Fun on the Job

One of the perks of my new job/position is that I get to go to various conferences and meetings and take my family! So, while I was on the job, Ben and the children played in the pool and hung out in the room which was very nice at the Hilton Golf and Beach Resort in Sandestin.

Tonight, we had a family dinner with my director, executive director, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, and social worker, as well as their family/friends. The kids did great. Ben had to leave after dinner to go back home. He will be preaching tomorrow so he had rather go tonight than in the morning. The kids wanted to stay another night in the hotel. (The hotel had bunks! Plus two doubles and a sofa bed! We got the family suite at the regular room rate!) After they left and I returned to my room, it was and is dreadfully quiet...too quiet. I miss them and it's only been a few hours. Tomorrow, I will get to go home after lunch. It was a treat!

(Click on the picture to see the photos enlarged.)

Lunch at Fudpuckers - Destin 2010

Fudpuckers! What a neat little restaurant with a Gator Beach! How cool is that? Diego didn't understand why people had written all over the walls and tables...well, I didn't either, but it looked pretty neat. Ben tried to figure out if they ever dusted. There was a bird cage hanging from the ceiling! Ha!

Yikes! It really is a gator beach! They were everywhere!

Garage Sale Fundraiser!

Ben and I are planning on having a garage sale! We did not do this for our first adoption, but think we will give it a shot this time!

We know of another family who are also in the adoption process and are planning on asking her to join us. We can promote adoption, fostering, and mentoring!

I was just thinking we could EVEN have an article written in the papers; we could call the television station! We could do so much!

We could have a bake sale...well, we could make it as big as we wanted... so, anyways, we will be collecting things so if you have anything around the house that you've been thinking of getting rid of- Call us! We will come and pick it up! (Local only)

More details to come later! Yay!

Adoption Tax Credit Extended and Improved

GREAT NEWS FOR THOSE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING!

The Adoption Tax Credit, which was scheduled to expire in 2010, has been extended for one year, through 2011. The Adoption Tax Credit will see several positive adjustments, as confirmed by Joint Council on International Adoption Services:

**The maximum credit will increased from $12,150 to $13,170.
**The Adoption Tax Credit is now retroactive to January 1, 2009. This represents a potential increase of $1,000 for adoptive families.
**The Adoption Tax Cred was made refundable. If a family has no tax liability, the IRS will refund the amount due.

Please consult a tax professional for all of your tax questions.

The extension of the Adoption Tax Credit through 2011, was passed as part of the health care reform bill which was signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. The changes have been published in detail by the Journal of Accountancy:

"For 2010, the maximum adoption credit is increased to $13,170 per eligible child (a $1,000 increase). This increase applies to both non-special needs adoptions and special needs adoptions. Also, the adoption credit is made refundable. The new dollar limit and phase-out of the adoption credit are adjusted for inflation in tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2010. Also, the scheduled sunset of EGTRRA provisions relating to the adoption credit is delayed for one year (i.e., the sunset becomes effective for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2011).

For adoption assistance programs, the maximum exclusion is increased to $13,170 per eligible child (a $1,000 increase). The new dollar limit and income limitations of the employer-provided adoption assistance exclusion are adjusted for inflation in tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2010. The EGTRRA sunset of provisions relating to adoption assistance programs is also delayed for one year (i.e., the sunset becomes effective for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2011)."

- Journal Accountancy, March 22, 2010

We see YOU!

We had the pleasure of getting to hang with the Duewel-Daniel Family this week! Well, two days, anyways... we met through an adoption support group through our adoption agency. They have been very supportive and encouraging to us throughout our journey. It is amazing how God the Father, knits the hearts of those who love Him. We are blessed to call them our friends! We met up with them at Dauphin Island, Alabama.

What's Your Vision?

I think it's important to know where you want to go before you go so you know when you get there! Ben and I went to a marriage retreat in Feb and we heard a good speaker who talked about vision and knowing the importance of it and having one for your marriage and your family! What is your vision? The bible says where there is no vision the people perish. In a home, if there isn't clear boundaries/structure established, there's chaos! There must be some form of law or written/unwritten rules set in place... but what is it? And more importantly, why is it so? These are questions that I have been asking myself since Feb and would like to write out our vision. Would you agree that it's good to write things out?? He also shared how there are different seasons that run a course before we can obtain a "prize" at the end or get to where we are going if you get what I'm saying... some of those seasons include betrayal and death. Death must come, but shouldn't always be looked at as a negative, he suggested. If Jesus hadn't faced death, would he ever had conquered it?

Questions to Ponder:

What's the vision for your family?

What's the vision for your church/ministry?

Where are you now in getting where you want to be?

Is there anything hindering forward movement?

How do those two visions connect with one another?

COLOMBIA BOUND

We are excited to announce that at some point today our dossier left the STL CHI building bound for COLOMBIA! Yay!

While it seemed easier, or at least I wasn't so frazzled with the second time around, I was more careless and it did take us a bit longer to gather the docs and money to send it off.

The second time around brings a different kind of anxieties than the first did... going into the first time we had no idea what we were getting into. And despite some initial shock and adjustment during the first 3-6 months of transitioning into the new roles of parenthood, it was for the most part a positive experience.

This time around, we will have a longer wait, up to a year or longer, we've been told. With the wait, comes anticipation and sometimes even dread of the unknown... so, I was wondering if there's anyone out there who is also on the 6 yr old list that we can connect with and encourage one another?

We are specifically requesting a 6 yr old healthy female from the Cali Region. We do understand that limiting a child to one specific region may increase the wait times. We also understand from many blogs and latest conversations with CHI that ICBF is being very particular about dossiers, questioning more and more. I just hope with my carelessness, that we didn't miss something that they may question... and cause an even longer wait.

Nevertheless, for this time, this moment, we eagerly await for "the call!" and covet your prayers...thanks!

We're Paper Pregnant!

AT LAST! We can finally say that all the required documents are in route to our adoption agency and then off to Colombia by Friday, we hope! We consider ourselves pregnant on paper from this point...

Now, just to wait... and we're okay with the wait, as we have so many things to do and to get ready. Plus, it's that time of preparation, the time of prayer, and the moments where our dreams grow with anticipation! Yeah, those are the moments!

God is so good. He is so faithful. Even though, today is a very exciting day, I was a bit bummed earlier. Adoption expenses can be overwhelming. Ben and I were discussing it over the phone today. When I got off the phone with him, I felt more discouraged. But THEN...

Then, I drove home for lunch and checked the mail.

We had an unexpected surprise from one of Tatiana's friends and her family (I've actually became friends with her mom too, but it was through Tatiana). We had a letter with a check for $100!!!

What a blessing! What an encouragement... If it would have came a day earlier or a day later, I'm not sure I would have grasped God's awesomeness. I had just prayed after that phone call with Ben... God you're gonna have to do something if this is Your desire. I am willing to work extra; but we can't do this without You. Help us, Lord.

And then BAMM! haha!

I believe things get frustrating and are often anxiety provoking for me when I depend on my own strength and my own wisdom for things... and it's when I realize I'm running in circles, unable to complete tasks, confused, and even more frustrated that I fall on my face---

It's usually then, I realize that in my weakness He is strong; in my sadness and grief, it is Him that is my Joy; in the uncertainty of even the day to day routine, He is my Strong Tower, He is Unshakeable! He is Forevermore! He is with me! And He loves ME! He is MINE and I am HIS! My God is King of the Universe! Yeah, that's my Daddy! He is Amazing!

I am really awed that He went to all the trouble to coordinate people and things in such a way as this... this --what happened today! He knew I would need that reminder, that lift, that encouragement today... and there was a family that played such a huge part in that, and that I happened to have that conversation with Ben, and I just happened to be able to go home for lunch today... and to think that my Father coordinated all that for me?! Haha! Things like this make me feel so special and remind me that He is my Provider. In Him, I shall not want or be in need.

Anyways, the Paper Pregnant status was overshadowed by God showing out and putting me in my place, reminding me there is no room for doubt! I am so blessed and grateful for people like the "H" Family who believe in us and who support adoption. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Today, dear "H" Family, you sowed more than a financial seed... thank you, thank you! Can't wait to see you! God bless you! Thank you! Thank you!

100 Good Wishes... do you have one?

Share a wish and donate at our 100 Good Wishes Quilt Website!
Check it out!

Help us! Be a 100 Good Wishes Ambassador!

You can help by doing the following:

1). Post a link to our Good Wishes page on your Facebook page. (You can do this by going to your FB profile page, and writing in your status bar, and attaching a link to your Good Wishes page). Easy, right?!

2). Help share our story by visiting our One Hundred Good Wishes page, clicking on "Spread the Word" (located above our picture), and email 10 of your closest friends, co-workers, family, etc. asking if they would consider supporting our adoption journey. When you use the "Spread the Word" button, the email automatically contains a link to our Good Wishes page. You can customize your message or use the one provided.

3). If any of you who would like to be an Ambassador have a blog, you could feature our cause in one of your blog posts. So EASY, right? If 10 people knew 10 people who knew 10 people who...well you get the picture... and if they only gave $10 wow, it could be so easy... Would YOU be willing to be one of OUR Ambassadors? We need YOU! Comment and let me know if interested!

Muchas gracias!

Dossier Update

Received the 4 apostilles. One was just sent yesterday. One had to be renewed and sent yesterday. So, now, waiting on two apostilles. Then will send these to Ashley and Nichole with the other docs already sent.

BTW, I'm disappointed. The SOS lady that I bragged about...well, she didn't send me a receipt and/or refund. She refused to apostille one document because the notary changed her name, so, okay. But, she didn't send me my two bucks back! I forgot when I sent her an additional $2 for the other two. Oh well, but I want my receipt...for all the trouble this has caused...

One interesting thing, when I called back to let her know I was resending these other two docs, I spoke with a woman who was going to just take a message. She said her MIL was Colombian from Baranquilla, and had brought her family over. Neat how because of my family I can connect with various people. I believe that's part of God's strategic plan. Hopefully, for whatever reason that my phone call was diverted that it fulfilled its purpose and this woman was encouraged. I know I was. Thanks, Father!

Random thoughts...

Today, as I was driving home, I was just thinking of what it might be like when we meet our daughter/sister... I was remembering how it was for the first adoption for the kids, but this time it will be different. It's only one child...and there's five of us. Will she be overwhelmed? frightened? or will whe receive us with open arms? Will she come to me first? Or will she run to Ben? Will she embrace her siblings? Or will she isolate herself in the corner... Will she cry or will she laugh? This time will be different... very different.

Please begin to pray for our family as we want to embrace our child into our family and make this transition as smooth as possible making her feel safe and secure the whole while.

Update on Dossier

Well, I went to the bank and had something notarized by a stranger... should have known better... that person just recently had a name change, and the SOS refused to apostille the doc she notarized! ARGH!

So, today, I had that along with my letter of employment which was at it's six month mark notarized and sent off with the request to get it apostilled.

I had the packet of dossier minus the other five documents sent last week WHICH STILL HAVE NOT ARRIVED for whatever reason. So... I went ahead and sent it to St. Louis to CHI. I will forward the other documents as I get them. I should get the five I sent last week back tomorrow, and maybe the ones I sent today by the end of the week. It would put it next week before they would send the dossier off, though.

I talked with Nichole more about the timeline concerning referrals once the dossier is reviewed. There was a recent blog by a reliable Colombian mama who posted the ICBF wait times. According to that post, the oldest dossier ICBF was working on in the 6 year old list was from 12/2009. That threw me into almost a panic. That's like super quick and means God will have to move things expeditiously financially!

Well, turns out that there are families from 10/2009 that are on that list and haven't received a referral. I am not sure if they have even been approved. She said it's taking about 4 months to get approved. So, maybe they are just getting approved? I dunno. So many different variables... and we are specifically asking to go to the region of Cali, so that might put our time table a little longer... no problem with me.

I just want to get on the wait list! Get all the paperwork stuff out of my hands! Now onto the fundraising part... still looking for hosts for a Wii Party???