Cannot begin to tell you the excitement we are feeling! Yesterday afternoon we mailed our official dossier with two copies to AGCI! I'm updating from my phone, so I'm unable to put pictures with this, but I'll attach them as soon as possible. The dossier will arrive at AGCI on Monday. They usually approve dossiers on Fridays. This Friday is a holiday, as well as the next, so might not hear anything until the first of the year. Once approved (meaning we completed everything in the dossier correctly), we will be put on the official waiting list! It is such a wonderful feeling to have all of the paperwork done! Woo hoo! A wonderful Christmas present - being that much closer to "j"!!!!
Merry Christmas and many blessings,
Ashley
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
We've come a long way, baby!
Whoo Hoo! We have completed all of the paperwork and education for our dossier!
Happy times as we complete "Eyes Wide Open" adoption education notebook!
As you can see, the notebook is pretty thick. Every page had
questions and every question in the book had to be answered.
So excited to be done with all documents needed, 7 on-line education classes, "Eyes Wide Open" notebook, and home study requirements! Now we are waiting for our social worker to complete the home study report. Hopefully that will be in the next few days! Then we will be able to send the dossier and three copies to our Adoption Agency. Once they make sure we have completed everything they need, we will be put on the official waiting list for a child! Please pray that we have crossed every "t" and dotted every "i". Merry Christmas to all!
Blessings,
Ashley
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Crazy How Time Flies!
Okay - no excuse for how long it's been since I last blogged - but time has escaped me!
The Dill Family has been busy! Thanksgiving was wonderful, shared with family and friends. David's parents and brother's family came the Tuesday before T-Day and we shared golf and fun together! It was fun to has our niece, Emma, participate in the annual "stuffing of the Turkey".
Watson and Conner have "been there, done that", but Emma wasn't
sure she like putting apple inside the Turkey!
Evanne made some "Turkey" cupcakes (with a little help from her brother and cousins!)
Not all of us made the annual hike for the "Boulevard Bolt" this year, but Poppie, Chris, Evanne and David braved the unusually warm weather and early morning start.
After fun times with the Dill-side of the family, we headed to Hendersonville with some fun with the Hall-side of the family! What a feast!
Keightley house in Hendersonville - Yum!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! The good food and remembered blessings are so wonderful. God has surely blessed us! It's nice to have a day of thanksgiving with those you love the most. I wish every holiday could be that way! Seems like it almost gets squeezed out between Halloween and Christmas hoopla.
ADOPTION UPDATE
We are almost there as far as the adoption goes!!!!! We had our last Home Study visit by our case worker on Monday evening. She needs to write "our story" and what she's observed (about 10-12 pages). Once she is done with that, we are ready to turn in our dossier! Yes - we have all of the paperwork done! So, hopefully you will get an update from me next week saying that we mailed the dossier off! Don't know if it can happen, but hope to be put on the official waiting list by the end of next week! Whoo Hoo! Thanks again for your love , prayers and support as we take this journey together!
My sweet friend, Betsy, went with me to get the last document County and State Certified!
To celebrate having our last bit of paperwork done, we took the kids on a mystery lunch to a local Ethiopian Restaurant. We enjoyed the whole experience! Watson was the only one not too wild about the food, although he did say the green beans and beef tips were pretty good. The rest of us liked the green beans, beef stew and dora wet (chicken in red sauce). The enjura (bread) is not our favorite, however. None of us were wild about the mushed chickpeas either! Evanne, David and I LOVED the traditional coffee, though. Watson was definitely glad to see Jersey Mike's down the street!
GOJO
Before
After
It was a fun time and I'm sure we will make it a monthly eat-out! Hope some of you will be brave enough to join us!
Slow down and take a deep breath. God loves you!
Ashley
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Getting there!
It's been a long time since I blogged. Sorry - life is crazy! Between out-of-town trips, church gatherings, travel soccer and school, we are trying to complete this paperwork. Good news - the home study paperwork is completed! Evanne and I literally jumped up and down when I put the documents in the envelope to take to Catholic Charities! (Evanne was VERY instrumental in keeping mom and dad on task to get everything completed. Her encouragement is priceless!)
One step closer to J! By the way, if you are wondering what the "j" stands for, it stands for the name of the child. Watson has named a boy and Evanne has named a girl and both names begin with "J". Not telling the name yet, as we don't know who God is bringing to us! (Of course, we will keep their given name, as well. )
Now that our home Study paperwork is done, we have to meet with our Caseworker two more times before she will write our official "home study". Then all that gets notarized and we will send it in with our Dossier to our adoption agency.
We will continue to concentrate our efforts on the Dossier. We have completed most of the paperwork, but still need to complete the on-line education and "Eyes Wide Open" book. Two time consuming things, but we are getting there! We will keep the "notary" busy once everything is complete, as EVERYTHING has to be notarized!
Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. We are definitely feeling your prayers and appreciating your support!!! Please continue to pray that we do not get side-tracked in the process. It's easy to have "filling out another form" become low priority. We are SO excited about the end result, though!
May God bless you today,
Ashley
Doesn't look like much...but a lot of forms to fill-out and questions to answer
One step closer to J! By the way, if you are wondering what the "j" stands for, it stands for the name of the child. Watson has named a boy and Evanne has named a girl and both names begin with "J". Not telling the name yet, as we don't know who God is bringing to us! (Of course, we will keep their given name, as well. )
Now that our home Study paperwork is done, we have to meet with our Caseworker two more times before she will write our official "home study". Then all that gets notarized and we will send it in with our Dossier to our adoption agency.
We will continue to concentrate our efforts on the Dossier. We have completed most of the paperwork, but still need to complete the on-line education and "Eyes Wide Open" book. Two time consuming things, but we are getting there! We will keep the "notary" busy once everything is complete, as EVERYTHING has to be notarized!
Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. We are definitely feeling your prayers and appreciating your support!!! Please continue to pray that we do not get side-tracked in the process. It's easy to have "filling out another form" become low priority. We are SO excited about the end result, though!
May God bless you today,
Ashley
Monday, October 25, 2010
Nothing New
Not much to update. We are still working through the paperwork. We are not moving very fast! (Please see the prayer list at the end of this blog.) David and I got our physicals last week. That was a BIG deal, as David cannot stand going to the doctor. He braved it out, though, and found that he is healthy and ready to be a father to a new child! Again, all of this is moving us one step closer to our son or daughter in Ethiopia! I'm just so excited! Some days I wonder what David and I are thinking. Other days, I cannot wipe the smile from my face. God has given me a deep joy about this! We are continuing to try to move in HIS will. That is the only way we know how...
Please continue to pray for our journey. Here are some specifics you can pray for us:
-that our child is surrounded by love
-that our child is healthy and growing strong
-that David and I don't get bogged down in the paperwork. It really can be overwhelming at times, especially when life at our home/work is demanding and busy
-pray that in the mist of our busyness, God will show Himself mighty, that we will continue to seek His will in our lives, and that we can truly REST in Him.
-He has been so faithful in our lives! We need prayer to be faithful back.
-that God's timing will be made true and the two trips we will need to make to Ethiopia will be right when they need to be!
We are so grateful for your prayers and support! We love you all! God's blessings to you!
Ashley
Please continue to pray for our journey. Here are some specifics you can pray for us:
-that our child is surrounded by love
-that our child is healthy and growing strong
-that David and I don't get bogged down in the paperwork. It really can be overwhelming at times, especially when life at our home/work is demanding and busy
-pray that in the mist of our busyness, God will show Himself mighty, that we will continue to seek His will in our lives, and that we can truly REST in Him.
-He has been so faithful in our lives! We need prayer to be faithful back.
-that God's timing will be made true and the two trips we will need to make to Ethiopia will be right when they need to be!
We are so grateful for your prayers and support! We love you all! God's blessings to you!
Ashley
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Paperwork
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
God Moment!
Yesterday - in the gale-force winds and rain, David and I went to get our fingerprints at the Metro Jail downtown. It was a little strange...just glad we were getting fingerprinted for this reason instead of another!
I went to the post office today to mail our two sets (one for AGCI and one for our Home Agency). I had to get a money order for both, as well as a tracking number. So, at the end of it all, I had four small receipts and a piece of 81/2 x 11 paper. As I turned to leave I thought to myself, "I really need a paperclip to hold all these items together so I don't loose anything. Post Offices don't have containers of paperclips lying around, but it would be cool if God dropped one on the counter for me." No sooner had I thought that when - passing the main counter - I did not see one. However, I rounded the corner and tucked behind a display was sitting a paperclip! How cool is that?!?!? Now, some might call that coincidence, but I call that a God moment! I laughed out loud and praised God for His reassurance! I have asked for prayer about God being in the details. I have no doubt that at that moment someone was praying exactly that for us and God provided in a mighty way. Who thought a paperclip could bring so much joy? He is in even the littlest of things! AMEN!
I went to the post office today to mail our two sets (one for AGCI and one for our Home Agency). I had to get a money order for both, as well as a tracking number. So, at the end of it all, I had four small receipts and a piece of 81/2 x 11 paper. As I turned to leave I thought to myself, "I really need a paperclip to hold all these items together so I don't loose anything. Post Offices don't have containers of paperclips lying around, but it would be cool if God dropped one on the counter for me." No sooner had I thought that when - passing the main counter - I did not see one. However, I rounded the corner and tucked behind a display was sitting a paperclip! How cool is that?!?!? Now, some might call that coincidence, but I call that a God moment! I laughed out loud and praised God for His reassurance! I have asked for prayer about God being in the details. I have no doubt that at that moment someone was praying exactly that for us and God provided in a mighty way. Who thought a paperclip could bring so much joy? He is in even the littlest of things! AMEN!
Ordinary Hero Fallapalooza!
Evanne and I went to Fallapalooza, a fundraiser for Ordinary Hero. We met up with Chris, Michelle, Connor and Emma. Evanne had a great time with her precious cousin!
Evanne and Emma
Rockin' out to Shoof
Friday, October 8, 2010
Adoption Planner
We received our Adoption Planner from All God's Children, Inc. yesterday in the mail! The kids were ecstatic!
Once we fill these papers out, along with fingerprinting, paperwork from Catholic Charities (Home Study Ageny), three more home studies, etc., etc., then we can be put on the waiting list for our child! It is very exciting, but a lot of work. The kids are trying to keep us on task. The first exercise was to draw a picture of what we thought our child would look like. We got a lot of laughs out of that one, as I am not an artist (but am better at it then David)! The kids want us to be finished with all the paperwork NOW. "One day at a time," I say. Pray that I will stay diligent, as life is busy right now.
Once we fill these papers out, along with fingerprinting, paperwork from Catholic Charities (Home Study Ageny), three more home studies, etc., etc., then we can be put on the waiting list for our child! It is very exciting, but a lot of work. The kids are trying to keep us on task. The first exercise was to draw a picture of what we thought our child would look like. We got a lot of laughs out of that one, as I am not an artist (but am better at it then David)! The kids want us to be finished with all the paperwork NOW. "One day at a time," I say. Pray that I will stay diligent, as life is busy right now.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Beginning...
Well, I'm still trying to figure things out, so understand this is a work in progress! I sit and READ, punch buttons, READ some more, delete, READ it again, and still cannot seem to put script and pictures where I want them! Good thing that I have a fourteen-year-old who not only thinks she knows it all, but actually does know it all! She sat down and created this awesome blog in about an hour. Her last comment to me was, "If you need anything Mom, just call me." I think she's afraid I'll mess up all of her hard work!!!
It's hard to believe that I am sitting at the computer entering my first blog about our adoption process! Our journey to J actually began in April 2007. As a family, we traveled with Kids Across America (KAA) to Rwanda. What an amazing experience! God put a soft spot in our hearts for the beautiful people of Africa. He put an extra soft spot in Evanne's heart for the orphans. She began talking to us about adoption for our family. It did not take long for her to get her brother on board with the idea. The two of them together were quite persuasive! Still, David and I were very much stiff-arming the idea. Adoption had never been on our radar screen!
Well, as the story goes, it may not have been on our radar screen, but it was on God's! He used Evanne and Watson over the years to melt our hearts. What do you say when your child says, "If you can give a child who doesn't have a home a home, and you can love them and show them the love of Jesus, why wouldn't you do that?" Not much! Soon it became clear to me that I needed to live the life I proclaimed to live.
I'm not a really adventurous soul, so God has to continually poke and prod me. In January 2010, He really started laying it on! Several things were introduced to my life in a sequence of events. I was in a book club at my church and read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Talk about hitting me between the eyes with a 2x4! (Being "luke warm and spit out" by God is not something I desire!) Then He put in our path the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia on a Medical Mission trip in April. Again, David and I closed the idea because it was not spring break for our kids. But, as everyone knows, you cannot stop God! He once again used Evanne. She was relentless about going, so, you guessed it, she and I went. What an amazing experience! Brandon Heath's song kept playing in my mind while there: "Give Me Your Eyes". Again, God's power working in my life. Through much prayer and soul searching and rustling with God, I finally woke up to realize that God is in control - so I need to start trusting His leading! Again, how slow can I be??
I came back from Ethiopia with God's resolve and peace in my heart. God had three of us on board, now He had to work on David. Not an easy task. David is a black and white guy. It is difficult for both of us to upset the apple cart, so to speak. God has blessed us in amazing ways! We have a comfortable life with two beautiful, healthy children. He has blessed us with wonderful extended family and great opportunities! So...why adopt? That's crazy talk!
God spoke and finally got through. He said, "Why not? Your excuses limit my power in your life." He laid on my heart His word in Luke 6, verse 46, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I say?" Again, he used a book to speak deep into my soul: "Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Sterns. Please read this book. It will change your life!
As they say, the rest is history! David announced to the family in late July that he was willing to start finding out more information. His prayer was that God would make the process so easy and smooth that we could not deny that it is His will. So far, as usual, He's been faithful in answering that prayer! Not that we expected anything less from Almighty God! To Him be the Glory forever and ever! AMEN!
So, that is how I came to start this blog. I hope our journey will encourage and inspire each of you in the calling God has placed in your life. Be all in!
Blessing,
Ashley
It's hard to believe that I am sitting at the computer entering my first blog about our adoption process! Our journey to J actually began in April 2007. As a family, we traveled with Kids Across America (KAA) to Rwanda. What an amazing experience! God put a soft spot in our hearts for the beautiful people of Africa. He put an extra soft spot in Evanne's heart for the orphans. She began talking to us about adoption for our family. It did not take long for her to get her brother on board with the idea. The two of them together were quite persuasive! Still, David and I were very much stiff-arming the idea. Adoption had never been on our radar screen!
Well, as the story goes, it may not have been on our radar screen, but it was on God's! He used Evanne and Watson over the years to melt our hearts. What do you say when your child says, "If you can give a child who doesn't have a home a home, and you can love them and show them the love of Jesus, why wouldn't you do that?" Not much! Soon it became clear to me that I needed to live the life I proclaimed to live.
I'm not a really adventurous soul, so God has to continually poke and prod me. In January 2010, He really started laying it on! Several things were introduced to my life in a sequence of events. I was in a book club at my church and read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Talk about hitting me between the eyes with a 2x4! (Being "luke warm and spit out" by God is not something I desire!) Then He put in our path the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia on a Medical Mission trip in April. Again, David and I closed the idea because it was not spring break for our kids. But, as everyone knows, you cannot stop God! He once again used Evanne. She was relentless about going, so, you guessed it, she and I went. What an amazing experience! Brandon Heath's song kept playing in my mind while there: "Give Me Your Eyes". Again, God's power working in my life. Through much prayer and soul searching and rustling with God, I finally woke up to realize that God is in control - so I need to start trusting His leading! Again, how slow can I be??
I came back from Ethiopia with God's resolve and peace in my heart. God had three of us on board, now He had to work on David. Not an easy task. David is a black and white guy. It is difficult for both of us to upset the apple cart, so to speak. God has blessed us in amazing ways! We have a comfortable life with two beautiful, healthy children. He has blessed us with wonderful extended family and great opportunities! So...why adopt? That's crazy talk!
God spoke and finally got through. He said, "Why not? Your excuses limit my power in your life." He laid on my heart His word in Luke 6, verse 46, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I say?" Again, he used a book to speak deep into my soul: "Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Sterns. Please read this book. It will change your life!
As they say, the rest is history! David announced to the family in late July that he was willing to start finding out more information. His prayer was that God would make the process so easy and smooth that we could not deny that it is His will. So far, as usual, He's been faithful in answering that prayer! Not that we expected anything less from Almighty God! To Him be the Glory forever and ever! AMEN!
So, that is how I came to start this blog. I hope our journey will encourage and inspire each of you in the calling God has placed in your life. Be all in!
Blessing,
Ashley
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