Resources

The most fabulous social worker in the world turned us onto the Adoptive Families magazine, which I highly recommend. In the Jan/Feb issue, there was a whole section on parenting African-American families. They included everything from hair to heritage. Their website has a lot of other great information if you have the time to check it out, including a section on Ethiopia as well as other countries. Also check out Culture for Kids for more great language and culture resources. You can order a catalog online also.

A tidbit of news..

Like I said this isn't much. Our homestudy was reviewed and sent back to our social worker for a few revisions. She called me yesterday for a little more information, made the revisions and then sent it back to Portland. Hopefully, everything was taken care of in the revisions and it will be approved. At that point, the MFSWW (most fabulous social worker in the world) will mail us many notarized copies and we can distribute them!! Back to the MFSWW, I am not joking! This woman loves her job and it is truly a calling of hers to unite families with these children. She is the best!

On another note, we have had the sickness in our house. I just got over it and the Bean has it now. I hate for my children to be sick, because you are so helpless. The one good thing is that the Bean is not an extremely affectionate child, but since she is not feeling well she has been cuddled up with her momma all day!

Birthday Party!

Saturday was very busy as we celebrated three birthdays at Nana & Papa's house. My oldest niece turned 3 a week ago, the Little Man turned 2 yesterday, and my yougest niece turned 1 yesterday. Throw in a few more kids and it was an energetic party! Here are a few highlights.

The birthday kids!

Nana & Papa with all their grandchildren (so far)!

The Little Man with his new Thomas t-shirt and beach hat.

The Bean entertaining everyone with her "kung fu" dancing.

Winding down at the end of a long day!

MARCH 12!!!!

On March 12th, 2008, Our Creator's Hope is asking everyone to give up a cup of Joe for a day to help an orphan come home to their forever family.

Yes, that's right $5.00 a year* can bring home a child!

If everyone on this contact list gave $5.00 to OCH a year, we could raise $2750.00 towards our grant program. Please go to our website Our Creator's Hope to submit your donation through our safe and secure paypal portal.

If OCH receives $500.00 on this day through our online paypal portal, Paypal will donate an extra $50.00 to Our Creator's Hope! That's FREE cash added to your donation!

We count on you to tell others about Our Creator's Hope, INC. so pass this along!!! If one of your friend's, email contact, family member, co-worker, or church member joins us today, we can raise an additional $2750.00, and so on. Together as a team, we can make a difference and help families complete their adoptions!!!!

We do understand that some supporters are not comfortable using online paypal portals, you may send your $5.00 donation to:

Our Creator's Hope
939 South Cedar Bend Rd
Southside, AL 35907

This is a unique opportunity to make a difference in many lives!! The children depend on your support and participation! We can do this!!!! Help us get the word out!!!

"It is God's plan for ALL followers of Christ to care for the orphans as this is denoted as pure religion before God. Therefore, the very act of caring for orphans is God-honoring despite any hardships or suffering that result to God's servants” (James 1:27)

Pack rats

The bean reading to the little man after bath time.

My little pack rats.

How do they fit in there with all that stuff?

The immortal words of the Pointer Sisters say it best...

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!

Our home study is done and in Portland waiting for review!! It has been there since Monday, but the Ethiopian Program Director was out Monday and Tuesday. She takes anywhere between 5-7 days to review it and send corrections to our social worker, who them finalizes it, notarizes many copies and mails them to us. Once we get it in the mail (I might have to start checking the mailbox everyday, instead of waiting for J to get home), we will take the next Friday off and head to Yakima for our fingerprinting. I also will finally get to send my dossier in to AGCI. The home study is the final piece of it that I have been waiting for.

I have been really worried about what I am going to do to keep busy during this waiting period, but God finally gave me an answer. More to come on that in the future.

Home Visit

(Here is the family playing outside this morning, while I was straightening everything up for our home visit.)

The most wonderful social worker in the whole world just left our house. Our home visit went great and the kids did fabulous. (I know no kids are perfect, but I really didn't want to deal with a meltdown while we were trying to have a conversation with her.)

She just has to add in our home visit and then should have the completed study sent off to Martha early next week for review. That means we will be heading to Yakima with our I-600a application by the end of the month! Yeah!