December 26, 2011 - Baby Cradle

Today my sister Staci brought over a surprise for me!  She gave me her baby cradle that she played with when she was little.  And even better, my dad made it :) Of course I started crying.  There was also a home-made blanket in it.  It’s so cute and will forever hold a special place in my heart.  I am so excited for our baby to play with it!

December 25, 2011 - Christmas

It’s Christmas Day!!! Happy Birthday Jesus :)  We were hoping to have been called by today and notified that we are on the waiting list, but that didn't happen.  Although we checked our emails 5 times today and didn't see anything, it was a great day.  We got to spend this wonderful time with our families today.  

December 18, 2012 - Starting Leslie's Passport Process

YAY!! My Mom is coming with us!!!!  I am so excited to be able to share that part of our lives with her and that she will get to see it all happen :) My dad went and picked up the passport papers today!  Beyond excited!  Now if we could just find out if we are on the waiting list!                      

December 18, 2011 - Leslie Says She'll Go With Us

After doing a lot of thinking I talked with Matt this morning about asking my mom to come along with us to Taiwan during the adoption.  He said yes and agreed that would be a good idea :) So I asked her after church today and she seemed so excited!  I really hope she can come and be part of such a special time in our lives!  Now we must convince my dad to let her fly half way around the world!  

December 17, 2011 - Sling Came Today

Ok, something very small but wonderful happened tonight when I got home.  I had a small package in our mailbox that had a sling wrap for a baby!  It will wrap around my shoulder and I can carry our baby in it which will free up my hands to do other things.  I was told this was a great way to “bond” with our child and to make sure and bring it over to Taiwan when we go!  Apparently, many adoptive parents buy them and use them especially when they are over there.  It’s purple and very cute!  I love it :) The best part is that it only cost $10.  Originally $30, I got it for free but then had to pay the shipping.  I am pretty excited to know that I will be holding our baby soon! 

December 16, 2011 - Next Step Fingerprinting!!

After a long night out shopping and getting lots of Christmas stuff done, we came home and got the mail.  We got a letter from the Department of Homeland Security saying that they received out paperwork and home study that I sent to Taiwan and it’s been approved.  We are officially scheduled to get fingerprinted on January 9, 2011 at 12:00pm!  Never in my life have I been so excited to get a letter like that :)  We were told the whole process to do this normally takes about 3 months so we are thrilled its only taken 3 weeks so far!! 

December 16, 2011 - Wondering When We Will Know - Sick Baby at the Mission :'(

We got an email from Mandee today stating that one of the babies in Taiwan has been very sick and in the hospital so Bev has been staying there with it.  Meanwhile, Ted has been running the mission there, so he is trying to hold down the fort while Bev is away.  We might not know for a little bit longer if we are on the waiting list.  We were really hoping to be able to share the good news with our families at Christmas, but we don’t forsee us getting the news from them by Christmas.  It worries me to tell everyone we are adopting (although I am so excited I want to scream it!) because we just don’t know for sure until we are on the list.  We don’t want to be presumptuous about all of this because you never know where God will lead.  So we are waiting and are learning to be patient.  Some days I am very good at being patient and others are a struggle, but I know it will all be worth it in the end.

December 12, 2011 - Waiting....

We are still waiting to hear if we are on the waiting list……….hhhmmmm…….  (Side Note from Matt - Lindsay has never been really good with patience hehe)

December 12, 2011 - Carseat Canopy Came Today

I am such a dork!! So I actually ordered the first baby item last week and it came today!! It’s a carseat canopy.  It’s dark brown on the inside and has a beautiful design on the front :) Made my day!!

December 10, 2011 - Movin' On to Fingerprinting - Starting Family Pictures

Oh my!! God is good.  Tonight when we got home Matt handed me an envelope which contained our confirmation letter from the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).  They received our paperwork and approved it for us to continue on and get fingerprinted done.  They will be sending us another notice in the mail soon that will contain the date and time that we will go get our fingerprints done.  We can’t believe how fast that came!  We know the process is supposed to take about 3 months, but our God is bigger and luckily does things in his timing!  We are flying through this :)  Another great thing today was that we took Matt’s family pictures.  We will be sending those over to Taiwan eventually, so it’s nice to have those started and hopefully finished and ready to go soon!  It was nice to get to include the family on something regarding our adoption.  It was a good day. Thank you Lord.

December 7, 2011 - Recommendations from the Empsons and our First Baby Stuff Purchase

So a few days ago we sent an email to Bev Skiles just introducing us and we were looking forward to hearing from them soon and we are praying for their ministry over there and the work they are doing.  We also mentioned we were friends with Dave and Sherree Empson and that’s how we came upon their organization.  She emailed me back today and talked about how Dave gave us a “glowing” recommendation and she knew God would bless our journey!!!  We were so worried that we would get lost in the busy-ness of everything going on over there and we would be over looked or they wouldn’t really know us --- but it’s such a relief that she knows who we are!! We know it sounds silly, but I’m assuming they talk to so many people every day about adoptions and it as nice to hear her comments back to us! 

And……..we gave in and finally bought our first “baby stuff”!! We know we have not even been put on the waiting list and we are probably jumping the gun on this one, but today we don’t care and have decided at least for today to enjoy where we are in this process J  We bought a “baby wrap” off the internet and only had to pay the shipping on it!!  Mandee Shivers mentioned it on facebook that they were giving away free wraps – so I had to do it, right?!  THOGL also mentioned that people usually bring those to Taiwan when they come because it brings forth a good “bonding” experience for the child when meeting their parents for the first time!  We also bought a carseat canopy for the carseat….someday.  It was also on sale and I only paid for the shipping on it.  It’s super cute and its brown, teal, and red.  Its brown on the inside so it could be for a boy or girl, but I am hoping it’s a girl at this moment :)  Otherwise, I might be giving that as a baby shower gift someday if we end up with a boy!!

December 5, 2011 - THOGL Cleared, Cleaning House, and Gifts from Staci and Bob

Yay!!! Today was such a blessed day :) So we heard this evening through good ol’ facebook that Bev Skiles posted something regarding the new law in Taiwan.  She basically said that the government came and inspected THOGL and told them they could continue on as normal with all their adoptions for the time being.  Apparently the law has many parts to it and there is a timeline for each “part” and when those different parts will take affect.  Words cannot even describe how relieved we are to hear this tonight!  Of course we sent a message to Andrea (Miss know it all --- in a good way!)  And she answered some of my questions and confirmed that they are continuing with the adoptions!!!  We are hoping we will get a call or email soon to let us know when we are on the waiting list!  For right now we are just taking it 1 day at a time and doing what we can here to get ready for the next wave of paperwork.  We have been “cleaning out” each room in our house so we can take pictures and have those ready for when they need them. 

Another blessing today was that Staci gave us payment for a PNO we are going to work this Friday night.  It was so humbling to receive that gift of money to put towards our adoption and it was way more than I expected!  Another blessing of the day came from Bob Alltop at Beacon Signs in Avon.  We had put in a vinyl decal to be made as a Christmas present this year and Bob emailed me and said he wasn’t charging me for it?  We were confused and emailed him back and offered to at least pay for the materials!  He politely said no to my offer and hoped we’d have a Merry Christmas.  Even though the total was $22 – that was so nice of him to give that back to us.  We have no doubt the Lord was part of that and whatever or whoever spoke to Bob’s heart that day touched our lives and hearts in a deep way.  So in all, today was the hope we needed to keep moving forward.  

December 4, 2011 - We Qualify for the List

Whew! This morning we woke up and went to the computer right away to see if Ted had emailed us about whether we would qualify for their adoption program or not.   He said he went back through and read our home study and went through the documents Mandee had sent him explaining our reason for adopting, etc. and we would qualify to be put on the list when the time comes!  We are so relieved.  Now we need to pray for Ted and Bev and the law “interpretations” that will be sent to them in the next 10 days or so.  Everything is pretty much riding on that. But, we know our God is bigger than any government and His Will is perfect.  We know he sees the bigger picture and we are trusting in whatever he has in store for us. :)

December 3, 2011 - Government Stuff and an Unexpected Gift of Love

December 3, 2011 (9:00am)

This morning we got an email from Ted explaining that they will not be adding to their waiting list anymore until they hear word from the Taiwan government explaining the timeline on the new law.  I am devastated to say the least and my heart is so heavy now.  We are trusting God’s leading and know he will never forsake us………just wish whatever he is telling me was corresponding with “our world” down here.

December 3, 2011 (noon)

Today’s journal entry has nothing to do with our own adoption, but Mark and Holly Trump got to bring their 2 little girls home today :)  We can only imagine the joy they felt.  Gives me hope!  On another note~ Holly Wasmundt just walked up to me today and gave me $40 to put towards our adoption?  I was shocked at the compassion and heart and also God’s timing.  I seriously almost had a meltdown right there at the cheer competition.  I was speechless and humbled to know that someone would just hand me money out of nowhere?  Isn’t it funny how a simple $40 can change our whole perspective and attitude towards something.  I know it did mine.

December 2, 2011 - Heavenly Appointed Happenings? :)

Today it was our mission to send off our I600A form to Lewisville, Texas to start the process of getting fingerprinted. We have heard it takes about 2-3 months to complete the process.  As we are sitting here typing, the nightly news is on the TV.  I happen to look up at the TV when they announced that a photo had been sent in from Lewisville, IN.  I just started laughing out loud because we had never even heard of any place called “Lewisville” until today when we mailed our envelope and of course God had my night timed exactly right so I would see the TV at that moment.  Maybe it’s a coincidence? Or maybe that was God’s way of whispering “you’re on the right track”.  Either way…..it made me smile :)  My mom (who has been amazing during this process) went and picked up some pictures for me today that we will be sending to Taiwan.  She is so positive during this journey and it keeps me going on some days.  I also have been speaking with Andrea Berry, whom we met on facebook through THOGL page.  She has been my guardian angel for sure!!  We can’t even begin to write down everything she helped us with tonight specifically, but we are so grateful God has put her in our lives!!  Our next item on the “to do” list is to take pics of our house: inside and out!  Oh, and take pictures of our family (yikes!)  I better get started on this right away! That could take forever!!

December 1, 2011 - Home Study Sent ; Start Fingerprinting

We woke up this morning with some of the best news ever!! We finally got 3 emails back from Mandee and she said that our home study had been emailed to Ted and Bev in Taiwan and it was in translation!!! YAHOO!  We also get to send some pictures of ourselves over there :)  We have learned sooo much in the past 2 days about the process are pretty sure our heads are going to explode!  But I am so full of joy and we have only begun to see Gods work in this process.  We were told to go ahead and send our info to apply for fingerprinting.  Cindy Scheller has been a God-send in helping us with that today and getting it ready! We have no idea how we would have gotten it together without her!  We should know in about a week if we are on the “waiting list” to adopt or not?  We better be ~ I just paid $800 to get fingerprinted!! :)

November 30, 2011 - Fingerprint paperwork ; This is a slow process

Today we are working on filling out the I600A form which basically lets us “apply” to get our fingerprints done and allows us to bring a child into the country.  It’s not bad overall, but some of the questions have us stumped and we are waiting to hear back from Mandee to get them answered so we can send in the form.  We feel like the whole process is dragging on at this point.  Just waiting for the next step – which we don’t even know what it is?  Waiting for people to email us back. :/

November 21, 2011 - Home Study Complete; Next Step: Fingerprints

Finally!!! We got our home study in an email today!  We are so excited to get that sent off.  I emailed it to Mandee today so hopefully she can send it to Taiwan very soon.  I also found out we need to get fingerprints done through a state agency.  I believe we have to apply to get them done first though, so that will be my next project to get done!  We are moving along :)

November 18, 2011 - Parent's Night Out Fundraiser

So tonight Matt and I are running a parents night out at Elite.  Call us crazy, I know.  But I am actually really excited because this is our first “fundraiser” for our adoption!  Even though most people are not aware of the adoption yet, we are moving forward with our fundraisers as if everything is on track and we will continue to follow God’s lead through this.

November 17, 2011 - Got our Home Study Back and Double Checked

We are still waiting to hear the exact details of the new adoption law passed in Taiwan, but until then we are charging forward with our home study.  I received an email from Cindy stating that she had the copy of my home study and needed me to look over it and make any changes.  Of course I checked it right away and sent the changes back to her.  So we are nearing the end of our home study process and will hopefully get to send it to Mandee very very soon and hopefully be put on the waiting list!

November 14, 2011 - More Confusing But Help from Susie

We are still waiting on answers today.  But, I did email Mandee and ask her about the 3-year law implementation.  There is still quite the confusion about this.  Mandee has heard the law might take effect in 6 months, 1 year, or 3 years.  We are currently waiting to hear the final answer.  Ted and Bev in Taiwan are getting the law translated to English and then we will have more answers. One good thing that did happen today was that I got to talk to Susie (home study agent) tonight.  I explained our situation and she is going to “rush” to finish our home study.  She is hoping to have it completed and off to Cindy to put the final touches on it by November 16!! Yes – in 2 days!  I love Susie :)  Anyway, that is where we are currently at with the process.  We are being so blessed by our family and friends that are praying for us!  I know in my heart that everything will work according to God’s plan….even if I can’t see it right now.  I guess you would call that Faith.   

November 10, 2011 - First Roadblock - Government Rules are Changing

Roadblock.  Today was the first day we went from being on cloud nine with the adoption to feeling completely helpless and out of control.  After logging onto “THOGL” facebook page, it became clear that the Taiwan government would be voting on a law to enforce stricter adoption laws.  I wasn’t aware of the huge problem of child trafficking in Taiwan, but that’s what they are cracking down on (which is completely understandable).  However, there seems to be some negatives that will come out of the new laws.  As I have heard so far, their goal is to allow the Taiwanese people first adoption rights.  The child will be available for adoption with family #1.  They will have a 6-month “grace” period to where they can return the child if it’s not a “good fit” for their family.  The child will be placed with family #2, again allowing the 6-month grace period.  Again, the child will move to the 3^rd family.  If none of the situations work out, then the child will be up for international adoption.  We are currently waiting to hear about a possibility of a 3-year hold on the law.  Meaning, the law will not take affect for 3 years?  We are not sure where God is leading us at this point, but we are learning to trust and believe that “it is well with my soul”--- no matter what the circumstances.  Of course we have a lot of people praying and supporting us and that does help so much.

October 26, 2011 - Making Friends

So we had a random lady send us a message on facebook today and introduce herself to us.  Her and her husband are adopting from THOGL too!  We emailed back and forth today and it we are at about the same place in our adoption process.  It’s been nice to learn about them and their process and where God has led them.  It makes us feel like we are not so alone.

October 25, 2011 - Home Study Home Visit

Almost done!!!  Tonight we had our final home study and Susie came and “interviewed” us and looked around our house.  It went very well :)  I love talking to her because she is so positive and has so much knowledge about adoptions.  I could listen all day about her experiences and different adoptions around the world.  So we are officially done with our home study part and we have all of our paperwork turned in! YIPPEE!  I can’t believe how fast everything went.  We have to watch 10 hours of adoption videos, but I think that’s all that’s left.  Susie will put all of our paperwork together and make sure everything is cleared by the state.  We will look over it and if everything looks great, she will send it to The Home of God’s Love in Taiwan!  It’s been a wonderful day and we are so excited to have this part done and be one step closer to our baby :) 

October 6, 2011 - Physicals

Today was just a little blessing that I just had to write down!  I wasn’t feeling very good and decided to go to the health clinic in Danville for the first time.  While there, I was talking with the nurse and I asked if we could get our “physicals” done at the clinic so we wouldn’t have to pay for them at our normal doctor’s office.  She mentioned they could do that and I told her it was for an adoption.  I was shocked as she told me that she and her sibling had been adopted from Korea!  I informed her we were adopting from Taiwan and she was telling me all about Taiwan!  It’s one of those little things that God has worked out in the most unpredictable ways.  Such a blessing :)  So we will be going there to get our clearance on our health status…….and its free :)

We went to the sheriff’s office today to get our background check done.  It was pretty awkward and the receptionist was very rude…..must have been having a bad day?  I’m suppose to have the letter I need mailed to us :) Hopefully it’s soon because our home study is in less than 2 weeks!!  We also got our physicals done through the Danville Clinic.  Another thing to check off the list (woot-woot)!!

October 4, 2011 - Home Study Meet Up

Tonight we met Susie Herrmann for our first home study.  After going to the wrong Panera Bread restaurant, we finally met her and talked for about 1.5 hours!  She was so amazing to talk to about adoption.  She had some great advice such as buying 18 souvineers while in Taiwan and giving our child 1 gift on their “gotcha” day.  Their “gotcha day” would be celebrated on the day we adopted them :) as we would also celebrate their actual birthday.  I thought that was such a creative idea!  We went over all the criteria and the things we need to get done to wrap up the home study.  She is coming back at the end of the month and I am so excited to finish this, but I am also trying to soak it all in too and enjoy the process.  I think it really hit us that we are “adopting” after our talk with Susie.  We have been ready for so long and it’s becoming so real!  We’ve always felt like we were in a situation where “if” it happens it will be so great, but we are finally starting to feel like “when” it happens it will be wonderful.  God is just filling me with more faith every day.  We came away feeling so blessed to be working with Susie! God is good.

September 27, 2011 - Nervous about Home Study #1

So we have set up our first home study and it’s in less than 1 week!!  I can’t believe it’s so soon :)  I don’t really know what to expect for our first home study, but I am excited because its one step closer to our child!  

September 26, 2012 - Passports Arrived

Our passports have arrived!!!  And it’s only been 2 weeks!  That’s crazy J  We weren’t expecting them for another 4 weeks at best.  We can’t wait to get them stamped in Taiwan!

September 25, 2011 - Filling out the Home Study

Today we filled out our first forms for our home study.  There are some really tough questions!  Once I get it faxed in they will call to schedule a time to meet us which means we are one step closer :)  I saw on “The Home of God’s Love” facebook page today that there was a reunion for families all across the country that have adopted children from Taiwan.  They met in Joplin, Missouri for the weekend.  Anyway, I saw some pictures of their party and all of the children that have been adopted.  It literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes to see all those children!!!  That gave me hope today.

September 17, 2011 - Passport Oathing :)

Today we got up and went to Mooresville to turn in our passport applications!  That was a new experience for us :)  Of course I had to fill out the paperwork 3 times because I kept messing it up!  We had everything we needed to.  As the lady was getting it all ready she asked us to raise our right hand to make an oath…..Matt and I looked at each other and starting giggling.  She was actually serious.  So we made an oath in the post office lobby in front of the worker and the innocent by-standers that everything on our forms was correct and we are – who we say we are :)  It was awkward…….After that we were good to go!

September 16, 2011, - Passport Pictures

So today we heard back from the adoption agency (Mandee) through an email that said she would be sending out our reference letters.  She also mentioned that we might not be candidates for the adoption because we might be able to have children of our own someday.  I informed her about the past 5 years and all my surgeries and what the doctors had told me.  I waited all day so nervously and really freaked out about lunch time.  I hadn’t even heard back from her yet, but Sherree, Janet, and Donna re-assured me that it would be fine.  At this point we had already spent $300 on our home study and were going to spend another $270 on our passports the next day!  I finally heard back Friday night that everyone was fine and we could go ahead!! I was sooooo relieved!  We also went to Walgreen's tonight to get our passport pictures.  Pretty sure we could have done that at home since we are photographers! 

September 14, 2011 - Home Study Payment and Gaining THOGL Friends

So late last night we filled out the home-study paperwork and got it all ready to mail today.  I sent it off this morning along with our first payment for the home study :/  Actually, it wasn’t too bad though.  I am excited to get that part done!  I was also added to the facebook list, “THOGL” which is a page for anyone who has adopted or wants to adopt from this mission in Taiwan.  It was really neat to see everyone’s profile pics of their adopted child……very inspiring :)

September 13, 2011 - Passport Application

Today mom went to the Mooresville post office to pick up our passport application!  She’s a life-saver! We also got our home study paperwork today and will start filling that out.  A lady who also adopted from Taiwan sent me information on a travel agency who can book our flights for really cheap!!  She also told us we should definitely pay the extra money and bump to first class since the flight is so long.  

September 12, 2012 - Home study begins

So our paperwork was sent in last night and we got a response today that Mandee received it.  The next thing on our “to do” list is to get going on our international adoption and get our passports.  We have no idea how or where to get a passport, but we will figure it out.  We think we are going to pursue getting our home study done through “Families Through International Adoption”.  We have been speaking with Cindy Scheller about this and have heard wonderful things about her from many people.  We also found out today that Tawain tries to have the adoption final and done within 1 year so we don’t have to go through the home study process again, etc.  She also told me that they try and have it completed in 6-9 months, which would be awesome!!  This is all happening so fast I feel I am moving 90 mph but its all so exciting!  After talking with Sherree today, she asked how we would decorate the child’s room and I was speechless…….I hadn’t even began to think of that!! Ahhhhh J 

I was also contacted by a lady named Andrea who also adopted from Taiwan.  She messaged me to see if I had any questions or needed any help with anything.  We are just so humbled at all of the people God has lead us to and that they are so willing to help us adopt a child.  It makes us smile.

September 11, 2011 - Official decision

Today it was official!!! We have made the decision to adopt from Taiwan.  After emailing back and forth with Leanne Emmons (who also adopted from Taiwan), she was able to answer a lot of our questions.  Our biggest question was the cost of international adoption.  After finding out it would be around   $11, 000 our minds were set.  It’s been so incredible to see where God is leading us.  I feel such peace about it, which is not like me seeming how I worry over everything.  But, I know in God’s timing we will find and bring home “our child”. 

I was so excited when I read the email I started crying tears of joy!  I just couldn’t believe how little the cost was compared to other international adoptions.  It seemed a reality at that point……and a relief.  I ran and told Matt and we hugged, kissed, and cried.  I then made him come outside with me so I could run around our driveway while screaming and dancing :)  He just stood on the porch and laughed at me.  Which was ok with me.  So it’s now 11:00pm and I just realized I didn’t eat supper tonight.  I have been on the phone with Mom, Staci, Steph, and Kellie tonight.  After talking with them all, we needed to get our adoption application done and emailed in.  Which we did.  We are so excited every time we open my email account and can’t wait to get emails back and learn so much every day.  It really is amazing everything that has worked out so far and I can’t wait to bring a little one home. To know there is a child at the end of this journey that will call us mommy and daddy – I can only describe the feeling as overflowing joy tonight.

September 9, 2011 - Coming up with names

So we got our adoption application today in an email and were looking through the questions we’d be answering.  Of course there was your usual name, age, birthdate, etc.  And it continued with questions like, “why would you make a good adoptive parent?” etc.  Although one question I had to read about 3 times to make sure I was seeing it correctly was, “please pick 2 names (boy/girl) that you would like to name your matched child with.”  Matt and I just looked at each other in dis-belief.  We actually got to pick our child’s name!!!  After deliberating for a couple days we decided on Hattie Ree Miller for a girl and Grayson David Miller for a boy.  We wanted their middle names to be special so Ree is my mom’s middle name and the name David is in Matt’s family line.  That was a really neat day for us.

September 2011 - Our Hope Starts

So I thought God was calling us to adopt Internationally through China…..I was wrong—He was calling us to Taiwan :)  We have been so blessed to be led to a wonderful place in Lo-Tung, Taiwan called “The Home of God’s Love”.  It is the mission field of Ted and Bev Skiles.  They began a children’s home many, many years ago and became the parents of many orphans.  They have been growing their facility and changing lives ever since, matching families with adoptable children in their home.  Their grand-daughter Mandee Shivers is in charge of the adoption part and we hope to meet them all someday when we get to visit Taiwan!