A lot of work to be done.

Hey,
Well now that we are approved we have a lot of work to do. Not that I am complaining at all. The 2 most important things we need to do is get the profile done and complete our application for the ABBA fund.
We also need to sign up for some classes. Infant CPR and Baby Care Basics. Not too excited about the baby care basics (I imagine a lot of pregnant women in the class do you think I will stand out?) but it is a requirement so to class we will go.
Things are really beginning to hit me and it is so overwhelming (in a great and awesome way) but WOW.
It was hard to explain what a huge important thing the approval into the program was. So now we are really focused on what is the end of this new set of waiting. And that is our baby!!!!!!
-Kristin

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey,
We are approved by Gladney. Officially a part of the ABC program. Now we wait on our approval packet to see exactly what is next... will keep you all posted.
Thank for all the prayers!
-Kristin

More Waiting

Hey,
Well today officially marks 2 weeks since our application entered the approval process. However, I e-mailed our contact @ Gladney and asked her if it was only business days that counted. Of course the answer was yes. So the 2 weeks will not be until next Wednesday (thank you Labor Day). So more waiting and jumping every time my e-mail chimes.

Will keep you posted.

-Kristin

Nothing to Update.

Hey,
Just thought I would check-in. I am trying to be a more faithful blogger! We will see how that goes.
Nothing really to report. Just that I am jumping everytime my e-mail chimes or I get a call. I don't generally get a lot of e-mail, so of course I have been getting a lot the last few days, so there is a lot of jumping going on. To those of you who are e-mailing me don't stop. I love to hear from all of you.
Work is still busy, but now that I am sort of used to it I can still think about waiting for the approval quite a lot.
I am also freaking myself out about the profile (anyone shocked?)but I keep trying to get my head wrapped around where to start. I think once I get an idea of a format it will go much more smoothly. I am just frozen on starting! So please pray for inspiration and courage to jump in and to truly represent ourselves so the birth parents can make a choice that is right for their family.
Also if you would pray for all the couples who are in the process of adopting and for the birth parents who are making such an emotional and selfless decision. Pray for patience, faith, and strength for the prospective adoptive families. Pray for strength, courage, and peace for the birth parents. Also please pray for the staff of Gladney. They really have a heart for adoption and they truly care about all the parties involved. I really believe that it is not about the money with them. It is about creating the forever families and to help give birthparents reassurance and peace that they made the right decision for their baby.
I have found myself thinking about the birth parents a lot while I am thinking about this profile. I can't even begin to comprehend what they are going through. What amazing people they must be to have chosen this path.
Thanks again for all your support, love, and prayers.
-Kristin

This is the letter from my Father-in-Law (not stepfather:)that tells all about the fundraiser.

Dear Chris & Kristin,
Just wanted to let you know some of the things that happened during your fundraiser. It started off that it went from a ladies night to a picnic for some friends. Your mother (Chris's Mom) Lori and Amy did the planning. We printed and handed out 72 invitations. We only invited the people of our Bible study group because I was afraid there would be too many people and if it rained I did not know how to handle it (Yeeeeee of so little faith). We sent the invitations out and waited but no replies as of Monday, August 9th, Lori and Amy reported that no of the 50 invitations they sent out were going to be coming. On that Monday your poor mother was a mess. She felt like she had failed you both, was crying and was a real mess. I was so much comfort during this time of trouble, I just told her we would just have a for us or cancel it altogether if no one responded by Wednesday night. Wasn't I the one with so much faith? Right! Well on Tuesday someone called to say they were coming. We recieved a check and someone else said they would be there. Then on Wed several more people responded so we were ok but again I had so much faith. Right! I best watch there is a lighting storm starting to hit close.
Mary Jo (our Aunt)drove up for the picnic (from Wv) and made food.
Lori (another Aunt), Amy (another Aunt), and Josh (cousin) made food, planned a game, and helped get things around and clean up. They bought little gifts and wrapped them then Jess, Seth, Aaron, and Josh (all cousins)all helped wrap the 22 gifts that they bought.
Everyone was given a gift. Amy had printed off the page about Gladney from the website and read it. Every time she read the name Gladney you had to pass the gift you had to the person next to you. Then when she was done reading you kept the gift you had. Good game.
Micke and Ali (brother and sister-in-law) drove down (from NY)and helped clean the porch and get the yard in shape. They got things around, cooked, made tea, and helped serve. They also provided the fruit trays for the evening and helped clean up.
The last of the invited guests left around 8:30. Mary Jo had to drive back and left around 8:00. Clean up was done by 10:30.




This is Kristin again. So the total that was raised for the whole fundraiser was over 1,200.00! As usual God showed us his awesome power. We didn't need 72 guests to come. God can do so much with all things!

We want to send out a special THANK YOU to ALL the people that helped with this fundraiser, and all who came. The love and faith that was poured into this is so great! We can't wait to tell our child how many people have prayed, anticipated, and helped so we can welcome them into our family!!

I am an idiot!! I was reading my blog entry to Chris and realized I put my stepfather!! I meant my father-in-law. I'm sure there are a lot of confused people from that one. Mostly my Mom who doesn't even know she got married!!

I am a terrible blogger!

Hey,
Wow, I can't believe it has been sooooo long since I updated this. We probably have lost all our followers by now! My excuses are I am so busy at work that when I have a break where I can use the computer I either...
1.Run for the nearest exit to get away! Although one of my co-workers always reminds me that if I don't return she will send the dogs after me (she does have an impressive growl:)
or...
2.I have been working on the profile.

What shames me is that I never gave an update on the fundraiser. It was an HUGE success. I am going to post a letter from my stepfather that details how the day went it is so awesome!! I don't want to give anything away, but it is another story to add to our collection of God's loving and faithful provision! More to follow...

Another AWESOME thing is Gladney got our FBI clearance's in and our application is officially being processed!!!!! We should know if we are approved in about 2 weeks. So send up those prayers. We will update as soon as we know.

-Kristin