First of all, thank you all for your very kind comments. I hope that we can live up to them--it seems that we have high expectations to fill. :)
Well, I guess I have a few things to post as updates.
1.) I have resigned from my teaching job effective at the end of the current contract. The last day is scheduled to be June 3rd...if we don't have any unforseen delays. I need to be able to focus on the adoption process and building our family--so I'm pretty excited to be able to leave my job, although there are definitely mixed emotions. I'm planning to do some private tutoring and work as a homebound tutor for the district--they've got a few ideas on how they can use me but I told them I'm not interested in being tied down or signing any contracts. :) It really depends on how the adoption process goes how much work I'll be able to or want to do.
2.) We have our first meeting with our social worker scheduled for Monday, May 12th. That is part of the home study process--and the first of a few times that she'll be here to visit.
3.) We have our "3 hour conference" scheduled with the attorney on Monday, May 19th. This is super exciting because it will determine whether they think they can (and want to) work with us and we will know whether we want to work with them. Although, I'm already convinced...and he did tell me that they don't schedule the 3 hour conference with everyone that calls them--so that was somewhat reassuring.
I guess that may not sound like a lot, but it feels like great strides to me--heading in the right direction!
Oh, and did I mention there are 21 "teaching" days and 1 teacher workday left in the school year?! Although I'll admit that there's not a lot of actual teaching that can be done by this time--my kiddos are already on vacation. :)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
AnNoUnCeMeNt!
This may not be exactly the kind of announcement you're expecting, and we have some hesitation about whether to even make a bold proclamation of our plans at this point--but we are definitely excited and want to share! :) We are planning to build our family through adoption! This is a process and is nothing that will happen overnight or even over a couple of months--it will take that long to complete the home study and all of the requirements that go into it and then get accepted by the agency we're considering. However, it is an exciting process and one that we know that we're not going to be able to keep quiet about!
Although we've been talking, thinking, and researching about adoption for several months and contacted an attorney and agency who practice locally for more information, today we took the first actual step--we faxed our home study application and fee to the agency! By the time we got home from work, we had received 2 emails from the agency: one assigning a local social worker to us and the other sending all of the forms and requirements for "phase II" of the home study process. :)
We are hoping to go through a unique program called "A New World Awaits" (http://www.newworldawaits.com/index.html) that is a joint effort between American Adoptions (http://www.americanadoptions.com/) and a local attorney named Eugene Kelley. I say the program we're HOPING to adopt through because we can't even apply to work with them until the home study is almost complete and all of the necessary documents, background checks, etc. have been returned satisfactorily. Then we hope that they like us, think that we're a couple their birth mothers would find appealing, and agree to work with us.
I spent an hour on the phone with Mr. Kelley one day a few weeks ago and was super impressed; he's definitely a leader in his field and specifically with adoption. He has great references in the legal field & also from adopting couples he's worked with. He's also involved for the right reasons and is realistic as well as positive. He wants what is best for the child, first of all, but also for the birth mother and the adopting couple. We haven't met our social worker officially yet, but have been emailing questions when completing the home study application. Now we're excited to go forward--and we have plenty of work to do!
I'd better stop here--I could go on for pages and pages--but I'll spare you all! Thanks for reading--please keep us in your thoughts and we'll try to keep you somewhat updated throughout the process. :) It's definitely NOT a done deal--there are many, many pieces of the puzzle to put into place--but we are hopeful that we can do that with a lot of help!
Although we've been talking, thinking, and researching about adoption for several months and contacted an attorney and agency who practice locally for more information, today we took the first actual step--we faxed our home study application and fee to the agency! By the time we got home from work, we had received 2 emails from the agency: one assigning a local social worker to us and the other sending all of the forms and requirements for "phase II" of the home study process. :)
We are hoping to go through a unique program called "A New World Awaits" (http://www.newworldawaits.com/index.html) that is a joint effort between American Adoptions (http://www.americanadoptions.com/) and a local attorney named Eugene Kelley. I say the program we're HOPING to adopt through because we can't even apply to work with them until the home study is almost complete and all of the necessary documents, background checks, etc. have been returned satisfactorily. Then we hope that they like us, think that we're a couple their birth mothers would find appealing, and agree to work with us.
I spent an hour on the phone with Mr. Kelley one day a few weeks ago and was super impressed; he's definitely a leader in his field and specifically with adoption. He has great references in the legal field & also from adopting couples he's worked with. He's also involved for the right reasons and is realistic as well as positive. He wants what is best for the child, first of all, but also for the birth mother and the adopting couple. We haven't met our social worker officially yet, but have been emailing questions when completing the home study application. Now we're excited to go forward--and we have plenty of work to do!
I'd better stop here--I could go on for pages and pages--but I'll spare you all! Thanks for reading--please keep us in your thoughts and we'll try to keep you somewhat updated throughout the process. :) It's definitely NOT a done deal--there are many, many pieces of the puzzle to put into place--but we are hopeful that we can do that with a lot of help!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
My Grandparents
I want to take a little space on my blog to dedicate to 2 people who have been influential in my life--and are great examples--my grandparents! They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. We went up for the weekend so that we could join the rest of my family (minus the Forsberg installment--we missed you!) for a celebratory Friday night supper (which was really a feast), cake, punch, etc. It was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed being together.
To Grandpa & Grandma: 50 years and counting!
For any who are wondering; these are my dad's parents--my mom's parents are both gone now but they celebrated 53 anniversaries--nearly 54, if I've got it right! Ryan's grandparents have both celebrated more than 50 years of marriage, so we have a pretty special legacy.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
All About Ryan
This post is all about Ryan...the good and the bad--or if you ask him, the good and the better. :P It's all in the point of view.
I like to start with good news--Ryan got 2 job offers from Wal Mart's home office technology center on Thursday and accepted one of them on Friday! It's in the Unix division--and that's all I know how to explain. :P He'll work Wed-Sat each week with his Wed. and Sat. hours alternating between two different shifts and his Thu. and Fri. hours from 6:00-6:30 (if I have it right...but something like that). He put in his two weeks at Java on Friday but we don't have a start date for Wal Mart yet--I'm sure they'll be in contact, though. :) We're pretty excited about that!
Now for the "other" news--I guess the picture says it all. Ryan bought a "motorcycle" last week--which I am not at all thrilled with, but I'm not telling you all anything he doesn't already know. :P I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that he has to take the course, get his license to drive it, and get it licensed before he can start riding it--as well as sign the insurance form and buy a helmet. So--all of that could take a week or two and that's that much longer I can breathe just a little easier. He asks if I want to ride with him--I don't see any place that looks big enough or comfortable enough for me to fit--so that answer has remained "no" for now. Besides, I don't enjoy being tense and nervous going at what feels like warp speed even though the speedometer only says 30 mph with the road that close underneath me--doesn't sound like any kind of fun to me!
He didn't spend any nights in the doghouse (of course it helps that we don't have one...hmmm...now that's got me thinking...). :P
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Pics
Okay, so I accidentally published the last entry before the pictures were uploaded--and I can't edit my posts. If anyone knows how to go back and edit a post, please clue me in!
Anyway--here are a couple of pictures; more on our Flickr page!
Boys, Boys, Boys
Well, I've had a fabulous (but all too short) spring break! I can't believe it's over...and I'm not really looking forward to going back to work on Monday and enduring the business of the last quarter of the school year. However, I really have no choice so I might as well think positive and get through it with grace. :)
I was in Missouri with my family from late Tuesday afternoon until just after noon on Thursday. I stayed at Josh & Sonya's and thoroughly enjoyed being "Aunt Day" or simply "Day." :) We celebrated Kingston's 1st birthday on Wednesday, walked to the little park pond to feed the ducks, and basically just spent time together. Before I left on Thursday Dad, Tasha, Sonya and the boys, and I went out to lunch and I stopped by mom's work to see her on the way home.
On Friday Ryan had the day off but I made him spend part of it working on our taxes and looking at our finances, which made me crabby. Thankfully, we joined friends for supper and games in the evening which improved my mood...I think. :P
Today has been somewhat uneventful. Ryan worked this morning so I met one of the girls I work with at Java for a few hours of gabbing and working on lesson plans, IEP updates for my kiddos, and other miscelaneous work "stuff." The last few hours have been spent trying to get my computer to cooperate, waiting forever for pictures to upload to flickr, and doing laundry. Doesn't that sound like tons of fun?! My hubby is totally absorbed in his new "server" computer (don't ask me what that is--all I know is that it takes 100% of his attention). :) I'm not really complaining, though, I'm glad he likes technology and is good with it--that comes in super handy at times!
Okay, enough said...check out our Flickr photo page if you're interested in pictures of the boys. :)
I was in Missouri with my family from late Tuesday afternoon until just after noon on Thursday. I stayed at Josh & Sonya's and thoroughly enjoyed being "Aunt Day" or simply "Day." :) We celebrated Kingston's 1st birthday on Wednesday, walked to the little park pond to feed the ducks, and basically just spent time together. Before I left on Thursday Dad, Tasha, Sonya and the boys, and I went out to lunch and I stopped by mom's work to see her on the way home.
On Friday Ryan had the day off but I made him spend part of it working on our taxes and looking at our finances, which made me crabby. Thankfully, we joined friends for supper and games in the evening which improved my mood...I think. :P
Today has been somewhat uneventful. Ryan worked this morning so I met one of the girls I work with at Java for a few hours of gabbing and working on lesson plans, IEP updates for my kiddos, and other miscelaneous work "stuff." The last few hours have been spent trying to get my computer to cooperate, waiting forever for pictures to upload to flickr, and doing laundry. Doesn't that sound like tons of fun?! My hubby is totally absorbed in his new "server" computer (don't ask me what that is--all I know is that it takes 100% of his attention). :) I'm not really complaining, though, I'm glad he likes technology and is good with it--that comes in super handy at times!
Okay, enough said...check out our Flickr photo page if you're interested in pictures of the boys. :)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Spring Break!
Well, Spring Break is officially here for me, I guess! I had to take the day off today to go take my master's comprehensive exam (comps) this afternoon. I'm supposed to be studying right now--but I'm remembering what an awful studier I really am! I figure if I don't know it by now, I'm probably not going to retain anything I try to cram into my head in the last few hours anyway. :P I need to be at the U of A at 1:00 and am supposed to be done by 4:00.
Then I'm headed to our friend Nathan & Jordan's to watch their kiddos for the evening...Ryan's going to meet me there and bring supper. We'll spend the night since Jordan won't get home until 1:30 a.m. or so from work and Nathan is out of town. Looking forward to that--the kids are a lot of fun! The only thing I'm a little worried about is bedtime, but it shouldn't be too difficult. :/ (all you parents out there are probably rolling your eyes about now and thinking "yeah, right!" or "you don't have a clue..."--but we'll see!)
Tomorrow Ryan has to be at work at 7:00 a.m. and I'll come home around noon to try to get the house in order and make sure we have food to eat because the workers will be here tomorrow afternoon and stay a couple of nights, I think. That will be wonderful! :)
Next week--I have some phone calls to make, eye dr. appointment to go to, etc. and then I'm heading to MO on Tuesday and plan to come back Thursday. Kingston turns 1 on Wednesday, so I want to be there for that! Who knows what else spring break week will bring--I'm just elated to have the time off work! It's been absolutely nuts here lately and a break is very much welcomed! :)
Well, I really should at least read over my study questions and attempt to brush up on some information that's a little fuzzy...but procrastination seems to be calling my name. :) Have a great weekend, everyone!
Then I'm headed to our friend Nathan & Jordan's to watch their kiddos for the evening...Ryan's going to meet me there and bring supper. We'll spend the night since Jordan won't get home until 1:30 a.m. or so from work and Nathan is out of town. Looking forward to that--the kids are a lot of fun! The only thing I'm a little worried about is bedtime, but it shouldn't be too difficult. :/ (all you parents out there are probably rolling your eyes about now and thinking "yeah, right!" or "you don't have a clue..."--but we'll see!)
Tomorrow Ryan has to be at work at 7:00 a.m. and I'll come home around noon to try to get the house in order and make sure we have food to eat because the workers will be here tomorrow afternoon and stay a couple of nights, I think. That will be wonderful! :)
Next week--I have some phone calls to make, eye dr. appointment to go to, etc. and then I'm heading to MO on Tuesday and plan to come back Thursday. Kingston turns 1 on Wednesday, so I want to be there for that! Who knows what else spring break week will bring--I'm just elated to have the time off work! It's been absolutely nuts here lately and a break is very much welcomed! :)
Well, I really should at least read over my study questions and attempt to brush up on some information that's a little fuzzy...but procrastination seems to be calling my name. :) Have a great weekend, everyone!
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