Coming To America!!

I don't have anything new to post about the adoption so I thought I would show some of the things I have already purchased for my baby Johanna. This is her "Coming To America" outfit. It is a size 6 months. That means when I go to Kazakhstan I will have to choose a baby that will fit the outfit. HMMM. Is that the first the most important thing I will use in choosing my daughter? Of course not!! Actually, I am praying that the first baby I am shown will be my Johanna. I want God to make that choice for me like He does for parents who are giving birth to babies. I don't want to have to look at several babies and decide. I don't know that it will happen this way but that is my prayer.

So Easy!!

Well, my first home study visit is over and it was sooooooooo easy. Brent Cain, my social worker, got to my home just before 11:00 this morning. He drove five hours this morning from Topeka. He was so laid-back and so easy to talk to. We talked about a lot more than just my adoption. One of our main topics was KDHE and licensing. We just got our daycare licence in order and he knows what it is like having to work with the KDHE surveyors. I took everyones' advice and didn't super-clean the house. It was presentable. I didn't even get out of bed this morning until almost 9:00. I was very relaxed in my nylon jogging pants, t-shirt and stocking feet. Brent took a very quick walk-through of the house. He asked a few questions of me and a few of my mother. He gave a lot more information than he asked for. My next appointment with him is next Saturday at his office in Topeka. I will be there for a wedding later that day so it worked out just great. I hope we can get this all finished real quick. The most difficult part of the visit today was turning over the $1000 check. OUCH!!!

First Home Study Visit

I know it has been awhile since I have posted. Nothing has happened in the adoption process. But now I am getting ready to have my first visit from my Social Worker. Brent Cain will be here from Topeka late Saturday morning for about 4 hours. Everyone has said it isn't really a study of the home but I am still going to clean like a madman. It is more of an interview for the parents/family about adoption and parenting, I guess. Am I nervous, a little but I will probably be more so by Saturday. I have heard so many good things about Brent and his laid-back style that I feel somewhat at ease. I have also talked to him several times on the phone and he is quite human. I will post again after Saturday about how it all went.

God is Gracious!!!

That is what Johanna means - - - God is gracious. And once again He is showing me just how gracious He is. I already have a new SW. I have heard lots of good things about him from friends on my Yahoo groups AND we already have an appointment for the four hour interview. He will be coming here on Feb. 23 for two hours and then two more hours the next morning. Okay, it is going to cost me a few more hundred dollars but I don't care. I am just so happy to have someone who is actually in the game. He is experienced with international adoptions and even Kazakhstan. Oh, some of you may know him. It is Brent Cain from His Kids Adoptions.
Thank you so much to my friends who helped me.

The Search Is On

I found out my SW will not be in the office all this week. She is out for training. I don't know what she is training for. So far I haven't seen her do any work. So, "The Search Is On" for a new SW to do my home study. I think I may have already found one. I am waiting for a call from a guy from another agency that I guess can do home studies for others. I got his name from the administrative assistant and gave her my details. Hopefully he will call tomorrow. If he does, I will immediately go to CSS and ask for my file. For $100 they owe me that much. I will overnight it to the new guy if he can take me. PLEASE PRAY!!!

Taking TOOOOO Long!!!

Tomorrow it will be four weeks since I signed with Catholic Social Services to do my home study. I still have not heard from the social worker (SW in adoption circles). This is beyond ridiculous!!! I thought I would have my home study finished by the end of February, not just starting it. I hate to make her angry since what she says in the home study is about the most important part in the adoption process. I can't even threaten to go somewhere else since there is no one else in this area to do a home study. I thought the waiting part was going to come with working with the foreign country not right here in my own city. Guess I will end this blog and give them a call.

Kazakhstan

Here is a link to the Kazakhstan National Anthem. It probably has words but so far this is the only link I have found.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/9119/kazakstan/anthem.mid

Pregnant Together - How Fun!!

My nephew and his wife Jenny are expecting their third child in June. I was talking to Jenny on the phone this morning and telling her how it is almost like we are pregnant together. We talk about car seats, baby bottles, discipline, diapers, etc. The best part for me is we don't talk about morning sickness, at least not mine. She has two boys who are 3 and 4.5 so, even though she is 14 years younger than me she has lots of good advice. I am always emailing her when I want to know about the best of some product. It will be neat to have our children close in age. They are expecting a boy but that won't matter for several years. I hope Johanna and her boy cousin are very close. It's weird. My nephew Heath will really be her first cousin and he will be 28 before I get her. Her youngest first cousin will be Brooklen who will be 10 in May. It doesn't matter though since their are so many second, third, etc. relatives.

New Friends

I have made so many new friends since starting my adoption process it just amazes me. Most of them I met on one of the five Yahoo adoption groups I belong to. Those are great groups to be in for information, encouragement and camaraderie. I have gained more knowledge about Kazakhstan adoptions in the last few weeks than I thought possible and not all of it came from the huge notebook my agency gave me to read. The most valuable things probably came from all my friends in my groups. Yahoo has groups for every interest, way of life, and/or problem imaginable. If you can't find the one you are looking for, start one of your own. It is great to be a part of so many people who have already gone through what I am just starting and a part of people who are going through this process at the same time. I guess I have to say "Thank You" to Yahoo.

Shopping Fundraiser - Take a Look!!

I have just set up with an online company for a new fundraiser. It is a shopping set and I have my own website. There are lots of different stores you can shop from at the site. Any purchases made from this site will contribute a small percentage to my adoption fund. I am really excited about this. Everyone shops and this is one where I don't have to really do much, just get the word out. Please check it out and see if there is anything you can use from one of the listed stores.
Thanks,
Gail
www.bookcodex.com/123Skipton.htm.

Thank you to my good friend Kim Jury who told me about this fundraiser. Pray for her and her family as they wait for their "Letter of Invitation" to go and get their baby son.

Visit My Ebay

One of the ways I am trying to raise money for my adoption is to sell all I can on ebay. Anything that sits in our house too long, without being used, is going to be listed. I have told my mother to "Watch Out!" or her picture my appear there. I wonder just how much she would bring? LOL
I also have a Wizard of Oz collection that has been sitting in storage for many years. It is going too. I started this collection about 20 years ago. Soooo, if you are a collector, be sure to take a look at my ebay listing. All the money I make from my auctions is going to fund the adoption of Johanna Faith. My seller name on ebay is xavie617
Thanks!!

I'm NO Salesman!!

Well, I have finished my popcorn sells. I am just no salesman. I took a total of 16 orders,(Actually one of my daycare moms got two orders for me.) sold 27 items, and profited $128.13. The best thing about it is that is $128 I did have when I started. I definitely have to look for some way to make money without having to sell or find something that sells itself. I am checking into Christian t-shirts and antique children's pictures. Any opinions on which one I should do?