The Waiting Game - Round 2

ADOPTION UPDATE:We've apparently made it to the next round of "The Waiting Game" as wecontinue to wait for that official match to be made. Over the last week we've learned a little more about the process, and it now looks as if we might not be traveling until August due to government process delays in country (if you've ever dealt with bureaucracy before - U.S. or international - that won't come as a surprise). It's all in God's hands, His timing is perfect, and we are at peace.

FUNDING UPDATE:Thanks to several new donors, we are only $339away from our next big goal ($12,000), and just $8,339away from our TOTAL goal.  We received two checks in the mail this week, plus online donations, and as God continues to write our story we're beyond grateful for those He has included on this journey with us. 

REGISTRY UPDATE:  In addition to the monetary generosity of so many, we've been blown away by your giving from our registry! From essentials (simple things like underwear and socks), to practical items (like shoes), and fun stuff (brightly colored, {sneakily} educational toys and an ever expanding library of books for all ages) - YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!I am going to have to catch the UPS man one of these days, because at this point, it looks like we have an Amazon problem. ;-) 

NOTE:  As things change and we learn more or figure out what we need, I've been adding and removing items on the registry to reflect what we're lacking. For example, after studying a little more about what is culturally acceptable, we've added capris for the girls. And taking into consideration that we may now be coming home as the weather starts to change into autumn, warmer clothes have made their way onto the wish list as well.http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/3FMEV8P5KVDOSAnd that leads me to the...

FAQ for the Week! :-) 

"I have a ton of clothes from my kids, could you use them?"

Outside of "do you know their history" and "what happened to their family," this is the most frequently asked question we have received as we have gotten closer to the "finish line" of the adoption. I think the best way we have found to answer this is to give a tiny view into the background of our kids (without going into details).

In the orphanage - where some of our kids will have spent the majority of their lives - everything(from underwear to hairbrushes) is communal property. As Peter and I have been preparing our home (and closets) for them, several things have influenced our reasoning and played a role in our decision to say, "Thanks, but not now."

• Our kids have spent their lives wearing clothes that belong to no one - we want them to know that these clothes belong to THEM, and only ever belonged to THEM. The younger kids will wear their siblings hand-me-downs for the rest of their lives, but starting out, it's all new.
• They are coming from very little to the land of MUCH. It's going to be overwhelming, which is why we have made the decision to start with enough outfits for a week+, but not an excessive amount (to keep them from being AS overwhelmed, and because our closets just aren't that big!). 
• Four girls - one room, one closet. Need I say more? ;-) 

CONFESSION:  While talking about this topic with a friend of mine (and mom of 5) last week, and sharing that I didn't want to look like a snob when I turned down people's offers, she told me that I didn't need to apologize for our decision. That it was just the first of many that Peter and I would be making as parents that some people might not understand (and might even really disagree with), while others applauded. In the end, we had to do what we felt was right for our kids and our family. That doesn't mean it won't change over time, but right now that's what we have decided.

SIDE NOTE:Two individuals that we know reached out to us to ask about toys as well. One offered "like new" Melissa & Doug toys that her grandchildren no longer played with (and matched items on our registry), while the other offered a bike that his son used for "about an hour" and then never rode again, complete with training wheels. In both cases, we said YES to their offers because the toys were like new, included all their pieces, and were similar to what we had registered for. Point is - it's a case by case basis. :-)