Home Study & Much Much More

        I apologize for the delay of a new post.  I'm definitely not as good at keeping up with this blog as I would like to be.  I've decided that my goal for next year is to post once per month during the first week of each month.  That way you can know when to expect an update.
      Life here is BUSY.  Our home study was conducted Friday December 3rd.  It was a four hour interview of Daniel and I.  Daniel thought is was a lot of fun, I thought it was fine but had a hard time answering some of the questions on the spot.  I'm much more of an internal processor than he is.  Over all I think it went well.  The  questions ranged from our parents personalities, our style of discipline, our will, our dog, best and worst childhood memories and on and on.  As soon as the home study was over we left for Kansas City to celebrate "Thanksmas" with my family.  The five hour drive gave us time to process everything and we had fun asking the family some of the questions. 
           Another big event is that we turned in our "child preference profile".  This is the form where we are able to specify gender, age, what you consider to be acceptable health problems/concerns (anything from cleft lip-HIV).   We have requested a female 0-12 months.  This would be the age at time of referral (when we receive the child's information) so there is a chance our child will be older than 12 months when we get to pick her up.  This form was VERY emotional for me as I hate marking no to anything but unfortunately we just don't have the finances or ability to care for some of the issues that were presented.
      Next on my list of updates is finances!  We have been SO SO SO blessed by everyone's outpouring of support both in prayer and finances.  So far we have just over 1/3 of our expenses paid.  $10,000!!!  It has been so bizarre how every single time we have money due for something.  Within a couple days, that exact amount will come in the mail, or Daniel will get a side job to trim someones trees and be paid that amount, or in whatever way, the money comes in exactly as we need it.  Never more, never less.  It is so re-assuring that the Lord is guiding our journey in very obvious ways.
    So in finishing, what's next.  Well, our home study should be completed and mailed to us in 3-5 weeks.  Once that is received we will be able to send our petition to US immigration requesting permission to bring a foreign child to the US.  Once that is granted we go on the wait list for our child!!  Typically it takes about 8-10 months until we receive our referral.  Of course that is just an estimate of time-we've been told over and over that is by no means set in stone as every situation is different. 
       Thanks again to everyone for your support!  Every hug and smile is so encouraging.  Merry Christmas and I will update you again at New Years!