Shopping!

This is the bedding set that we ordered for our girls today. Now that we actually know who our children are going to be, it is time to shop! The first thing that Raylene wants to do is to get the girls bedroom ready so that we can take pictures. We are able to send them a photo book so they will be able to see the house and their room before they come home. Raylene has already spent many hours the past few days looking at different bedding sets online (the actual shopping excursion last Saturday didn't prove fruitful). After much deliberation a choice has been made that both of us are really happy with ... we really hope that the girls like it too! We found the sets on sale and we were able to get free shipping, which makes it all the sweeter. Once the bedding has arrived, we will be able to pick out a paint color for the bedroom. Oh, let the fun begin!

Last Day!

Today is Patrick's last day of work at Utah State University. I am so glad that we will be living in the same house again, it has been a long 6 weeks! He still has his part-time telecommuting job with Instaproofs, and we are still on the lookout for the elusive full time employment. Life really has a way of being completely unpredictable. We need to find something that offers group insurance so that our girls will be covered. I sometimes become discouraged about the job situation, as it is not good to be looking in this economy, but I try to continue to have faith that this is where we are supposed to be and therefore something will work out. On a much better note - Patrick will be here, to stay, tonight!!!!!!

Hello Ethiopia! We are the Millers

We received an e-mail telling us that CHI has received our referral acceptance packet today. They are now informing our Ethiopian representative and coordinator! Our dossier will next go through more entities for approval before our case goes to court in country. We are told that the process usually takes about 8 weeks. During that time the dossier will be translated, authenticated, reviewed by the MOWA (Ministry of Women's Affairs) and a summary report written. We probably won't find out our court day for several weeks. It is amazing how things are just moving along. Every day is one day closer to meeting our girls. We can't wait to be able to post their pictures so that you can all see how precious they are.

No Longer Homeless

Today we had a successful closing on our home! Yay!!! Now the real work begins. Drywall, electrical wiring, painting, repairs, and LOTS of cleaning, but it is worth it! Our home is a 4BR, 2BA and we already have the girls' room picked out. Raylene's favorite feature is the kitchen - nice and big. Patrick's favorite is the wide 2 car garage. Once we get the inside ready we will have to get an updated home study which we will hand carry with us to Ethiopia. It seems like there is always one more thing to get done! But really, that is a blessing because the time just keeps flying by and we are beginning to think that we will be throwing things in our suitcases as we rush out the door to catch our plane in a few months. When we get the house ready we will start on the yard, it needs more grass and less weeds! We should be getting the keys tomorrow and then it will feel more real. Patrick will be driving back to Logan for his final 4 days working at the University of Utah. We are both looking forward to being able to live in the same house after being separated for almost 7 weeks. We are so very grateful to Raylene's sister, Shiloa, for letting up live in her craft room during the move and while we fix up the house - she is amazing!

We Offically say "YES!!!"

The two beautiful girls that we have been falling more and more in love with everyday are going to be ours! As if any of you doubted, we offically signed the acceptance paperwork today! I still can't believe how fast this is all happening, but I'm sure we will be ready in time. Can you believe it, we have two daughters who are waiting for us in Ethiopia!

On another note, our house that was supposed to be closing today, didn't happen. We are now rescheduled for "sometime" on Monday. Patrick will have to take another day off work and we won't be able to start on any of the projects we had hoped to do this weekend. I have to say that working with the adoption world has made me a little more flexible (not to say that I like it that way or that I enjoy it any better). Here's to praying for good things to happen on Monday.