Shock, Awe, and every other emotion...

What a great day... we found out this morning that we are ready to be matched... now... so, when that list comes out in a couple of weeks... a little girl will be matched up with the Fairleys in Glencoe, AL, USA. I was preparing myself for this in a few months, and now my heart beats out of my chest because I'm discovering that God's plan is far exceeding my own. He is teaching me so much right now.

Then, after I get this awesome news, my pastor calls. He's preaching about Christian compassion and wants us to do a Q & A session in the worship service Sunday! I'm scared, Griff is terrified, but I know that God is working, and I'm going to be obedient. He'll get me through it and He'll give me the right words to say in front of all those people. Lesson learned today... When you get on board with Jesus, you better hang on. I am finding out why He made me... for what is happening right now in my life.

I continue to plead for your prayers. God will be using so many people in the next few weeks to provide a home for one His children. Pray for all whose hand will touch this situation of bringing Mia home. Love to you.

Home Study Complete!

We got word yesterday that our home study is being finalized now. It's almost ready to send to DHR for approval. This means that we were able to get through the home study process in six weeks. Wow... Thank you, God...

What this means now is that we are ready to be matched with a child. The adoption agency told me yesterday that we definitely would be ready for the December shared list. Can you believe it? I might possibly know where my child is very soon. We need your prayers... we covet your prayers. Please pray for all hands that are working on this sweet union of baby and family. Pray for Lily, who is our agency's representative at CCAA that will actually match a baby girl to our family. I am told she is a strong Christian and prays over each list. Ask God for His divine intervention in this situation. I have the assurance that God is in control and it's going to be okay. If you are reading this, we love you and appreciate your interest in our journey to get our baby girl.

Fun Weekend!

We had a fun weekend with Trick-or-Treating and Birthday celebrations. The whole family went to Coosa Veranda for Halloween again this year. Nolan was Batman and Molly was BatGirl. The three oldest went as their handsome selves. I can't believe that they are growing out of the dressing up stage. I hope they'll change their minds next year and dress up again. We all couldn't help but speculate whether Mia would be with us next year. We talked about what we'd dress her up as and wondered what she'd think of this American tradition. I so hope we'll have her this time next year.

My grandmother and her twin brother celebrated their 80th birthday this week. We celebrated by having lunch together at Top-o-the-River. It was a lot of fun and I ate way too much! It was a fun weekend.

Another week

Well, we had the last home study visit with our social worker this week. She is busy finishing up the typed part of the HS and we are now waiting to get the fingerprints and child abuse clearances back. On Wednesday, Griff and I met with our adoption agency to discuss aspects of the adoption like bonding/attachment and travel to China. It is so exciting to hear about the traveling because I know by that point we will be ecstatic to finally be getting close. I watch a youtube video about every other day to prep myself for what GOTCHA DAY will be like and I find myself swiping tears, so I know I will be a blubbering fool when someone hands Mia over to us. We did find out that as soon as our Home Study is complete, we can begin to match with a child. I'm hoping we get matched very soon. :)

Interesting fact: If only 6 % of the Christian population would adopt an orphan child, there would be no need for orphanages. All orphans would find a forever family. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Oh, Lord... what have I done?

Okay... I really shouldn't be so impulsive sometimes. Let me start from the beginning... Last summer I was taking some chemotherapy medications for my arthritis. One of the side effects... hair loss. Well, I wasn't working with a great head of hair to begin with. So, after a few months of the poison... guess what? Very thin hair. It's been very upsetting. Today I went for a routine hair cut with the intentions of getting some much needed highlights. Well, my sweet hairstylest, David, had another idea. Why don't we just cut it off into a pixie cut? Yeah... that sounds cool. Until... I saw what I thought was short hair become even shorter. I still haven't gotten over the shock of it yet. I cannot believe I have done this to myself. I told David today as he was cutting it that I was just glad we didn't have to shave it and order me a wig. That was an option a few months ago. So, anyway, the hair does look thicker, but it makes me look old. Okay, breathe, Ashley... it's just hair... and it WILL grow back.

Our social worker is hard at work on our home study and we have our last appointments scheduled for next week. We are coming, Mia... hold on, baby.

International Adoption Clinic

Today my mom and I attended a day-long workshop on "The Joys of International Adoption". We are so fortunate to have an international adoption clinic at Children's Hospital that ministers to the whole child once we come home. They will be our source for answers when we have questions... they will reassure us when we are in doubt... they are going to be an enormous lifeline during this journey of adopting a child from another race than our own. The staff at the clinic is awesome and I am so thankful to know they will help us. Again, as I do many days, found myself worried at the thought that our little baby girl is laying in an orphanage bed and hasn't been held not once today. It is a very unsettling feeling and my only source of comfort is prayer right now. So, if you are reading this... please pray for our sweet little Mia... pray that she had enough to eat today, that she is warm and dry, that she felt a loving touch from a caregiver. Pray that she is comforted from angels above when she is lonely. My heart hurts... I can hardly wait until we can bring her home to be with us. May the time go quickly.

"I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." Psalms 116: 1-2

Things are moving right along...

Today was a productive day. We had a second home visit with our social worker, Jennifer, today. It went well and we are trying to wind down this portion of the adoption process. There is still an enormous amount left to be done, but each day I'm able to check off something else from the list and that makes me so happy to know that we are one step closer to getting our Mia. I finished all of my Hague Convention Modules (YEAH!!!!), assigned readings, and written assignments for the Home Study. Griff is trying to get through his as well. He isn't extremely verbal, so answering essay questions is taxing for him. I have to give Griff credit though... he has been a real trooper through all of this. The needle phobic that he is gave five vials of blood for his physical, has traveled around with me everywhere getting forms, passports, etc. I had a thought the other day... adoption is somewhat like being pregnant... the first trimester is exhausting... and then there's the waiting. Continue to pray for Mia and for us... thanks, everybody.