Uganda here we come!

I type this with some reservations, only because I know how quickly things can change in the world of adoption. As of now, the plan is to proceed with a Uganda adoption. We have been fortunate enough to have a Christian social worker who has given our name to a friend who has adopted from Uganda. This friend is also now helping families adopt from Uganda through missionary friends of theirs and a Christian attorney. We are very excited to start getting our dossier ready for a Uganda adoption, since there are children over there who NEED a home RIGHT now. So, the quicker we get our stuff together, the quicker we get a referral and can go over to Uganda.

This process will go relatively fast. Which is great because it will give us plenty of time to come home and adjust to life with another little one, before getting a referral from Taiwan. The process will also be less expensive because there is not an agency (and all the fees that go along with one) involved. However, it will still be quite expensive, especially once it is time to travel. We are excited about some fundraising opportunities that should help us with some of the cost. There is a great website (147millionorphans.org) that offers wholesale prices to families adopting and then we can sell items, like t-shirts and Uganda necklaces, and make 5-10 dollars on each item. I am also excited because the necklaces and t-shirts are very cool and are a great way for all of us to draw attention to the orphan crisis in the world. So, once I know exactly how we are going to sell these items, I will let everyone know! I would also recommend everyone checking out the two ladies blogs who started 147 million orphans and their friend who is a missionary over in Uganda. You can find their blogs from the 147 million orphan website. It is amazing what God is doing in their lives and over in Uganda through them. It is also very eye-opening to the need over in Uganda.

I will definitely try to update this more as we continue on in our journey...

Exciting new things to come...

So, things are still SLOW with our Taiwan adoption. Normally, this would depress me, but I am definitely in a good place right now. We are pursuing other options at this point and I am excited to see where God leads. (*Hint-think Africa!)

I have talked with many social workers from many different adoption agencies and are figuring out the best way to do another adoption, while keeping our dossier in Taiwan as well. We should have time to do one before even getting a referral from Taiwan. Right now there are two possible options for us, but we should know better in a week or two exactly what we are doing and how it will all work out. Once we are set, I will definitely share so that everyone can know our plans and pray for us as we start another process for bringing home one of the children that God has for us.

So excited to see where this all goes....until next time...

We're back!

Okay, so we have been back for a couple of days now, but I have been very busy. My house is pretty much still a disaster, but at least the luggage is unpacked and put away.

We had a great time in New Jersey. The wedding was really nice and went really well. Jayce walked down the aisle! We didn't think he would at first. He walked in, looked at all the people, and walked right back out. I pretty much figured it wasn't going to happen at that point. Then he came back in and did it! He acted really shy and kind of covered his face with his hand, but he did it!!! And he looked adorable, by the way.

When we went to the airport to leave on Sunday, our flight was way overbooked. So, we volunteered to take a later flight and were greatly rewarded! We got to fly first class and got 400 dollar vouchers for all of us! It was a long day in the airport, but definitely worth it!

No new news on the adoption. I found a few little girls who are adorable on rainbow kids, and I have sent our info to that agency so that maybe we can review their files. They are both from Korea, but both of them already have families looking at their files. So, we will hear back if their files become available. If it's meant to be, I am sure we will hear. It would mean changing our homestudy and other info for a different country and going through a different agency, and I am not sure if we want to do that unless it all seemed to work out and feel right. So, we will see...

VPK and New Jersey bound!

So, VPK has started at the preschool. Jayce did really well, no surprise there. He has been going to the school since he was two years old. He has been split up from his partner in crime (who is in my class :) and, as a result, has received a ticket for both Monday and Tuesday. So, hopefully this means we are going to have a great last year of preschool!

All three VPK classes are going well and even though we are only two days in, I think this will be a fun school year. Which hopefully means, it will just fly right by! Then we can hopefully get a referral and everything will work out nicely. We just need to get Beckhem listening better and talking more (using words, instead of scary, demonic screams.) Once we accomplish that, maybe potty training?

Tomorrow we head back up to New Jersey for Ellen's wedding! I can't believe Jayson has not been up there for over two years! It will be nice to be back in the area (and back to some civilization and GOOD malls!) Of course, it will just be nice to see family and friends and celebrate with the wedding.

We are hoping Jayce will do a great job walking down the aisle. We are trying to not make it a big deal since that will probably make him more nervous and scared and weird-acting. He has a tendency to say crazy things and act out of control if he is embarrassed. So, hopefully he will just do great and it won't be an issue. Thankfully, my mom is also coming up for the wedding and will help handle Beckhem. We definitely don't want him running around during the ceremony and reception.

Well, since it is getting late and there is packing to do, I better go...

Patience is not my virtue

We are in the process of adopting a little girl from Taiwan. We are so excited and want to get a referral right NOW! Unfortunately, we have at least a two year wait (according to our agency.) We had all of our info. into Taiwan sometime in November 2009. So, we haven't even waited one year yet. Why am I already going crazy with impatience????

We have two little boys. One is four and one is two, and we are obviously very busy. We both work and our boys go to preschool (where I-mom-also works.) We have had a very fun and busy summer. We went to the Bahamas to visit family, to HHI, and are heading to New Jersey for a wedding this week. All of this to say, why am I so unbelievably ready to add on to our family right now? I wish I knew, but every single day I wake up hoping to get a call from our agency that we surprisingly have a referral.

I have always wanted to adopt a little girl from an Asian country. I always knew that one day I would, and I am sooo anxious to fulfill this dream of mine. I also am very ready to not be the only girl in the family! I love my boys, but I am greatly outnumbered. I have a great relationship with my mom and am ready to have a daughter of my own now. I know that God has a plan for our family and is in control of our adoption, but I am so anxious for something to happen that I feel like I need to constantly research adoption and different agencies to see if I can make it happen quicker. I know that as a Christian this is not the most faithful way to be behaving, but I just can't help it. Patience is definitely not my virtue.

I am driving my husband, mom, and anyone else who knows me well crazy with our adoption. I want to talk about it all the time and am always researching adoptions (mainly in Taiwan) on the computer. Everyone is very supportive of me but just keeps telling me to be patient and to at least wait two years before looking into other options. (We were told originally from our agency that it will most likely be a two year wait, if not longer.) But I can't stand not knowing when this will actually happen! How can we plan anything? What if I want to get pregnant again? I also want to adopt from China. Trying to plan for our family and future with so much uncertainty of when our Taiwan adoption will happen and how old our daughter will be is stressful and scary for someone like me. I want to try and control this and make it happen as soon as possible.

The only reason I decided to start this blog was so that others who may be feeling the same way could have someone to talk to or relate to. I know many people who are in the adoption process feel frustrated and impatient too, and I want to assure you that you are definitely not alone!

I think that is enough venting and info for now. Until next time....Taryn