So life happend and I got a bit behind on updating my blog. Sometimes its hard to know where to start. First, I'm starting with my husbands perspective and his words on one of the things that has been happening:
There has been a bit of a delay in writing because of a divine appoinment.
Learning to love these appoinments can sometimes be difficult in any season of life. When you have an adoptwaiting timeline to keep to keep too it can get tricky. Our appoinment came in the form of a precious little lady whose smile and demeanor melted all
those who saw her. What a better way to get a lesson about how I am not in
control. As many of you know we spent the winter and spring with a bundle
of joy pitter pattering underneath our feet as we put on the foster care hat
for a season. That bundle of joy was dropped back in our lives for a few weeks unexpectedly just a couple Fridays ago. We had to scramble to get diapers and baby
stuff pulled together at a moments notice. The crazy thing is that we had just gotten
rid of the last baby items we had the Saturday before. In hind sight It took me a couple days to readjust myself and
truly take count of what an opportunity I had to love Christ through the loving
of this little appointment what could be viewed as a distraction from MY plans. But was exactly where God needed us to be at that time.
Second, after much deliberation and debate in the Hokanson house we have arrived at a name for daughter. We are bing on the meaning behind the name in our house so that played a very big part on our choosing her name. When I first read the meaning I knew this was her name. That name is Mabel Grace. Mabel means loved or lovable and Grace meaning of course grace. We think it is perfect for our girl.
Third, we had our last home study visit! What does that mean you ask? Well it means that we get to wait two weeks for it to be written. Then we get to wait while both agencies agree that it says exactly what it needs to say. Then we wait for the State of Illinois to approve it. Then we can do several things. One thing is begin to apply for adoption grants. Second, begin working on our dossier. If you want to know more about that you can read here. And we get to work on our USCIS paperwork. This involves getting fingerprinted again which we are experts so that part should be easy. :) I have learned through this whole adoptwaiting process that apparently I have "bad" fingerprints. Meaning that my ridges are worn off so to speak so they are hard to get. Pray this is not the case when we have to drive to local USCIS office to get fingerprinted.
Fourth, we continue to add pieces in our puzzle. It is exciting. If you wonder what puzzle you can read about that here.
Finally, God continues to lead us in this adoptwaiting process. The way He has orchastrted each detail and provided for us were nothing short of awesome. As we were getting ready to be done with our home study, in a true adotpwaiting has made me crazy kind of way, I was fixing to have a major anxiety attack. Okay I wasn't fixing to do it I was doing it. I was working the numbers and thought I don't know how we are going to do this. And in spite of the fact that I know better, and in spite of the fact that I was not demonstrating trust in Him, God provided the exact amount needed so we can progress to next step. I just love how He does that and I know that He will keep doing that as we do what we need to, to bring Mabel home.
Second, after much deliberation and debate in the Hokanson house we have arrived at a name for daughter. We are bing on the meaning behind the name in our house so that played a very big part on our choosing her name. When I first read the meaning I knew this was her name. That name is Mabel Grace. Mabel means loved or lovable and Grace meaning of course grace. We think it is perfect for our girl.
Third, we had our last home study visit! What does that mean you ask? Well it means that we get to wait two weeks for it to be written. Then we get to wait while both agencies agree that it says exactly what it needs to say. Then we wait for the State of Illinois to approve it. Then we can do several things. One thing is begin to apply for adoption grants. Second, begin working on our dossier. If you want to know more about that you can read here. And we get to work on our USCIS paperwork. This involves getting fingerprinted again which we are experts so that part should be easy. :) I have learned through this whole adoptwaiting process that apparently I have "bad" fingerprints. Meaning that my ridges are worn off so to speak so they are hard to get. Pray this is not the case when we have to drive to local USCIS office to get fingerprinted.
Fourth, we continue to add pieces in our puzzle. It is exciting. If you wonder what puzzle you can read about that here.
Finally, God continues to lead us in this adoptwaiting process. The way He has orchastrted each detail and provided for us were nothing short of awesome. As we were getting ready to be done with our home study, in a true adotpwaiting has made me crazy kind of way, I was fixing to have a major anxiety attack. Okay I wasn't fixing to do it I was doing it. I was working the numbers and thought I don't know how we are going to do this. And in spite of the fact that I know better, and in spite of the fact that I was not demonstrating trust in Him, God provided the exact amount needed so we can progress to next step. I just love how He does that and I know that He will keep doing that as we do what we need to, to bring Mabel home.
