Let the grant writing begin!

Last week, on 11/15/2013, we sent our 1-800A to Texas!  We are now entering another waiting period - and this will be our longest period so far.  We have been told we will need to wait 70-90 days before our paperwork will be returned and ready to be certified and then authenticated.  Since this is such a long timeline we need to submit this page separately from the rest of our paperwork because there is a 6-month period that documents can be used before approved by the embassy.  SO - tomorrow is off to the state capital to have 11 documents that have already been notarized in order to be certified by the MN secretary of state.  Then they go to Chicago.  In the meantime we will wait on our I-800A to be returned.  Yesterday in the mail we received my birth certificate which is the first document that is totally ready to go in the dossier.  Sorry - this is pretty dry information, but I am hoping documenting everything here will help me better remember all these details.

Now that our home study is finished and sealed we can begin writing grants and requesting some of the funds to be covered.  We have decided that we don't want to ask family or friends for money - we already have two beautiful children and this is our choice and God's direction to do this.  We are praying and hoping that a few grants are approved.  The more we are able to cover up front the more likely I will be able to take a full three month maternity leave.  Right now my district only offers 2 days that I can utilize my sick days.  Everything else will need to be unpaid.  Yuck!

I feel like I am being patient with this process, and fortunately life is SO busy that I barely have time to keep up with the day-to-day things and "me time" is not really even an option, but I feel my pulse rush a bit everytime I think about my child.  I feel in a way connected to our child, more so than I can really comprehend.  I feel a connection already like when I think and pray for our child that they can feel that.  I hope so.  I hope that when I get goosebumps of excitement our child feels the love we are pouring out.

This month I have been making a point to state one thing I am thankful for each day.  There are so many things I a thankful for, but above all is my faith and my family.  I am so blessed and appreciative of all that God has given me.