So, there's been a few shakeups in the Hall household. We definitely need your prayers, though I'm not going to go into a lot of details here. I will be silent for awhile, I'm sure, until there is a referral or I have good news to report on other fronts. I hope you all forgive me for not writing, but it is going to be difficult.
Pray for peace, pray for understanding (for everybody), and pray for his will to be done, which will hopefully lead us in the right direction.
I am trying to remain secure in the fact that he led us in this calling for a purpose, even if I don't know what that purpose was.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Post-Conference
Right, so the conference call was very enlightening in a strange sort of non-enlightening way. You're right, that makes no sense, but there you go.
We received an email indicating that there will most likely be no infant referrals in October and Duni stressed that on the call. The orphanges are full and some of the kids need to leave in order for them to bring more in, so our group on the 25th is critical to more referrals. I suppose that makes sense.
If we get a referral in the beginning of November, we should expect to travel in January, which is doable for me but hard for Marc. He's got a tradeshow every week that month, so things might get a little crazy for him. We'll figure it out, though, as we always have done.
Duni also said that, in light of the fee increase at the beginning of November, they might revisit those fees for those of us who should be expecting a referral this month. They do not want their integrity questioned, which is a good idea. I think, though, even if we get a fee break, we will probably make a donation to the transition home anyway. The money is needed for the children and if we have it, we should give it. We'll see how that all pans out.
I feel better now. Not really more relaxed, but a bit more in the know without really knowing anything. Weird how that feels.
We received an email indicating that there will most likely be no infant referrals in October and Duni stressed that on the call. The orphanges are full and some of the kids need to leave in order for them to bring more in, so our group on the 25th is critical to more referrals. I suppose that makes sense.
If we get a referral in the beginning of November, we should expect to travel in January, which is doable for me but hard for Marc. He's got a tradeshow every week that month, so things might get a little crazy for him. We'll figure it out, though, as we always have done.
Duni also said that, in light of the fee increase at the beginning of November, they might revisit those fees for those of us who should be expecting a referral this month. They do not want their integrity questioned, which is a good idea. I think, though, even if we get a fee break, we will probably make a donation to the transition home anyway. The money is needed for the children and if we have it, we should give it. We'll see how that all pans out.
I feel better now. Not really more relaxed, but a bit more in the know without really knowing anything. Weird how that feels.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
A Bit Bummed
How ironic that my post about being bummed follows the thankful post. Just goes to show how the emotions are roller-coastering (yes, I know that's not a word).
We don't have a referral yet and Duni is out of the office today. I know, I know, she said the end of the month, but a girl can hope, right?
I'm a bit bummed because they sent out the next travel dates for the families with referrals already. Not that they have their travel dates, don't get me wrong. That's AWESOME!
What I'm bummed about is we were really hoping to travel maybe before Christmas and the travel dates encompass a group leaving on December 5th. Since we don't have a referral yet, it looks like we won't travel until January at the earliest, which means we really need to get our homestudy redone. *sigh* There's another $550 to spend, not to metion the new fees for the program. I know God will provide, but that doesn't take the stress away some days.
For those of you traveling, I am SO HAPPY for you and I look forward to sending something along for my son when you go.
Now if I could just get a referral...
We don't have a referral yet and Duni is out of the office today. I know, I know, she said the end of the month, but a girl can hope, right?
I'm a bit bummed because they sent out the next travel dates for the families with referrals already. Not that they have their travel dates, don't get me wrong. That's AWESOME!
What I'm bummed about is we were really hoping to travel maybe before Christmas and the travel dates encompass a group leaving on December 5th. Since we don't have a referral yet, it looks like we won't travel until January at the earliest, which means we really need to get our homestudy redone. *sigh* There's another $550 to spend, not to metion the new fees for the program. I know God will provide, but that doesn't take the stress away some days.
For those of you traveling, I am SO HAPPY for you and I look forward to sending something along for my son when you go.
Now if I could just get a referral...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Thankful
It's been very hard for me to blog lately, since there is no news. Of course, there's no bad news, either, so it's just a lack of things to write about.
Today, though, Kim Kulp has challenged us to write about what we are thankful for, so that has inspired me.
First off, I am deeply saddened again by the loss of another child to pneumonia. Etsegenet Forrest was brought home to God on Saturday and sits with Him, and all we can do is to pray for understanding. The Forrest family has been very present in my prayers lately.
But back to thankful. I am thankful for the support and the love that I can feel coming from the other members of the Yahoogroups list. We are all God's family, but this group has been so essential in helping its members through the process that I have no idea where we would be without it. Every single member contributes with prayers and support and its amazing. All of you are truly blessings from heaven.
I am thankful for my family, my husband and daughter, my parents, and my uncles, aunts, cousins, and in-laws. Again, there is a lot of support to be had in hard times and I can feel how much they want us to succeed. It's humbling to know there are so many people on your side.
And I am thankful for God. I know that I need to place my trust in him, even during the hardest of times when faith is in short supply. My cousin Amy reminded me of that this morning. When things seem very bleak, that's the time you need to trust most of all and that is no mean feat. Thank you, Amy, for putting things bit more into perspective for me.
(and now for a small silly story)
This morning I was lazy. I stayed in bed until I heard my daughter get up and then waited for her to come and get me instead of going to get her. I heard her door open, and I expected small feet to pad to our bedroom, but instead, I heard some clanking around and then realized she was going to the bathroom by herself. She went, flushed, and washed her hands before walking down the hall. Just as she came into the bedroom, the phone rang.
"I'll get it, mommy" said her little voice, and sure enough, that's just what she did. Not only did she pick up the phone, but she pressed talk and said "Hello? Hi Daddy. Mommy is in bed." And then she brought the phone to me.
It's amazing how much of a little person she is becoming. And I am thankful for that, too.
In fact, I'm thankful to be alive and to have the things I have. I have a house, I have a family, a car, a computer to write this, a phone, food to feed us, and heat to warm us up. And that is a vast amount more than others have.
Thank you, Kim. I needed this today.
Today, though, Kim Kulp has challenged us to write about what we are thankful for, so that has inspired me.
First off, I am deeply saddened again by the loss of another child to pneumonia. Etsegenet Forrest was brought home to God on Saturday and sits with Him, and all we can do is to pray for understanding. The Forrest family has been very present in my prayers lately.
But back to thankful. I am thankful for the support and the love that I can feel coming from the other members of the Yahoogroups list. We are all God's family, but this group has been so essential in helping its members through the process that I have no idea where we would be without it. Every single member contributes with prayers and support and its amazing. All of you are truly blessings from heaven.
I am thankful for my family, my husband and daughter, my parents, and my uncles, aunts, cousins, and in-laws. Again, there is a lot of support to be had in hard times and I can feel how much they want us to succeed. It's humbling to know there are so many people on your side.
And I am thankful for God. I know that I need to place my trust in him, even during the hardest of times when faith is in short supply. My cousin Amy reminded me of that this morning. When things seem very bleak, that's the time you need to trust most of all and that is no mean feat. Thank you, Amy, for putting things bit more into perspective for me.
(and now for a small silly story)
This morning I was lazy. I stayed in bed until I heard my daughter get up and then waited for her to come and get me instead of going to get her. I heard her door open, and I expected small feet to pad to our bedroom, but instead, I heard some clanking around and then realized she was going to the bathroom by herself. She went, flushed, and washed her hands before walking down the hall. Just as she came into the bedroom, the phone rang.
"I'll get it, mommy" said her little voice, and sure enough, that's just what she did. Not only did she pick up the phone, but she pressed talk and said "Hello? Hi Daddy. Mommy is in bed." And then she brought the phone to me.
It's amazing how much of a little person she is becoming. And I am thankful for that, too.
In fact, I'm thankful to be alive and to have the things I have. I have a house, I have a family, a car, a computer to write this, a phone, food to feed us, and heat to warm us up. And that is a vast amount more than others have.
Thank you, Kim. I needed this today.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Spoke to Duni!
I finally spoke to Duni and Marc was right, it helped. She told me that the orphanages were a bit full, as was the transistion home, so it was possible that no referrals would be made until the end of October. I don't know if she was telling me this to help me not stress out so much, or if it's true, but it helps to know anyway. She also gave me clues as to the order of the four families, but I'm not going to say anything here about that.
The only thing that stinks is that AWAA is increasing their international fees on the first of November, so if we accept our referral after that date, we'll be subject to twice as much money as we would pay otherwise. The fee will jump from $3450 to $7500, which is a huge increase we weren't expecting. If that happens, travel will be difficult since we budgeted, but we'll find a way.
Marc just hopes they aren't playing dirty and holding back referrals until November. I hope that, too. That would really be dirty pool.
The only thing that stinks is that AWAA is increasing their international fees on the first of November, so if we accept our referral after that date, we'll be subject to twice as much money as we would pay otherwise. The fee will jump from $3450 to $7500, which is a huge increase we weren't expecting. If that happens, travel will be difficult since we budgeted, but we'll find a way.
Marc just hopes they aren't playing dirty and holding back referrals until November. I hope that, too. That would really be dirty pool.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Dow Jones, You Stink!
So, with the market crash of the day (poop on this plan...hope it works in the long run), Marc and I together have lost money. A lot of money. Just around $8500. Okay, its recoverable, but at the moment it hurts. It's what's called an unrealized loss, which means that it can come back if we don't cash out. If we cash out of our stocks, we lose the money. As of right now, its only theoretical.
Theory still stinks.
Theory still stinks.
Waiting Waiting Waiting
*insert Jeopardy theme music here...*
Don't worry, Shelley, I'm stalking those blogs, too! For those of you not reading the comments (shame shame), I am stalking the Martins, the Renos and the Chans. Not in a bad way, but I read their blogs every day. We're all up together here at number one for a boy (unless there's a mystery family in front of us, which there probably is) and it's still nerve wracking.
One of my friends said she wasn't going to call me anymore for fear that I will run out of pants.
*snork*
Don't worry, Shelley, I'm stalking those blogs, too! For those of you not reading the comments (shame shame), I am stalking the Martins, the Renos and the Chans. Not in a bad way, but I read their blogs every day. We're all up together here at number one for a boy (unless there's a mystery family in front of us, which there probably is) and it's still nerve wracking.
One of my friends said she wasn't going to call me anymore for fear that I will run out of pants.
*snork*
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