Two Weeks

In two weeks, we will be flying out of Nashville heading to New York.  From New York, we will be flying to Kiev, Ukraine.  

I can't believe it is already this close.  We have worked so hard to get everything together and it seemed like this far off event that will happen "one day".  The closer the date gets the more real it seems.  When we come back our lives will be completely changed.  Part of me is really excited and another part of me is scared!  Maybe that is normal. 

I have tons to do and feel pretty overwhelmed.  We have started packing and I am trying to gather items to take little by little.  Now I am a pretty low maintenance girl, but the clothing issue is tough for me.  I am taking about 6 outfits.  I am not certain on the laundry situation, but I hope I have access to some type of washing machine.  I am terrible at washing clothes at home and I will be much worse about hand washing clothes.  

Anyway clothing issue aside,  I still have to finish setting up my classroom.  Meet and assess my students that get remediation in reading and determine what they need to work on so I can leave at least 5 weeks of plans for my interim.  It is going to be weird leaving my students to another Special Education teacher.  I also have to finish up three of my graduate classes.  Then, there is the house.....it is not prepared in anyway to have two children.  I am so thankful for my mother.  She is going to stay at our house and take care of painting and decorating the bedrooms.  

Guess I have to be prepared no matter what, because in about 7 or 8 weeks, we will be flying home with our children!

The Other Boy

This is a blog post from the International Director from our placing agency.  It made me weep when I read it.  I am going to have difficulty leaving the other children behind............

The Other Boy

Plane tickets-CHECK

I am a spreadsheet freak.  I put everything on a spreadsheet....I make spreadsheets for fun..well not really....but I can find a reason to make a spreadsheet for almost anything!!  What I like most about a spreadsheet is the way it puts things in order........in any order I decide to arrange them.  I can also list things that need to be done and put a big X until the column marked "Complete".  I love doing that!!!  Today I got to do that for "Purchase plane tickets".  Yay!!  I also got to go to my "Adoption Cost Breakdown" spreadsheet and add the cost of our plane tickets to the "PAID" line.  Yay again!! 

       We hunted all weekend, contacted adoption travel agents and made phone calls.  Finally we decided to go with Delta.  It seems to be the best fare and I love that it flies straight from New York to Kiev.  Our only layover is in New York when we fly in from Nashville.  On the way back, I think it will be fabulous to only have to deal with airports that are in English when I will be with two children by myself on the way back.  We are flying out on August 7th.  We are planning for Jeff to return on September 1st or as soon as he can after our court date.  
      Soooo....I will be staying in Ukraine all alone for the 10 day waiting period.  I could go back with Jeff and return for a second trip after the 10 days, but that is a good time to bond with the children.  I can't take much time off of work once we return, so I plan to take that 10 days to bond with them.  I know it is going to be a challenge to be in a foreign country alone with no one who speaks  English!!  I am trying not to think about it, because Jeff needs to come back. We have catering jobs on the books that will make us money to pay for more adoption related expenses.  He also works on commission at his radio job, so he can't sell anything if he isn't here to sell it!!  I know I won't be completely alone, because God is always with me.  I hope I can stay busy and really get to know our children, so maybe the time will go quickly.  I have also never been away from Jeff that long since we have been married.  I will miss him!
Please pray for our continued guidance by God in this process!!  We really appreciate and covet the prayers!

Appointment date!

I woke up this morning around 7am with a feeling that we would find out our appointment date today.  I stayed in bed for awhile longer,because I knew we wouldn't have an email until at least after 8 or 9.  I checked my email about 9:15.  Nothing......guess this wasn't the day after all. My niece is visiting from Kansas City and my sister spent the night, so we headed off to the pool.  About 11am, I checked my email on my phone.  Guess what I found?  An email from our casework at Lifeline.....in the subject line it read: "Are You Ready?"  I KNEW exactly what it was.  We got our appointment date.......................................  The funny thing is that I have been saying on multiple occasions that our appointment date would be on a particular day.  Not sure why..but I just felt like that was the day.  Well............I was right.  Our appointment date is August 10th!!!!  I am excited, nervous, freaking out a bit and basically every emotion you can think of in this situation. We plan to fly on the 7th of August.  Happily that means I will be at work for the first week of school....which makes me happy,because I will at least get to meet my students before I go.  We are excited..but we still need the rest of our money.  I know God will supply.  I moved my Chip-In link up on the blog..if anyone feels led, we will greatly appreciate any donations as we are at crunch time now!! We have a couple fees to pay as well as purchase plane tickets.  Please keep praying!!!

Exactly Half Way!

We now have $18,000 of our adoption covered.  We are exactly at the half way mark!   God can do anything!  One month ago, we still needed $25,000.  God has provided $7,000 in a month!  Praise the Lord!!