A little set back...

It happens, we've been told to prepare for it with adoption. There can and will be many set backs, hiccups, you name it.

But...

You really are never, "really" ready for them.

AND...

They totally frustrate you when they do.

Yes, that's how I feel right now.

A little better than two days ago when we received the letter back from USCIS stating they rejected our home study application on two reasons (just ask my husband, I was not good company that evening when we picked up our mail). :(

1) Out of the 15+ pages of the home study, it states Scott & Georgia Snodgrass in just about every paragraph (and almost every sentence). Describing our childhood, the way we discipline our children now, the things we are doing to educate ourselves thru the adoption process, you name it. But...on the 2nd to the last page, the very last sentence, it only said "Georgia Snodgrass" instead of "Scott and Georgia" and therefore, they rejected it.

2) I have to include a signed Personal Statement. Something I honestly had NO idea was something that needed to be completed or I would have done so from the beginning. Ugh!

Thankfully, our social worker is already on top of getting an adendum completed and sent out on the home study and I am working on my Personal Statement this weekend!

Fingers crossed, we will get the corrected docs sent out sometime next week. Well within the time frame of mid-March.

Prayers for all to go 'ok' this go-round with USCIS.

I have a feeling...

...we will be asked many a time "where are you guys at in the adoption process?" and remain where we are right now.

Waiting.

It's not the easiest of places to be, but it is where God has us now. Today.

Waiting for a referral, that is.

Who knows how long we will be here, but here we are.

Our family has been thru a rather large transition recently with me leaving my full time position at The Mutual Fund Store and now working part time for We Love St. Charles, allowing me more time at home with our children. I am so thankful for this time the Lord has given us, this transition. It is allowing me an opportunity to pour into Adeline & Graham right now as well as prepare us for the next stage in our process which is bringing home another child in the future.

I am 'ok' right now. The transition has been rather consuming, in a good way, actually. I am also fairly certain I won't always be so 'ok' with the waiting. But, I want to be joyful today and remind myself that God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11), that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28), that I should continue to put my requests to God (Philippians 4:10), and that I should always give thanks (Psalms 136:1) for He IS good.

In the meantime, we continue to prepare for a couple upcoming events to raise funds for the adoption. This part makes me smile from the inside out. The perfect place for me to focus some of my attention to throughout this "waiting"...