Homestudy behind us!

So our Homestudy is officially complete! Our agency reviewed it in one day...it normally takes two weeks! God is so good. I have been nervous that these last bunches of paperwork are going to take so long. God is teaching me to trust in Him a lot right now.
Charlie said something that really made sense to me. He said in baseball his coach always told them to expect a fastball but adjust to a curveball. If expecting a curveball you wouldn't really have time to adjust to a fastball...it can only work the first way. With God we should do this too. Expect God to do big amazing things. In our adoption we should expect Him to expedite the process, make everything work out perfectly because this far we believe this is His plan and He has provided in everyway. But if He throws a curveball we have to adjust to it and accept it as part of His plan also...even if we don't understand it. We are learning to trust Him...His timing...His plan...His will.

Thank you for your prayers...we are moving along quite nicely. :D

Emmy's big date...

Charlie has taken emmy out quite a few times before, and we've called it a Daddy/Daughter date. She gets excited of course and has a blast. Well recently Charlie had a big proposal at school and he had to wear a suit. When Emmy saw him she was so enamored with him in such a sweet way. She kept telling him how much she liked his suit, and how handsome he looked. So Charlie got the idea to dress up and come to the door to take her to on a date. He will continue to do this often to show her, and any other daughters we have, how a man should treat a woman. This is if our daughters chooses to date (against fathers wishes) after, oh about 30 yrs. old. :D

Here are some pictures of their sweet adventure tonight...and I also had to bring in the spiritual side of things. How sweet that our Heavenly Father does this with us. He is our Prince (King) Charming...He has sacrificed to be with us. He only treats us with kindness, love, compassion, mercy, grace, and waits for us to open the door of our hearts and enter in to an amazing romance with Him. He is a perfect gentleman. I pray Charlie will be a great model to guide Emmy to our heavenly father and to learn the amazing relationship we can have with Him. What a beautiful picture for Emmy to learn at such a young age.

(For all those wondering I had a wonderful evening alone. Four words for you...pedicure, coffee, quiet...priceless!)

A little update...

Just to keep you all posted...we are still updating and finalizing our homestudy. It takes a little longer to review than we thought. So hopefully it will be done soon. I have one question...will you please pray for our (well mostly my) attitude throughout this process? Please pray also for all the details to workout and for the Lord's timing to reign even if it doesn't match our own. Because of course we want the child that is for our family and was chosen for us!! So if that means it takes longer to get us that child then that is ok. :D
I guess I am realizing more and more how hard this process is going to be and already is. It is not a road for the faint of heart. It is like a marathon...not a sprint. It is so easy to get lost in all the details and to get frustrated when you have to re-do papers that took 3 1/2 hours to get in the first place. It's just a difficult road...BUT with an amazing end. I know once we hold our sweet baby I will forget about all the hardships and pains we endured. Just like physical laboring with a baby adoption labor I know will have the same result! I remember 20 minutes after birthing emmy I looked at up at Charlie and said..."I can see why people do this again."

We appreciate your prayers... :D

Easter thoughts...

As I enter into "the Sunday" where we all, often, have alot to do...shop for gifts, stuff baskets, prepare food, coordinate family schedules, coordinate outfits, shop some more, do crafts, prepare an egg hunt, and drive all over to various families houses, etc...I just wanted to stop today and really thank Jesus for the sacrifice He made for me. Put aside the preparations and just sit at His feet and say thank you. Thank you Jesus. I love the song "What a friend we have in Jesus"...Here are the words. I loved knowing, really knowing what the words are saying and singing along with the music. Happy, Happy Resurrection Day!! :D

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Visits from the social worker...

Sweet Emmy

Charlie's 30th Birthday!

So we've had our final meeting with our social worker. It was great and she is a delight...it wasn't scary at all. She was very friendly, kind, and engaging. It was such an answer to prayer! So thank you all for your faithful prayers. We now wait for the Homestudy to be finalized and then send it to immagration and in 6-8 weeks we get the special paper that allows us to adopt! Once we have that paper we send in our dossier. From that point we will be waiting roughly 9-12 months to find out the sex of our sweet baby (fun since we found out the sex with emmy) and we'll see a picture!! We will also get a description of his/her personality and status of his/her health. We can't wait...it seems like it'll be forever but we know it will be here sooner than we think. :D

We can't tell you enough how much your prayers & support mean to us...thank you!!