Just an Update

Seems like it is time for an update!

1. The Ornament Fundraiser was a huge success!  Thank you to everyone who contributed and prayed for our little one over the holidays!  We still have a handful of ornaments left...not sure what to do with them.  Let me know if you have any ideas!
2. We had to file for an extension on our approval to adopt from USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).  In order to do this we had to meet with our social worker to update the home study, submit the updated home study along with a short application for extension and a large check, and get fingerprinted by an immigration office in Alexandria.  But it is done and we received the approval yesterday!  We are now approved by our government to pursue an international adoption from Azerbaijan through April 2017 (Lord, PLEASE before then?!?!).  I’m waiting to hear for sure, but I’m thinking we will have to get this notarized, apostilled (when the Secretary of State of Virginia’s office double checks the notary), and translated...then sent to AZ to replace the expired one they currently have. Money, money, money.
3. The next big bump on the horizon is the home study.  Our home study is good for three years...which means it expires May 22, 2016.  I thought that was a ridiculously long time in the future when we first got this thing!  We have had to update it twice, which basically means we have addendums with updated ages, dates, job status, etc.  Unfortunately the original document expires in May.  Virginia law requires that we have a current home study when the adoption is finalized (which I think means court in AZ).  Sooooo if no progress has been made between now and March(ish) we will have to start the home study process again.  Medicals, CPS background check, FBI background check, DMV records, updated financial information...and more things I’m not going to even try to remember right now.  Money, money, money.  I am secretly (loudly, not at all secretly, just afraid to say it out loud...but here I am saying it out loud) hoping we can get a referral before March so that we can avoid the home study madness.  Will you secretly (loudly, not at all secretly, boldly say it out loud) hope that with me?
4. Through a long series of events that I won’t go into right now, I’ve decided it is time to make Matthew’s bathroom look much cuter than it currently does.  So last week I went to the store and bought a new shower curtain, rugs, towels, etc. I bought new towels for Matthew and brother/sister.  And towel hooks.  And it made me smile to buy something specifically for our little one.  Because we are adopting a kid, OK?  This is really truly happening and I might lose my mind in the process, but seriously--we are going to adopt this kid cause God sent us on this journey and yes, I realize that April will be four years since we started but what is four years to an eternal God? (Yes, teacher friends, yes.  That was a terrible run on sentence but I’ve been cooped up in this house for almost a week because of the snow and it’s making me a little crazy).
5. I think that is all the update I have for you today.  But I’ll leave you with these amazing pictures we had taken during the extended Kelley family photo shoot over the Christmas holiday.  Photos by Alexandra Davie