Thankful Thursday

People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have.

-- Richard Carlson

We continue to be blessed in so many ways.  This week I am thankful for...

~USCIS fingerprints DONE! I can't explain how thankful I am for this.  I was about to throw up on my shoes in the car on the way there full well knowing that I talked Jason into taking the day off to do this and IF they said NO, he wasn't going to be really happy with me.  As soon as we got there I saw these two huge security guards.  Jason had already thrown me to the lions telling me I could speak on our behalf (thanks honey!)  I handed the guards our appointment notice for April 19th and they said, "OK come on in"  I couldn't believe my ears.  I started explaining why we were there early and they stopped me and said it was ok and we were ok to get our prints!  I had been praying for God to give me the right words and he did...no words at all.  I didn't have to plead our case, I didn't have to show the pictures of Dariya and cry I just had to be silent and know that God had it all under control.    PEACE!

~ Truly thankful for Amy & Kim this week.  Amy gives up her Monday mornings to hang out with Alayna (ok I know she enjoys her time but, she gives up LOTS of Mondays) so that I can volunteer in Aidan's classroom.  Kim not only volunteered to keep Alayna so we could get our fingerprinting but, she got up early and drug her 2 year old, Eli to OUR house at 7:15 am to keep both kids for us so we didn't have to find someone else to take Aidan before school.  Thanks girls for blessing us.

~God is bringing awareness to the kids on Reece's Rainbow.  This week Patricia  Heaton (Everybody loves Raymond star) donated $10,000 to RR and is helping spread the word about this great organization.  Thank you Patricia!

~A little extra provision - I work from home a couple times a year doing some admin work for a local business person when his full time admin person is on vacation.  

She continues to walk, walk, walk!!!

What are you thankful for this week... please share one or two!

Fingerprint SUCCESS!!!

Thank you for all the prayers for our fingerprint walk in attempt this morning.  They definitely paid off.  We entered immigration at 8:10 am and were greeted by two of the kindest security guards ever.  They had no problem with us being there weeks early for our appointment.  We were numbers 8 & 9 and were fingerprinted and on our way back home within an hour!

I shared with the guards that they were blessing us and definitely an answer to our (and your) many prayers.  About 30 minutes into our wait one of the guards came over to tell us how touched he was that people were praying and that they were part of our adoption journey.  I love how God uses everyone!

We are grateful to Kim and Eli for coming over at 7:30 to stay with the kids so that we could be at immigration early!

Thank you all again for the many prayers! Can't wait to get our "Golden Ticket" (immigration approval).

Prayer request...

To all our prayer warriors out there we are humbly thankful for you.  We are asking for prayers for us as we "walk in" to immigration on Tuesday morning for fingerprinting.  Our appointment is April 19th but, we have been urged to try walking in to speed up our immigration approval which is the last piece to our dossier.  

We know God's timing is perfect and completely see His hand guiding this adoption however, we know the power of prayer!

Once we receive immigration approval our paperwork will be sent to Dariya's country for translation and we will be given a court date to appear before the judge!!!  YES we are THAT close.

All this to say instead of waiting a month for an appointment we hope to be receiving our approval by then IF all goes well in the morning.  So please pray with us and for us.

And just in case you need a reminder of why we would attempt to walk in....

The closer we get the harder I am finding it to bear another day without her...we love you Dariya!

Thankful Thursday

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart

~Seneca

 

~Beautiful, breezy spring days enjoying hours of time outside with the kids.

~Our immigration notice for our fingerprint appointment arrived!!!  (unfortunately it is for April 19th, pray that they take us when we "walk in early")

~Friends who have taken it upon themselves to raise the remaining $8000 for Dariya with a golf tourney, silent auction and dinner on May 14th (come join us if you are around town!)

~A date night with the hubby, sushi then Godiva cheesecake for dessert.  Birthday happiness!!! Also, very thankful for my sister who came and stayed with the kids so Jason & I could go out.

Notice her lips pursed so she can make the light saber noises!  LOL

What are you thankful for this week?  Come on share one or two....

World Down Syndrome Day

Today people all over the world are celebrating those with Down Syndrome.  Down Syndrome is the triplicate of the 21st chromosome, therefore World Down Syndrome Day is on 3-21!

Yeah, a celebration!  This calls for ice cream!!!!

If you follow our blog you know that we celebrate all the blessings God has given us, especially in our children.    Down syndrome is just a small part of Alayna.  It in no way defines her.  She continues to amaze us each day with her sweet personality, trust me she has a way of drawing you in.  Her toddler antics amuse us and she has proven that she is going to grow, learn, excel and soar in this world.

Alayna has truly opened our eyes to the beauty of down syndrome, which is one of the main reasons we began our adoption journey.  We are so looking forward to having Dariya home with our family.  Next year we will have even more reason to celebrate the day. 

We hope you will join us today in celebrating everyone who has down syndrome.  God made each and everyone perfect.   
If in your celebration you decide you can live without your Starbucks (or whatever your vice may be) and donate to Dariya's fund we would be humbly thankful.

Thankful Thursday

Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more

~ Anthony Robbins

~Spring break with both kids!  No school, no therapies, no place we  "have to be"  AHHHH I do so love it!

~Paperwork for the adoption is finished, just waiting on immigration clearance. (Now maybe I can get my house in order)

~Great weather to take the kids to the park and meet daddy for lunch dates.

~Alayna continues to walk more than she is crawling!


Here is Alayna showing off her colors (she is pointing to the pole and saying RED)



~Jason's route is so close to home that he is home early every night, giving us lots of fun daddy time!

What are you thankful for this week?

The paper pregnancy continues....

Our dossier is complete (all those documents Dariya's country needs to have for court), we have everything apostilled (those pretty bronze seals from the secretary of state's office) now all we are waiting on is our USCIS (immigration clearance) and we can send all these lovely documents to Eastern Europe to get our court date to meet our beautiful daughter.  (Prayers accepted and appreciated!)

Our timeline (if we hit no bumps) could look something like this:  Immigration approval by end of April, file dossier to EE (2-3 weeks for translations), dossier submitted to SDA (mid to late May), court date given (mid June).

We have had a pretty smooth "pregnancy" although I have to say this one has been a whole lot more work that my two biological pregnancies.  We have had the occasional pg heartburn (ie. having to redo a few documents or having the notary redone) and many sleepless nights (can't sleep knowing my daughter is not tucked into her bed in our home at night).  However, I will take our fairly smooth, quick process so far. 

We have been blessed by a 4some of folks at our church (with many more helping) spearheading an
"All for Dariya" day on May 14th.  We start at noon with a 4 person scramble golf tourney then from 5-8 pm we are having a silent auction and pasta dinner at Kaw Prairie.  If you are in town, come join us it will be a great day!  Prayerfully we will raise our last bit of money needed to complete our fundraising so we can travel to meet and pick up our beautiful girl!