Documents, Documents, Documents!

We are moving forward with a little gal here in the USA. To do that since she lives in another state we had to retain an adoption lawyer, filled out a formal acceptance with the support agency, and found an agency that will help us with a domestic homestudy for the adoption finalization, which is a ways off.

Our lawyer is spectactular. He was referred to us by the support agency. Since this is new to us (the domestic part of adoption) it's wonderful to have someone who really knows his stuff. He'll keep us on the straight and narrow road whether we like it or not!

I had to research agencies that would just do a homestudy and post-placement reports for us. We need the homestudy to present to the judge at the appropriate time. We can use our international homestudy for the ICPC, but it won't suffice for the finalization. We sent off our initial application and payment and we were accepted yesterday. So...another 34 pages of paper to fill out. I'm thinking we can reuse a lot of what has already been done. Example: our ten hour online training. We did that for our Ethiopian adoption and it is still valid. So I'm hoping that this won't actually be as hard as the international homestudy because some of the players are already in the game, so to speak.

We're very excited about our little gal. She'll fit in perfectly and hopefully it won't be too long before we can meet her.

Happy 8 month birthday Isaiah!

Happy guy! Our grandson on his 8 month birthday. I miss that boy.

Meet Alvena

Alvena caught my eye here. Alvena Needs Us  and then again after waiting for a month or two to see if anyone else would step forward here Two Kids Needing Sponsors .  I inquired about her again and as of July we are now her full sponsor at $150 a month. What a blessing to be able to invest in here life! There are many needs at Forget Me Not Children's Homes . There is a Paypal button on their site to donate. If you're able to spare even $5 they would be able to use in a number of ways.

Adoption & Life Update

This week has found us doing a joint telephone conference call with an agency about a little one here in the USA. That took over an hour and many questions were asked and answered.

After the call we headed over to the notary's store where we had to have our  annual post-adoption reports notarized for the four girls. Every year we have to do an update on how they're doing, how much weight they've gained, pictures, and other updates. It takes me a while to get them all done, but at least now they're all due in the summer. They used to be due in April and July and doing them during the school year was challenging.

We received a generous donation from a family with eleven children. Some months back we didn't know if we could continue because of finances. These children saved from their allowance and hard earned money to help us with our adoption expenses. Can you believe it?! I'm updating the giving thermometer on the side to show the donation. Thank you children!!! You are such a blessing!

I've taken a break from selling books on ebay while I organize the rest of my life. The little girls are starting Kindergarten this year and I'm using My Father's World Kindergarten curriculum. They have their letter puzzles, dinosaur book, butterfly farm, and all their notebook pages ready to go. Today I spend HOURS putting contac paper on the items we will be using time and again.

After doing that I went through the paperwork of our current Ethiopian adoption and organized that. I told my husband I need a secretary! Next I have Class Day planning to do and school work for my older kids.

At Class Day I'm teaching Geography: Countries & Cultures and then a Christian Missionaries & Heroes Class. The missionaries & heroes will be from the countries we're studying.

At home we're using My Father's World for the kids adding in Language and Math. Usually I can't get this to work because I get bogged down teaching those who need the most help that I can't get to the point of everyone working together (think Duggars at the table). I don't have the older girls that Mrs. Duggar has to help! My girl got married, moved to another state, and had a baby.

All I can do is organize the best I can and know that it's not about the academics, but it's about being together, working on getting along and enjoying each day as it comes. BTW, Joe came home from Brazil or Brasil with reddish purpley hair. Ummmm.........obviously mom was not around..............

Kisses from Katie-New book Fall 2011

Joe-Joe boards the plane today!

Joe & Frankie

The Brazil team

Our oldest at home son Joe is heading home today after being in Brazil for three weeks. Joe is fifteen and went there with our youth leader and his wife and some other kids from our youth group. They did different ministries and I know one of them was working at a rec center with kids. I'm sure he had loads of fun with his soccer skills and the kids there. Maybe they taught him a thing or two! They board the plane today in Brazil and get home tomorrow night.

Ever google your name?

I just did and found this. The Mother's Companion and this Maxine Ferebee.

Helen was the first one to teach me that children are a blessing and Maxine is my grandmother. I used to spend teenage summers at her home in Parkdale, Oregon to stay out of trouble while my mom was at work. She was instrumental in my walk with the Lord in that time period. I didn't know I was mentioned in her obituary, I had never seen it until now. The wonder of the internet!

Our Indian Hills Camp photo

Check out these bunkbeds!

They look easy enough to build. I like how nice and neat they look too.

Grandpa & Grandma came to visit

Grandma Val & Scott

Grandma Val & Scott

Grandpa chose to eat with the girls

Grandpa with his great grandson

Jake & Scott

Four generations of Grieshaber men

Four generations together

Jared, Grandpa, Makenna & Steve

All the Grieshaber guys who happened to be here.

Grandpa & Adah

Grandpa & Joel

Family pics done back in April



Our whole family!



Makenna

Jake & Arianne- Jake is our second son

Jared, Miranda & Makenna-Jared is our first son

Our current family at home.

Mom with Addis & Abi Mulu. I usually have a picture taken with two of my children at a time. I didn't have one with the older girls.

Sarah, Nathan & Isaiah-Sarah is our oldest and only bio daugher

Grandpa & Grandma with Isaiah & Makenna

Jesse & Sage-Jesse is our third son and he is serving in the military.

Adah Derartu

Anna Mihret

Our son Jesse surprised us with a visit from all the way across the country. I had won a photoshoot with Sarah Tolson Photograph and decided to redeem it when Jesse came home. We had all twelve children and their spouses together as well as the two current grandbabies. Hope you enjoyed them!

Adoption Update

On Friday we received some bad news. Little A's original orphanage has shut down. She is fine and still in the same place she has been for two years with the nannies who know her and love her.  It's her paperwork that is held up. Another orphanage has to be found that is willing to take on the cases from the first orphanage. Once that is cleared up we will be submitted for a court date when the courts reopen late September or October. Now we're looking at her being home probably after the beginning of the year. Rarely does a family pass court the first time or even the second time, then add the time in between court and embassy and we won't have her home for awhile.

In June when we were preparing our dossier for mailing.