So we just finished our 2nd home study! It was a breeze! Our social worker came to our home, plopped herself on the couch, talked with me, talked with Erin, talked with both of us...and we were done! It pretty much involved questions about how we were raised, how we were disciplined growing up, how we planned on dealing with the interracial part of all of this, etc... We were completely relaxed and felt great about how it went. And even though we'd cleaned our house so it was spotless, she never looked at the rest of the house (nor did she accept our offer for cinnamon rolls and coffee (Rwandan coffee, even). =O)

So we just have one more home study visit that we'll get done on our way back from Ohio next week (we leave tomorrow FOR Ohio).

We also have been working on more paperwork, of course! We had our physicals yesterday. I've taken the vaccination for Heb B, so the blood results showed that I had a higher level than normal of whatever it is related to Hep B that they look for. So it looks bad on the report. But my doctor also explained on the report that it was because of the vaccine that the results showed this, so I think we're okay - but I'll probably have to have another test done to prove that I do not, in fact, have Hep B!

The picture I've attached is from our trip to Panama City Beach (BigStuf) with our youth group. They had a children's choir there from Kenya. Kenya actually is right next to Rwanda, so when I saw these kids run out and start to do their songs, I bawled like a baby! Seriously. Tears running down my cheeks and a constant lump in my throat. It's one thing to see pictures, but to actually see these kids who look exactly like what your kid is going to look like, in person - it totally blew me away. I've actually got some video too...maybe I'll try to post that as well. Very, very cool.

So we're off to camp with the middle/high school students first thing in the morning! We won't be back until the end of the week, so I thought it would be wise to give you a quick update on the little that's been going on!

We completed our online training course! Yay! Not exactly fun, so we're very glad to have it done!

As soon as we get back, we have church, then our first meeting with our social worker, then physicals, then a two-hour meeting with our social worker (all part of the "home study"). Then we leave for a whirlwind trip to Ohio. On our way back, we'll be getting in our third and final home study visit!

Other than that, we've been working on various paperwork items - some of which are now ready to be notarized and mailed...but we've got a long way to go. Again, we're anxious to get all of this done because it means that we can then apply for grants - which could REALLY come in handy!

With any luck, we'll be able to update this blog next weekend and let you know what's going on! God continues to be faithful! Please keep us in your prayers - we need them all!

Sorry we've been so terrible updating about our progress! Been a wee-bit busy!

Things are going well and moving right along! We are up to our eyeballs in paperwork. We have to sign all kinds of things and get everything notarized and make copies of all of it...this includes getting new birth certificates and a new marriage license, a letter from our doctor, background checks, fingerprints, letters of intent, etc... Some of it's for our government, and other stuff is for the Rwandan government. It will be at least 3 months before it's all done, I think.

We've also got our first home study set for the end of the month! So, that's a big piece of the puzzle. Until we have all this paperwork finalized and the home study done, we can't apply for grants...so...we're anxious to get that done.

We're also in the middle of taking our online course that's basically all about the risks involved with international adoption. It's really...ummm...long, and not so exciting. But, as my friend Micheal Thiele always says, "It is what it is."

Financially, we are very near being able to pay the cost for Erin's trip! And we have a big chunk toward the next immediate financial needs. In the last blog, I mentioned we were praying for $4,000 in the next 1 1/2 weeks. It seemed like a ridiculous amount of money...but within 24 hours, we had $3,500 given to us. God is so good!

I think we're needing another $800 or so now to be able to cover the next immediate steps.

We're learning and growing and being stretched! Good times.

We'll do better at keeping everyone posted! We love you all!