Exciting Things

Wow! Can I say it again? WOW!

Last night I was flipping through a couple of books (The Complete Book of International Adoption by Dawn Davenport, and How to Adopt Internationally by Jean and Heino Erichsen) and I found that my assumption that I couldn't do anything to start working on our adoption until we had moved into a more permanent residence was wrong. I discovered the dossier.

Now, I'm not really 100% sure about what it is, or even if I'm pronouncing it correctly (I think it's something like "dos-ee-ay"), but my vague understanding is that a dossier is a compilation of paperwork. The wonderful part is that I have things to do now. For example, this morning I compiled the forms necessary to request 3 copies of our marriage license, both of our passports, some of my medical records, and 3 copies of each of our birth certificates. That last part was super tricky, since I was born abroad. I have an Italian birth certificate issued in Fiesole, Italy, an American Certification of Birth Abroad (FS-545) issued at the embassy in Milan, Italy, what I need is apparently called a Certification of Report of Birth Abroad (DS-1350), and the website just told me "Select the state in which you were born." HA!

I'm so excited to finally be doing something tangible to work toward finding our baby or babies. We've known for SO long that we wanted to make our family this way, but actually starting the process, actually doing what I've had so many dreams and conversations about is just the sweetest thing in the world! I think that part of me didn't even believe myself when I talked to people about how we wanted to adopt. It feels so good to follow-through with such big promises. Another part of it is that it seems like God is aligning our life to make it all possible, like He's validating that the passions I have are real, that they are good, and that He is going to give me a way to use them. That's super encouraging!!!

I know that this is a very long, difficult process, often full of unexpected discouragement. But I also know that my life will be what God wants it to be. For now, I just feel sweet encouragement and excitement.

Below are just some fun pictures taken with my new fancy camera.

Him and me

Getting artsy with a quilt :)

My life with bedbugs :)