FBI Fingerprinting - Done!

In my preadoption reading, I found mention after mention that the longest part of the adoption process is waiting for the FBI clearance. I felt for sure that our home study was going to be held up by the FBI fingerprinting results. I was wrong!

Jeff and I made an appointment to get digitally fingerprinted today at noon. We showed up 15 minutes early and were both done before our scheduled appointment times. By the time we arrived home, we had emails stating that our FBI results were available for download. We cleared the fingerprinting check!

I wasn't expecting anything to show up on the record but the appointment website said we'd have results in 3-5 business days. I'm absolutely positive this is not the same fingerprinting that normally takes 4-12 weeks. We'll probably have to get an additional fingerprinting clearance done after the home study is approved. That one will take longer. But for now, we're gathering clearances and paperwork faster than I had originally anticipated.

Now we're just waiting to see if my birth certificate arrives faster than the predicted 96 business days...

It's the little things that count, right?

The mess of cables

Bruno - "I get to help, right?"

Getting ready for cable management!

Hubby working hard

Bruno - "Yup, looks like you're doing a good job."

Much better!

I'm not thrilled with the entertainment center as it reminds me of my college days. But it was cheap and it keeps everything off the floor. There's nowhere else we can put hubby's server, as it needs to be plugged into the network.

Hubby scrunched up his nose when I suggested a quilted table runner across the top of the entertainment center. Is there anything I can do to make it look more warm and inviting?

96 business days!?!?

I know I've been posting a lot about the adoption lately but it's the primary focus in our lives right now! We have lots to do now so that we can sit and wait for approvals later.

Yesterday we went to Walgreens and got passport photos taken. My husband just needs a passport renewal so he was able to mail off his application. I'm applying for my first passport so my process is a bit more involved. I have to order a copy of my birth certificate in order to submit my passport application. I also need a birth certificate for our home study.

96 business days.

Yes. The wait time for my birth certificate is currently 96 business days.

I am not happy. I thought our home study would get held up waiting for our FBI clearances. We have appointments to get fingerprinted on Tuesday. Instead, our home study is probably going to be waiting for a certified copy of my birth certificate! Now I wish I had ordered one earlier.

While we hurry up and wait, I've continued my deep cleaning. Our kitchen is now spotless! I scrubbed everything. I cleaned out the cupboards and decluttered and reorganized. I scrubbed the fridge. And the oven. And the floor. It's so pretty!

Is this the adoption version of nesting? I don't have much money to spend on making our home pretty or buying things for our daughter. Right now, almost all of our money is getting deposited into the adoption fund. Once that is fully funded, then we can make the house pretty. We did set aside a bit of money to buy a cheap entertainment center, as our modem and blu-ray player and Wii are all sitting on the floor. We're also going shopping Sunday for a cheap floor lamp for our bedroom and a trash can for the pantry. Stuff we'd been doing without but now want to have so that we can show the social worker that our home is more inviting. Little things, but I think they'll make a big difference.

I'm guessing that April is when we'll be able to start buying furniture and clothes and such for our daughter. Our daughter. I just love those words. :)

Blessings in disguise

We have been finding a LOT of spiders in our house lately. I had the unfortunate experience of sorting laundry on two separate occasions and seeing a spider scurry out from our laundry pile. Yup, we are definitely in need of a closed hamper. At that moment, it was confirmed that I scream like a girl.

Yesterday, Jeff called our pest control company and told them we're starting to see an influx of spiders. Our normally scheduled visit is in about three weeks. They said they would come out today and spray for us. Yay!

When they got here, our bug guy sprayed really well and said that we might be seeing a few more spiders since it is prime spider season here. On the way out the door, he said this visit counted as a return visit instead of a normally scheduled one. Our pest control company has a policy that if they have to return and spray a second time, the visit is free. I assumed we'd be paying in full since we have a visit coming up next month. Nope!

What a blessing. Today we started the paperchasing process of the home study and the free pest control visit freed up $80 for other things. Like passport photos. And certified birth certificates. Yup, we're definitely chasing that paper now!

Some of the best words ever

From our placement agency - "We are ok with your going ahead with your plans to adopt an older child."

Praise the Lord! This is one of the big hurdles we've been working on, trying to figure out if we can get agency pre-approval to move forward with our adoption plans. Of course, we still have to get approval from our social worker and get a home study written that reflects our desire to adopt an older child.

Now we just have to finalize our decision on which social worker or home study agency to use and we can get started with our home study.

I am absolutely thrilled!!

Memory Work

I really enjoyed learning Psalm 16. It was such a blessing to concentrate on a psalm of praise and prayer to God. I wasn't sure which chapter I wanted to start on next until I came across this verse in the last novel I finished.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened:
and their faces were not ashamed."
This verse is part of Psalm 34 and the entire Psalm is beautiful. This week I'll start memorizing verses 1 and 2.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

I will bless the Lord at all times. He has guided me so much these past few weeks and I am continually reminded to lean on Him.

Have you been blessed by a particular verse lately?

Never thought I'd hear...

MIL: "What are you reading right now?"
Husband: "Parenting books!"

Praise the Lord. :)