Sinking in...

Today I went to Leo's new school to talk to his school counselor. The plan is to start him in the 7th grade on Sept 21st. I can't believe I am now the mother to a middle-schooler. Walking into the school 5 minutes before school started brought back my own memories of being the new-kid-in-school at 7th grade...not fun. How I feel for my boy. His counselor is great and she walked me through the ELL (English Language Learner) program Leo will be in and how the transitioning works. We talked about Leo's history and decided on a class program that might work best for him. It sounded like a good program. And, how caring she was. I was relieved. After months of praying whether to put Leo in a charter school vs. public school vs. homeschooling vs. alternative schooling; the decision that brought Marvin and I the most peace was to start Leo in public school...see how he does...and take it from there. I keep praying...

We also had our travel orientation at our adoption agency. This is where our case worker sits down with us and discusses our schedule in the Philippines and what will happen during our appointments and when Leo is transferred over to us.

So, it is finally all sinking in now.

This past week we've been celebrating our church's 25th anniversary...the theme for the week has been "Honoring our Past but Celebrating our Future." We sang a new song at church called, "Moving Forward"...and that has been in my heart this whole month. I praise God for always speaking to me where I'm at.

I've got still a lot of stuff to organize and pack. Plus, I've got a messy house to clean...nothing sucks more than coming back jet-lagged from a trip to a messy house...ugh! Maile is so excited...so excited she lost ANOTHER tooth yesterday!

No longer living in limbo...

After a frustrating few days, we finally got "the call" to travel to the PI and pick up our adopted son, Leo! Big sigh of relief...it's funny when you get news you've been waiting months to hear, you think you'll be jumping up and down. I was numb with a few tears. These past few months have been trying, but with all the distractions of life, I thought I was handling it all in stride. Until last night, anyway...

I was at Costco for a last minute errand and ran into some friends, Kristen and John Winder...such dear friends who helped us out while Leo was here and who've been so supportive throughout the past few months. Well, as soon as I saw them, I just busted out crying...in the middle of Costco! I guess God new I needed that...they were so uplifting! Bumping into them reassured me of how good our God is:o)

I'm now scrambling for tickets to leave next week....so it begins!

Adoption update...

So we've been waiting for Leo's visa to be issued. Apparently the norm for visa issuance is somewhere between 24 hrs to 7 days after the visa interview, and once the visa is issued...voila, we supposedly get 'the call' to travel. Well, it's been a month since Leo's visa interview and no word. So I called our Congresswoman's office yesterday for help. Within 24 hrs, they confirmed that Leo's visa had been issued! Good news...frustrating part is that it was issued on July 31st...almost a month ago!

A week, three weeks, a month doesn't seem like a long time to wait...I know. But, every day that goes by feeling like your family isn't complete is...well, it is what it is. Anyway, our agency has contacted ICAB (the governing adoption board in the PI) and perhaps we'll get word on when we can travel tomorrow. Although Leo's visa has been issued, we still have to wait for a formal invitation to travel from ICAB as they are the ones who meet with us to hand over all of Leo's paperwork.

To note, I do have a few distractions (both good and bad) that have been keeping me occupied...

1) Our new dog, Koa, is sick (poor baby!)...and I'm getting ready to get swindled at the vet tomorrow.
2) Had an awesome weekend at the GMD Benefit Concert for International Christian Adoptions!

3) Kicked off the week-long celebration for our church's 25th Anniversary!

4) Maile:o)
5) Oh yeah, work...plus all the regular wife and mommy stuff
6) And of course, the intermittent packing for our unbooked trip...

Ahh yes, and in all of this, I'm realizing that when Leo arrives, life will again be changing so I'm trying to savor these last moments, especially with Marvin and Maile, before we move forward to our new family.

The offer...

Marvin recently got offered partnership and ownership at the physical therapy clinic he's been working at for the last eight months. He was presented the offer on his birthday, of all days, Aug 17th! Anyway, he and his potential partner are still discussing all the details but I pray it works out...

Partnership + Profit-sharing = Sherill doesn't have to work anymore!

How selfish of me...I know:o) We'll see if this is part of our new beginning, too.

Moving Forward...

After the death of our dog, I've been very sensitive to all the changes happening around me. My 6 year old daughter, Maile, lost her first tooth and started 1st grade last week...nothing says "moving forward" like looking at your once baby and now 1st grader (minus one tooth) and realizing that she's growing up. Another big part of what "IS" coming...sigh.

I picked her up the other day and realized how tall and heavy she's getting...carrying her around is starting to look "not-so-normal" anymore. Instead of just playing with her or correcting her, I am now feeling the hints of serious conversations and the need for "mature" parenting coming upon me...yikes!

The Adoption...

We are adopting a child...Leo. Here he is with Maile...don't they look happy? We'll be picking him up in the Philippines soon...very soon (I hope). Perhaps in the next couple of weeks. The PI requires that both parents come to the PI to pick up their adopted children and we'll be taking Maile with us. Lately, our travel plans have been up in the air with typhoons, the death of the former PI president and the shutting down of government offices... beauracratic stuff. Sigh...I'm continually finding that God's perfect timing doesn't always line up with my schedule.

Anyway, the good news is our paperwork is done and the adoption fees are paid...miraculously! Praise God. Leo has completed his visa medical exam and interview, which are the final steps in the process before his visa is issued and we get "the call" to travel.

The adoption journey has been an 8 month process (so far) for us...full of every kind of emotion, feeling, surprise, disappointment, joy, and uncertainty you can imagine. A journey of faith and pure reliance on God. Enough said. I have a blog I started last year that documents part of what led us to Leo (http://www.markanthonyfund.blogspot.com) and I'm now continuing our story with this new and more personal blogsite. Leo is a big part of what "IS" coming...part of our new beginning.

Losing Kaipo...

I woke up at 3am this morning and couldn't sleep and decided I wanted to start a blog. Wierd. Writing this now, I'm skeptical that I can keep up with this thing...but inspired by wanting to document some memories in an organized and impromptu way, here I am. Mostly for myself, I must admit:o) With all that's going on in life right now, I just need an outlet...

We lost our dog...our dog of 12 years. His name was Kaipo and we laid him to rest on August 4th. When we got home from the shelter after putting Kaipo down, I sat down in our kitchen and said to my husband, "So it's a new life for us now." Life felt so different at that moment. How I loved that dog. Having had Kaipo in our lives since before Marvin and I married, before we started our family, and before we bought our home; the loss of Kaipo's constant, comfortable, and loving presence marked (to me) the end of what once "WAS" and the beginning of what "IS" coming...it was a sorrowful day, but one full of hope and trust in whatever God is bringing us.

We adopted a new dog...Koa. A dog I would've never pictured our family getting. After spending time with three dogs at the shelter, Maile's heart (and I have to surprisingly admit, my heart too) sat on a two year old playful, but skiddish chihuahua mutt. Much different than what we were use to. Marvin came by the shelter to take a look at this dog and I warned him by saying, "It's not what you're expecting." After spending some time with him, Marvin gave his blessing.

It seemed like we all knew...we needed change. Anyway, it felt right. It's been a week later since the day we brought Koa home. Turns out, he's a really good dog...playful but calm, affectionate, a little snippy and nervous, but loving. Our home feels very different now.

So, a new story is beginning. It's funny how a family pet can signify such change...and motivate the introduction to a blogsite:o) Anyway, I believe in change. I believe in pets! Dogs are such beautiful creations. How healing they can be...