not to us

What a day!  I can't wait to recap it for you all.  It was chock-full of information!  And, in a couple of ways, we're gonna need your help!

Firstly, we found out today that we won't be going to meet Zach, Sarah, and Addai at the airport, so we won't have pictures for you all right away.  I promise, however, that as soon as I have a few (and have the permission to post them), they'll be up here!  :)  I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long.  I know it's very exciting.  The time will be here soon.  Just a little more patience...

With that disappointing news out of the way, I'll tell you the awesome news we learned tonight:

We will most likely be licensed to provide foster care in a month.  A MONTH!  That means we could have our first placement before the Fourth of July.  Holy camoly!  We are stoked.  We're also realizing exactly how much we need to get accomplished in the next couple of weeks.  This is where we might need some help from you.  

So, because I need a place to organize my thoughts, and because I need a central place to garner support and help, here is our current to-do list:

     *  Complete all paperwork
        - Fill out homestudy info
        - Transfer all the homestudy info to the new homestudy packet (no markouts) ;)
        - Copy of Marriage License
        - Copy of Birth Certificates for all household members
        - Copy of Driver's Licenses 
        - Copy of Auto Ins. Policies
        - Copy of First Aid Cards
        - Copy of CPR Cards
        - Copy of Universal Precautions Cards
        - Copy of Pre-Service Training Certificate
        - Copy of Adoption Training Certificate
        - Medical Reports for Mike and I
        - Medical Tool Addendum for Mike and I
        - Copy of Water Bill
        - Financial Profile
        - Documentation of Income and Expenses
           + Copy of Most Recent Pay Stub
           + Copy of Mortgage Bills

     *  Make a copy of all the paperwork (Even copies of copies)

     *  Schedule and Attend all necessary appointments
        - Fingerprinting for FBI and Background Checks  (Scheduled / Completed)
        - Medical Physicals  (Scheduled / Completed)
        - Final Pre-service Training, June 19th  (Scheduled / Completed)

     *  Prepare the house to pass Inspection
        - Purchase and Install Additional Smoke Detectors
        - Purchase and Install Fire Extinguishers (ABC)
           + Kitchen (counts for first floor)
           + Basement
           + 2nd Floor
        - Lock away household poisons and cleaners
        - Lock away medications
        - Paint the chipped corners in downstairs hallways and staircase
        - Patch the hole in master bedroom
        - Clean out "office" and set up new "office" in guest bedroom
        - Move Burke's room into old office
        - Turn Burke's room into new foster care bedroom
           + Purchase a crib and a twin bed plus bed linens for each
           + Purchase a bookshelf, transfer some toys and books to this room
           + Move dresser into this room
              - Clarify whether each child needs their own dresser or their own drawers
        - Sort and organize all of the extra clothing into Age/Sex bins
           + Fill the gaps in any of the basics:
              - Undergarments (onesies for babies)
              - Pajamas
              - One or two outfits for each age and sex
        - Clean home thoroughly

     *  Procure proper means of transportation for six people
        - Sell the Accord?  Trade it in?
           + Fix tiny crack in windshield
           + Get it Detailed
        - Buy a new minivan?  A used minivan?
        - Buy a new infant carseat
        - Buy a new toddler carseat
        - Buy a new booster?

I plan to re-post this list every couple of days and update it with the items that we've completed/accomplished.  :)  It'll help me stay on track, and it'll keep you all in the loop.  

So, how can you help?  (You are not required, in any way, to help us with this mission.  If you would like to help, however, these are a few ways you can get involved.)

*  I need some time to gather all of this paperwork.  I could do it in 1/4 of the time without the kids.  If you could watch them for a couple of hours during the day in the next week or two, that would be awesome.

*  I need some time to clean the house.  If you could watch the kids for a couple of hours while I rearrange furniture and clean things, that would be awesome.  If you just want to come over and put your kids in the playroom with my kids and help me rearrange/clean or just keep me company, that would be awesome too!

*  Our plan is to have the basics (undergarments, pajamas, one or two outfits for each season) for each age and sex on hand.  I simply don't want to have to run out to Wal-mart at 2:00 a.m. when we get a call.  We will be accepting up to two children, age five and under.  If you have any clothes that your children have outgrown in these sizes, we would be SO thankful to accept the hand-me-downs and use them for the children who come through our home.

*  PRAY for us.  Please.  Mike and I know that God is asking our family to care for the orphans in this way.  However, that doesn't mean we feel qualified, prepared, or equipped for this kind of life-change.  

In a matter of six weeks, our family could look completely different.  We could have twice as many children.  We could be back in the sleep deprived newborn stage without the 9-month build-up (or 7-month build-up, in our case).  :)  Or we could have twin 3 year olds plus our three year old and a one year old.  :)  It could get very, very interesting.  

We're not sure what our family will look like, but we're sure we'll love our family.  

We greatly desire your prayers for everyone involved in the situations: us, our children, our children who are in foster care, their parents, and all of the social workers, judges, and attorneys involved.  Prayer changes things.  The love of God changes things.  

We believe that, with your love and support, we can do our best to show the love of God to this community in a way that heals and restores people and brings them to a saving knowledge of their Creator and his plan for their lives.  

Thank you for being the kind of people who will get behind us in prayer.  It's the most important component.

We love you all.