A Christmas gift of Hope

This will be our new crib set! (The first two pictures are the bedding farm theme and the bottom three are the convertible crib) Jason and I decided to get a "together" gift for ourselves for Christmas this year and decided we would need this more than a new TV or video game system. Plus it is going to be a great reminder of what all of this paperwork and hoop jumping is really for. We haven't really allowed ourselves to invest in anything for our future children since we always felt like it might not happen so this is a big step to actually invest in something and have faith that it will someday be filled.

I am so excited to have it set up and even though I'm sure it may taunt me sitting empty some days, I'm very excited to see the hope and promise of the empty crib. It is convertible (4 in one) so it will change from a crib, toddler bed, day bed and then head/foot board for a full sized bed. So... no matter what age or size of child is meant for us we should be able to accommodate! I'm sure that Martin and Morris will think it is for them...

PS. Here is a link to a website with popular Colombian names from 2009. Just for fun.
http://www.los-nombres.com/nombres-bebes-ninas-ninos-colombianos.php

The cleanest house in Rantoul is ours. We have scrubbed, cleaned, organized, and child proofed our home! We have our first meeting with our social worker tomorrow at 1pm, and we're hoping we're ready! In the morning we will get our first fingerprints of many for our approval as a foster home.

Then tomorrow Nicole (I) get the joy of a physical and then vacation can really begin! During vacation Jason and I have 10 hours of training to complete online for our international requirements. Our courses are through ALP (Adoption Learning Partners) and so far have been good for considering aspects of parenting we had considered but hadn't taken the time to really plan for.

We're trying to keep things moving, but I admit I am still confused by what can be done and the order of all the forms and steps. Right now we're just taking it one day at a time and trying to keep pushing through what we know we need to do. Somewhere out there our children are waiting.

Christmas is around the corner! It seems like time starts flying this time of year and with our additional efforts toward adoption it has been flying even faster!

The quick update is that we have filled out our contract and several other legal forms for Children's Hope International and sent our first pound of flesh to secure their services. Also we have selected our home study agency from Normal, Illinois called The Baby Fold. We will have our first visit/interview at our home on December 21st. Then we will start our class on international adoption in Normal on January 22. Between now and then we will start our 10 hour training course through CHI online.

I'm sure there will be many more forms and documents to sign and notarize between now and then and some fingerprinting and blood tests, but for now this is what we know! We'll give an update in the new year! Have a great Christmas holiday with friends and family and count all your blessings.