Exciting Developments!

So since being in the waiting process we have received several calls about different children. Some of which we passed on due to different circumstances, and some of which the mothers decided to parent. We have had such an incredible peace through the whole wait - even more than I knew we would have. It's just really been awesome to experience and rest in God's grace for us in a time that has potential for such discouragement and disappointment.

This week we were called about a mom that is due in a month. They showed her our book on Tuesday night and she really liked us along with one other family. To help her decide, she wanted to have phone interviews with us both. So we talked to her yesterday afternoon. I was so nervous with anticipation and wondering how in the world this conversation would go. Once we got on the phone things went really well and were very comfortable - I'm sure that was largely due to the social worker who was also on the line helping to facilitate the conversation. =) There were also a couple specific things that we had in common, which we thought was pretty cool.

We feel like it went really well...we were very comfortable with her and she seemed to be just as comfortable with us. She will be interviewing the other family next week so we will have to wait a bit to find out if she's going to chose us. Translation - the longest week of our lives!! And if she picks us it will be the longest month of our lives! We're very excited and hopeful to hear that this little child is the one for us! I'll put up an update when we have one! Thank you all so much for praying for us and for being excited with us - it really means a lot to us!

We're on the Bookshelf!

We have finally gotten to the point where they can show our book to expectant mothers! We are very excited to finally be in the "waiting process"! It feels wonderful to have the paperwork end done. Now it's the exciting time of just praying for our child and waiting to get that special phone call!! We're trying to find that balance of being excited but not getting too emotionally attached when we're chosen - our social worker said that it is very common for a mother to choose a couple and then when baby comes, they decide to parent. Or they sign off their rights and then change their mind within the revocation period (which, depending on the state, is usually only a few days). We are praying that this does not happen for us but we are prepared for it and know that God would give us peace that it was not the child for us.

We're just so looking forward to seeing how God unwraps this wonderful gift for us and excited for you all to meet our sweet little baby. =) We really appreciate all of you praying for us and your amazing generosity with furniture, clothes, toys and other various child accessories! Thank you thank you thank you!!

Getting Closer...

A few weeks ago we had our orientation meeting at the agency. It was a full day packed with tons of information about logistics as well as the emotional issues specific to adopted children. It was hard to hear some of the things but we know God will give us the wisdom we need and use us to bring His love to our child. There were also a few couples that came and shared their stories about adoption - and of course they brought their children. It was very encouraging! We've been learning SO much and it can be overwhelming at times but I guess that's parenthood huh?

Today we finished our home study! I knew it would feel good, but it really feels great to have such a big piece complete! We are also just about done with our profile book - they will start showing our books when our fingerprints are done (which should be in the next few weeks) and then we wait!

Auntie's Special Crib Bedding

My sister Angela made this sweet crib bedding for us! We love it and can't wait to put our kiddo in his cute little bed!

Overdue Update

We started our home study last week! It is broken up into three meetings. Our second will be this coming Monday and we are definitely getting excited to get everything wrapped up so we can start the waiting process. It looks like we should be finishing everything up in the next 6 weeks so it's becoming more real...and hard to walk past adorable little boy clothes on the clearance rack - yes, we are asking for a boy! We pray for our son and his mother often and cannot wait to meet him!! He has been growing in our hearts for many months!

If you didn't know this about me before, I'm not really a crafty person but I have been getting scrappy as I am putting together our profile book. It's just a 20-page picture book with some paragraphs here and there telling about us and our story. This is what they show to the expectant mothers that are considering adoption. I have been praying that God would give us the right words to put in it that will speak to the right mother. It's very humbling to know that someone will pick us based on this one little book but we trust that God has the perfect mother and child for us!

Well...that's all I have for now. I'll update again when things are getting closer!

Paperwork and Emotions

Well, we have finished and sent off what is (I think) our last batch of paperwork for hopefully a while. Next comes the home studies - 3 in total to be done. It was strange to give the postal worker our envelope knowing that once they got it things would start rolling!...exciting...and a little unnerving, in a good way!

I recently read a friend's blog post about her children that are stepping out in their school and how God has given them favor with their peers. This mother has prayed with her children every day before they left for school and God is answering her prayers of blessing for them. I don't know why but generational blessing just always seems to make me well up with emotion and awe of God. I have really started to develop what I call motherly emotions. I used to cry during worship in grief of the children we lost and the pain of waiting for whatever He had for us. Now I have been surprised by tears through worship because I'm overwhelmed as a mother at how much God loves my child to make everything happen the way it has. How He so clearly spoke to us and how He has used others to support us. We have been truly amazed by God's love and are really learning how to receive from Him!

Let the miracles begin!...

Our Ford Taurus has been an overall great car for us over the years but from time to time we would consider selling it or the Jeep. Neither of us think this consideration and general process is very fun...it's rather frustrating to try and figure out when is the right time. We had plenty of opportunities to think and rethink - especially every time one of them would need a repair (and why is it that they act like children; one jealous of the other getting a new part and acting up to get something new of its own?).

So a few weeks ago we decided now's the time to sell the Taurus in light of our pending adoption. We came up with the plan that we would sell it, split the money between adoption savings and just buying a cheap junkie that Chris could drive until we saved up enough money post-adoption to purchase another one. To which I said, well wouldn't it be great if someone just donated us that cheap junkie car!?

A few days later I was at church talking with a couple friends. They asked how the adoption stuff was going. So I told them about this car plan we had come up with and said "So, if you know anyone who wants to donate us a car...let me know!". To which one of them replied, "Well you can use our Expedition for as long as you want." Even as I write this I still don't know how to put into words what was going on in my head at that moment. I was in shock!
Now you may be thinking...what faith!! Let me tell you....yes, I made the statement of how great it would be...but honestly, I didn't really think it was going to happen! When I informed Chris he was shocked as well and said that I needed to go bigger and ask for someone to donate us a house! Haha yes...but seriously if anyone.... =)

A few days after that we picked up the Expedition.

Two days after that we sold the Taurus to a friend which worked out great for all parties!

Wow God.

The other cool part of the story is that I have been nannying for a family that now has three children. They don't mind me bringing little Cortte along once they arrive but we realized we would have a transportation issue because they weren't going to all fit into the Taurus or the Jeep. Expedition - problem solved! Wow.

We are just amazed at how God is orchestrating everything to make this happen and we haven't even gotten too incredibly far into the process. We are SO thankful for all of your prayers and support! We know that is so important and we treasure it. We also know that some of you may have a desire to support us financially as this is a spendy venture that we don't have full finances for right now. We know that God has called us to this and in that, we know that He is going to provide financially for us to do it. If you feel that He has you to be a part of that provision please contact me at Corttes@gmail.com for our address.