Dossier Time!

       Wow!  I've been a bum blogger as of late...but I have a good excuse....I promise!  A few weeks ago, we finally got everything in order to send off to USCIS.  We had to have our completed home study, copies of birth certificates, and marriage certificate all packaged up and sent to U.S. Immigration.  This is actually a BIG deal because once sending of this application, we were told that we could begin working on our dossier paperwork!  Soooooo, for the last couple of weeks, I have been furiously gathering paperwork and getting this thing ready!  The reason we are so excited to be at this stage is that the dossier is the last major thing we do before waiting for a referral of a child!  Now, this does not mean that we send off the dossier and...POOF!....we have a baby.  But, it is the last major step until the wait begins to be matched with our baby.  Basically, for the dossier, we compile this chunk of papers that consists of lots and lots of notarized papers.  (multiple copies of original birth certificates, marriage certificates, references, power of attorney, ...........)  Then, our agency sends this to the courts in Uganda.  After it has been processed, we will go on a waiting list to be matched with a child.  The wait could be a few months or many months, but we know that it is in God's hands. 
       So, as of this moment, we are trying to get all the dossier paperwork together so that we can have it ready when we get our USCIS (Immigration) paperwork back.  Hopefully we will have it ready and can go ahead and send it to our agency and get this thing sent to UGANDA!  I'm so ready to get this baby home!  So for now, I will leave you with this lovely verse that speaks from my heart (found on Etsy).  Although my child is physically in another country,  I have been carrying them in my heart for a very long time.  I'm ready to have them in my arms!

HomeStudy 100% Complete!

Hurray!  Our home study is finally complete!  I feel like this has been a long process for us, and I'm so glad that it is DONE!  We've been finished with the majority of it for awhile, but we just heard word this week that our placing agency has approved everything and will be sending us copies.  Now its time to apply with U.S. immigration and start working on some grants.  I feel like we've been in a "stand still" stage for a few months, and now I'm ready to start moving and doing things again!  As I've mentioned here many times, God is teaching me SO much about myself through this adoption.  And I must admit, patience is not my forte.  But God is teaching me that I can't always make things happen.  Sometimes I just have to be still and wait on His timing and His plan.  Now I'm excited to start the next leg of the journey of this excited path God is leading us on!!!

While We're Waiting

        So, as we all know, adoption involves a lot of waiting.  I'll be the first to admit that it stinks.  When I think about all the children who are without moms and dads in this world and how very much I want to be a mommy to one of those little ones, it makes me angry that it takes so long.  And I'm not the only one who doesn't like the waiting part.  I know that the future grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends of this future Baby Prevatte are having to experience this wait as well.  But when I get mad/upset/emotional/anxious about this wait, I have to take a step back.  I have to force myself to realize a few things:  (A) God is ultimately in control of this entire adoption and loves our baby SO much more than I ever can  (B) A few months of waiting is nothing compared to the lifetime that we will spend soaking up every second with our little one (C) The REAL wait is for those children around the world who are waiting in orphanages for someone to call mom and dad.
        I can only trust that God's timing is perfect and that when we are matched with our little one, it will be the one that God created to be our son or daughter and that we will be the parents that God created for them.  It may not happen in the time table that I want, but its not about my me.  Its about God putting together a unique and wonderful family at just the time that is right.  Not to mention, God is teaching me incredible things about my faith and my walk with Him throughout this entire journey.
       In lieu of these revelations, I have decided to blog on through the waiting.  Instead of only blogging when we hear something new or start another step in the adoption, I'm going to blog about life as we wait.  Do I still want it to happen faster?  YES.  Do I wish that I had something new to share about the adoption each week? YES.  But the fact of the matter is, I don't.  So while I'm waiting, I'm going to enjoy the beautiful people and the beautiful life that God has blessed me with.  Because once the baby is here....things will never be the same again!  (But I'm actually looking forward to that!)
        So, I'm starting by sharing a few pictures of some specials things we have been doing in the past months:

Sleepover with the niece and nephews

Someone's napping in the crib!

Everyone's watching Elmo!

Through the corn maze!

Corn Pit!

Pumpkin picking!

Sunflower maze!

Sophie Turns ONE!!!

Fundraiser bash!

Wow! Last Friday night was SO awesome! I am blown away yet again by how God is continuing to financially provide for our adoption through generous friends, family, and people we've never met before! The silent auction was a hit. So many awesome things were donated! The baked goods were fantastic and lots of friends and family came together to make the whole night run smoothly. The guys that played music were great! Such a fun night! Thanks to everyone who supported us!

Big Bash!

I am so excited about our upcoming fundraiser!  So many people are chipping in to help make it great!  God has blessed us with so many loving people who want to help bring our little one home!  Right now we are planning a super awesome fundraiser featuring live music, delicious homemade baked goods, coffee, adoption t-shirts, and a silent auction full of great gifts!
Here are a few of the details:

When:  Friday, September 28th  6:00 to ?
Where:  Perfect Blend Coffee Shop ~ 1 North Main St. Lexington, NC
What:  Adoption Fundraiser Bash!

• Live music featuring the Ben Scoggin Band 
• Delicious homemade baked good:  biscotti, pumpkin cupcakes, cookies, cakes and more!
• Fresh roasted Ugandan coffee for sale by the pound
• Adoption t-shirts
• Silent auction including some of the following:  
• A catered dinner party for 6
• 24 personalized screen printed t-shirts from BMG
• Salon gift certificates
• Dinner at Main Street Deli
• Oil change from M & L Motor
• Dinner at Sweet Peas
• AND MUCH MUCH MORE!

We can't wait to see you there!  If you or anyone you know would like to donate a silent auction item, please e-mail me or leave a comment here on the blog.  Also, please share this event with your friends and family!  We have flyers that we would love for you to hang up at your workplace or church!  Thanks so much, and we are praying for an awesome night!

Moving Right Along

     Well, last home study meeting is DONE!  The whole process was fantastic and our social worker has been amazing!  I really feel like she's become a friend and confidant through this process.  I feel like our agency really has our back, and that's a good feeling!  Our next steps are to finish up a couple more paperwork items as our agency writes up our home study.  Then, we can apply with immigration and start applying for grants and working on our dossier.
     We are currently working on planning our next big fundraiser (I mentioned a tid-bit about it in my last post).  We are having a big bash at the coffee shop on Friday, September 28th starting at 6:00.  There will be awesome live music, yummy homemade baked goods, coffee and t-shirts, and a silent auction!  We would LOVE to see you there!!!  And if you or someone you know would like to donate a silent auction item, that would be great!  We are looking forward to a fantastic night shared with friends and family who are coming together to help bring our baby home!  I've said it before, but I'll say it again...I am so thankful for all the love and support that our community has poured out on us, and I can't wait to share with our baby how very much they are loved!  I am truly humbled by the wonderful people that God has placed in our life.

Long Overdue

     WOW!  I am a BAD blogger!  I cannot believe that it has been over a month since I've given an update about our adoption!  Sometimes it seems to move so slowly that I don't really need to give an update, but when I look back over the past month, a LOT has actually happened!
     We are currently towards the end of our home study.  We have one more visit to go and a few things to get done around town before we're finished! We're a little bit excited (okay, A LOT!).  I just feel so ready to close this chapter and move on to the next. Not that it has been a bad experience at all!  Our agency has been a dream to work with!  It just seems that once the home study is complete, we can mark that off the list and move on to the next hurdle and round of paperwork.  Our next step after the home study approval will be to apply with U.S. Immigration for approval of our adoption and begin work on our dossier that will be sent to Uganda.  Also, once the home study is complete, we can being applying for grants to help with the cost.
     Currently, we are also in the process of planning another fundraiser (or two!).  We are hoping to have a big fundraiser at the coffee shop in the fall featuring live music, snacks and goodies, and a silent auction.  I would also like to have another yard sale before the weather turns too chilly. (Can you believe its almost time to start thinking about cool weather?!)
     So, what have I been up to this summer besides not blogging?  Here is a little summer photo album:

             4th of July with Family

                    Art Camp with the kiddies!

More art projects from camp!

Working on our future little fellow or lady's nursery!!! 

Thanks to all those that donated things to help out!  It came together so well!!!  I still have some finishing touches to do once we find out gender/age , but I think its looking good!

Beach Trip with my great sister and brother-in-law and their 3 awesome kiddos!