Inching closer!

My Mom got a new computer that has a scanner that WORKS!!!! So we were able to get all our documents emailed over and everything was approved EXCEPT... Fred's DARN medical document! His DR is gonna hate us and we have to go back to him tomorrow morning and Fred will have to get a new physical and blood work done (please pray for him... and me!) which we will have to pay for I believe because insurance only covers one physical per year... yuck! But whatever it takes to get this done! We are closing in!!!

What a DAy, What a DAy!!!

So yesterday was Cole's (Everett) birthday, and I did something pretty amazing... I baked cupcakes for Bible Study! He must be pretty special for me to do something like! No I like to bake I just cant seem to find time for it anymore, I can't find time for doing much other than PAPERWORK! Every time I think "OK this is it we are done and going to be submitted" time runs out for one of our forms and has to be redone. You see at the beginning of all of this I was like a powerful locomotive ripping through paperwork like crazy, doing all that I could to get things done so I could get my babies. Then came the road blocks and Lord knows I did all that I could to get passed them but some things are out of my hands no matter how much I called or showed up, unfortunately this adoption was not important to every company/person I had to deal with. Now that those forms are rolling in the forms I worked so hard and fast to get done are expiring, I'm just so fearful that we are going to end up having to redo everything and not get it done within the allotted time. Grrrr! I don't know how people can go through life changing events in their life (like adopting two kids form the Ukraine)with out God to lean on. My only refuge is that I can give all of this to Him, it's not always easy but I am learning to. I really want other Moms and Dads that are in the adoption process to know that while working so hard for the dream of adopting a sweat baby you may get caught up in the hussle and bussle of gathering paperwork and making sure that everything is correct and redo those forms that are not. You may get so frustrated that it is EXTREMELY hard to see the end goal (and for a new parent it's hard to know whether all the frustration is worth it), sometimes along the way it feels like "is this real, are there really kid(s) half way around the world waiting for me?" These feelings I believe are normal feelings but beware of them and don't let them slow you down or get in your way. I am so blessed that when I have these feelings (which lately has been a lot) I can give it to God! I read a devotional yesterday that pictured your walk with Christ as a tandem bike ride, it said if we let God direct our path and sit in the front we are bound to see amazing things because all we have to do is "PEDDLE" but when we are in the front we are so busy trying to get where we are going we miss out on all the scenery along the way. So Fred and I are trying our best to give this to God and just "PEDDLE"!
This devotional was preparing Fred and I for the day God had in store, Fred and I thought we only had three forms to get redone and we would finally be ready to submit but as I went through the checklist that was provided for me I realized that we had more mistakes to correct than I thought. Our marriage certificate was obtained in March which is to old for us to send so we had to go back to the court house and get more copies, then our stinking doctor redid his form but this time didn't do it on letter head so I had to find a way to get his name and address typed on the top of the page, then we had a few last forms to get notarized and then off the Madison to get every thing apostilled! Only when we got to Madison (FINALLY) the lady told us "OK it should be back to you in about five days"... "WHAT" said a very hungry and tired third shifter who hadn't slept because his crazy wife had this great idea to drive out to Madison to get everything DONE once and for all! Fred was not very polite and asked if we could pay extra to get the papers expedited, she very kindly said "well we could but it will take at least 24hrs for that to happen"! The first thing our of Fred's mouth was "I wasted my whole day for this I could have been sleeping" but when we reached the bottom of the building and stepped off the elevator (that is to old for motion detectors and Fred got closed in the doors and pulled them apart like the incredible Hulk... it was so funny) his spirit was calm and he looked at me and said that he had a lot of fun and he enjoyed the senary! Despite the craziness and another day gone and still not submitted, we had a good day and I got home in time to bake Cole some cupcakes that we shared them with Bible Study!
I Love You Cole and I promise I am working as hard as I can to come and get you!

Answer to Prayer

The mail came today!!!!! We got our USCIS approval in the mail today!!!! I'm so thankful, Monday Fred and I will be driving to Madison to get our final three forms appistiled! Then we will send in the check list and last we will submit everything to Ukraine!!!! Then the last wait until we fly... I pray, I don't think I can handle anymore waiting on this side of things! Also for those of you that know Friday was my last day of camp, I hope to go back next year to volunteer but it's not the same! I am so thankful for the opportunity that I had in running the summer program for so many years and I hope that it has prepared me to be a great Mom. I'm very proud of myself I have cried as much as I thought I would!!! YET!!! On to the next chapter of my life!

Feeling Good Today!

After a very anxious week and a rough Saturday I am feeling good today! My Daddy came over today and helped set up the cribs! Next step painting the play room and their bedroom!
Other good new: A man that swims at the Holler Park pool where I run my summer program donated a $200.00 gift card to our site for new toys! I went out today and bought toys, games and play dough! I can't wait to go to work tomorrow and show the kids!!!
PRAISE God for all the little BLESSINGS!

Will we EVER get there???

I feel like with every step forward it's only an inch and I need to make it that full mile! I'm tying to keep busy and wait patiently but I just thought I would be so much further by now. Sweet babies I promise we are on our way! In good news we got the play room set up and we got the cribs/beds yesterday, all we need to do is paint! Like I said we are keeping busy until that stinkin' approval comes! We will be working on loan/grant application this weekend, we plan to use the money we raised as a down payment so pray all goes well there! Also I'm getting VERY anxious so pray for Fred and Tanya as they have to live with me and deal with my craziness!!!!

Who ever said that technology was a good thing????? Good news thou we finally got the last pack of paperwork faxed over once we get an approval I can get it send it all to Madison !!!!! Moving closer but I feel so far away, Please keep praying!

SOOOO Blessed!

I just feel so blessed to have the family I have and to have the support I have. I have been down lately but this weekend has really encouraged me, my Aunt and my Mom put together another "DREADED" rummage sale and as we were sitting in the damp, hot, humid air waiting for people to come and buy stuff I looked around and realized we were making memories, A lot of my family members were there talking and joking and really enjoying spending time together, I feel like our family has gotten together more since these babies have come into our lives than ever before! PRAISE GOD! That has been my slogan the last few months "Well, we are making MEMORIES" what ever your going through, good or bad realize that once its over its a memory, a story that you can share and hold on to! It has been raining the last few days in Wisconsin and so alot of streets are flooded and when there are signs that say, "Road Closed Due to HIGH WATER" you probably should listen. My Mom did not listen to that very sign, we left the rummage to get everyone lunch and we tried to take a short cut back in stead we were met with this sign. Now instead of doing what the sign said and turning around my Mom went around the sign and the roads were good for a while but then there in the road straight ahead was the lake of water, still determined (IN a LEXUS SUV)she just drove on until my cousin Jodi pointed out that the electric pole looked like it was kinda deep. She came to her senses and turned around not before I could get in a good scare... I yelled "Oh no water is seeping in my door!!!!" You should have seen their faces! While during this it wasn't so fun now I have a great story/memory of that day! Don't take anything for granted... even the not so great things!

Oh I got so wrapped up in my blessing I almost forgot to tell you... there is a family that I have been in contact with that is traveling to the same orphanage that Cole and Rorie are in and I got word that this mother sees Rorie everyday and says she is a happy lovely girl! To most that doesn't sound like a huge update but to me just knowing someone saw her and she is happy makes me feel so great I can't wait to see her myself!!!!

I wish I could FREEZE time

I feel like there is so much going on in my life right now it is so hard to focus... I know what needs to get done but the harder I try to organize my life the more I have no control and the bigger mess I make. I have to give this to God and trust that he can fix the messes I make!!! Fred has agreed to take more responsibility with the last bit of adoption paperwork so that I can focus on my highly stressful job, I'm very thankful but I just pray that he works as hard as I would if I didn't have this highly stressful job!!!LOL!!! I know this doesn't sound very nice but I just don't have time for NICE I have two babies I need to get home!!! Keep us in prayer, I need for these last steps that seem confusing to just seem that way but actually be very easy!!!!
On the up side I went with Tanya and my cousin Jodi to Target tonight and I got a really nice highchair for Rorie on clearance!!!!

I Need a Kick in the Pants!!!

I have been feeling so sorry for myself lately... sad that things aren't moving faster, sad that I feel like I could be doing a better job, sad that I am having a really hard time with the summer camp I run, the list goes on and on!!! I need to get my focus off the things that are weighing me down and back on the on God and his will for my life and the lives of these beautiful children! I need to get back in the race, not only am I not running the race God has given me I think I have completely stopped and have taken a break. Lord give me a kick in the butt to get out of this funk I have gotten myself into! Please being praying for Fred and I!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Today is our BEAUTIFUL little girls Birthday and in that honor we are hosting a Kickball Tournament to celabrate but more important to raise money to get her and her little brother home!!!!! I pray someone is giving her a big birthday huge for me today!!! It brings me comfort to know that by next year she will be celabrateing her birthdday with a family that loves her!

Ups and Downs

This last week has been full of ups and downs, doubts and in the end I saw Gods faithfulness!I don't even know where to start... I think I'll start at the end! I learned a few very good lessons; 1. We serve a VERY BIG GOD, who can make anything possible when we feel like there is no possibility! 2. Sometimes the people that are not related to you are the closest family you have! 3. I am done putting my faith in my self from now on my faith is in Christ! I'm sure I learned more lessons than that but those were the top three!
Fred, Tanya and I sent out letters to different companies and local teams to get donations for our Kickball Tournament, we got a pretty good response but I thought we would have gotten more of a turn out. While I was bummin about that I came home to a mail box full of letters and free tickets! What is so amazing about the tickets we did get? The companies that helped us out were places that stated on their web site that they only help out non-profit organizations, not individuals! We got tickets to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Wave, the Admirals, the Mil. Co. Zoo, the Mil. Co. Museum, and the Betty Brinn Museum. It is so amazing to me, with every turn on this journey I can see God's hand leading the way!
Now that I got all these baskets for the tournament I started freakin about the teams and people to come and bid on these baskets I worked so hard to put together. (Again taking my eyes off of God and focusing on the waves raging all around me.)I invited people on facebook and it felt like nobody was coming, I had the same feeling before our first rummage and we did great, so why am I having such a hard time putting my faith in God now? Because I have let the world and the craziness that is my life get in the way of my walk with Christ. When I wen back to his Word God blessed me with some phone calls from people that can't wait to come out and help in way they can! We also had some more team that are interested in playing witch I'm very excited about because it was getting a little scary there for a minute!!!
I'm sure there are other details that added to my frustration this week but the straw that broke the camels back was that; I just don't understand how some people can be so completely self absorbed that they can't take time out of their schedule to be there for their ONLY sibling when that sibling needs their family's support the most. I come from a family that no matter what if you are in need they are there even if you are not on the best of term nothing is stronger than family... or so I though, apparently this is NOT the case in other families! PRAISE God for the Church family he has provided and the wonderful family that He has given ME!!!!!!

Life is CRAZY!!!

The last few weeks have been SOOO crazy! There is just so much going on, I pray that God keeps me focused on him through out this journey. I feel like the rocky water is yet to come. There is so much going on around me I feel like it is so easy to doubt God and take my eyes off of him!!! Please be praying for our Kickball Tournament... I have a secret "I'm very nerves it's not going to work the way I planned, I pray people show up!!!" I have to trust God, easier said than done!

Fred and I are going for our federal fingerprints Tuesday!!!! And we sent our last pack of papers to Madison!!!! I would love to have everything "paper work wise" done before summer camp starts, camp takes up so much of my time and more important my energy! It would be nice to just have to wait through camp! Either way I'm gonna praise God through it all!!!

Our Last Rummage!!!

Well that rummage was A LOT of work!!! But worth it we made $700.00 for our adoption fund! Now on to focuse on our next fundraiser... Kickball Tournament. We are looking for 8 teams of at least 11 players to participate in our tournament. There is a $100.00 enterence fee to help pay for the feilds. It will be held at McCarty Park June 26th (which is kind of cool because that is Roryann's birthday), the first game startes at 10:00am! There will be a consecion stand and 50/50 raffels. Even if you don't have a team to play for we invite you out to cheer and have some fun!!!!

WOW that was fast!!!!

We just sent in all our paper work to USCIS for approval and to get our date for federal fingerprinting and we already have a date!!!!! We have been really busy getting ready for the rummage this week Thursday and Friday, you got to know how much I love these kids because I am doing another rummage/bake sale... I'M CRAZY ABOUT THESE KIDS!!!!!!

I went to Kohl's last night with Tanya and I bought my very first little top for Rory! Those of you that don't know we think we have settled on names... Roryann Christine Karol and Cole Louis Karol???? What do ya think???

Rory means "Great" or "Famous Ruler" and Ann means "Gracious"
"Gracious Ruler"

Cole means "Victorious"!

I have the history and some Bible verses to go with their names as well I'll have to post them later!

USCIS

We had a little bump in the road with filing our USCIS forms but they are in, they should arrive there by noon today! Now let's pray for a quick turn around and an approvel!
After our time away it has been extremely hard to get back in the grove of things I have so overwhemled and I found myself thinking how in the world did I do all of this; school, AWANA, housework, work work, preparing for the smmer program, doing fundraisers, preparing our adoption pperwork, etc...
While I was having his pitty party for my self that NO ONE showed up for I realized I didn't do it all of this before on my own how could I have? We can't do anything in our own strength it is just going to turn into a mess, God carried me through a lot of the tasks I had to undertake and wouldn't know the second I realized this and repented and prayed God showed me how to prioritize everything. It is still a lot of work but I don't feel overwhelmed and I have a plan!!!!!

Been gone a while

Our trip to Washington DC went well. I'll be honest I had a hard time enjoying myself I just kept thinking about the kids and how different the trip would have been if they were with us. I know DC would not be a trip for small kids that is for sure but I couldn't help but think of what it will be like to take family trips, Oh I just can't wait. I also felt guilty because for a whole week I couldn't do anything adoption related and that killed me. Not that there was a lot I could do we are just waiting for things to come back to us but I wasn't waiting by the mail box to receive anything that might come, I wonder how my mail man felt without seeing me at the door everyday! JK
Now that we are home; down to business, Fred's passport came in the mail so I can finish the rest of the paperwork and have everything sent in by the end of the week. Then all I have to do is focus on fundraisers and WAIT!!!!!!!!!

May Day 2010

Had a wonderful trip out to Maryland where we are staying and had an outstanding day in Washington DC today for May Day. It was so cool to be around other believers as the cry went out for revival in our land and for our country to turn their hearts back to God on this day of prayer. We are spending the rest of the week out here relaxing and enjoying some time off of work until Friday. Internet connection is kind of limited (basically running off of our phones) so we will try to post when we can and should have some pictures posted up pretty soon as well! Thanks to all those back home who were praying for us!

Nerves!!!!!

Wow what a week I can't even begin to tell you all that is on my mind! I started school again yesturday (yikes), Fred and I are taking our parenting classes, and trying so hard to get all the adoption stuff done right the first time! Everytime I think I am ahead of the game I get knocked down a peg or two! Our Home Study is complete and we have the money to submit it to Imagration! I pray so hard that that goes supper quick. I knew waiting was going to be hard I just didn't know how hard and every day that I DON"T have my children with me hurts so bad! Imagine what it must be like for them! There is so much I want to get done this week because we leave for our Washngton DC trip Friday morning. We are heading down for the National Day of Prayer, I can't wait to be surrounded by a sea of other believers. Part of me feels guilty that for a whole week I will not be doing aything adoption related... other than praying!!!! I guess that is why I feel such a huge ergencey to get EVERYTHING that I can get done, done this week before we leave! Keep us in your prayers!

The Run Around

HELP!!!!! I need a "traveling" Notary Republic, My doctor's office doesn't have a notary and they can't take our medical records to the local bank because of HIPPA and they won't let us take the forms to our notary... GRRRRR what do I do? I'm gonna kidnap a notary and make them go to my Dr's office, Watch Out If You Are a Notary Republic!!!!!! Our letter from our lender is also proving to be difficult to get back done properly! My passport is here but because Fred has an expired one we have to either send back his old one or send in a lost report to get a new passport reissued. I feel like I take a step forward and five steps back! I know it is going to get better but... WHEN!!!!! Sometimes I just can't wait to kiss these beautiful babies all over XOXOXOXO!!! I love these babies more than I ever thought I could, it's going to get better I KNOW IT!!!

What an awesome God we serve!

This weekend we held our first big fundraiser to help bring the babies home. The rummage sale went off without a hitch! In the days of preparation leading up to this weekend, Amanda and I were discussion realistically what our thoughts were for the outcome of the fundraiser. We both agreed that somewhere between $500 and $600 for the two days would be great. At then end of the day on Friday, I sat down to count the money...it came out to exactly $1000! This absolutely blew us away. So going into Saturday in our eyes, anything that we made would just be a bonus. As the day started, the traffic seemed to be a little slower than the previous day, but we were still in good spirits from the amazing results of Friday. After a long Saturday and finally getting everything cleaned up, about 7:30 at night I sat down to do a final count for the weekend. I don't think that this was a coincidence and was nothing short of a miracle, we made exactly $1000 again on Saturday!! From the bottom of Amanda and my heart to anyone reading this post who had any involvement in this weekend from donating items, baked goods, volunteering, praying, or just showing up and walking around, we couldn't have done it with out you guys and thank you just isn't enough! With the results of this weekend solidified and brushed any hint of doubt that was in my mind about the ability to raise the serious kind of money that we are looking to raise. Like my good friend said this morning at church, "It is impossible to out give God!"

On another nice note, when I got to work tonight I had a message waiting for me on facebook. One of my very close friends from high school left me a message saying that they would donate $40 a month until we get our babies home!!! The blessing are never ceasing and after this weekend and then some wonderful news from my friend, if you don't believe that God is alive and active today in our lives, we need to sit down and have a chat......