We finally got the call we've been waiting for

There is an 8 month old blond hair/hazel eyed little girl that is going to be ours in less than a month. Probably around the 20th of August. WOW! She's got a cute name that she'll keep (but I don't think I should post it or give any specific details). Her biological parents are no longer eligible for reunification services so her next hearing is for permanency. Basically it's very unlikely that anything will happen legally to hinder our ability to finalize adoption.

We started pursuing adoption almost exactly 2 years ago and have been actively waiting since January. To get a call in the middle of the day that changes your future forever is a crazy thing.

What's next?
We'll meet with her social worker early next week and then meet our little girl the weekend of the 20th and most likely bring her home with us. The next few weeks are going to be a blur! We have to completely finish our addition, move all the furniture around in the 3 bedrooms, get together clothes and gear, baby proof- again, and get ready welcome her into our lives. Oh, we're going on a week long vacation before we bring her home too. Bring it on, we're ready!

We are all very excited. Well, I'm not sure if Siah has a clue but when Tori was asked if she was a little excited she said, "No, I'm soooo excited". She was really hoping for a baby sister.

Adoption Update

Not much to update really but for inquiring minds-

We have our home study in for an 18 month old girl as well as a 6 month old baby (not sure is it's a boy or girl). Both are in the system and their social worker is trying to determine if there is eligible family to adopt them. If not, we will be considered along with other families. So, we're waiting. No, we would not get both of them and thankfully they are with the same social service worker so she know the situation of both and our family and can make a good decision with that information.

We both have a feeling that it will happen within the next few months though since we are only days away from being completely done with the addition (Thank you Lord!) and it's always in His perfect timing so we thinking He was probably giving us time to be ready. We'll let you know.

Tori is asking daily when our adopted baby will arrive. She was so cute the other day and offered to clean the house super well with Daddy while I go have a surgery to get the baby... ahhhhh, so sweet but I'm not doing that again! I've tried to explain the other mother concept but it does get a bit confusing especially when most of my friends have newborns.

Home School

I just ordered the books I'm planning to use for home schooling Tori this coming year. I'm so excited! I want to learn all this stuff myself. The science book looks amazing (Apologia Science). (Grandpa, you're gonna love this too!) She's really into science so I researched this a lot. Preparing has been consuming me for a while now as I was trying to figure out the best curriculum. I think I picked out some great materials. There are so many amazing things out there to chose from. We'll use the reading and math programs that many of the schools around here use (ZooPhonics, Explode the Code and Singapore Math) but I've switched up the social studies/history/science/ curriculum to include a biblical point of view.

Oh, and I just discovered that on the PBS website they have experiments and activities that correlate with each episode of the programs we like to watch like dinosaur train, Sid the Science Kid, and many more. BONUS! Check it out.

We've both got a lot to learn but I'm really excited to start. Aug. 14th will be here very soon. She's already practicing school daily though.

Not sure how well I'll do with keeping up the blog but I'll try.

Fun Summer

We're having such a fun, busy summer with friends and family that I haven't made time to blog. There are plenty of pictures on my Face Book page though.

We had a wonderful time visiting with my oldest brother and his family. The cousins were so cute together. The younger ones joined Tori at her first VBS and Siah loved playing with his cousin Seth- I think the feeling was mutual since they are both use to being surrounded by girls.

Last week Jeff went backpacking with friends and his Dad while his Mom and I had fun with the kids. I truly am blessed with an AMAZING family on all sides.

We celebrated Tori turning 5 too- can't believe it happened so fast.

I'll try to do better blogging but no promises. This holiday weekend is already filling up with lots of fun things to do and see.