Our Home Study is Finished!

Today we received the notarized copies of our home study! The last few weeks since our interview were because we had to wait for our social worker to write up the report, we reviewed it, then she sent it to our placing agency for their review. Then finally, when everyone was in agreement that it met all requirements, they had it notarized and officialized and all that. So the next step is to mail in our I-800A, which is our application to the US Government to be allowed to adopt a child from a convention country. ("Convention country" refers to those countries which are part of the Hague Convention and agree to follow certain procedures for inter-country adoptions.)

Last time it took USCIS about 2 months to approve our application, so hopefully by Thanksgiving we'll have official permission to adopt again!

Hallelujah!

We have great news from our insurance company!

Back in the spring we made plans to take Tabitha to Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Colorectal Center for some second opinions and their bowel management program. We were scheduled to go in late August, but in early August we got news that the insurance company wouldn't cover it because it was out of network. So we cancelled our appointment and wondered what to do. We sent a letter to the doctor who made the decision earlier this month. We didn't know whether or not we should expect a response, or if we'd have to do a formal appeal and go through months of delays trying to get this approved.

But when we got back home Monday we had a message from the doctor who made the decision, saying he'd just gotten our letter and wanted to talk with us about it. He sounded friendly, but I figured he was just going to defend his position and try to make us believe they really cared and all. Just coming off my Cloud 9 vacation, I couldn't bring myself to call him Tuesday, so Heath said he'd call on Wednesday. He left a message, and then today the doctor called back.

Heath was actually smiling on the phone, so I figured there must be at least a little hope in the conversation. Then, at one point he held up a paper with a note saying, "Yes to Cinci!" I could not believe it! I figured at best, the doctor would see that we had a good point and agree to think it over, do more research, and get back to us (eons later). But he actually said he hadn't realized how complicated her issues were and agreed that we really needed a second opinion and especially needed Cincinnati's expertise and bowel management program asap! He said he might not be able to complete the paperwork today, but definitely by tomorrow. What?! We would've been happy with getting a yes that took several weeks to work out. But by tomorrow! Wow! Praise the Lord!!

This is such a great answer to prayer. I admit I have not been praying as faithfully as I should have and had kind of given up hope. So our deepest thanks to all of you who HAVE been praying!

We have no idea when we'll be going. I guess once the paper work is done, we can reschedule with Cincinnati. I think they offer the bowel program once a month, so we probably don't have a lot of options as to when we go. But just to know that we CAN go is such a relief!

Gross!

OK, so I know I'm a wimp when it comes to snakes. (See this post for proof.) But THIS was disgusting! Heath was out mowing the lawn when he came across this snake. He's found several by the stream before (our mower broke this summer, so the grass got really tall), but this one was up by the driveway! He ran in to get a shovel and chopped off its head. Then he said Jesse had something to show us. I went outside, and this is what I saw.

Disgusting! And what's even worse is that a dead snake still moves! I guess a snake with its head cut off is no different than the proverbial chicken with its head cut off. The body curled and twisted while Jesse was holding it. Of course it couldn't bite him, being headless and all, but I think this was more disgusting than holding one with a head. Yuck. I seriously had to go inside after I took the pictures because I thought I was going to lose my lunch. Yuck. That's all I have to say.

Fun in the Sun

We had a great time on our cruise this weekend! We went with our friends Dallas & Kelly who were also celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. On Saturday we were at Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. We rented mopeds and rode around the island. We saw gorgeous views of the ocean, visited a cave full of bats, walked down the "Queen's Staircase," and nearly died a few times. (I don't know what it is, but everyone around us kept driving on the wrong side of the road!) =)

Sunday we were supposed to go to Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian Cruise Line's private beach), but the water was too rough for the tender boats to handle so we had to stay at sea. We had fun though . . . eating, playing games, napping, eating, watching a Broadway show, eating, watching a comedy show, eating, sunning by the pool, eating...did I mention we ate a lot?

Monday we returned to Miami and flew home. It was such a nice time to spend with our friends and to have some kid-free time. We haven't had 4 days to ourselves since....well...since we had kids! It was very relaxing and refreshing. It's hard to get back into the swing of things now...making my own food, cleaning, taking care of kids, doing school, waking up on time, etc. But I do feel refreshed. Mom & Dad R, thanks SO much for keeping the kids for us! We definitely needed this break!

Praising God

I spend way too much of my life complaining, and that's something I really want to improve on. Today several things crossed my mind to be thankful for, so here's a short list . . .

1) God allowed us to get high-speed internet, just on time! It was running a little slow tonight, and I thought . . . wow, this is how it used to be ALL THE TIME! The fact that we got it just this summer as Ethan started 1st grade is God allowing me to practice patience for the past decade without making me incapable of homeschooling. You see, every week I spend a good chunk of time on my curriculum's website and on the library's website requesting TONS of books. I don't think that would even be POSSIBLE were we still using dial-up.

2) Speaking of the library . . . whoever invented interlibrary loan and the online request system is worthy of admiration from every literate person in our country! Those of you with young ones can just imagine how "fun" it is to go try to find a list of books, or (even worse) try to decide on books on a certain topic, with preschoolers in tow. Fortunately I can do all my searching online, walk over to the shelf of reserved books, pick up my pile, and check out. God bless you, Inventor of the Online Request System!

3) Photographs. I'm very thankful to live in the time we do. I mean, had I been born a century earlier I couldn't be writing this blog! As an extremely sentimental person, I am so thankful for the easy access we have to photographs. I have hundreds of them, and wouldn't trade them for anything! Today we had a family picture taken. Not on my list of "fun things to do this weekend." Ethan hates posing for pictures, but he cooperated very well (because we promised him reward if he did), and I was very proud of him. Jesse doesn't mind the pictures but can't handle the exertion it requires to stand still and smile for so long. Tabitha, who I thought would be the easy charming one, decided to turn on her hyperactive-someone-new-is-around-so-I'll-act-like-a-maniac-to-make-mom-and-dad-proud self, and alternated between hiding her face, spinning around, and trying to jump down. Meanwhile, Heath and I are trying to keep our smiles from looking too fake, after hours of trying to capture one good shot. It's not easy to get 3 kids and 2 tired parents all looking good at once! We did manage to get a few good shots though. And, perfect or not, pictures are so special, and I'm so thankful for them.

4) As great pictures are, it's the people in them that make them meaningful. I'm very thankful for the family God has given me. I had a rough week and didn't treat them very well. They deserve much better, and I am so thankful for the husband and wonderful children God has given me.

So, instead of complaining, there you have my short list of things to be thankful for today.

Now, go make yours! =)

A-Hunting He Will Go

Much to my dismay Ethan has taken an interest in his Granddad's favorite pastime--hunting. Now don't get me wrong....I'm not philosophically opposed to hunting, and I don't worry too much about his safety. I'd just rather not think about where my hamburger or the gobs of meat on the pizza I had last night came from! It makes me sad to inflict pain on poor, innocent animals. And sitting out perfectly still for hours, usually in the freezing cold and/or the dark, probably with plenty of mosquitoes, waiting for the right animal to wander by, hoping you hit it, tracking it down and then hauling it out of the woods? No thanks! BUT, Ethan went out all day with Heath's dad last week, and he LOVED it! Not only did he shoot and kill the groundhog in the picture here with a perfect shot, he also shot a deer! A REAL DEER! I've never even hit one with my car, let alone with a bullet from 245 yards away! But he did it. Oh, in case you don't know us personally . . . Ethan is 6. Yes, 6 years old. I thought he'd start hunting when he was maybe 12 or so, but it seems I've been overruled. =)

Despite the maternal feeling that I need to hold him back from such traumatic sports, I really am happy that he enjoys it so much, and that he has a hobby to share with his Granddad and can build a close relationship with him.

Sorry, Bambi and friends.

10 Years

Yesterday Heath and I celebrated the completion of our first decade of marriage! Hard to believe we're that old already! We got to go out to dinner at a restaurant we hadn't gone to since the early days of our marriage (thanks to babysitting from Matt & Bekah!) =)

We also opened our 10-year "time capsule." Do any of you who were at our wedding remember filling out your guesses as to what our lives would be like in 10 years? Well, we really left them sealed up without sneaking a peak all this time, and yesterday we read them. Some people were pretty close, and some....not so much. In case you're interested in seeing who was right, here are the questions and the names of those who got them right.

Where will we be living? (Maryland) Suzi Creps, Stephanie Runkles, Beth Barch, Grandmom Taylor, Dan & Carolyn Sigmon, Tod & Lisa Lipman, Deb Spink, Amanda Trietley, Jessica Stuenzi, Valerie Hurley, Anonymous.

How many kids will we have? (3) Steve Napolitan, Greg Williamson, Phil Dennison, Stephen Stuenzi.

What kind of cars will we have? (F250 and MPV) The only ones who got BOTH vehicles correct (though they only said minivan and truck) were Kevin Williamson and Will Allen.

What will our favorite date activity be? (going out to dinner) Kathy Palese, Dan & Carolyn Sigmon, Anonymous. Greg Williamson had a very true answer as well--"getting away from the kids." =)

What will our favorite hobbies be? (Heath--working on his truck; Erin--reading and sleeping....do those count as hobbies?) No one got this totally right, but Valerie Hurley and Will Allen did write "sleeping", so I think that counts for mine anyway. :)

What will we look like? My favorite close answer was Will Allen's: "Heath will have a bald spot [Um, that spot takes up his entire head] and Erin will be "as beautiful as now." Aw, thanks Will. =)

Where will our favorite vacation spot be? This one doesn't have a winner because we don't know what the answer is! We've been lots of great places and hope to go to many more!

How will we be involved in our local church? (Heath plays guitar in the worship service, and he is also helping to finish some interior things on our brand new building!; I work with kids' classes and occasionally play keyboard and also work in Awana) These people got at least one of those things correct and added nothing incorrect: Dan & Carolyn Sigmon, Paul Best, Lori Wells, Stephanie Runkles, Josh Monge, Jessica Stuenzi.

There were many other answers; some were quite--shall we say--creative. I don't have time to list them all, but to all of you who filled those out....thanks! It was great to read, reminisce, and laugh at all the answers and all that's gone on in the past 10 years of our life together. Thanks for being a part of our wedding day and our lives--whether that was more than a decade ago or currently. We appreciate each one of you.

Heath, thanks for being such an awesome husband for these past 10 years. I love you. Only 14 days until our Anniversary Cruise! Yippee! =)