So we wait .....

So we wait to hear when we are going to court. Our dossier is over in Ghana and now it is the waiting game. I am hopeful we will go to court this month. I just have that feeling. So we wait for that email, phone call or text message!

It's different this time with waiting for things to go through with D. We are so incredibly busy with our own family life that it doesn't really feel like we are waiting. It's Thursday night and I wonder what happened to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and today. Time is going so incredibly fast! We still have a lot to do and I know God is preparing us and he is also giving us time to get ready for her.

I did get to talk to her the other day and it was so exciting to hear her voice. I actually talk to her way more than we talked to the twins. So I feel closer to her than I did with the twins at this part of the process. I also think being a sibling of the twins, I feel closer to her. The girls talked a lot about D their first year. I know lots of stories about her so that makes me feel much closer to her. I just can't wait to get off the plane and see her.

So we continue to wait with smiles on our faces!

No News Yet

It's been a while....actually feels like a really long while since I had exciting news. We don't really have any news yet. We have our dossier ready to mail except we need our home study to go with it. We hope in the next couple of weeks we will go to court to get our certification. This will allow us to get a copy of our home study and send our dossier over to Ghana.

It's really hard to sit and wait for this...well any part of the process. We feel like we have responded as fast as we can and now we wait. It's hard to wait, especially when you have a named child waiting for you.

We did get to talk to D on her birthday (this past Saturday). She turned thirteen. I get frustrated at the timing of everything due to her age. She is not a little child. She is preteen so it makes it more challenging for her and for us. I know God completely planned this so all of my trust and faith has to go into Him.

It's hard when she asks us "When are you coming to get me?" I don't have an answer yet for her. I just tell her we are working as hard and fast as we can. She understands what is happening and so I think it is just as hard for her as it is for us on the wait. God has His timing, but I wish I could look into the future to see what day she will be coming home. But that wouldn't build my faith, or would it??!! :)

So no news yet, but I hope some soon!

Update on Children

We seem to get quite a few questions about how are the twins doing and what do they think about adopting D. It has happened so quickly but now we are having time to really digest everything.

The twins at first were so excited. They were thrilled to death that D was going to be a part of the family. I think they were shocked as to how the other 3 children excepted the idea as well. As I look back in the last two months, the twins have actually settled down more with the family. Now that doesn't mean they weren't attached but I kind of think, they are thinking "We are really here to stay".

The first year of the twins coming home was challenging with the fact the twins thought they were just living with us to go to school and someday they would return back to their family. Like they were our guest. They thought this because of a couple of comments their birth family said to them when we met them to say "good-bye". What their birth family said to them wasn't bad or anything but I can see what and how they misinterpreted what they said.

So now, the twins have actually "settled" down with more trust and believing they are a part of the family. The decision to adopt D has also brought out some insecurity with them. Interesting conversations have occurred like..."Mommy when D gets home - will you ever give us away?" "Will you ever give D away?" We have talked so much about why their birth mom had to give them up to another family. We have talked about how amazing she was to do this because only the strong moms can do this. Also, we have talked about just because their birth mom can't take care of them doesn't mean she doesn't love them.

I have taken them outside to show them the moon and explain to them, we all share the moon. So when they look up at the moon it's the same moon their birth mom sees.

So as I think about this new journey our family is going on, it is such a great lesson for security, trust, and more love of the twins and for the twins.

I know when D comes home, there is going to be a lot of grieving on both sides because of the change of the family. I am so amazed as to how excepting all the children have been to this new person who is going to join us. They talk a lot about ....when D gets here, can we......?" The twins have already planned out the dinner from when D comes home for the first night.

On the updating side of what has occurred so far is we have had our home study visit and now we are waiting for it to be sent to court to get certified to adopt. In Arizona, it's one of those extra steps we have to do. The next step is to send over our dossier. We will do that the minute we pick up our home study. It's mostly ready but I have dragged my feet a bit more because I have been working on something else for Ghana. Anyway, that's about where we are!

God DID IT

When we decided to begin this adoption, Jarett was concerned with how we were going to do this because we don't have the money. Meaning, we didn't plan this so we didn't have a savings started for it. We could save for it but it would take a long time to gather the funds. D is already 12 years old and soon to be 13 so we want to get her home as quickly as we can. Plus, she has been separated from her sisters for 3 years now. Well, I told Jarett that if this was really God's plan for us, He would provide the money.

HE DID IT!

With our first order of the candle sales, we made enough money to pay for the home study and have a little extra left over. We are going to put the extra money towards the lawyer fees now (that's our next challenge besides plane tickets).

You think you have faith until you really run into a challenge and then your faith is tested. Both Jarett and I have failed this test. I started off strong with faith knowing God would provide for this adoption. He always has but as I think of all the things we need to pay for, I begin to doubt.....how are we going to do this next stage? I wonder sometimes if this is Satan putting those doubts into my head. I just have to keep my eyes forward knowing God is going to get us to the next phase and that this is all in His timing.

I do have to say that involving the children in the candle sales was such an amazing experience for them. It made them feel so involved in this adoption process. When we adopted the twins, our biological children would say "When YOU adopt the twins......". Now the children, including the twins, say "When WE adopt D.....". They have ownership in this adoption. I think it will make the transition of when D comes home so much more meaningful. We also have a Chick-Fil-A night set up and they are so excited for it. I think God is really proud of them to have the compassion for this adoption. I know Jarett and I are very proud of them!

Get to write some CHECKS

I have gotten so much done this week. On Monday, we got the email with the application, medical forms to be filled out, reference information, etc. Within 2 days, I was able to get Jarett and myself to the doctors office and they filled out the forms while being examined. I got all the information completed. We went today to get our fingerprints done for the background check. Here in Arizona, we have to go to court to get certified to adopt. So we also paid those fees and signed those papers.

I am in shock as to how fast this is all going. I know at some point we will slow down a lot and will be waiting but I definitely didn't think this fast.

Sometimes I think that I am waiting for the ball to fall and hit me. Like...what was I thinking with falling in love with a little girl and trying to adopt her. I usually don't think about the glass being half full but this is happening so fast and there has been so much support from family and friends - there has to be something wrong, right? Maybe this is Satan putting these thoughts in my head. Nothing usually goes as smooth as this part has so I am a little leery.

On a side note, I had a friend today say she wants to go to Africa with me on one of the trips. Woo Hoo! I will have a buddy!!!! I am actually excited if she ends up going because then I can show off how awesome Ghana is!! :)

So now, we are almost ready for our home visit. I think everything is turned in but who knows if I have forgotten anything. I can't wait for that visit because we really like and admire our social worker. Plus it will be great for her to see how well everyone is doing. That's the exciting part for someone to see how we started and now she gets to see how we do this again!!

Overwhelming Support

I can not believe the overwhelming support we have had so far. As Christians, we (Jarett and I) hate to ask for help other than to ask God. I think it has shown that God is completely in the middle of this whole thing. I have had so many people tell us they would rather give us a donation than buy a candle. I love Gold Canyon Candles and I thought at least people are getting something good for their money. Even my principal is so excited that his wife is ordering. My sister came up with an idea to do a garage sale. Wow-It is amazing! I just know that God is totally going to provide us with everything to bring Deborah home. This has been happening so fast - but I am glad since D is going to be turning 13 in October.

I am excited to be able to visit Ghana again. I am already getting my shopping list ready. I hope I can meet the social worker there to give her pictures and show them how awesome the twins are doing. I know they would be happy. I can't wait to post her picture, when she is legally ours. She is so beautiful. She has a different type of beauty than Rita and Racheal. She looks like an angel. Seriously, I am not just saying that! :)

Table for 8

I am thinking of changing our blog's title to "Table for 8". As I have been thinking of changing the title, just because we are going to be a family of 8 someday. There is a small story that helped me to come up with this new title.

About 6 months after the girls came home, we bought a kitchen table from one of my mom's friends. It just so happens to fit 8 people. I remember one time when we were sitting at the table and there was an empty chair. I immediately said to everyone, "There's an empty chair. I wonder what that means". Of course, Jarett politely said, "It means we have an extra chair for when the children have a friend over". I laughed and then added, "We should just adopt another child so we can be an even number and then all the chairs will be filled". The boys chimed in and said "Yes, we should get another boy, so it's even". It was a funny conversation. I didn't really think we would be in this situation again, with adopting another child. I was/am so comfortable and satisfied with the family we have now. I think that's what makes this such a "God" story. We have closed this door before, but for some reason God opened our hearts to it. I am so thankful and grateful that He did.

We got to talk to D Saturday morning and just hearing her voice and seeing the happiness and excitement on the childrens' face was AMAZING! R and R were so excited to talk to her. It was like they were nervous but excited at the same time. I can't wait for the day, they get to hug her. I think I will be a sobbing mess on that day. I just know that bringing these 3 back together again is what God wants us to do. When I heard D's sweet voice, it completely confirmed we are doing this and this is THE RIGHT decision for us.

On a side note, one of our special family friends moved to China about 2 months ago for a year. Well, they sold their Expedition to us right as they were leaving the country. This car is huge and seats 8 people. Who would have known that this car is exactly what we needed. I am tell you. . . . . this is a God story.

We are on our Way!!

We started our first fund raiser today....Gold Canyon Candles. The kids are involved and helping out by asking their teachers and adults they know. It was so cute that Karson came to me tonight and said, "Mom, I sold 5 candles". I love it! I love the fact that he is so involved and the smile on his face knowing he is helping is so worth it! Kaiden is tomorrow and now it's a competition. Each child is taking a day. It's really cool to listen to them talk about this and refer to helping to being home D. We need to raise about $2000 for this very first part of the process. I think if we can get that then we can do the rest as time goes on.

I pulled out all of our adoption paperwork last night. OMW! I forgot all the things we did and all the paperwork we did to adopt the twins. It's like having a baby....you forget all the weight gain, swelling, heartburn and delivery. With the adoption....you forget all the fingerprinting, home visits, paper chasing, mailing, and delivery. I do have to say the delivery is the best part of both!!!!

I want so badly to meet D and give her a big hug! I know this is going to be a long process so God is definitely going to need to work on our patience.

New.... News for our Family

We have some exciting news to share. It feels a little weird to share, but at the same time exciting! We are beginning the process to adopt Rita and Racheal's sister. This is her biological sister. She is 12 years old and living in a foster home right now. R and R have talked about D for such a long time. We feel like we know her already. The story on how this came about is so amazing.

This is how the story goes:

Back in March we were forwarded an email from a gentlemen from Ghana. He was writing about how R and R's sisters (yes there are two of them) were placed in a foster home. The foster home they are in, is what we would call an orphanage. In the email, it stated their great grandmother had passed away. She was the caregiver for all the girls. A question was asked at the end of the email about adopting them. Jarett and I read the email a couple of times but did not feel the moved to do anything. So we closed that door.

Five months later, I get an email from a friend (Jennine) asking me what R and R's older sister's name was. I emailed her back with the name....D. She emailed right back and said "call me". I knew something was up so I called her. After playing phone tag, she told me that she knew of a mother who was trying to find D's twin sisters. This mother went to Ghana and has a picture of her. I remember Jennine asking me "Would you ever consider adopting her". My immediate response was "No".

Later that night, Jennine emailed the picture of D. My first thought was "OMW she is gorgeous!" She looked just like the twins but had a different beauty to her. I showed Jarett the picture of her and told him what had happened with the emails and etc. We both still felt like we couldn't adopt her.

A couple of days passed and I got in contact with the mother who shared the picture. I asked her questions about D. She told me the story of when she was in Ghana in March and the last two days of her trip, she went to this orphanage/foster home to check on a child that was being adopted by someone else. She remembers D walking through the door and just standing in the door way. She remembers thinking how gorgeous she was. Well, this mother went back about a month ago, and D was still there. She was asking this mother about the twins and if she knew who adopted them. There was a sadness to her when she talked about missing them.

I shared the story with Jarett. We still thought there was no way we could do this. We are just getting to where we are paying things in cash and working really hard to get our debt paid off (Thanks to Dave Ramsey).

The more I spoke with the mother about D the more I felt the need to pray about it. So I began to pray. I prayed if this was His will then our hearts need to be changed so we could love her. Slowing both of our hearts were being changed. I remember telling my mom about this and telling her how scared I felt about it. It wasn't the type of scared feeling like I didn't want to do it but it was the "God" type of fear. The fear I felt was like ...just trust me and it will work out.

A couple of days passed by and Jarett and I were still talking about it. We didn't know how this was going to work and how we were going to pay for it. I showed the picture of D to R and R. I gave them their own copy of the picture. It was so amazing to watch their expression and happiness to see the picture. I told them that someone had met their sister and wanted to share a picture of her. The next day, the girls asked us if we were going to adopt her. We told them we were praying about it so we didn't know yet if this is what God wants our family to do.

Well, about a week ago, both of our hearts changed and we felt it heavy on our hearts to go forward with it.

Now, remember I said there were 2 sisters in Ghana. They have a half sister. Her name is A and she is 6 years old. We have a picture of both D and A standing together. A doesn't look like the girls at all. She does look very sweet and beautiful but if you saw D - you could tell she was their sister. We did pray about both of them but we just don't feel the pull toward A. We feel it very strongly towards D. I talked to R and R but they didn't know about A and they don't know her at all. They do know and remember D. I do pray for some family to adopt A and then we can keep in contact with them. I don't feel like A and D are that close with a relationship. I maybe wrong but that's just what I feel.

So this amazing God story has begun and now it's time to begin this process. We have contacted our social worker to update our home study and begin to get our dossie (not sure if I spelled that correctly) ready. This part is going to take a while because we need to redo our fingerprints and go to court here in our county.

This is our unplanned pregnancy! We were shocked at first, but now we are excited and ready to begin to prepare. I do have to stay - I hope I don't gain weight with this pregnancy!!!

On a side note, I probably need to change our blog title. Any suggestions...??? I was thinking....Eight is Enough. LOL

The Happiest Place on Earth

We actually got to go to Disneyland this year. It has been about 7 years since we have gone as a family. We were able to go because we participated in the "Give a Day, Get a Day" that Disney is doing this year. We were 7 of the one million people who got to volunteer and earn a FREE day at Disneyland. I thought it was a great program that they were holding. We volunteered to go to a homeless shelter and read with children. The minimum age was 8 years old so our entire family go to do it together. I really think the children got an appreciate out of it. I didn't tell them what they were doing this for a day pass at DL because I didn't want them to focus on that. I wanted them to get their own sense of worth and appreciation out of this. I really was trying for them to get the good feeling we all get when we volunteer. I told them about their free day when we were at the ticket booth because they were asking why we didn't have to pay.

I was hoping the twins would be more excited about Disneyland than they were. They were extremely excited about all the rides, but I was looking for the "theme" of Disneyland to be more exciting for them. The one big question I got when we began our journey to California was ...."Mommy, is there water in California?". It still amazes me that they still have the fear of not having water or enough water. I really wonder if they will always have that fear. The stories they share about not having water and food, I can understand.

Below are some pictures of our trip:





We had such an amazing time! My best memory of this trip was laughing with the kids. I would laugh so much that my stomach would hurt. I feel so incredibly Blessed to have such an amazing family!

This Year......I'm Going Cheap!

My goal for last year was to simplify my life. It has definitely been a year long project, but I believe I am almost there.

Really, can anyone ever really BE there?

Maybe!

This year I am making it my goal to be as cheap as I can be with everything. Now, this is going to take curious from the whole family because we are going to go against society and other family members. Now a days, society thinks it's ok to be in debt. Actually, society expects you to be in debt. Why else would you need a credit score? The only reason you need a credit score is to get more credit (debt).

Well, I am proud and excited to take this next step and go against society. We have been paying cash for everything the last year. But, now we are going to concentrate on paying literally everything off and save money to buy a house with CASH! We are anticipating 2-3 years to pay off everything and then begin to save. So we are thinking this project will take 6-8 years. I can't not wait until the day we sign the papers on our very OWN house.

We are so determined to do this. The first thing we did was to decide to sell our house. The mortgage payment was getting us nowhere. We barley and something didn't have enough money to just live day to day. This last year we have had more medical bills with the twins and our other children then we have had in the past. Every month got tighter and tighter. So we prayed about it . . . God delivered! He actually delivered a couple to us that was in the same boat a couple of years ago. This couple is from our church. They spoke to us about it and now are actually helping us out. We have a contract on our house, which is them. We have moved into my sister's other house to rent. We won't make a penny on our house but the way all the events took place.....We truly believe God had His hand in this situation.

The second thing we have done is to find where we could really trim even more. So we turned off cable, home phone and down graded our internet. This will save us about $120 per month. I also shopped around for different car insurance. I found "Progressive" who gave us the best deal with the most coverage. This will save another $100. So per year, we will be able to save another $2,400.

We have read the book by Dave Ramsey. He talks about going against society and how to live debt free. He gives you steps to accomplish it.

I am just so excited about this new adventure and change in our family. I think at the beginning of all of this type of talk = I was scared. I was scared of what my extended family, co-workers, friends, and neighbors would think. I was really scared of being embarrassed. But I am not! I am actually proud of us for taking this challenge and knowing that God is leading it. It is hard though! Society is everywhere and we have to stand up tall and not let it knock us down.

So as this year begins, I am on a mission to find different ways to be more frugal. One of the other adoptive moms, who I admire (especially in this area) is Heather Amsbury. She has all kinds of ideas that I have borrowed to implement. She has also used the Dave Ramsey ideas to be debt free. Her and her husband actually just paid off their house a couple of months ago. That is so fantastic!

As this year continues to go, I am going to be researching ways to be more frugal. I am actually really excited for it. I think this is my new hobby!

If you happen to have any tips, I would love to hear about them. I will be blogging the ideas I find and let you know how they work out. :)

Blessings to you!