It's Home-Study Time!

Woohoo! We finally got the forms to start our home study! They came in the mail on Friday, and it took a couple of days to process all of the information they were requesting! haha! Thankfully, it's not nearly as bad as we were anticipating, and it seems I was all nervous for nothing. Don't get me wrong-- it is a TON of thought provoking, soul-searching, get-to-know yourself questions, BUT we're going to take it and answer one question at the time. That's all we can do! On the bright side, we are going to know so much about each other (and ourselves) by the time this is over, and we may or may not have a small novella ready for print.

Included in the things we must have done to complete our home study; finger prints, physicals, Maycee (our furbaby) has to have a checkup and shots, and have our septic tank inspected. We just knew the last one was going to be an expensive headache! Come to find out, a kind nameless lady that Spencer works with, volunteered her husband to come and inspect it for free! He's licensed to do that, and we had no idea! We didn't even know how to go about getting it done.  :-D Just one more example of the Lord taking care of things before we even know we need them!

I'm still so amazed that the Lord would take such good care of us, and line everything up the way He is doing. I'm still amazed every time a dollar comes in for our adoption fund, and every dime has been EXACTLY what we've needed.  I don't know why the Lord has trusted us with this special road, but I'm so glad He did. I know a lot of people never get to see Him work so evidently in their lives, and I never dreamed I would either! My heart is just so full when I think that the God of the Universe is concerned with MY family. Even one that isn't even started yet! I'm having a hard time worrying and being fretful when I realize what all the Lord has already done for me-- I know He's not about to leave us in this alone. :) He is really "increasing my faith"and I'm so thankful. I'm also realizing more and more that the "baby steps of faith" I've had to take in this life were only preparing me for the larger amounts of faith I would need on this road to our sweet little Angel! And that makes me oh, so happy for the "not so pleasant"' things I've had to go thru in my life. I wouldn't trade this life for anything!


xoxo, Steffani  :)

We're Commited :)

Today we mailed off our commitment package to our agency! Once they receive it-- and cash our $2,500 check-- we will "officially" have begun our road to our sweet little angel in Bulgaria! :)  With every day our excitement grows, and we are one step closer to meeting our little prince or princess!   The Lord is so good to supply our financial needs to make all of this possible- so far, He's sent in every dime for what everything we've needed so far!  Application fee, passports, adoption training, commitment fee, and even postage for mailing the packets back and forth! ;-D He's also sent in half the money for our home-study fee! I know that the rest is on it's way- and can't wait to watch Him provide! It never ceases to amaze me. I've known all my life the Lord is ABLE to provide every need we have-- and that He loves to work in "impossible" situations-- but to watch Him do it in our own life, is such an amazing thing! I really hope that down the road, some person somewhere can hear our story and be encouraged in the fact that He can do the same for them!

We're finally working on our adoption training! After a few lot of days of "technical difficulties" and phone calls to the company, we finally were able to access our courses and begin the classes. It's very educational to say the least! (A little depressing too, I might add.) We've learned about everything from mental illness, to attachment disorder and trust issues. It really sheds a lot of light on things we've not thought about. Especially about bonding and post placement issues. I'm sure there will be a post about that later on; stay tuned!!

We are now awaiting our home-study instructions, a list of documents and things they will need to start that. For some reason, this part is really scary to me. I'm sure it will go just fine, it's just a little scary to know someone will be scrutinizing every part of your life with a high-powered microscope!! On the other hand, this is just a small price to pay to bring home our little one and once we are together, my fear of this home-study will fade into a far distant memory! I can't wait to get started with this step though, and even more, I can't wait to finish it! haha!

Well, this is turning into a book- so I'm going to go practice my Bulgarian words I learned today, and go to BED! Goodnight all!
                                              xoxo,
                                            Steffani

Overwhelmed.....

With gratitude!! We are SO thankful to each and every one of you who have stopped by our page in the last couple of days! We never dreamed so many people would be so interested in helping us and following along on our journey to start a family! We cannot express enough how grateful we are to each of you, and to our LORD who is just lining things up and supplying all of our needs! We are honored and humbled that so many people feel led to contribute! It's SUCH a blessing!!

Some friends of ours have already started a "Hope for the Jones Family" campaign, and it is taking off!
           

How it works, is, you purchase one of these ^^pretty little necklaces^^  and all of the profits from the sales go DIRECTLY to our adoption fund!! So awesome! You get this pretty little symbol of hope, to wear around your neck (and remind you to keep us in prayer) and we are blessed by the proceeds! These things are selling like hotcakes, and we couldn't be more appreciative! We have some pretty amazing friends and family!! 

I've also added a "Donate" button to the top of our page here, incase you'd rather help that way! We're just so amazed and thankful to each of you and pray God's richest blessings on you all!  I never doubted that God would take care of us-- but to actually watch HIM work, and so soon too, it's just amazing us!!  Thanks again, y'all!! xoxo, Steffani 

ps~ Check out our Facebook page!   www.facebook.com/KeepingUpWithTheJonesesOurBulgarianAdoption

We're Approved!!

Happy Monday morning, everyone!
 Is it just me, or is it always harder to get going the morning after vacation!?

We had an amazing time in Orlando- great food, lots of fun, and just getting away was wonderful! I have to admit, 6:40 came early this morning, but I couldn't wait to get to work! I missed my girlies!! (I'm a Nanny, for those of you that didn't know!)We had a super awesome mini-vacation! Orlando was so much fun, and super hot!!   Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, CitiWalk, Downtown Disney, and of course-- the FOOD! (The most important part, right!?) It was all super good! We even got to take a little walk-thru of the resort we stayed at for our *honeymoon*!! So sweet!

                                      I have this same picture from our honeymoon! :)

                       

Vacation happened to be so much fun, that it completely took my mind off of the waiting game going on in our adoption process! We had mailed off our initial application on Monday and were told it could be a little while before we heard back, because the man who approved them was leaving the country this week.  So, I resolved to have a good time on vacation and try not to think about it every second! haha! Friday evening, I checked my e-mail- and there it was!!! WE WERE APPROVED!! *Sigh of relief!!* Our formal packet is in the mail and we should get it soon, then after a few hours of "adoption training" we'll be on to the next BIG step, the HOME STUDY. Just the thought of that is enough to make me break out into a nervous sweat, but after watching the Lord work out everything this far-- it's hard to be too worried about it! Let me just add here, that it is AMAZING to watch God work in this, guiding and providing every step of the way! We got home yesterday evening and some sweet, precious people had left us the sweetest note and $400! Our first official donation to our "adoption fund"!! We were so excited!! I can't wait to share this journey with you all and I hope you get a little blessing from watching the Lord work in our lives!! It's so nice to know that what HE does for others, He's more than happy to do for you- if you have faith and trust Him!!  Hopefully we'll have a lot of new exciting stuff to post soon! :) Now I'll leave you with this picture of our new bracelets we had made-- it's the Bulgarian word for love! We thought that was pretty fitting. :) xoxo, Steffani