Keeping busy in the wait.

Welp, we're just here... waiting. I know that there will end up being a lot of that throughout the adoption process. Our home study interviews were finished up exactly three weeks ago, so our social worker should be finished with the report no later than this time next week. Then, of course, it has to be reviewed by a couple of parties first (then likely edited to some degree), but I'm hoping that won't take longer than a week, maybe two. In the meantime, Robby and I are finishing up the adoption education that's required prior to the finalization of the home study. We're about halfway through the book The Connected Child and we have about 4.5 hours of adoption education videos, which we plan to complete this weekend. I'm also supposed to get in contact with a psychologist in the area because it's required that Robby and I are evaluated by one. I've been dragging my feet a little on that, but I will likely do it today. I'm admittedly nervous about that... I don't want to be thoroughly "evaluated"! That just sounds creepy. Not to mention that I have no clue as to what we will do with the kids- all six of them- during this evaluation because we don't have anyone to babysit them. I pray that won't be an issue.


Lately I've been working hard on getting adoption grant applications ready for when the home study report is finalized (which has to be attached to the grant applications). Whew, it's a lot of work! So far I've applied for three grants (which miraculously did not require a finalized home study) and have applications at least 80% ready for another three. But there will be more because I am applying for ALL OF THE GRANTS. Ha!

As for the three that I've already applied for...

1. Reece's Rainbow- APPROVED for a large grant- with the stipulation that we are permitted by Latin America to adopt Lene, specifically.
2. A Child Waits- DENIED
3. Angels in Disguise- Awaiting response

Our own adoption process aside, my very best friend in the whole wide world (since elementary school) and her husband were MATCHED three days ago with two waiting children in Latin America! Their family is absolutely over the moon right now with joy. I am incredibly happy and excited for them because their journey to these children was far more challenging than they ever expected. They will likely travel to their children's country to bring them home in a little over a month.

Things in our household are always moving. That's definitely one way to put it. I spend most of my time breaking up arguments, getting the twins out of just about everything imaginable in this house, and preparing meals. We pretty much never eat out as a family, so all meals and snacks are made here at home by me. Six kids is a lot of mouths to feed, so I spend a good chunk of my day in the kitchen. Because we have two house payments right now (our house in Harrison still hasn't received an offer), the budget is tight, and so that requires creativity when it comes to meal planning. Thank God for Aldi! Shopping a good bit from their sale ads each week, combined with inexpensive, healthy options I already know by heart, Robby and I are able to feed us all for a maximum of $125 a week. This week was especially tight budget-wise and I was able to plan a week's worth of meals and snacks for under $70! Not too shabby. If we shopped at Walmart, we would spend so much more money. I am such an Aldi advocate! The quality of food and produce they sell is typically far superior to that of other grocery stores (most of it is made in Germany). They're the best.


I can't believe that Spring is almost over! The weather here has been perfect; not too warm, not too cool. The kids always seem to be outside playing with their friends. I do love that! The outdoors is so good for them. When the heat of Summer hits, however, I suspect they will spend most of their time inside. Maybe we'll have to start visiting the library more or check out some free museums like Crystal Bridges. Northwest Arkansas seems to have a lot of things like that to offer.


Until next time... Happy Spring!