1st home visit

Well we officially survived our first home visit!!!!!  This one was actually a very easy visit and it seems the only one that we are dreading is the second one which is already this thursday!!!!  This is the visit where they take you individually and grill you for about an hour and a half each she said....also they don't want the kids in the house as it can be "heavy topics".  All I know is that I don't know what in the world all of this is for....but it's the process and therefore we have to do it!!!!  The first visit she walked thru our house and when we sat down to talk it was basically reasking the questions that we filled out in our paperwork so that was fine.  The only shocking question so far was when she asked about our guardians we chose for our kids in case we die....that was fine as I guess I see why they want to make sure all of that is set up....but hey needed to know what their annual income was.  So are you telling me that they have to meet an ideal income when they are simply stepping in to raise our kids because we have died.....seems crazy to me.  However, they are fully qualified so it all worked out fine!!!!

I also wanted to touch on one of the fundraisers we are doing for an orphanage donation.  I want to first say that we know how the government runs the orphanages and therefore we will use this money the way our agency advises.  Jason's office is going to donate special bottles for babies with cleft lip and palate so that we can give those to the orphanage but there are many needs for baby items.  So if they think we should take the money in china and buy a bunch of formula, bottles, clothes or whatever that is what we will do.  As of now I am just going to start an account that will all be given to them in one fashion or another.  So right now we are selling tshirts specifically designed for this adoption!!!  The outline over the words on front is the outline of China.  The shirts are $20 and yes I know that is quite an expensive tshirt but remember that this money is going to something really great and you get a tshirt in return!!!!!  We spend $20 on things for our kids that will eventually not be appreciated and thrown away......so if that is your hang up I ask that you pray about it and maybe your heart will be opened.  We are so blessed here in our little bubble that it is so hard to even fathom the basic needs not being met for other children.  I remember a mom that I know that returned from getting her daughter in China and she said "we don't have starving kids right here among us so when you feel that in your hands it is so hard to even explain".  You see they aren't starving the kids because they are mean nannies at an orphanage that take out their anger on babies....they are under feeding them because they don't have the means to feed them what they really need.  So I like to say that we are NOT all called to adopt, but we are ALL called to help orphans.....so please consider buying a tshirt for your whole family!!!!  I know it's asking alot but just consider it!!!!  I will attach a picture of the front/back of the tshirt and if you are interested then message me and we can also ship the shirts to you for an additional $2, so NO EXCUSES ;)