Rooted in Trefoil to Rooted in Sand

Well, it's 6:45pm on Thursday and I'm feeling mighty accomplished! Just applied for our homestudy through Illini Christian Ministries. Such great people!!! When I was on my search for a Hague Accredited homestudy agency, ICM kept popping up. I read pretty much everything on their website and started correspondence with Dayna, who's their Adoption Specialist. She truly eased my fears, answered all my questions, and provided tons of support - and we weren't even her clients yet!!! So ICM and the Schmidts are going head first into this adoption together, and I couldn't be more excited!!! One step closer to Baby Schmidt!!!! Thankfully, ICM has a 6 month waiting list for home studies...so we probably won't begin ours until Nov/Dec of this year. If we're lucky, we'll get a tax season behind us to assist with the costs. Tyler and I have a lot of paperwork upon us though. Fingerprinting, adoption education, getting certified copies of things.....just a lot a...

As most of you know, adoption is expensive. It is mostly this way, due to the scrutiny of the countries on who is adopting. Its a lot of time and paperwork. We could do this all on our own, but that would take 5 to 6 years just to save and we just don't have that kind of time. We're still hoping we will win the PowerBall. ;-) I was reading one of my favorite bloggers, and she was explaining that it's important to give friends and family the opportunity to be a part of the process in a meaningful way. Too often Tyler and I allow our pride to get in our way and exclude others because we insist on "doing it all by ourselves". Truth is, unless you have $45k sitting in your bank account, you can not do it alone. We have to open up and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. Every blessing that is given, multiplies the love of God to others. Just as you are willing to spread God’s love to others, be more accepting of his love through those that wish to bless you. "...

 This was my morning view, coming out of our development. Absolutely gorgeous! God has really blessed us with natural beauty like this. I can't imagine anyone else, creating something so beautiful. What a blessing!!!! Sadly today we have a visitation to attend. A dear family-friend's mom passed away from illness. We know she's in a much better place and God has her close. She's lived quite a long life, as Tyler had mentioned to me in conversation; she's lived through two Depressions, seven wars, and sixteen sitting Presidents. Wow! What a long life!!! I did not know her well, and our association with her was through Tyler's Uncle. So since Uncle Keith is such a gem of a person, I know his mom was one special pearl. I do hope Keith, his dad, and his siblings can find peace and comfort in this difficult time. If you pray, please send them prayers. Big-but-not-so-big weekend for the Schmidts here on Trefoil St. This weekend, Tyler and I are going to bu...