March Updates

- Home Study - it is finally progressing - we got a new social worker, because our previous one had some pregnancy complications, so we kind of had to start over again. We have met with the new social worker twice so far, and we really like her, which makes it a lot easier when you and your family are being evaluated by someone you don't know. :)

The first meeting she talked to Darren and me kind of in general about us and why we want to adopt, and she interviewed Trevor and Alex, asking them to tell her about themselves, and what they thing about us adopting. The second meeting (yesterday) she talked to us more specifically about our marriage and child-rearing philosophies, and interviewed Lindsay and Justin, who were home for spring break and Campus Harvest. It was really cool to hear the kids all talk about themselves and about how they feel about us adding to our family through adoption; she said she was very impressed by all of our kids. :) We have one more meeting in two weeks, and then we'll be done.

- Application Process - I sent in our second set of documents to AAI. Once the home study is done, as long as everything is okay, we will send that in, and then I think next we will put together our dossier - more copies of documents like birth certificates, medical reports, etc, which I think we already have most of. I'm not entirely clear on the whole process, but we're just taking it one step at a time.

- Finances - When we send in the home study, we need to pay AAI their fee, which is $2400. God has provided $2000 of that already so far!
1) Someone backed into my car in a parking lot, and their insurance paid to have it fixed. The insurance adjuster said the whole passenger door needed to be replaced, and wrote me a check for that - but the body shop said it wasn't necessary, that they only needed to replace the outer panel. We had $760 left over from that!
2) We are keeping a friend's dog for the summer, and they are so generously giving us $1000 for that (they wanted to help us with the adoption).
3) I sold some of the boys' old toys and sports equipment on Craigslist, and have made a little over $200 so far from that.

So we just need $400 more, and we have two more weeks or so for that. I know this is kind of specific, but I want to show how God is so faithful to provide what we need when we need it, and how he can use anything, even something that seems bad like being hit by another car. :) Of course, there are a lot more bigger expenses coming up, but I know that where he leads us, he will provide.