Little tidbits

So, in case anyone is interested, here's our organizational strategy. We'll have a binder with divider pockets to carry around all of our documents needed on a day-to-day basis. Then we'll have one of those expandable files to add whatever we receive while we're down there.

The bag that I chose has a section made just especially for documents to keep them wrinkle free. It also has a laptop compartment, accessible from a top zipper so you don't have to open the whole thing up. Sean's pack also has one; so either of us could carry the laptop. We debated getting true backbacks or the sling/messenger style packs. Basically it came down to which one is easiest to access. The sling/messengers won. The strap can go over the shoulder, or be buckled tight around the waist. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Received the visas!

Yesterday when we returned home from my sister's graduation party, a FedEx evelope was laying on our doorstep. I'm not sure why the envelope wasn't inside the storm door...but oh well. It didn't get wet. Inside were our passports with visas...and they sent our original child offer letter back to us! How nice!

Thank you everyone for suggestions on what kind of carry-on and how to lug all our stuff around. With all of your suggestions I think we've figured it out! (And of course, I'll take any excuse I can get to buy a new bag!! :) )

18 Days until we leave!

Oooooh buddy! Our weekend proved to be very productive. S did some maintenance on our cars, we drove to NW OH, came back and got to work on rearranging the house. We put up the shelving in H's closet, and sorted through the clothes and washed what needed to be washed. It's surreal folding their little clothes!! And they sure are little! We put the booster seats in the car so they're now out of the living room.

This week I'm bringing home my things from school; I'm not sure where I'll put it all yet though. I still have to paint the last bookshelf for the living room. There will be no shortage of books in this house!

Our travel phone call is on Friday. We're putting together what luggage we'll take, so that we can start packing and weighing. Suggestions on where to put the laptop/camcorder/camera are welcome...we don't know if we should get a laptop bag and put the other 2 in another carryon, or if we should look for a bag that is a carryon/laptop/clothes/camera all in one deal. (we've never flown with this much "technology" before. ;)

God's Grace

The past few weeks have been very, very hectic. S has been working "out of town" (the term they use when working outside of the metro area) and has been leaving at 5 am and returning around 6. School is wrapping up for the year, and that means report cards, assessments, paperwork, and packing up a classroom. Add to that the flying around we've been doing to get our plane tickets, visas, and adoption paperwork, accumulating furniture and clothes and toys, and it could be a recipe for disaster.

But it hasn't been. I've watched both of us accept the tasks with patience that must only come from God...because there's no way we could do all this on our own. The past 2 1/2 weeks I've felt peace in the midst of the whirlwind. Yes, there have been some tears in the middle of it all, but even then, I knew that the Lord is in control.

So as I think about it today ...I can begin to see the "joy" that comes from trials.

Visas sent off for!

After hurrying around downtown to get certifications and apostilles Monday, copying everything on Tuesday, we were able to send off for our visas yesterday. Now we need to send some paperwork to CHI to prepare for Colombia. Our appointment at Children's is on Friday, we're driving to see S's family on Saturday, Sunday we're finishing H's closet, putting the newly received dressers in bedrooms, sorting through kids clothing and building a shed for the backyard. Monday we're probably still working on the shed and organizing clothes, toys, books and furniture in the house.

Okay I'll see about the pictures :)

I don't know when we're allowed to post them! So I'll find out.

Plane Tickets

We bought our plane tickets today, and all of the paperwork on the kids came! With new pictures!!! Oh they are so beautiful! Of course they look older since the first picture, which is from at least 18 months ago. We're figuring out where we'll be staying in Bogota as well. It's just all so exciting and it feels so good to finally be at this point.

We meet our kids on June 16th!!!

We plan to fly down to Bogota on June 14th. We've been working on getting our plane tickets purchased, and then we'll be able to send off for our visas. We're finishing up the kids' rooms, and all the other odds and ends home things that need to get done. It feels so absolutely wonderful to finally be at this place in the adoption! We will meet with a Doctor at the International Adoption Clinic at our Children's Hospital next week to go over what first aid to take, the medical info we have on the kids, and what we need to get ready to do for medicals once we return.

It's so exciting!!!!!!!!

Yard Sale Season

I headed out to shop the yard sales this morning. There was a neighborhood yard sale going on, and I was hoping to find some clothes for the kids. I was able to find clothes for H and E and a booster seat that I REALLY wanted.


It's foam, so it's really easy to clean, lightweight, and sticks to the chair by friction.

Our Darlings...

...are H 10, S 7, N 6, E3 (on Sun.) (girl, boy, boy, boy) I know I had everyone on the edge of their seat, but it's been a crazy week. We received the referral, but were having a little trouble coming up with a travel date due to S's job. We got that straightened out, but were still waiting on the detailed info on the kids. Finally, last night we were able to send our letter of acceptance. Oh, in the meantime, my sister graduated from college last weekend. So it's been a fun-filled week!

Anyway, more about the kids. Oh, they are so cute! Of course we've had a picture of them now since August, since they were on the agency's waiting list, but to actually be able to say that they are our daughter and son and son and son is just fantastic! They are from Bogota, and we're hoping to travel the weekend of June 13th.

We've received some clothing from friends, which is such a blessing. The children are all pretty small for their age, but we think we've got their sizes figured out.

More to come soon!