We though maybe we were being lead to just think about some mission trip that was coming up.
Well then the earthquake happened, and a week later I said to Robbie "what's going to happen with all the kids". So we got really excited about possibly adopting from Haiti... so I called. We still don't meet the requirements... but that lady suggested Ethiopia. I told her I wasn't sure... and told her I would call her back (feeling really sad for it not looking good for the Haiti adoption). I also didn't think Robbie would be up for adopting still. So I told Robbie what she said and we decided to apply for a Haitian adoption in case they change the rules and think about Ethiopia.
Then Robbie started looking into conditions in Ethiopia and they are just as bad with a lot more children.
So on Friday I told Robbie as we were filling out paperwork... I just don't think Haiti is going to work out, but I have this strong sense we should pursue Ethiopia... he said he felt the same, but would still rather adopt from Haiti.
Then on Sunday, the service was about adopting... and the video they played was about a little boy from Ethiopia.... ?????
I wanted to cry... Robbie said let's adopt from Ethiopia and look into Haiti in a few years.
(that could mean 4 Boddy kids!)
So yesterday I called and we have our home study on Thursday and we should have a little girl (about 3 months old) in 9 months.
So in this last year as I was saying "what can we do to be the hands and feet of Jesus?" ... This is it for our family!
We talk about the blessings within our family, and what impact it will have along the way!
I am so excited... and I never imagined having more than one kid in life... so this is God's doing!
As much as I know I will not be the one to deliver her, I feel a connection to her and I am excited.
I have had a name picked out for years... and that is the name we are going to give her (with her Ethiopian name being the middle). This is my way of telling her... you were thought of before you were born and were loved long before we knew you.
Maddyn is so excited. She loves the stories about our "adopt a child in Haiti" Claribel. So she is very excited to have a baby, and a sister. I love Maddyn's heart... and think this will be good for her too.
Brock wants a 3 year old boy that can share his room... we told him to keep praying! God answers prayers from 3 year old little boys too!
One at a time for now.
Just to throw a little kicker in... We had decided to take this from our savings. Over the last year we have been living on a very modest budget to pay off college loans and our vacation package. We were going to do this over the next three years. So we decided to put that on hold so we could do this... we really wanted to be diligent with our money so we could give back to God and do good with our money to better his kingdom in the future. Well then this happens to us... we got an unexpected check this week that will pay for this all! This was almost the exact amount this adoption is going to cost us! Can you believe that .... God just gave us money to pay for this!
So pray for us... I know this is exciting... but I am sure will not go without some stressful times throughout this process. And anyone that knows me, knows I have always wanted a black baby... so here she comes.
I think at times Robbie is more excited than I am... he is excited to post all that he can about Ethiopia to educate everyone! So check back for updates.... our goal is to make a weekly post on Mondays!!!
We have so many great friends close to us... we thank you ahead of time for all your support and love as we begin this journey.
I am so excited to share with you that in about 9 months we should have Boddy Baby #3! We have officially started the process to adopt from Ethiopia.
So we looked into Haiti adoptions about 4 years ago, but soon found out that we didn't meet any of the requirements...so we decided to have Brock! He is great and I am glad God's plan was bigger than me, because I wasn't sure I could do another natural birth after her!
So two years ago I went to Robbie and just told him I still feel really passionate about adopting, but I didn't know if he shared in any of that excitement with me. He said he was open to the idea, so we decided to look into state adopting and find out some facts. Just started to pray that this was the path we should or shouldn't be on....
So with some issues along the way there were just too many things that allowed that from happening. One year ago we decided to give it a one year break and see where our hearts were at that time. Some of that had to do with Robbie's new job and me working full time... we thought time would do a lot for us.
So at the beginning of this year, we felt the passion for the adoption, but not for the state adoption program. So that left us a little confused... so we just started praying and being open to God. The week before the Haiti earthquake we had talked about going back to Haiti and spending time there. We though maybe we were being lead to just think about some mission trip that was coming up.
Well then the earthquake happened, and a week later I said to Robbie "what's going to happen with all the kids". So we got really excited about possibly adopting from Haiti... so I called. We still don't meet the requirements... but that lady suggested Ethiopia. I told her I wasn't sure... and told her I would call her back (feeling really sad for it not looking good for the Haiti adoption). I also didn't think Robbie would be up for adopting still. So I told Robbie what she said and we decided to apply for a Haitian adoption in case they change the rules and think about Ethiopia.
Then Robbie started looking into conditions in Ethiopia and they are just as bad with a lot more children.
So on Friday I told Robbie as we were filling out paperwork... I just don't think Haiti is going to work out, but I have this strong sense we should pursue Ethiopia... he said he felt the same, but would still rather adopt from Haiti.
Then on Sunday, the service was about adopting... and the video they played was about a little boy from Ethiopia.... ?????
I wanted to cry... Robbie said let's adopt from Ethiopia and look into Haiti in a few years.
(that could mean 4 Boddy kids!)
So yesterday I called and we have our home study on Thursday and we should have a little girl (about 3 months old) in 9 months.
So in this last year as I was saying "what can we do to be the hands and feet of Jesus?" ... This is it for our family!
We talk about the blessings within our family, and what impact it will have along the way!
I am so excited... and I never imagined having more than one kid in life... so this is God's doing!
As much as I know I will not be the one to deliver her, I feel a connection to her and I am excited.
I have had a name picked out for years... and that is the name we are going to give her (with her Ethiopian name being the middle). This is my way of telling her... you were thought of before you were born and were loved long before we knew you.
Maddyn is so excited. She loves the stories about our "adopt a child in Haiti" Claribel. So she is very excited to have a baby, and a sister. I love Maddyn's heart... and think this will be good for her too.
Brock wants a 3 year old boy that can share his room... we told him to keep praying! God answers prayers from 3 year old little boys too!
One at a time for now.
Just to throw a little kicker in... We had decided to take this from our savings. Over the last year we have been living on a very modest budget to pay off college loans and our vacation package. We were going to do this over the next three years. So we decided to put that on hold so we could do this... we really wanted to be diligent with our money so we could give back to God and do good with our money to better his kingdom in the future. Well then this happens to us... we got an unexpected check this week that will pay for this all! This was almost the exact amount this adoption is going to cost us! Can you believe that .... God just gave us money to pay for this!
So pray for us... I know this is exciting... but I am sure will not go without some stressful times throughout this process. And anyone that knows me, knows I have always wanted a black baby... so here she comes.
I think at times Robbie is more excited than I am... he is excited to post all that he can about Ethiopia to educate everyone! So check back for updates.... our goal is to make a weekly post on Mondays!!!
We have so many great friends close to us... we thank you ahead of time for all your support and love as we begin this journey.
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