MIA

many have wondered where we went...how the adoption process is coming along and why we haven't been posting. I suppose blatant honesty is best: we have been on a mini vacation from focusing on all things adoption. We are still in the adoption process but not a lot on our end has changed so we shifted to day to day life.  It started to get to me I guess, all the waiting without any real news that we were moving closer to another daughter being in our home.  I'm a very "glass overfull" type of person and so I was a bit surprised that knowing that this process would be lengthy and knowing we are all experiencing delays, that it was affecting me to the point that it was easier to pretend "what adoption...wait,...we're adopting?!" than to live with the reality that it was taking a lot longer than expected. :) that is the honest truth. We are attempting to be patient, anyway we can. 

Recently, I have been lifted by news that 11 families have been approved to pick up their children in India.  Some of these families have been waiting for this news since last May due to the delays all year in India.  I'm thrilled for all of them and know that once they have their children home, we and the families waiting on the referral list with us, will be next in line! At that time, I will go back to all things adoption and put all my energy back to getting our Lilian home...and can hardly wait to see which child God has given our family. 

So bear with us...there will be an end to this journey eventually! :)    

SANTA CAME EARLY!!!

In my true "timely" nature, I am finally getting around to posting news that hit us on Dec 22nd...and today is what?...Jan 3rd. :)  Mostly the delay is because the week of Christmas was INSANE (go ahead I know you agree on this one!) and also because we just returned from being gone on the "crooks 12 days of christmas" tour de family.  However the news we bring is still just as bit as fabulous as it was the day we heard it!

WE GOT THE GRANT!!! (what grant you might be asking?!) "THE" grant! You know, the one that we had been praying for to eliminate our fears of how in the world we were going to come up with the money we needed to present to our agency (out of thin air no less) in the event we got the call that we had been matched with our baby....yes...THAT GRANT!  We received $5000 (go ahead and pick up our jaws while you're down there getting yours) of a much needed grant from the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation and once we receive our referral, they will cut the check and send it over to Dillon pronto.  (HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF STARTS HERE...followed by cheers of joy!) Jennifer from the foundation couldn't have been easier or nicer to work with and I'm just blown away that both the grants (this and the local one from the Titus Task Foundation) we received came out of the blue, within a week of each other and lead to such positive results. 

So now all we need is India to announce things are back up and running (fingers crossed..prayers said) and $5000-$7000 in travel expenses saved back (when pigs fly) and *presto* we have ourselves a family of 6! It's still amazing to me how you start with literally nothing but the pen in your hand and an application and nearly 2 3/4 years later are still in the running for a chance to grow your family through international adoption!  GOD is SO GOOD!  Sometimes all your need is to jump (oh and don't look down!) and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised what transpires along the way.  Here's to a HAPPY NEW YEAR and the great HOPE that our daughter will be home with her family to enjoy some of this 2011 with us!

p.s. And to those that are waiting for their babies to arrive, having faces to put upon the longing in their hearts...we wish nothing but expediency to you and pray that your part of the process goes effortlessly from this point forward! Our thoughts are with you!