Today Is a Good Day

Today is a good day. Eva and I are still in our pajamas (okay fine, that's not unusual) and we have been cuddling, laughing watching movies and just spending some much needed quality time together today. Poor Eva Grace has been having some really rough days these past few weeks, she has basically had to entertain herself while I run around picking up papers, dropping off papers, making phone calls and scheduling appointments and ripping my hair out dealing with the stress of it all. She has been a trooper for sure, but I could just really see it in her eyes yesterday, she missed me. Heck, I missed her! Today I have full intentions of doing absolutely nothing except loving on that baby.

It's the first time since starting our home study and dossier paperwork that I'm feeling good. I've gotten almost everything in my control done (98% anyways) and the rest is just waiting. Waiting for all FIVE of our background checks to come back, and then we can finish up our home study which in turn means we can finish our dossier.

Yesterday we had a meeting with Dee, our home study agent, and she asked me when we needed the home study completed by (we told her from the beginning that we were on a time crunch) I said May 1st and she said "that's not happening."

Bummer.

Hopefully it will be done by May 10th or 11th ish, and that would put us in completing it in the 6 week time frame which is pretty good.

That means we can go on the referral list, yay!

All along I've said I wanted a referral for my birthday, which is June 17th, and though its probably unlikely, it is possible. Anything is possible. We could be matched right away, or it could take a year, I hear crazy stories all the time on both ends so who knows.

All I know is what is happening today, and today I am loving that baby girl.

Here are some pictures of her at Easter, and a video of my diva and her new favorite way to stall doing anything. I know she is a doll. We are totally lucky and seriously blessed with this baby girl, I can't wait for her to have a brother or a sister to play with.

FINANCES AND PROGRESS:

Dee (home study agent): You guys are amazing!

Me: Oh yeah? Why is that?

Dee: Because you guys are definitelynot millionaires and you are still doing this. Do you think you would qualify for government subsidies?

I just had to laugh, because what she was probably thinking was "You guys don't make a lot of money, I know that because I have all of your financial records right in front of me. Maybe ask the government for help."

She is right, we really don't make a lot of money, but as we have said OVER and OVER again, this is God's plan for us. We know that 100% and we aren't backing down. We will get there, even if we do have to beg the government for help (though I doubt they care too much).

We have some major bills coming up.

Remaining homes study fees: Covered by the auction $2000.00 (YAY!)

Dossier Fees: Covered by donations $2000.00 (YAY!)

I-600a fees (which is paperwork you file with the government to petition the right to classify an orphan as an immediate family member) about $$900 ish

Dossier Translation fees (to French, the countries language) $300.00

And of course it won't stop there, when we finish that round there are sure to be more fees coming up.

It is really overwhelming so keep praying for us, pray for God's provision mostly! We trust Him, and we are getting close to having to rely on him 100% for the finances to come through, which might be exactly where he wants us. He is definitely using this experience to grow us, that's for sure!

I also started a "Give Love, Get Love" program over at my Etsy shop. Check it out! It's pretty awesome, I think, and helps out a lot of people in a lot of ways. Basically you buy two pairs of shoes, one for you and one for a child inAfrica. You get an awesome pair of kicks, we get money for our adoption costs, and a child in Africa gets a pair of shoes.

Wins all around, right?!

Yeah, I thought so too.

Check it out! Spread the word! Pin it all over Pinterest, spread it on your facebook, call your grandma if you want to, I don't care just help us spread the word! I want to flood the orphanage with shoes when we go down there.

We also opened up an account specifically for donations that we can share with other people and we are happy to share statements proving that the only money coming in and going out is for adoption expenses. If you want details, let me know!

As always, much love!

-TeJay, Ashleigh, Eva and Baby H.