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Vanderpool Days

Our Family's Daily Journey from Kentucky to Rwanda

Friday, June 25, 2010

Praise the Lord!

Well, I heard a statistic the other day, that 23% of Southern Baptist Baptisms are a direct result of Vacation Bible Schools. We are now a statistic! Gracie asked Jesus into her heart yesterday after talking to a sweet woman from our church who helps lead our VBS. She has been asking questions and showing interest for some time now, and I had prayed that the Lord would speak to her this week. She was so excited to tell people. She went around yesterday evening telling anyone who would listen! Now she says she wants to be a missionary when she grows up (it was a vet).

I am so thankful for her sweet spirit and open heart. We have been blessed with a precious daughter who loves the Lord and wants to serve Him! Not to mention she is extremely bright and precocious :) Please keep her in your prayers as she learns and grows in her faith and pray for Matt and I as we teach and lead her on that path. Yay God!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Love This!

You know you're an adoptive parent (or should be) if:
1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

I Have a Very Important Appointment!

Well, we are home from a great week at the beach. I Highly recommend Topsail Island, NC to anyone who thinks a beach vaca should be laid back, lazy, and peaceful. The weather was gorgeous, the water was warm, the kids learned to swim!

I was a bit worried that I would be spending too much time stressing over adoption things yet to be done, but since all we could really do at this point is wait for USCIS approval, I relaxed and enjoyed myself and my wonderful family. Kept thinking that our "vacation" next year just could be Rwanda and Kenya! How amazing is that! oh, I pray that it comes that soon, or sooner. It has gotten to that point when you realize there is a missing family member who is not getting to experience family life with us right now.

To my delight, in the mail today I recieved my biometric appointment for the I600A! July 8, that's not horribly long to wait. I wonder why Matt's didn't come with mine, but I guess we'll see it soon too. One more small step in this awesome work the Lord so doing in our lives!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

I600A to Dallas!

Well, the first official days of summer vacation has been productive! Started out slow, made cinnamon rolls for Gracie (Isaac will currently eat only gold fish crackers first thing in the morning, who knows?) Then the kids and I went on a field trip. First we visited the bank, where the nice lady gave them both suckers while Mommy withdrew a large amount of money. When she made the check out, she put U.S. Department Homeland Security. The form I had said to put U.S. Department OF Homeland Security. I'm sure they would have accepted it either way, but I have gotten quite paranoid about doing paper work incorrectly and having it rejected, so the sweet lady made me another check. I love the people at our bank. She said being involved in our adoption gave her goose bumps and made me promise to bring the new addition in to see her :)
Stop number two was the post office. I got one of those flat rate envelopes and addressed it to Dallas TX! I got the delivery confirmation for my own peace of mind! The gentleman said it should only take about two days to get there, which will be Saturday, so they should have it first thing Monday morning!
Please pray that we have included all necessary documentation and filled out everything correctly and the whole thing is processed quickly! It's in the Lord's hands now, as I know it has been all along :)