The Adoption Application

As I mentioned, we just sent in the paperwork for our application to adopt.

We checked into international adoption, but ran into several road blocks. 

First of all, I am affected by the Hay Wells syndrome of  Ectodermal Dysplasia.  What does that have to do with adoption?  Well, apparently, it disqualifies us from adopting from several countries according to at least two agencies. 

Secondly, I have no finger prints.  As a result of the Hay Wells syndrome, I do not have the distinguishable ridges on my finger tips that make up prints.  I have some scar prints, but nothing really remarkable.   It took me almost 6 months to get my RN license in Missouri, because of the lack of fingerprints.  I had to go get "printed" three times.  Each time, I listed the syndrome on the paperwork and explained why I don't have fingerprints to the official who did the printing.  When they called to tell me that I needed to get "printed" a fourth time, due to "poor quality of prints," I nearly screamed!  Again, I explained that they could scan my fingertips fifty times and would NEVER get a "quality" print.  In fact, because my scars on my hands occasionally break open, chances are, the scar prints would not even be the same each time.  I even offered a buccal swab or retinal scan.  LOL.  So, after 6 months, 3 sets of prints, and countless calls, the board of nursing pushed through a federal background check.  Again, what does that have to do with adoption? Well, fingerprinting is part of the international adoption process.  It is required for INS (immigration) for both parents to be printed.  While I'm certain we could eventually get them to understand that it is not an option, we would like to have our second child before we reach senility! 

After much prayer and consideration, we decided to apply for the domestic infant program. 

I literally spent all day Tuesday working on the application.  The application requires a current family photo.  Would you believe that after scouring through my digi-files, I could not come up with a decent recent picture of the three of us for the application? 

Can I just say that God is good?

It just so happens that our church, Northwest Foursquare Church is in the middle of doing a pictorial directory.  Wells Family Photography is doing the photos for the directory, and fortunately for us, Larry and Belinda happen to be friends.  So, I sent a frantic plea to Belinda via e-mail, and she sent me the unedited picture that they took for the directory.  Here it is:

We look like a nice family, right?  Zane looks like the happiest baby in the world!  What a grin! 

So, would you like to do me a favor? 

As you look at the picture of our family, please pray that the Lord would touch our future child's birth mother and grant her health and wisdom.  Pray that He will grant us favor and that in His time, He would direct the right woman to choose us to raise her child.  Pray that the Lord would open the doors that need to be opened, close the ones that need to be closed, and help us to keep our hands off the door knobs. 

Thanks!

Be blessed,

Lady V

Power shock, pulling up, and a paper chase begins

Who knew that a shock from a 120v outlet could cause one to feel so weird! 

Last night, I was blending up some baby food for Zane (I make all of his baby food myself) when the little processor sparked and sorta shocked me.  My left hand tingled and I had a headache for several hours afterward!  I still had the headache when I went to bed.

I used the processor again today, and nothing happened, so I am sure it's okay.

Zane is now pulling himself into a standing position.  He did it for the first time yesterday!  It seem like just yesterday he started rolling over!

I mean, he just started crawling over things, like the chair rungs...

and eating at the table...

and now he's standing...

My little boy is growing up!

Did I mention that he wasn't so fond of the pool in Iowa?

That's my DH, Brian, trying valiantly to cajole a smile out of him!

He finally did smile, after Daddy took him out of the boat and held him...

but trust me, it didn't last!  LOL!  He definitely thought playing with Delores was more fun than the pool!

Look at that grin!

We officially started the paper chase for our adoption today! 

 

Our application is in the mail to Lutheran Family and Children's Services!  Whoo Hoo!  I know we have A LOT of paperwork, and A LOT of waiting to do yet, but I am excited nonetheless!

Be blessed,

Lady V

Henry

So, I was sitting at my computer thinking about what kits I could create when the phone rang.  It was my brother, John.  As we talked, I kept thinking about how my brother, Joe, always calls John "Henry." 

I don't know why, but, Joe has called John "Henry" for as long as I can remember.  When we were younger, he called him "John Henry" then at some point shortened it to just "Henry" (John's middle name is Daryn). 

Anyway, as John and I were chatting, I jotted down "Henry."  Then I started playing in PSP and thought of all the times John said, "I could bench you" when we were teens.  He started body building when he was about 13.  Before that, he was just as scrawny/puny as you could imagine.  But as he got into the body building, his physique changed.  And he started the "I could bench you" routine. 

By the time John and I got off the phone, I had the start of a kit.  I had a specific picture in mind as I worked, one of him flexing his arms.

Here is the picture:

And here is the kit, Henry, that it inspired:

And the layout that I made with it:

And this is John now:

He's not scrawny/puny anymore.  He can bench press well over 500 pounds, and yes, he can bench me!

Henry (the kit, not my brother!) is now in the store for just $3.99!

I've also put the Henry Quick Page in the store as a freebie.

You can snag it here.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it!  And I hope John "Henry" doesn't get mad at me for posting his flex picture on here!

Be blessed!

 

Lady V

Color Challenge at SAS

Boo of BooLand Designs hosts a monthly color challenge over at the Stone Accent Studios forum. The palette for July is cute, and here is the layout that I did with the palette.  The picture is of my youngest niece, Delores.  She spent the night with us last year, and after putting on her pajamas, she climbed up in my bed like she owned it!  She was not happy with the pack n play!!

and the quick page (12x12/300ppi/png)that is available for grabs is simply the layout minus the journaling:

You can snag it here.  Password is color.

Be blessed,

Lady V

Arizona

The photos are of my hubby goofing off on our honeymoon in Arizona. What a cheesy grin, huh?



The frame is from my Earth Tones kit

I just got this great new CU PSP Script from Cindy Ritter. I used it to make the flowers on this layout.

Be blessed,

Lady V

Earth Tones Kit

Grandma Hig recently celebrated her 90th birthday. We took advantage of the opportunity to grab a 4 generations photo. Pictured are Grandma Hig, Richard Higgins (my hubby's Dad), Brian Higgins (my hubby), and Zane Higgins (my boy).



All elements from my new Earth Tones Kit now available at Pretty Scrappy for just $6.99!






The kit contains 15 patterned/textured papers, 45 elements, 15 frames, an uppercase alpha as well as a lowercase alpha.


Don't need the whole kit? Get the Earth Tones Alpha, Earth Tones Element Pack, Earth Tones Frames, Earth Tones Paper Pack seperately for just $1.99 each.

Grab the free quickpage here:
Earth Tones Quickpage



Be blessed,

Lady V

Hope Blooms Quickpage

So, here is the quickpage I promised from my new kit, Hope Blooms.

My husband created the color palette. I named the kit Hope Blooms because our hope to adopt is in bloom. Kinda corny, I know.



The kit will be in the store tomorrow at http://prettyscrappy.com/

Check out yesterday's post for reminder of what the kit looks like...

Snag it here:HopeBloomsQuickpage


On another note. For those of you who pray... Please keep my sister Denyse in your prayers. She was told today that she is losing the vision in both of her eyes. She has three little ones (as seen in the picture above) and it breaks my heart to think that she may not be able to see them one day.

Thanks,

Lady V