Homestudy - It's Over - Whew :-)

After much work, stress and sweat we completed our home study yesterday. It took about 5 hours but our case worker is fabulous and made the process go very easy. They asked lots of questions about us individually and together and we have a few things to change, such as adding a few more locks in the garage and moving some things to higher shelves but all in all it went very well. HALLELUJAH!!



From this point it will take 3 to 4 weeks for them to write the home study at which point they will sent it in and we will be licensed by the state. At that point, the matching begins.



I want to take a moment to thank everyone for all your prayers and help; especially -



Marsha; thanks for helping us especially on Saturday - we don't have anything to change on the rooms you worked on so you get an extra hug.



Janette and Jonathan Todd: Thanks you SOOOOO much for the many hours of cleaning carpets, hanging things, and basically turning the house upside down to help us get this done. And all your help after surgery, I really can't thank you enough for all your support and help. Josh and I both really really appreciate it. ;-)



Some extra prayers - I am currently unemployed having been laid off as most of you know but we are confident that God has something in store. Appreciate the prayers and will let you know as the process progresses.



Josh & Juli

A Full Day

We started out the day thinking we were going to get stuff done on the house; we decided it would be a social day instead.

Met a friend at the movies to see A Night at the Museum; it was good. Then picked up another friend to surprise his daughter for her b-day. She wasn't expecting him. A long-time friend's dad had quadruple bypass surgery yesterday so we visited with the fam and saw him. Please pray for quick recovery for him.

Then we went over to the Cross's house for a homecoming party for Daniel - our own hero back from Iraq and other places he can't discuss. We are so incredibly proud of him I think we were all just bursting at the seams. It seems like just yesterday he was that little kid running around the church asking for $1 from anyone who would care to listen. God has granted him tremendous favor and I can't wait to see what fantastic things he has in store for him now that he is back.

Great job raising a great bunch of kiddos Tim and Cindy. We will calling you often for help in the near future; you can bet on it!!!!

We Passed the Fire Inspection!!

Woo hoo!!!! They came last week but we didn't have a smoke detector in every bedroom so they had to come back. Josh was really cute - he went over the checklist at least three times before they came; wouldn't you know....the item that told us we had to have one in all the bedrooms wasn't on there.....oh well......He went right out and bought them; he was going to be sure we passed with flying colors this go around and we did!!!

Next up, the rest of the paperwork gets turned in and then they schedule the home study.

For those of you new to the game; we are adopting a child from the state, we don't care about age, race or ethnicity. We just want God's will. oh, and did I mention we were thinking of siblings? did I mention you need to pray?

Juli

Still working on the house; getting everything ready for when the Home Study is scheduled. We are down to the details now; most of the large items are completed. We are very excited and equally nervous about becoming parents. God's timing.

Had a fabulous day with the niece and nephews. We had a late Easter get together and the kids had a blast whacking an egg-shaped pinata. I think they like that better than the candy that came out of it. LOL.

The Journey

Josh and I have begun our journey to adopt. We know that God has a plan for us and our family and have stepped out to start the process. We are excited, nervous, and all the other emotions that go with it.

Currently we have completed most of our forms and have had the fire inspection. Next is completing the rest of the list and getting our home study scheduled. Our hope is to have our new family together before the beginning of the next school year, but that remains to be seen. Our timing is not God's timing; we do what we can and then wait.

For those who are catching up with us in general, Josh still works for Life Outreach Today; James Robison's ministry, and I work for Christian Life Ministries; out of Uganda - Jackson Senyonga's ministry.

Please pray for us as we come to your rememberence. And thank you for standing along side us as we continue our journey.

Juli and Josh