Home Study

Looks like we're on for Thursday morning and I know I said these things were no big deal, but I'm kind of freaking out. This must be what everyone talks about. I know that Kimber (our adoption specialist) isn't going to look under my bed, but I keep having a nagging urge to clean the carpet under there.  Maybe I should alphabetize our clothes by brand. Do you think it would be too much if Armand answered the door wearing a bow tie? Yeah, I guess so...and good luck getting it on him anyway.

Who needs a bow tie when you look this cute?

Our Adoption Specialist Is Here!

Her name is Kimber and we're super excited to have her advocate for us! We're trying to set up a time to meet with her for our home study in the next week. This is the time where we'll get to finally meet each other and she'll explain more of the process to us. This is also the time that everyone dreads during the adoption process- the home study (cue scary music). 

Kimber has really put us at ease. She isn't coming in with a white glove to tell us if we missed a spot cleaning, but instead is just making sure our place would be safe for a little one. As my friend Daryn says, "put away your child-eating gerbil and you're good to go". Love that girl!

Anyways, the next week looks to be pretty busy with side jobs, doctor appointments for our physicals, painting the nursery, and preparing for the home study. Please continue praying for our little one to be healthy, a short wait time, and a smooth process. God seems to be moving right along....we're just trying to keep up :o)

We Went To Jail.....

Actually we went to several jails.

We started out at the Floyd County Sheriff's office to do some ink-less fingerprinting. Derek and I both giggled when the officer told us to make "Spok fingers" to place on the machine. Although it took about an hour, we got to meet some neat people (like the guy who handed me a wet dollar in exchange for 4 quarters or the lady that yelled because we were fingerprinted before her). We got our paperwork and headed to the next place.

Lunch at Chick-Fil-A, a trip to Staples for announcement letter supplies, and then to the Clark County Sheriff's office. Background checks for both of us (clean checks if you had your doubts) and then to the Charlestown Police dept. where I got to talk into a speaker and camera. It was sort of like talking to God, but I'm pretty sure He doesn't have a Charlestown accent. We headed home after getting our local police background checks and started working on our big announcement letters.

Our first "wave" of letters is going out today and although we're super excited to tell our family and close friends, we're nervous at the same time. This is our personal story that comes with a daily (sometimes too honest) blog, so if you received a letter please keep this confidential until our home study is approved. Then we'll announce it to the world and scream it from the roof tops!

Speaking of home studies, we're waiting to hear from our Adoption Specialist (social worker) and complete a few more pieces of paperwork until I can send this last batch in. After that it's on to the hard part....our family profile. DUH DUH DUUUUUUUHHHHHHHH!!!


*Okay, I apologize in advance. All day yesterday Derek and I were talking about my dad who is a Sheriff and how nice it would have been just to have him there. So, while looking on the internet for a picture of a sheriff's logo, I found this.... which just happens to be him wearing a kilt and repelling off the tallest building in our area for the Special Olympics this year. This is so much better than a sheriff's logo.

A Crib In Our Crib!

Yesterday we were blessed with the sweet gift of a crib. What I love about it is it has been used before. I love things with a history that can continue to be used to keep the story going and this story is very special to me.



A few years ago when I was working at church, I was having a particularly rough night feeling like I was trying to please others and not God. Nothing I was doing was right....and then, SHE came. She sat down next to me and said not to worry about it. If I felt like God was pleased, that was all that mattered. I could kiss this girl (but that would have been slightly weird because we had just met). It was an instant friendship and my life has never been the same.


It got even better when I met her wonderful kiddos, a curly headed 3 year old and a set of 1 year old twins. I got the chance to watch them on a regular basis and we had a blast over the years. We had our moments of course (I was outnumbered) but my heart melted when they called me Cursey and ran for hugs down the church hallway. Often, those hugs were a reminder of why I worked in Children's Ministry.




A few years later they've learned that my name is Crissy, they've moved up to big people beds, and no longer need their cribs. Which is how it came to live in our nursery. I love the fact that I watched those kiddos grow up in that crib and now I'll get to watch mine do the same.

Thank you for sharing not only your crib, but all the sweet memories that have prepared me for this day.