Ashleigh's "new" Room

Here are some pictures of Ashleigh's redecorated room. She went from purple to green. I need to upload the pictures I took of Jay-R's room so I will post those in the next few days. Right now, his bed is covered with clothes we are planning to pack!

No Signs of Christmas...

Except for a few traces of wrapping paper and one snowman candle, Christmas decorations have left the Allison household. Kory and Ashleigh took down both trees today while I was working. We are hoping to hear travel news very soon so are doing what we can to be ready. His room is done minus a lamp we need to return that doesn't work (grr...that equals a 30 minute trip one way to return it!). Our things we want to pack are laid across his bed. We are getting closer. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. We enjoyed time with family and friends including seeing my uncle, aunt, and cousins I haven't seen in a long time.

Happy New Year to you all and blessings for a wonderful 2009! Despite our economy, God is in control!

Showers

We've had two showers for Jay-R. The first was thrown by my ladies' Bible study group at church. It was so much fun and so emotional, too. My friend read some adoption poems and an email from Kory's brother and his wife who live 7 hours away. One of my friend's had a Filipino exchange student when she was younger. She gave Ashleigh and I the shirts their exchange student had given her and her mother. That was really special, too. Yesterday, my work threw a surprise shower for me. It was so much fun to share the excitement of Jay-R with friends, family, co-workers, church members, volunteers, and residents especially since I was at work when I received the phone call about Jay-R. Everyone is so excited for us! Jay-R received some nice outfits, books, toys, and the gift cards and cash have been helpful, too! We're hoping for early January to bring our little boy home! Just waiting on his visa...

Wow...that was fast!

I mailed the documents for Jay-R's I600 form (the authorization form needed by the US government for international adoptions) on October 30th. When we got home last night, Kory went to get the mail and the form from the USCIS was here already! Wow...less than a month. That truly was quick. Now, we are waiting for the visa. My gut instinct still seems to say early January due to Christmas holiday, but we'll see! We really need to get his room finished!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful. As I count down the hours until turkey time (I love Thanksgiving), I reflect on the many things I am thankful for...family, friends, my church, a job I love, my country, even my ever whiny dogs, and most of all, my faith in Jesus Christ. I am also thankful for little Jay-R. God is teaching me patience thru the wait. My gut instincts seem to tell me mid-January, but I'm not sure. We just keep waiting...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A message from Ashleigh: Leave a comment to tell us what you are thankful for!

Halloween Fun

The nursing home where I work always participates in community trick or treat. Everyone there loves my little terrier Franklin so I dressed him up as a pumpkin and he trick or treated with Ashleigh, the doctor. I even let him eat a Smartie which he loved of course!

Fingerprints & Paint

Fingerprints & paint...that's the news in our life right now. We received a notification letter that we have our fingerprint appointment scheduled on Tuesday, Nov. 4th in Cleveland. Finally. It seems like it took forever to get that appointment letter. Before we leave for Cleveland that day, Kory and I will visit a potential preschool for Jay-R (after we vote, of course!). We are looking into our options. With it being the middle of the school year, that makes it a little tricky. We want him to have some preschool and some socialization with children he will attend kindergarten with in the fall.

And paint...we've been doing a lot of it. We got the paint for Ashleigh's room at a certain store in town. When Kory went back to get more paint, the results were awful! The colors did not match at all-it was like 6 shades off! They did give me my money back and we went across town to Ace. They matched it perfect. We only had to repaint 2 walls instead of the whole room. We love Ace! (The picture is Ash painting her room. I'll post pics of his room as soon as I clean it!) My father in law painted my kitchen and back hallway for us Saturday. It's a deep, autumn red color and I love it! I'll have to post pictures later.

We'll keep you posted as we find out more!