One step closer

We had our first home visit with our social worker, Bonnie, today. It went well and only lasted 2 hours. She basically just sat down with us in the living room and went over the 16 pages of questions each of us had to fill out and clarify some information and go over the process. She will come back on Thursday because she is require to do 2 home visits and at that point we will go over some more information and give her a tour of the house.

Then, over the next couple of weeks we will be in contact via phone if she has any more questions as she writes out the home study. We get to review the rough draft before she sends it on to Korea. After it is submitted we get in line and WAIT! As we get closer to being matched we can have Bonnie check on our place in line and, once we get matched it will still be another 4-6 months before all the paper work is ready and our baby can fly here. She said that we will get the travel call and then it is only a matter of days before our baby is on a plane and in our waiting arms. It will be a year (or more) until that happens, so we need to find things to occupy our time (inexpensive things that is)!

Once our home study is complete then I can start applying for grants and loans to help pay for the adoption. I am hoping to qualify for at least one other grant besides the one that Patrick's work will give us. We do get a refund from the IRS but cannot file for it until the tax year that the adoption is complete. So most likely by April of 2011 we will get the refund. That seems like FOREVER from now! As always I appreciate your prayers and thank you for following along with us on the journey.

I know some of my blog readers but would love to know who is popping in from time to time. Leave me a message and let me know! OK, I am going to head towards my bed in the hopes of a good night of sleep!

I'm not perfect...

...and neither is my house. But it does look cute and organized! I am tired and have been working for hours to get the house ready for the 1st home visit tomorrow. My 10 year old neighbor, Anna, came over and helped me decorate the house for Christmas. She is such an amazingly mature 10 year old. It is snowing outside but we aren't supposed to get too much accumulation so hopefully everything will still be on for tomorrow. OK, I just wanted to update you on my progress. I will post more after the visit tomorrow.

Our home visits!

I was just sitting around watching TV tonight when I got a call from our social worker, Bonnie! Our home visits are scheduled for next week. The first is on Tuesday the 9th @ 9:30am and the second on Thursday the 11th @ 9:30am! YEAH!! I am so nervous now, I totally need to clean my house! I am so excited!!!