News from Illinois

Well, Illinois has reviewed our home study.  I talked at length with our caseworker this morning.  She says this is going to be a battle to get approval.  Mary D, the woman who holds all of the power to approve home studies in IL (yes, that is crazy) is SO anti-large family.  She simply cannot imagine why we would want to adopt again.  She made some rather rude comments about our family, and large families in general.

This is the deal.  We have China's approval to adopt their children.  We have an agency and a caseworker, who have given us their FULL support.  They have interviewed Dale and I and our children, have toured and inspected our home, have checked and rechecked our backgrounds, and have spent hours getting to know us.  They are in favor of our adoption.  We have met and/or exceeded all of the requirements Illinois has put before us.  We have glowing references, we are financially stable, and we have the space to house more children.  They truly have NO grounds to deny us approval.  But.....they don't understand large families.  They do not think parents could possibly have the time for as many children as we have.  Crazy thing is that I could give birth to 20 children, if I chose to (and God allowed it).  Even if half of those children were mentally disabled, no one could stop me from having more....even if I was broke, a lived in a 3 room shack.  Yet, when adopting - everything changes.  *tears*

This woman, Mary, has asked that we leave her alone for a week, so she can try to "wrap her head" around our request.  So, we will.  But, trust me, I am not sitting here waiting!  I am preparing letters, requesting additional references, putting together a family photo portfolio for her, and preparing for a FIGHT.  And mostly, I am praying!

Have you read your Bible lately?  God moves mountains, people!  He changes people's hearts, He changes their minds, He MOVES upon them, to see His perfect will happen!  My God does NOT want those boys to sit alone and unloved in that orphanage.  I KNOW He can change Mary's heart and her mind.  Would you PLEASE join me in praying for God's will!  And for my boys!  And for the hearts of my family....who are yearning and aching!  This is hard to explain to the littles.....who are SO excited to meet their little brothers!

Thank you, for your support.  I will post when I hear more!

A Link to my Boy's story

No word from Illinois yet....although I am sure it is coming SOON, and I am feeling very encouraged!  Our caseworker says she will call Mary D, if she has not heard from her by Friday.  In the meantime, here is a link, with more photos and information on Wen and Wu, for those of you who  have asked!
http://stopforsnowdrops.blogspot.com/2013/09/double-blessings-waiting-for-their.html?

Will update again soon!

My wonderful Landon, and "The WAIT"

Well, first of all, we just got back from a great weekend!  My son-in-law had a job interview in Indiana, and we decided to meet them all there for a weekend visit!  My friend has parents who just happened to have a lake house 10 minutes from the interview site, so off we went.  I have not seen that much SNOW in many years, but it was beautiful!  Spending the weekend with my grandson, Landon, daughter, Brogan and her hubs, Zachary was a wonderful time!~   Landon is so smart, and so fun!  Below are some photos of him!

And in other news.  ADOPTION.  Well, our home study was submitted to IL a week ago today.  And now we wait.  It is SO hard.  My boys are in a terrible orphanage.  They need to come home.  Their bedroom is done, our home is big enough, we have enough love, and we even have most of the money to cover the adoption expenses!  But, we wait to see if Mary D, the woman with the power, will approve us for this adoption.  It doesn't matter if our caseworker and agency are more than happy to approve us.  She has to.  It doesn't matter if we have glowing references, plenty of support, and well-adjusted, happy children.  She still makes the final decision.  And so we wait.  And we don't even know how long.  Our caseworker says 3-4 weeks.  Some people are waiting 2-3 months.  She held up one adoption for 10 months!   We are prepared to fight.  We are not just going to go away, if we are told NO.  So, she needs to be ready for us!  LOL

Other adoption news:   Well, I received the information on a  beautiful, but very ill, little gal, named Kacey.  She is 13, and has Beta Thal, like Meng, and is also aging out of the adoption program in October, which is basically a death sentence for her.  I began advocating for her, and immediately our Pastor asked for more information!!!  To make a long story short, they have locked her file, are racing through thee home study process, and are completely excited about being her PARENTS!  WOOHOO!  Helping them through some of the paperwork and red tape has helped take my mind off of  my boys.  And another church family has stepped forward to adopt as well!  God is moving on our church, and His people!  IT is awesome to watch!

Well, I will update as soon as we hear from the state.  Hopefully, prayerfully, with good news!

Enjoy these pictures of Landon!  Sweetest grandson ever!  LOL