Crazy Days...

Yikes... where did the last almost 2 weeks go?!?!

We finished classes through our home study agency. There were 8 of us in the class (4 couples). Our good friends Steve and Jenny were two... then we met two other wonderful couples who are planning to adopt from Ethiopia. It was very encouraging to hear their stories and meet new friends to share this journey with.

Class itself was pretty interesting. It gave us quite a bit to think about in regards to the adoption and things to prepare for... such as even though we are hoping to give Ellen a better life, she will still grieve the life she is leaving behind, because it is familiar and all that she has ever known. We also have some great ideas of things we can be doing now to help us prepare ourselves and the kids for the newest Hollis family member.

Last Thursday Todd and I left the house at 4 am to drive to Chicago to be fingerprinted... we got to the place at 7:45 it opened at 8 and we were on our way back home in the car by 8:18!!! Quite the whirlwind... but one more step down.

So now our home study is done. Our case worker has sent it to our adoption agency and once they sign off on it, it will be submitted to the state of Illinois for approval... so now we wait to hear from the state in regards to our next step (they will send us a 171-H form... which means we can then submit our dossier).

In the meantime we wait.... and wait.... and wait... and fill out grant applications

I had a wonderful conversation last night with a gentleman who is the friend of a friend... he lives in Chicago and has many ties to Ukraine. He and his family have built 29 orphanages there and he have travelled to Ukraine over 22 times! We talked a great deal about what to expect when we do travel and he was incredibly kind and generous in offering to help connect us with people in Ukraine to help us while we are there as well as specifics on where to stay etc... God has been so good in taking care of us on this journey... every step of the way we feel his presence more and more.

Todd is busy now that football has started and I have been busy with work training. The boys start preschool next week and all three are in swim lessons. Yet we manage to have some family time each day... granted sometimes it is breakfast, but we certainly make the most of what we have.

Meg has occupational therapy at the house in a few hours... I need to go pick up toys and load the dishwasher!!!