Blessings

 As we are waiting for our home study paperwork to be submitted, we thought it would be fun and maybe helpful to some to tell about some of the ways we have earned money to pay for the home study.
We took Mark and Kyra with us out to the woods and cut up some trees that were down. Of course Mark, Kyra and I  played in the apple orchard while Jordan was cutting the wood, but they enjoyed helping us load it in the truck. We sold the wood to someone that my dad knows. Jordan has continued to bring wood home after work and cut it up at our house to earn a little money. I sold a couple of my rings that I no longer wear and earned some money out of the gold. We have sold a lot of items on craigslist. Our dog that suddenly got pregnant will also earn us a little money as we have a couple people that are willing to pay a little for a puppy. I even detailed a motor cycle to earn some money. We also have been blessed with a couple of friends that have asked me to baby sit for them a few times.We are willing to do anything that we are capable of doing. It seems that God keeps sending things our way.We are so blessed. We have found out that the little amounts of money add up quickly. I get a little teary eyed when something new comes, because I know that God is providing. We can't wait to go meet our little one. Thank you for all of your prayers.

Adoption Information for Costa Rica

     Jordan and I were wondering why more companies didn't work with Costa Rica. Lifeline explained that most places are Hague accredited, and Costa Rica just became Hague accredited. Most adoption agencies only work with Countries that choose to be Hague accredited. This helps protect children while being adopted. We are only the third couple adopting from Costa Rica through lifeline since they became Hague accredited.

     Lifeline has also told us that we will need to stay in Costa Rica for two months when we go to get our child. We are bring Mark and Kyra so that they can see where their father and brother or sister came from. We are really hoping that this two month trip doesn't happen right during apple harvest. Although we would like to get our child as soon as possible. It is very hard to be patient in the waiting process.

     We aren't sure what age of a child we will be bring home at this point. We will not receive any referrals until all of our paper work gets to Costa Rica. What Lifeline has been told is that the majority of internationally adopted children are 5 to 7 years of age. Costa Rica tries to make sure that parents and relatives do not come for the child. That waiting time is about two years. They also try to have the child adopted in Costa Rica before allowing them to be adopted internationally, since Jordan was originally from Costa Rica we may be able to adopt a child without them having to wait for someone living in Costa Rica. We really do not know what will happen because Jordan is from Costa Rica, and Lifeline has no way of know what Costa Rica will choose to do. This is a very new program and we have to be willing to work through anything that comes up.