GOD IS WORKING!

So last night, I was having a little pity party (read previous blog), and in the midst of my party, God showed up! He sent me a sweet new friend who is hosting an adoption fundraiser for us! Details are below- If you are interested in purchasing items, just click on the link- they will be shipped directly to your home and make great gifts!


Scentsy makes beautiful wax warmers that use a light bulb to MELT fragrant wax, not burn it. They're so much safer and healthier than candles! Visit http://www.jennc.scentsy.us/ and click on "Curtis Family Adoption". Feel free to share this link and repost if it you wouldn't mind.

THANKS!

Blessings-

Meredith

Adoption Truths

As we have been journeying through this adoption process again, I am reminded that almost nothing in adoption is a certainty. Each and every time that we "think" we will have a certain paper signed, in our hands, at our agency, etc. it is either much earlier than we expected, or much later. Whenever we "think" we understand the rules and documents that we are working with, the rules change. The documents change. The process changes. When I pray for patience through the process inevitably something comes along to test that patience. There is, however, one thing that is certain in adoption- it is expensive. Satan has really been after me lately and I have been falling into his trap of worry especially in this area. Physically, I can look around and see that God is Faithful! He is faithful to provide what we need at just the time we need it. He is faithful when we follow Him. I am so blessed with a Godly husband, 3 wonderful children, a home, food to eat, clothes to wear, etc. etc, and yet still, Satan can slip in and I begin to second -guess God's plan. "Do we have enough money for another child? How will we pay for the initial expense? Do we have enough time for another child? Can I really be a good mom to 4 children? We don't even have an extra bedroom! Are we hearing God wrong in adopting an older child? a boy? and the list goes on and on...I know that God is probably looking at me and saying "Oh you of little faith. If only you could see the plans I have for you! JUST HAVE FAITH AND TRUST ME! "

I am working hard to listen to God these days, and to KNOW that I KNOW that he will provide in every way if I follow Him and listen to Him only! With our first adoption, I SAW it happen! I don't know why I allow myself to take my eyes off of Him and listen to what others say and think. Please pray that God will use us for His glory, and that we will keep our eyes ONLY on Him!

Thanks for walking beside us as prayer partners in this journey.

Blessings-

Meredith

TRYING NEW THINGS...

This summer, Riley and Jackson wanted to try some new things, and one of those things included horseback riding. So, I called all around to find a great place for them to try out their skills. We found a wonderful little horse farm in Opelika and they have REALLY enjoyed it! So, I thought I would share a few pictures from their lessons!

Jackson crossing the poles...

Jackson and Riley working through the obstacle course

At the beginning of their first lesson, one of the things they had to do was to show that they were comfortable with being on the horse...they did several things to work on this, but one requirement was to be able to turn all the way around in the saddle. I thought it was pretty funny...looked like they were riding backwards, so of course I had to take pics of that....

Enjoyable times! Glad we tried it, I might have never known if they hadn't asked!

On another note, we finally received our I 800a approval on July 14, so now our dossier is being certified and authenticated (which should take 2-3 weeks) and then we will be Dossier to China! (DTC) At that point, we can be matched with a child- this is the beginning of the exciting part!!

Enjoy the rest of the summer- I can't believe how quickly it is flying by!

Blessings-

Meredith

Couponing for Adoption

If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of coupons. a. really. HUGE. fan!

I know how much you can save by just spending a little time BEFORE you go to the store, making a game plan and a good list!

When we adopted Lily, we had to determine ways that we could save money and I really got addicted to it. I must make a huge apology to those who have stood in line behind me in Publix!

I haven't taken pictures of my trips in a while, but I thought I would share this week's purchases with you.

Total before coupons: $122.91

Total after coupons: $37.30

I had a $25 rebate card from a previous trip, so my total out of pocket was $12.30- grocery week for a family of 5, not too shabby! (Plus I am stocked for the next 6 months on diswashing detergent!)

GOTTA LOVE SOME COUPONS!!

Blessings-

Meredith

LILY AND LILLY

Today we spent some time with sweet friends at their lakehouse. When we travelled to China to adopt Lily, we met another family who was in our travel group with our same agency. They live very near to us, and were there to adopt their Lilly who is 3 days older than our Lily. The picture above is a "red couch" photo that we took of the girls in China. We enjoyed getting to know their family on our trip and have kept in touch with them since returning. I am so glad that the girls have this connection and can grow up knowing each other! We had a great time playing and swimming together today and look forward to seeing them again soon!

Jackson and our Lily


Jackson, Riley, Lilly and Lily

The girls

The whole group

Jackson and Lily

Lily and Lilly

Sweet Girls

Lilly and Riley

Precious China Girls!

HOMESTUDY IS DONE!

FINALLY! Our homestudy was approved today and Fed Ex'd on to USCIS to catch up with our I800 A Application! YAY! Hopefully we will be through USCIS soon and then we can be Dossier to China asap!

Blessings-

Meredith

Blues Clues, Tubes, & Where did Father's Day go????

Earlier this week we attended a cute children's play of Blues Clues...Lily loved it, and Jackson and Riley endured it! They were good sports, though- even jotting down their clues in their handy dandy notebooks!

Attentively waiting for Blues Clues


After the show- this was about as close to Blue as Lily dared to go!

Then on Sunday night, we headed up to Birmingham to have Lily's ear tubes replaced Monday morning (for the 3rd time in 16 months!). She enjoyed her short lived "only child" status...notice the smarties in her hand...

At the hotel with daddy the night before surgery

She could eat until midnight, but not the next morning, so she retrieved all of her snacks and made herself comfy on the couch....

Then she organized them......

Before surgery...on the "loopy" meds

Right after surgery....before she got really mad at us!

Successful surgery! On the way home and happy again with her ice cream! She is recovered now and back to her old self!

I actually did take pictures of Father's Day both with my dad and with John and the kids.....but for some reason I cannot find them. Hmmmm....not sure what I did with them, but maybe they will reappear soon in my computer! We did have a wonderful Father's Day celebration, and I am SO Blessed to have such great earthly models of our Heavenly Father!

Blessings-

Meredith