Here we are...

Well, well, well.... How many of these "we are still alive" blogs is one site entitled to in a 6 month period?

Life is good.

On the adoption front, we received the rough draft of our homestudy from our social worker this week. It was really strange to read all of that information in one place. Our lives in a few pages...strange is the only word I have right now. Just some proofreading and editing and we will be finished! Moving along...I can't wait to have those little darlings running around the restaurant.

Oh, the restaurant...It is open! We have all worked 80+ hours this week including our day jobs. It is so worth it. For me, it is fun to see the kiddos in my class come and mash their faces on the restaurant glass to see if they can see Mrs. Cofield. Teachers do live outside of school...

Thanks to all you bloggers and friends out there for the encouraging words and support!

Jennifer

Playing Tag

All right, people. Was this tagging thing created to encourage those of us who never update our blogs? If so, great idea! I was motivated this morning. Thanks for the tag Amanda.
Okay, here goes...
First the rules:
~The rules are to link the person who sent this to you and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours.
~Post the rules on your blog
~Share 7 strange/weird facts about yourself
~Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, linking their blog
7 Strange/Weird facts about myself:
1. My favorite strange fact is that when we lived in Birmingham (in an urban area - not the country) we had 4 chickens show up in our yard one day and move in. We named them Breakfast (because she had a bad leg and we knew she would go first), Lunch, Dinner, and Helen. Breakfast didn't make it but the others were still there when we moved.

2. Almost all women on my husband's side of the family were born on the 22nd of a month - grandmother, mom, neice. Well, so was I. I married into the right family.

3. I was the first open adoption in the state of Texas. I look forward to adopting my own very soon!

4. Our cat, Gimpy, was already injured when we got him. He then lived through a tornado and falling 4 stories out of the window of our loft.

5. I can't stand anything to do with teeth. You should see me when I have to go to the dentist. This also extends into my work because I teach 2nd grade and have a serious issue with wiggly teeth.

6. This one isn't that strange but it's fun. Our restaurant is opening in 3 weeks. See the link at the top of our blog.

7. This is somewhat related to the last one. This is a busy time for us. Ty is running a restaurant and I am teaching school. In our spare time we are opening our own restaurant (with some wonderful partners), remodeling our house, and adopting 2-3 darlings from Ethiopia! We are busy but wouldn't have it any other way.

Now let's see who I am going to tag....

Home Visit and Timelines

Thank you to all of you for the encouraging words about our home visit. It went very well. Since it was our third sit-down with the social worker we just went over the big long checklist of what needs to be done and made a smaller list of what is left - only 5 things on it! Then she walked through the house. She suggested a fire extinguisher, a latch on the gate going off the deck, and a latch for the door to the basement. Not too bad. I am beginning to enjoy these meetings. They really make you think and mull over how you will deal with certain situations.

On a more frustrating note I found out, in the State of Alabama, there is an approximate 2 month wait for approval of the Home Study. Apparently, when the social worker finishes the write-up she will send it to her supervisor and us for editing. Then we will send it to our agency for editing. Then, after it is notarized, it will go to the State (a DHR department) for approval (this is the part I didn't know about) where there is an average 2 month turnaround time. This has nothing to do with the apostillizing - that comes later.
Then it goes off to CIS for our I-171H approval. This is all before it becomes part of the Dossier. I really wasn't counting on the two extra months and it has me a little bummed. I thought we could just send off the Home Study to CIS as soon as our agency approved it. WRONG...

I have always been a things-happen-in-their-own-time kind of person so I will keep plugging away!

Help

We are in need of some help. Our home visit with our social worker is coming up in the next week and we are seriously unsure about what we need to do. I know all home study agencies and social workers are different;however, surely some things are the same across the board. Please let me know what to expect and any advice all of you out there have to offer.

Oh, and here is the picture of the kids' room I promised.

It is hard to see but the curtains, sheets, and duvet covers are all gingham. The curtains are covered with gingham stars. The dog picture on the wall hung in Ty's nursery. We might have to change to cribs later but we will see...

I almost forgot! We are minus one bathtub but we have a floor. Maybe Ty will write about the adventures...


Jennifer

A Day for Me

Today I took a day just for myself...and a little for our future children.

My monthly bookgroup meeting was last night in Birmingham. We had a great time. We play Dirty Santa at our Christmas gathering every year. I think I came out on top. After a bit of whining, Lorrin let me keep the apron that says "My bookgroup can beat up your bookgroup." How cool is that? Melody gets the prize for bringing the Dirty Santa present.

I used my bookgroup meeting as an excuse to spend the night with my mother-in-law and take a day off from school. I am not one to miss school. I have about 90 something sick days saved up. As all of you teachers out there know, it is harder to miss work than it is to be there. Sadly, I found out when I got home this afternoon that my sub never showed up. I hate that because I see those 17 babies as my own. It bothers me that their day was most likely quite stressful... Uncertainty to a young child is no bueno. There is no telling what they had to do.... I guess I will find out on Monday.

On a lighter note, until the BAD news, I had a GREAT day. I had entirely too much fun at Pottery Barn Kids. I lost track of how long we were there. A few weeks ago we painted the room a beautiful green called "lettuce." Then, my mother-in-law found an awesome green rug with off-white stars on it. Then, today my parents went all out for their first grandchild. They bought the cutest green gingham curtains and duvet covers, sheers with gingham stars, and blue gingham sheets. When it all arrives I will post pictures. Other than my serious lack of design talent - this is fun. Also, since I also am completely unable to make a decision on my own - thanks Jan and Mom for all the advice.

Finally, this week our social worker sent out surveys to our parents and friends who are giving us recommendations. I read the first one last night. She summed Ty up brilliantly. It is so interesting to read what other people see as your strengths and weaknesses. You all are so kind... This process has caused me to think about myself more than anything I have ever done. I wish all parents had to go through this....

Yes...We are still alive

If those of you who check our blog are still out there....
Yes, we are still here.


In the 75 degree December warmth.
All of you with the cute pictures of your children in the snow...I'm jealous.

I am not the writer in our family but he is a chef and it is DECEMBER. I haven't really seen him in weeks. I think he has worked 30 something straight days now. I am not nearly as humorous or well-spoken; however, by reading others I have begun to realize how important this blog is, so...I am going to give it a shot.

Over the past few months I have learned so much from reading all the blogs out there. Sometimes I sit and cry as I read the stories of unconditional love. Adoption is truely not for the fainthearted. God bless all of you.

We have a change to post. I know there is uncertainty in international adoption but the uncertainty in Kazakhstan is too much for us. When we originally decided to adopt we could not decide between Ethiopia and Kazakhstan. All we knew was that we want to adopt siblings. We decided on Kazakhstan but have just this week changed our minds. We have now settled on Ethiopia and are thrilled. We are still in the homestudy process so the change has not been a huge deal. Please keep us in your thoughts as you are in ours.

Jennifer

Self-explanatory

This has nothing to do with adoption but I couldn't help myself.




Sometimes in life we have to ask ourselves...what in the world?