The Enchantments

So I thought I would show and tell everyone about one of my goals for this Summer. This is a picture of lake Colchuck and the moutain above it is called Asgard Pass. Just over the mountain is a spectacular set of lakes called the Enchantments. They are all glacier filled lakes so they have the same blue and turquoise hue that colchuck does. They are all in a bed of granite rock you can see all the way to the bottom. I haven't been there yet but I have heard and read about it. We plan on going mid-July. Apparently it takes approximately 3 hours to hike up Asgard and its quite a grunt! We plan to camp up there for three nights! Since last Summer I have really gotten into hiking and I really enjoy it. I say this with the risk of being corny but Wow God has created some of the most beautiful things!!!

Questions

After finding out that our file was officially approved by the Thai Red Cross we were told we have anywhere from a year to two years before we get a referral. I am starting to feel discouraged. If anyone out there has any advice or what the wait was for them I would love to hear it. I know that each and every case is different but hearing some encouraging words would be nice right about now! We have already started on our litttle persons room. We our assuming it will be a little boy because that is the majority of healthy babies that come from the Thai Red Cross, but I am waiting to paint because knowing my luck I would paint all boy colors and end up getting a little girl (:

The Wait is on

Well finally we have a little to update everyone on. Everything has gone so smoothly up until our file to Thailand. Our dossier was recieved by the Thai Red Cross on December 31st we had to be formally approved by the Thai board in order to be put on the waiting list. WACAP could not give us a definitive timeline so we waited and prayed. Finally the director of Asian programs for WACAP went over to Bangkok last month and visited with all orphanages. We were then informed that we had been approved in February Woohoo!!! We were also told that our file had gone on to the DSDW. Of course me being me panicked and sent several emails asking what this meant. I thought that maybe some questions had arised about us and that we could possibly be denied. I was told by the Thai coordinator that no Rindy you have already been approved and that the DSDW is like the departmen of social and welfare services here in the states. So everything has to go through them. After reading through the paperwork on the process I am still a bit confused about the whole thing usually your paperwork does not go to the DSDW until they have found a match for you so either they have a child in mind for us right now or I dont know. YIKES I hate not knowing.

So, I dont have much to report in the adoption world other than that are paperwork has been finished and now the program director and coordinator or looking over then to make sure we qualify. We had a very successful adoption fundraiser yard sale this weekend thanks to some family members and friends who donated items. I want you all to know how very much I have appreciated it. We made 800.00 dollars in two days. I was astonished and am in awe and that way God works. I feel with all my heart that he blessed our yard sale ( he knew it was going to a good cause). We actually had a few random people donate money. Its amazing at how special adoption is and that so many people realize that. My brother had his baby today he is 5lbs. He came a month early. His name is Grady John Tontz. He is the most precious thing. I felt nothing but complete love for that little person. It was very hard for me at first wishing that it was me who had just delivered a newborn baby. I felt myself becoming a little envious but my husband said something to me that really meant a lot. He said, "Rindy almost anyone can have a natural baby thats not hard, but not everyone can adopt." In a weird way I felt as if God chose Chris and I for this and that we should feel honored that he believes we can be the couple for the job. It truly sets us apart and I feel makes us unique!

WACAP weekend

This last weekend Chris and I traveled to Seattle and attended a WACAP weekend. WACAP is the adoption agency that we plan to go through. We learned so much about adoption and what to expect when we bring our baby home. After talking with the Thailand program coordinator we decided that we would be open to adopting either a boy or girl. We felt that if we were to have our own biological child we would not get to make a decision on the sex so we have decided to put it into Gods hands. Chris really felt inspired by this weekend and I felt a bit discouraged. There is so much to know about children who have been living in orphanages. So many things from developmental delays to malnutrition. It would bring tears to anyones eyes. Although it was hard I know more than ever that this is the path that God has choosen for Chris and I and I cant imagine doing anything else. Please pray for Chris and I that are homestudy is approved quickly and that we can get the adoption ball rolling.

Thailand Adoption Video

This is a video I found from youtube of a girl who volunteered her time in a an orphanage in Thailand. It is really neat!

Great Friends

Today Chris started his first day on the force. What a man!!! He is working from 4:00 pm to 4:00 am. Good thing I am not scared of the dark ): I do have my dogs to protect me though. So, I do have to give a shout out to my wonderful supportive friend Tami May. You guys are not going to believe what she did for me. She sent me a little package with a card, and a childrens book about adoption the title is "Tell Me About the Night I was Born". As soon as I read it I bawled. What an amazing and thoughtful gift. It will be perfect to read to our child when we get her. For all of you out there who are adopting this book is perfect.