Monday, December 12, 2011
Chrimas Photos
Yes, I broke down and had Christmas photos taken of the kids. I think the poor girl at the portrait studio was about to just hand me the camera and be done with it, when I came in with my props and ideas of what I wanted done. I am sure she had done the same basic poses for families over and over for days on end and in I walk with all my special requests. She did a great job though, and I have a wonderful reminder of my still incomplete family that God is continuing to grow in my heart. Merry Christmas! and look me up on facebook to see the whole album. Next year we WILL have all three!!! (PLEASE GOD!!!)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The good, the bad, and the beautiful!
Hey guys! Long time no blog post. I know, I'm really bad at this. Just throwing a quick update out there to those of you praying with us that our baby would be home for Christmas. Well, God has seen fit to have us wait a while longer. We don't know why, but I have been very comforted by the many stories I have read/heard from other adoptive mamas who talk about how perfect God's timing ultimately was. He knows the child He has for our family, and obviously, that child is not ready to be ours' just yet.
The great news, is that our "deadline" of December 10 has been extended, so even though we probably won't have a referral by then, our case will NOT be closed!! Praise God! We have learned that our file is still at the Ministry's office. Evidently, there are several cases at the orphanage right now being processed by the Sisters, and they won't accept any more new files until they finish the one's they currently have. Which makes perfect sense, considering they are working on these files while caring for all of our waiting children at the same time. Someone had told me, the Sisters spend an entire day in prayer over a file before matching a family with a waiting child. God's hand in action!
So, ultimately, we will more than likely still be a family of four for the rest of 2011. My prayer has become one of gratitude, that our case and the rest of those waiting cases will not be closed. Now it's just a matter of waiting. Could be 6 weeks, could be 6 months. The beauty of it all is knowing that He is in control, and the day will come when we see our baby's face. Please pray for us as we go through this season of joy, awaiting the arrive of our precious gift to come.
The great news, is that our "deadline" of December 10 has been extended, so even though we probably won't have a referral by then, our case will NOT be closed!! Praise God! We have learned that our file is still at the Ministry's office. Evidently, there are several cases at the orphanage right now being processed by the Sisters, and they won't accept any more new files until they finish the one's they currently have. Which makes perfect sense, considering they are working on these files while caring for all of our waiting children at the same time. Someone had told me, the Sisters spend an entire day in prayer over a file before matching a family with a waiting child. God's hand in action!
So, ultimately, we will more than likely still be a family of four for the rest of 2011. My prayer has become one of gratitude, that our case and the rest of those waiting cases will not be closed. Now it's just a matter of waiting. Could be 6 weeks, could be 6 months. The beauty of it all is knowing that He is in control, and the day will come when we see our baby's face. Please pray for us as we go through this season of joy, awaiting the arrive of our precious gift to come.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Can't do it.
No, there is nothing new on the adoption front, sorry to disappoint you from the start! We continue to patiently wait for our referral and our Power of Attorney in Rwanda continues to tell us we will eventually be matched. We continue to pray daily for our kiddo and pray specifically that we would be matched with a special needs child, as this has been laid heavily on our hearts.
As I look at the blog, it occurs to me that the picture of our family at the top is now over a year old. This is the longest I have ever gone before getting a new family picture professionally done. We always do it at least once a year, and the kids at least 2 or 3 times a year. This year I just can't do it. I can't fix us all up and go update our family portrait, because we're not complete anymore.I can't have a new family portrait that doesn't include the whole family. Who gets their kids' pictures made and leaves one of the kids out of it?
I know this does not make the grandmothers happy, but they can always come and see the real thing :) This is the photograph that we sent to the Minitry in Rwanda in our dossier. This is the family that so excitedly put those papers in a big (heavy and expensive) fed-ex box to be sent to Rwanda. This is the family photo that continues to grace the family room wall. I can't get a new one until we have all three kids in it. Yes, Gracie and isaac have aged 1 year (her hair is now much shorter with bangs, and Isaac had a now over-grown mohawk. and they are each about 4 inches taller). Ok now you have a mental picture, it will have to do for now :)
As I look at the blog, it occurs to me that the picture of our family at the top is now over a year old. This is the longest I have ever gone before getting a new family picture professionally done. We always do it at least once a year, and the kids at least 2 or 3 times a year. This year I just can't do it. I can't fix us all up and go update our family portrait, because we're not complete anymore.I can't have a new family portrait that doesn't include the whole family. Who gets their kids' pictures made and leaves one of the kids out of it?
I know this does not make the grandmothers happy, but they can always come and see the real thing :) This is the photograph that we sent to the Minitry in Rwanda in our dossier. This is the family that so excitedly put those papers in a big (heavy and expensive) fed-ex box to be sent to Rwanda. This is the family photo that continues to grace the family room wall. I can't get a new one until we have all three kids in it. Yes, Gracie and isaac have aged 1 year (her hair is now much shorter with bangs, and Isaac had a now over-grown mohawk. and they are each about 4 inches taller). Ok now you have a mental picture, it will have to do for now :)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Approval!!
Who could ask for a better 10th wedding anniversary gift! I guess it saves us both the trouble of buying anything :) We received an email today from our agency, stating that they had "direct contact" with the Ministry this morning that they have been trying to send us our approval since June 10...wow!!! we have been approved for a month and a half and didn't even know it! God is so sooo good! We are so excited to know our file is already at the orphanage being looked at by the Sisters and will be matched with a child!
The only cloud in my day is the thought of the 6 month regret letter. We have until December 10 to be matched with a child before our file is closed. But as I shared with my sweet friend Amy, who came over this afternoon to give me hand-me-downs and a hug (both greatly needed and appreciated!) I don't believe God would lead us this far, opening so many doors, and providing in so many ways, to have it all come to a crashing hult. He has a child in Rwanda waiting for us and my prayer, please pray with me, is that RIGHT NOW, He is preparing that child to come home to our family.
So, before Christmas people!!
Oh, and on a different note, our travel expenses will be about $4,000-$4,500. Please also pray for financial blessing!
Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.
The only cloud in my day is the thought of the 6 month regret letter. We have until December 10 to be matched with a child before our file is closed. But as I shared with my sweet friend Amy, who came over this afternoon to give me hand-me-downs and a hug (both greatly needed and appreciated!) I don't believe God would lead us this far, opening so many doors, and providing in so many ways, to have it all come to a crashing hult. He has a child in Rwanda waiting for us and my prayer, please pray with me, is that RIGHT NOW, He is preparing that child to come home to our family.
So, before Christmas people!!
Oh, and on a different note, our travel expenses will be about $4,000-$4,500. Please also pray for financial blessing!
Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
10 years
Tomorrow, my wonderful husband and I will celebrate our 10 yr wedding anniversary. This year will be much different than last year. One year ago, on July 28, 2010, we spent the day at Staples, making 4 complete copies of dossier for Rwanda, not realizing at the start that it would be an all afternoon job! We got take-out from our favorite sushi place for dinner and then I ran to fed-ex to send all that precious paper work on it's way across the world!
Ten years ago on July 28, 2001, it rained on our wedding day. Actually flooding the parking lot of the hotel! But it was one of the best days of my life by far :)
Seven years ago on July 28, 2004, we had a brand new baby at home and my mom came to sit with her for a couple of hours so we could go out to dinner and then to Lowes. I'll never forget the feeling when I realized I had waited too long to get back for her feeding and heard a baby cry in the store! (you mom's know what I mean!)
This year we will celebrate 10 years with dinner at PF Changs, which I have heard great things about, but have never been too (got a coupon from Groupon!)Then we will return to an EMPTY house! My mom has Gracie for the week and Isaac is going to his first sleep-over at a friend's house. We may very well be making a midnight run to Jeffersontown to pick him up :)
We will also celebrate the fact that we received news yesterday that the Ministry has been looking at our file!!! They just contacted us with a couple of clarification questions, but the fact that our social worker in Rwanda has had her hands on our file and read it is wonderful news!! We are praying that the next step, our approval, will come soon, and shortly thereafter, the referral of our precious kiddo!
Thank you Lord for 10 wonderful years with the man of my dreams. For blessing our family and proving for us day by day.
Ten years ago on July 28, 2001, it rained on our wedding day. Actually flooding the parking lot of the hotel! But it was one of the best days of my life by far :)
Seven years ago on July 28, 2004, we had a brand new baby at home and my mom came to sit with her for a couple of hours so we could go out to dinner and then to Lowes. I'll never forget the feeling when I realized I had waited too long to get back for her feeding and heard a baby cry in the store! (you mom's know what I mean!)
This year we will celebrate 10 years with dinner at PF Changs, which I have heard great things about, but have never been too (got a coupon from Groupon!)Then we will return to an EMPTY house! My mom has Gracie for the week and Isaac is going to his first sleep-over at a friend's house. We may very well be making a midnight run to Jeffersontown to pick him up :)
We will also celebrate the fact that we received news yesterday that the Ministry has been looking at our file!!! They just contacted us with a couple of clarification questions, but the fact that our social worker in Rwanda has had her hands on our file and read it is wonderful news!! We are praying that the next step, our approval, will come soon, and shortly thereafter, the referral of our precious kiddo!
Thank you Lord for 10 wonderful years with the man of my dreams. For blessing our family and proving for us day by day.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Be still my aching heart.
Not much new to report. I can't remember if I posted a blog about this or not, but the big news this past month or so has been the Ministry's decision to issue what they are calling "regret" letters. Basically stating that once you receive an approval, they will give your case 6 months, and if, at that time, you have not been matched with a child, your file will be closed. That's it, for right now. As we have found in the past year, anything could change.
We got, or I should say I got, really excited/anxious the last couple of weeks as I saw families with numbers all around us, both in front of and behind us, receive approvals. I was, and still am, thinking, we could get ours ANY DAY. I check the email 1st thing in the morning and last thing at night (not that I could expect any news after about 1pm Eastern Time due to the time difference, but why not!)
I had gotten kinda freaked out about the whole thing, to be honest, until a sweet friend of mine said to me, "I'm going to pray that you do not receive an approval until your child is ready to come home."
I don't know why it was hard for me to pray that. All along I have prayed, "Thy will be done." Like if I would pray for something like that, it would be second guessing God's will, you know? I know I am over-thinking everything, but I don't think anyone but another expectant-adoptive parent can really understand the aching in my heart. Is this REALLY going to happen? Have we truly heard God right about this? We are SO ready to welcome our Rwandan kiddo into our arms and home, what if. ultimately, this is not God's plan, but a path He has lead us on with some other final goal that we can't possibly see?
Does this all sound crazy?
What I know: My God loves me. He has called my family and I to adopt. He opened doors and moved mountains to lead us to Rwanda last year. He is teaching me a huge lesson in trust and patience right now. I will not doubt His plan. I will continue to walk this path without complaint and I will glory in whatever outcome He has for us.
Oh, and I got a big stack of papers in the mail yesterday...home study update time! Woot! We are including our change to special needs. DON'T STOP PRAYING!!!
We got, or I should say I got, really excited/anxious the last couple of weeks as I saw families with numbers all around us, both in front of and behind us, receive approvals. I was, and still am, thinking, we could get ours ANY DAY. I check the email 1st thing in the morning and last thing at night (not that I could expect any news after about 1pm Eastern Time due to the time difference, but why not!)
I had gotten kinda freaked out about the whole thing, to be honest, until a sweet friend of mine said to me, "I'm going to pray that you do not receive an approval until your child is ready to come home."
I don't know why it was hard for me to pray that. All along I have prayed, "Thy will be done." Like if I would pray for something like that, it would be second guessing God's will, you know? I know I am over-thinking everything, but I don't think anyone but another expectant-adoptive parent can really understand the aching in my heart. Is this REALLY going to happen? Have we truly heard God right about this? We are SO ready to welcome our Rwandan kiddo into our arms and home, what if. ultimately, this is not God's plan, but a path He has lead us on with some other final goal that we can't possibly see?
Does this all sound crazy?
What I know: My God loves me. He has called my family and I to adopt. He opened doors and moved mountains to lead us to Rwanda last year. He is teaching me a huge lesson in trust and patience right now. I will not doubt His plan. I will continue to walk this path without complaint and I will glory in whatever outcome He has for us.
Oh, and I got a big stack of papers in the mail yesterday...home study update time! Woot! We are including our change to special needs. DON'T STOP PRAYING!!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Stages of a Lady bug
Now keep in mind, my husband is an entomologist, so anything to do with bugs is a huge hit around our house! My kids have no fear of anything except spiders, and they get that fear from me! This evening, as we were hanging out in the back yard, the kids started bring us bugs they had caught. Matt got to looking at them and said they were lady bug larva! I had never seen lady bug larva, you? So we looked where they were playing, near the asparagus patch, and discovered that the asparagus plants were COVERED in lady bugs of all stages, larva, pupa (cacoons, like a butterfly) and adults!
We grabbed a camera and took some pictures and I went in to finish dinner. Gracie runs in and out several times grabbing paper and pencils and tape and finally begins to drag the little folding table and chairs out to the front yard. I asked her what she was doing. She said she was setting up a fundraiser for our adoption. She was going to charge people $1 to come see our lady bug stages! She made signs and taped them to the front of the house and the front of the little table, which she set up in the yard by the sidewalk. Then she and Isaac got a shoebox for their donations.
They sat there all evening, even eating their dinner at the table. Bless their hearts, they made $1 from the sweet girl across the street. They so want to help bring their little sibling home! Every time a car would drive by they got excited. Now mom is going to help. I posted the pics on face book "Sarah Hemphill Vanderpool" and I am going to try to figure out how to get them on here. Now be honest! If you look at them, you owe the kids $1 for their fundraiser! Maybe I can get someone to show me how to do a paypal on this blog...anybody??? Otherwise, shoot me a face book message and I'll get back to you!
We grabbed a camera and took some pictures and I went in to finish dinner. Gracie runs in and out several times grabbing paper and pencils and tape and finally begins to drag the little folding table and chairs out to the front yard. I asked her what she was doing. She said she was setting up a fundraiser for our adoption. She was going to charge people $1 to come see our lady bug stages! She made signs and taped them to the front of the house and the front of the little table, which she set up in the yard by the sidewalk. Then she and Isaac got a shoebox for their donations.
They sat there all evening, even eating their dinner at the table. Bless their hearts, they made $1 from the sweet girl across the street. They so want to help bring their little sibling home! Every time a car would drive by they got excited. Now mom is going to help. I posted the pics on face book "Sarah Hemphill Vanderpool" and I am going to try to figure out how to get them on here. Now be honest! If you look at them, you owe the kids $1 for their fundraiser! Maybe I can get someone to show me how to do a paypal on this blog...anybody??? Otherwise, shoot me a face book message and I'll get back to you!
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