A Family For Makayla

I can't believe my cats still love me after what I just put them through!

As part of our home study, we needed to get rabies shots for our cats. Our fellow felines don't even go outside but who are we to argue with the state?

We have three cats to be exact. I know that sounds scary to those who don't love cats. ;) Anyway, I needed to get all three cats to the vet at the same time using a carrier meant for one cat. I wasn't going out and spending $100 to buy two more carriers for a one time deal. So I stuffed all three of our cats into that one carrier. They fit and thankfully all our cats get along but they did not want to go into the carrier. We had to wrap them up in towels and quickly put them in the carrier. Of course, when we got to the vet...not a single cat wanted to come out. I had to drag them out! And I had no problem putting them back in.

When we got home and I opened the door to release them...it was like releasing them back into the wild. They took off!

It was a trivial adventure but it is also one step closer to bringing Makayla home!

We are very close to the completion of our home study! Yippee! I am so excited! Every step that is completed is one step closer to bringing our little girl home.

God really blessed us with an awesome woman to work with for our home study. She really made us all feel comfortable with her "down to earth" attitude. I walked into the home study believing that I had to be some kind of super mom with a house that looked like it was cleaned by the White House staff. This belief caused me needless stress. I'm a common mom with an average income. I love my children and clean the house. Surprisingly, that's all I need be.

We thank God for His provisions and oversight of our adoption.

Wow! I'm so sorry for the delay in posting...I just didn't think anyone was listening. Thank you everyone for your care and support!

So where exactly are we in the international adoption process? We are in the beginning stages. The whole process is going to take about a year to complete. That seems like forever! Which is funny because anyone who is starting to near the top of the aging hill, actually on it or over it can attest to the fact that the older you get, the shorter the years get. This has been a reality for me as I get older but this adoption sets me back to the feeling of when I was 12 years old waiting for the big 13...an official teenager and it's just taking forever. I'm 12 and one month old. It's a time when you count every single day.

Getting back on track. Step one comes in a couple parts. We have sent our commitment money to the adoption agency. That means exactly what it says, we have committed to adopt Makayla. She is ours and no one else can try and adopt her.

We are also going through a home study. This will determine our eligibility to adopt. Lots of things about us are being studied and needless to say its going well. I have to admit though, I was nervous in the beginning. Only because of the feelings of someone else coming to our home and basically judging us. We are working with a wonderful woman!

We only have a few more things to complete for the home study. Then it will be time to work on our dossier. That's another story for another time.

I just added a new page entitled "Why we're adopting". Click here to read our story.

Wow, last night I had a dream that I went to Makayla's orphanage. I held her and read books to her. I seriously can't wait for the day when I can touch her and kiss her. She doesn't even know there is a family out there that loves her.

Many of you might not understand what adoption is like but I explain it this way. It's very much like being pregnant. I have been pregnant three times so I can reasonably make this comparison. Though you've never held or seen your child, you still love the child you are carrying unconditionally. I may not be carrying Makayla in my belly, but I am carrying her in my heart. We can't wait for the day when she is "born" into our family. She is so loved by us. Keegan, our youngest son who doesn't have much concept yet of time keeps asking when his sister is coming home. I tell him she will hopefully be home sometime around next Christmas. I feel like a kid again counting the days and impatiently waiting for next Christmas. It can't come soon enough but I will wait knowing God's timing is perfect. Please pray for our baby Makayla.