The first step



LSSS



Wonderful.... this is simply how I feel. I know Hrishi shares the feeling too. This is how we feel about this journey we've embarked on, the journey of becoming foster-to-adopt parents. Today we took our very first step: attended orientation and submitted our application along with some other paperwork. This will be followed by a lot more paperwork, a lot more documentation, and many many training hours than you could imagine. The packet is a few of inches thick. But just like they said in orientation today, I will imagine how it will feel when we've gone through all of it and we are finally certified and ready to welcome a child or children into our home. Our home will be their safe haven. The one place where they'll feel protected and loved. The one place they've  been longing for. 

 

FIT

I'll need to remember, imagine, and visulize this because I know they'll be roadblocks along the way. I'll also need to remember the tears that streamed down my cheeks (yes, I am a very emotional person!) today when they showed a couple of videos narrated by children in the foster system. How blessed we are for the families we have, the families in which we grew up! There's no greater blessing!

(Lutheran Social Services of the South is our agency and Foster in Texas, FIT is their partner.)
And although this post was going to end here, it's worth mentioning to say the least, the struggle I've been through in finding an agency that would accept us into their program. You see, not all adoption agencies do work with non-US citizens which we both are. We are legal residents (green card holders) but not citizens, at least not yet. We looked into infant adoption a while back and had some agency contacts. After putting a more comprehensive contacts list together a few days ago I started calling around. I called a ton of people and left voicemail after voicemail,  explaining our situation. Some had called back and said no, others never did. Luckily, (and it's really not luck but the huge hand of Providence/God's love for us) after a whole day of calling and almost losing hope, Lutheran Social Services of the South responded to our call and took us in. This was a testimony to me that He wants us to do this and that no matter how hard or disheartening it may get at times, this is right and things will work out! 

Catching up

This is the very reason why I was hesitant to start a blog: fearing that I would not keep it up to date. I guess it's ok if I don't make entries every day or every other day as long as I keep them coming at "reasonable" time intervals (whatever that means.) Our trip to Chicago was awesome, had tons of fun, stayed in the heart of the city, half mile away from the Navy Pier.

Ella soaked it all in, loved the Navy Pier rides, the Field Museum, the aquarium, the planetarium, and the boatrides, but more than anything she enjoyed the company of her grandparents. She loves them so much and she's embraced them back right away. We were all wondering how she was going to react after not seeing them for such a long time (over a year.) They got along wonderfully right away from the moment we picked them up at the airport onwards. It was great to see mom and dad and show them around the big city. We took lots of pics (yet to be posted.) We're blessed to have pretty good weather with no rain or wind (which is a bonus when you're talking end of Sept-Oct in the Windy City.

It was great to be back home in Omaha though. Ella missed her "home sweet home" and was delighted to show mamaie and tataie (grandma and grandpa) all her toys. Of course, she got TONS of presents in books and soft toys (her most favorite), and delightful outfits from mamaie and tataie. She is one lucky little girl!
Now we're back at work and she's enjoying her time off from preschool having a blast with her grandparents at home. She amazes them with her sweetness, sharpness, and creativity.

The more I type this, I feel this should be a post dedicated to her, as I've been even more amazed and grateful for having such a special wonderful child of God entrusted to us to raise and to cherish.  Where do I start? Just can't saying enough about the big kisses, hugs and "Love you's" she genereously shares, her great singing and dancing, her deep interest in books, her amazing pretend play/games,  her vocabulary and overall language skills that (from what I can tell) surpass those of children her age, her love of God and desire to learn and listen to scripture stories, oh how we love her!!! I just pray to be or become more the kind of mother/parent that will allow her to continue to blossom and fully develop her amazing potential! I love you, baby! We are so lucky to have you!

Other updates... over the next couple of weeks we'll know if we'll be spending another winter in good old Omaha or if we'll start a new adventure in a different place. We hope and pray it's the latter.

Loved Gen Conference, feel so blessed to have such inspired leaders, prophets to lovingly guide me, speak to my specific needs, and offer comfort and strenght! Thank you, thank you, thank you!