This past week I hit a milestone, I turned thirty. When you're young you kinda fear these milestones as the impending doom of your own demise creeps closer and closer. However, it's been over two years that we've waited to adopt Lily and I've looked forward to this milestone the whole time. This is because both Heather and I need to be 30 to adopt our little girl.
So instead of fearing the reality that I'm getting older, I will celebrate. Celebrate a new chapter of my life and my family's story. Now we just need to finish a boat load of paperwork, raise a boat load of money, and get approval from two governments to make Lily forever ours.
much love
the petersons
OK. I have one quick story to share with you that made me laugh. This morning I had to take Lily to get some routine blood tests. I was touched by my youngest daughter Aubrey when she offered to come with (to encourage Lily).
Just before we were about to leave Aubrey asks me if there will be a bathroom at the hospital. I told her there would be, but it would be a 'squatty' and that she should go before we leave. I was shocked when she protested this helpful suggestion because she wanted to use the 'squatty'. Oh raising kids in a foreign land can be interesting :)
Now I'm done.
Matt the old man.
May 9, 2013
May 6, 2013
Update on Lily's Adoption
Here's a quick update on our process of adopting Lily.
It's been two and a half years since we started fostering our little angel Lily. And as many of you know we have been wanting to adopt her for a long time now. One requirement for adopting from China is that you must be 30 years old. Well... this year both Heather and I will be turning 30 and we are wanting to start the process of adopting our girl.
So where are we at with this? Well we've started to put together paperwork and this month we will have a case worker come to our home to conduct a home study. This is an important step in the process of adopting a child. Right now we're working at preparing all the documents needed for the home study and getting our background checks done. Its a lot of work, but I try to not let it become overwhelming and just focus on one thing at a time. Or as the saying goes "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."
After the home study is done (and assuming they say we're fit to adopt) we will still need to prepare more documents and hopefully we will turn our paperwork in at the end of this year (when Heather turns 30). From that point it could be anywhere from 6 months to a year before we're matched with Lily and are able to travel back to the States as a family. (Again, this is assuming the process goes smoothly, which is not a guarantee.)
I hope this gives you a little insight into what we're looking at.
much love,
the petersons
It's been two and a half years since we started fostering our little angel Lily. And as many of you know we have been wanting to adopt her for a long time now. One requirement for adopting from China is that you must be 30 years old. Well... this year both Heather and I will be turning 30 and we are wanting to start the process of adopting our girl.
So where are we at with this? Well we've started to put together paperwork and this month we will have a case worker come to our home to conduct a home study. This is an important step in the process of adopting a child. Right now we're working at preparing all the documents needed for the home study and getting our background checks done. Its a lot of work, but I try to not let it become overwhelming and just focus on one thing at a time. Or as the saying goes "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."
After the home study is done (and assuming they say we're fit to adopt) we will still need to prepare more documents and hopefully we will turn our paperwork in at the end of this year (when Heather turns 30). From that point it could be anywhere from 6 months to a year before we're matched with Lily and are able to travel back to the States as a family. (Again, this is assuming the process goes smoothly, which is not a guarantee.)
I hope this gives you a little insight into what we're looking at.
much love,
the petersons
May 1, 2013
How's Xining Treating Us? And Heather's Hair.
Hey ya'll!
I've never taken such a long break from blogging. I apologize. Please stop sending me hate mail (I'm talking to you mom and grandma!)
Lately we've been getting this question more than any others; How is the new city treating you? The short answer is that it's treating us very well!
When we were moving to Xining and Heather was still pregnant with Isaac we talked about how the Summer would be our finish line. The previous season of life had left us pretty drained. When we were moving we were still dealing with the stress of having a baby in China, moving our stuff from Xian, and finishing two apartments in Xining. It was quite a bit. We knew that if we could make it to Summer we would be in a much better place; with the pregnancy (and all it's uncertainties behind us, our baby being a bit older (the first couple months, for us, are the hardest), the apartments being done, and the Summer weather.
Well it got a lot better for us a lot sooner than expected. We've really liked our new city and the friendships we've built here. Also, our house and guest apartment have been tremendous blessings to our family. Lastly, it's been a good change as well as we've found really significant ways for us to spend our time and energy here.
That's a little about what life has been like for us since the move.
I've never taken such a long break from blogging. I apologize. Please stop sending me hate mail (I'm talking to you mom and grandma!)
Lately we've been getting this question more than any others; How is the new city treating you? The short answer is that it's treating us very well!
When we were moving to Xining and Heather was still pregnant with Isaac we talked about how the Summer would be our finish line. The previous season of life had left us pretty drained. When we were moving we were still dealing with the stress of having a baby in China, moving our stuff from Xian, and finishing two apartments in Xining. It was quite a bit. We knew that if we could make it to Summer we would be in a much better place; with the pregnancy (and all it's uncertainties behind us, our baby being a bit older (the first couple months, for us, are the hardest), the apartments being done, and the Summer weather.
Well it got a lot better for us a lot sooner than expected. We've really liked our new city and the friendships we've built here. Also, our house and guest apartment have been tremendous blessings to our family. Lastly, it's been a good change as well as we've found really significant ways for us to spend our time and energy here.
That's a little about what life has been like for us since the move.
The day after we had a fire in our backyard Sydney rubbed the ashes on her face.
Heather had a cool opportunity to go on a trip to a conference recently. While she was gone the kids and I built a fort and watched Star Wars. I promise they wanted to watch it.
Heather gets an amazing wake up call when the kids attacked her.
The kids smiling at the camera.
One thing I promised was a story about Heather's hair. Well here's a quick review (months overdue). Heather bored and desiring excitement in her life decided to dye her hair. When she was done, her hair was a dark yellow. And I'm not kidding our kids cried when they saw her. She then went to a Chinese hair saloon to get her hair bleached. When she came home she was holding a wad of hair the size of a large rodent (pictured above with a quarter). Sad days for my wife :(
BUT! Nothing can contain the beauty of my wife! Here she is after all was said and done.
And with that. We love you.
the petersons
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