Grandma Goltz

Grandma Goltz.....went to be with Jesus this past weekend.  Jesus welcomed her home with open arms and said to her, "I love you and welcome home my faithful daughter".  That's what I imagine he said to her.  She was an amazing women and will be GREATLY missed.  She had 11 children, 18 Grand-kids, and many Great Grand-kids and Great Great Grand-kids.  I learned there are over 111 descendants from Grandma and Grandpa Goltz.  What an amazing legacy she has left our family. I love you Grandma!

Here are a few pictures from last year when I got to visit her in Edmonton.

Grandma and Rose

Grandma and some of the Great Grand-kids

4 Generations 

Feeling behind

I'm feeling behind.....

• Behind on documenting our adoption journey by writing specific/ important dates along the process
• Behind on researching fundraising opportunities and wondering if we should be pursuing them
• Behind on reading adoption books and materials

I read other adoptive families blogs who are at about the same step we are and feel even more behind.  Other families are doing benefits, online fundraising, learning creole, and the list goes on....

I feel like I'm lucky enough to keep my head above water with work, school, family and friends.

I keep reminding myself, God is in control of this journey and I have to let go and let Him.

Prayers for Haitian Adoptions

This is just a short little prayer request.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15, 2013 there is suppose to be a meeting with our orphanage directors and the Haitian Government.  From my understanding this meeting has was postponed in August to tomorrow.  My prayer requests are:
1. That the meeting would take place
2. The outcome would be positive and adoptions would start moving along.  Since the new laws have gone into affect, adoptions have slowed down a bit.  Understandable, working out the kinks and putting new laws in place. 
3. Adoptions would be finalized for those that are waiting to bring kiddos home.
4. Referrals will be given out.  From my understanding, no referrals have been given since the new laws have been in affect.  We were told it could be 2-4 months before we get a referral.  Our paperwork is in Haiti, has been legalized, and the orphanage directors have matched us with a child. We are just waiting for our referral to find out who our daughter is. If there is a positive outcome from the meeting tomorrow, I'm hoping our referral wait time would decrease.

I'm learning through this adoption process that I am not in control.  God is and it's all in His timing.  I thought that once we got our paperwork complied and turned in, it would be relatively easy to wait.  I kept saying, the hard part is done, collecting paperwork.  Now for the easy part - waiting.  I think the hard part is waiting.  At least when I was collecting paperwork, I was doing something with my hands. I'm learning I need to continue to do something with my hands - turn them to God and wait on Him.  Trust in His timing and continue to pray for my daughter in Haiti who God has picked out for our family.  

Please pray for the meeting in Haiti tomorrow.  For our orphanage directors, the Haitian Government, the kiddos in the orphanage and the families wanting to bring kiddos home.
 

Celebrating Adoption Documents Sent

Our family is celebrating tonight!  We sent our adoption documents (dossier) to our adoption coordinator tonight!  Yahoo!

 

Taken at UPS before we shipped our dossier

As I was looking over emails, I saw that one year ago today, on June 4, 2012, we were accepted into the Haiti Program with our adoption agency.  They were very prompt in sending us information, guidelines, and the list of paperwork we needed to collect to form our dossier.  I looked at all the information and quickly became overwhelmed.  It was the beginning of summer and I procrastinated with getting our adoption paperwork started.  It wasn't until Dec. 2012 I looked at the paperwork pile again and decided to get started. It has taken about 5-6 months to collect all that we needed. It was with great joy that I we sent our dossier documents onto our adoption coordinator.  YAHOO!!!

Next Steps

I've been asked what the next steps are for us in the process.

From my understanding, our adoption coordinator will receive our documents, get them authenticated (no idea what that is), get them translated into french, and get them legalized in Haiti.  Once those things are done, and that takes about 6-8 weeks, our dossier documents can be submitted to the IBESR, the part of the Haitian government that handles adoptions.  From that point, we wait for a referral (when the IBESR matches us with a little girl).  This could be 2-3 months after our dossier is submitted to the IBESR.  It would be AWESOME if we could get a referral by Christmas.  Then it will take about 18 months before we will be able to bring our little girl home.

It's been a journey to get to where we are today and God has walked with us through this journey.  I leave it all in God's hands.  He already knows who our daughter is and He will bring us together as a family.

Notarys and Certification

It's been an exciting, disheartening, anxious, restful, trusting, productive week.  How can it be all of those you ask?  Well, let me share the story.

Earlier this month we got our finalized home study - YEAH!  There were a few minor things that needed to be fixed, got that taken care of - easy.

We sent all our Wisconsin notarized documents to be state certified and last Wednesday the returned UPS envelope was delivered to our door.  I was so excited, this was the last of the documents I needed to send our dossier into our adoption coordinator!  I thought to myself, we are almost at the waiting stage and one step closer to getting our little girl.   However, when I opened the envelope, we had 6 documents what were notarized incorrectly and had to be re-notarized and re-certified.  I looked at the documents, 3 reference letters, 1 bank letter, 1 employment verification - all of those, not a problem.  The 6th document was a letter from my doctor.  My heart sank because it took my 3-1/2 months to get the first letter notarized.  All Wednesday night I was anxious and disheartened.  I wanted to send our dossier documents in by the end of May and this was going to slow us down.  After spinning my wheels for awhile, feeling anxious and worrying, I remembered the verses in Matthew 6: 25-34
²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Then I got to thinking.....My worrying about the documents is not going to get them done any sooner, I won't feel any better by worrying, nor will my worrying help.  If God cares about the wildflowers in the fields, He cares about me a thousand times more.  Also, I thought I am suppose take my cares to God because he cares for me.  And when I take my cares and prayers requests to God, why am I amazed things happen?  Why don't I pray expectantly....so that is what I did.  I prayed for 6 miracles, all 6 documents to be re-notarized by Sunday, so I could send everything out by today, May 28, 2013 to be re-certified by the State of Wisconsin. My 6 miracles for re-notarized documents was fulfilled. 

God is GOOD and He provided EVERYTHING I needed.   On Thursday last week I stopped by the bank and they rewrote and notarized the letter while I waited, I did not expect that at all.  On Friday, I met with my doctor and a notary from the bank who met me at the doctor's office.  My doctor didn't have her state issued identification (i.e. drivers license) and the notary stated she would not be able to notarized the letter without it, we had discussed setting up another appointment for today, but another doctor was walking by and she stated she had her driver's license and she could sign the letter.  The nurse reprinted the letter with the other doctors information and I got the doctor letter notarized.  Praise God!

All three letters of reference were re-notarized, and my employment verification letter was done today.  I was able to send all 6 documents to the Secretary of State today and will hopefully have the documents back to me by Friday or Monday, and then I'll be able to send out the dossier to our adoption coordinator by Monday or Tuesday of next week.  Praise God!

Psalms 66:5  Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! 
  

Thankful Thursday

It's been a long time since I've posted for a Thankful Thursday, so today I thought I would post about an adoption update that I am SO EXITED about!.  I talked with our social worker today and she is finishing up our home study tonight....we should get it early next week.  YAHOO!  One more thing done.  

I'm thankful we are making progress, even if it's baby steps, its still steps in the right direction.

Renee's Healthy Choices Journey - Part 1

This year I am turning 40 years old.  My goal by my 40th birthday is to be Fit and Forty.  I started the year making fitness goals, goals that were big changes in my daily life.  January my goal was to exercise at least 150 minutes per week.  That's 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.  I didn't exercise that much at the beginning of the year and I still don't exercise that much during the week as of today.  That was a lofty goal with a big change in my daily routine.  I had started out strong but after about two weeks gave up.  Here is how the other months have gone.
Goals for the year, so far....

• January - exercise 150 mins per week (lasted about 2 weeks)
• February - do 100 sit ups per day, 5 days a week (lasted about 2 weeks)
• March -Track the food I eat on Looseit.com (tracked for about 3 weeks)
• April - decided not to eat chocolate or drink alcohol (Completed!) 

Okay, April confession, I did have a glass of wine on two days in April, but no chocolate.  I gave up alcohol and chocolate because I learned I turned to them when I was having a stressful day and not turning to God, who loves me and wants to be the one to turn to FIRST in all things.  Also, it's just lots of empty calories, that I don't need.  I lost about 4 lbs in April, not a large weight loss, but better then nothing.

My birthday is in November and I've learned if I can make small changes each month, then I'll see changes over time, baby steps.

Today is May 1st and I've started a new healthy challenge for May.  My goal is to log 30 miles of walking in the month of May.  I just had a Facebook friend and former co-worker log in 106 miles of walking for the month of April.  She inspired me.  I got started today with my first walk of 1.30 miles in 20 minutes.  Yeah.....only 28.7 miles to go this month.

Adoption Update, One Year Later

Looking over the blog last night, I read that one year ago today, April 13th, we filled out the application for America World Adoption Agency (AWAA).  I wish I could say we have all our paperwork turned in and we are waiting to be matched with a child from Haiti, but that is not the case.

After we filled out the adoption application with AWAA, they sent us a packet of LOTS and LOTS of paperwork to fill out.  Then we got another packet of information to fill out from our Home Study agency with LOTS and LOTS more paperwork to fill out.  I got overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork and it sat for about six months.

In the Fall 2012, one night at dinner we were taking with Rose about obeying and how she is called to obey her parents (Andy and I) and we are ALL called to obey God.  As dinner progressed and we were talking about many things that night, Rose asked about her sister.  When would her sister be with us and if we were filling out adoption paperwork.  Out of the mouth of my 6 year old, I was being reminded that I am not being obedient to God and the adoption process and shortly there after began filling out paperwork.

Fast forward to today, April 13, 2013.  We are in the final stretches of getting what we need for our dossier collection and our home study.  My goal is to have what we need by the end April, if all goes as planned.

God is good and faithful and so glad we are walking this journey with HIM. 

Here is a recent picture of our little family that we needed taken for our dossier.  Pictures taken on Easter Sunday.

Happy Anniversary Wausau

Valentines Day 2009 we rolled into Wausau, WI to begin what we thought was a year and a half stint until we were to move again.  We celebrated our 4th Anniversary of moving to Wausau, WI, yesterday - Valentines Day.

Our Adoption Journey Offically Begins

After 3 years of talking about Adoption, we decided 2012 is the year we are getting started.  At the beginning of the year, we had no idea how we were going to fund our adoption.  To get started I wanted to at least have a 1/3 of the funds we needed.

In my time with God, praying and reading His Word, the two words that always came to me were, faith and surrender.  Andy and I were not going to be able to be on the journey of adoption in our own strength, we needed to surrender our needs to God and have faith that He would provide.  God provided in an amazing way and we received a 1/3 of the funds we needed for our adoption.  Praise the Lord, He is Good!!!!

Tonight, we have officially started our adoption journey by submitting our application to the adoption agency.  God has put on our hearts to adopt a little girl from Haiti.  We are excited for the journey ahead of us and know that God is walking with us on this journey.

Thank you to those who have been praying for us and for those who continue to pray for us as we officially begin our adoption journey.

Happy Anniversary Wausau

February 14, 2012....Three years ago today we arrive in Wausau, WI from Portland, OR.
It's been a good three years.

In three years, Rose was 2 1/2 year old, now she is in kindergarten, reading and writing, enjoying sledding, involved in dance, gymnastics, One Way Club (mini youth group), and swim lessons.  She's had play dates, been to birthday parties, had sleepovers with friends.  She is growing up.

In three years, Andy is still working at Tombstone Pizza, now owned by Nestle, almost done with his MBA, has gone ice fishing a few times, fished in the Great Lakes, traveled to Florida, visited family in Indiana, lead small group at church, and grown in his faith.

In three years, Renee worked full time for a year, is now back to working part time (and loving it), made some GREAT friends, found a church she LOVES, grown in her faith, been involved in craft fairs, was in a play production, and learned how to use the riding lawn mower.

We've had wonderful visits with family and friends who have come out to visit us.  Enjoy all 4 seasons of the year (some more than others), and looking for ways to be more involved in our community.

After three year, I can say I really enjoy living in my town of Wausau and look forward for what else God has in store for us.

Centers

In kindergarten this year, Rose is learning how to spell and read.  Her teacher is having the class sound words out to figure out how to spell them.  In addition, Rose has different "centers" in her class for different subjects: Math Center, Reading Center, Game Center, Art Center, Computer Center, etc.

Rose had a friend come over tonight (we are babysitting) and Rose decided to make different "centers" throughout the house with activities for them to do, should her friend want to.  Here are the signs she made with her various centers.

"Airplane For Vacation Center"

 "Art Center"

"Rest Center" 

 "Vacation Center"

 "Dress Up Center"

"Movie and Book Center"

Faith

This week, everywhere I look, there seems to be a message about faith.  I think God is trying to tell me something.  Maybe I should quit being stubborn and listen.  Below are some quotes I have read this week and are really speaking to my soul:

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.  Hebrews 11:1

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase." – Martin Luther King Jr.


"So it's important to have faith.  How do we get our faith to grow?  By reading and believing the word of God, and applying it to our daily life situations, by praying for others and seeing their situations change, and by simply allowing God to take us through hard times and good times.  This will grow our faith." 

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2012!

We had a great night ringing in the New Year with some FABULOUS friends the Lord has blessed us with. As the ladies were sitting around the table, we shared what our goals for 2012 are, (I don't seem to follow through with resolutions).

Some of my goals for 2012
Financial:

• Pay off at least 2 bills.
• Start the homestudy study for our adoption.
• Get gazelle serious with our budget and finances (Dave Ramsey).

Personal/Fitness:

• Exercise at least 3 days a week.
• Fill out and turn in paperwork for my US Citizenship.
• Strengthen the friendships I have with others.
• Make more time for crafting and enjoy the process, not just finishing the project.

Spiritual:

• Read my bible at least 3-4 days a week.  

So, there you have it.  I'm told if you write your goals down, you are more likely to succeed.  They are now written down and I have goals to reach for this year.

Hope your 2012 is the best year yet!

First Day of School and Kindergarten

September 1,  Rose started Kindergarten.  I can't believe my baby is in Elementary School.  She really wanted to ride the bus to and from school.  We compromised, she gets to ride the bus to school, and Mommy gets to pick her up afterschool.  Here are some pictures from the first day.

Neighborhood kids waiting for the bus

 Rose getting on the bus

 Rose sees one of her friends from 4K at school.  She really was happier than she looks

 Rose and her teacher

 Rose and Mommy on the first day of school.

Standing in line to go into school.

Agencies

Received some more adoption agency information today. Combing through it all trying to figure out what agency to go with and what country to adopt from. At this point we are leaning towards Haiti and Ethiopia. As I learn more, I'm reading that to adopt from Haiti, a family needs to be childless or only adopted families, so by that criteria we would be out. Think I'm going to call a few agencies next week to obtain more information.

Please pray for direction in adoption agency and country.

Graduations

We had two graduations in June. Rose graduated from preschool and Ryan graduated from High School. Both have big plans for the future.

- Rose will go into Kindergarten next year, and is hoping she can ride the bus to school.

- Ryan will be joining Americorps for a year or so, volunteering in the California area. He is waiting for his assignment, so he knows exactly where and when he is going. Check out the pictures.

Rose getting her diploma from her teacher Miss Cindy

Walking across "stage" with her diploma

So proud of my little girl

Ryan's Graduation - We were able to go out to Portland for a quick trip. Very proud of him!

The "brothers" - David, Ryan, and Kevin

Ryan and Rosie

Grandma Donna, Ryan, Papa Paul

One very PROUD family!!!!

Adoption

Andy and I have been thinking and talking about adoption for about 2 years now. This year, we decided to move from talking to making progress towards adoption. At this time, progress towards adoption means raising funds for adoption, researching adoption agencies, and being in prayer to follow God's will for our family on our adoption journey.

We'll see where God leads us in our journey, and are excited to be letting people know this has been on our hearts for quite sometime now.

We will be posting updates on our progress as they become available. In the mean time, please pray for us. Pray for our family, the process, and the journey ahead of us.

Palindromes

Palindrome (noun)
A word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc. reading the same backwards as forwards, as Madam, I’m Adam, or Poor Dan is in a droop

Saturday morning, Rose woke up at 6:00 am, comes into our bedroom and asks if she can sleep with me until it’s time to get up, Andy had to work on Saturday. At 7:00 am Rose wakes me and asks if it’s time to get up.

Mom: “We can get up now, let’s get some breakfast.”
Rose- jumps to her feet, and says very excitedly: “Mommy, did you know a palindrome is the same forwards and backwards, like Mom and Hannah?”
Mom: “Yes, you’re right; those are palindromes, where did you learn this?”
Rose: “Miss Cindy from school taught it to us”

I think she was waiting all morning to tell me that.

For the rest of the day and weekend, we tried to think of other palindromes and here is the short list we came up with.

Mom
Dad
Hannah
Noon
Kayak
Poop

Rosie's 4th Birthday Party

This year Rosie decided she wanted to have a Princess Tea Party. She invited some friends from her new school and old school. We were very excited when two friends and their mom's were able to join us for a Royal Tea Party to celebrate Rosie's 4th Birthday.

What we had planned was, when the girls arrived, they would put on their Princess clothes (crowns and tutus), make their Princess Wands and Princess Jewelry (necklaces and bracelets). Then they would play "Kiss the Frog", have a tea party, eat a hot dog lunch, open presents, eat cake and play. What was planned and what actually happens are not necessarily the same. When the girls arrived, they went straight to Rosie's room to play. We did have them put on their tutus and crowns. After gathering the girls, we decorated wands and made necklaces and bracelets. The girls then had a tea party and filled up on juice, apple slices, and graham crackers. While the parents ate lunch, Rosie showed the girls her play room and played outside on the swing-set. After lunch, Rosie opened presents, had cake and ice cream, played "Kiss the Frog" some more and played with her gifts. She had a great time! Happy 4th Birthday Rose!

Before the party began. Tutu's, crowns, and table set for a Royal Tea Party.

Decorating Princess Wands

Cece, Rose, and Kalli

Rosie playing "Kiss the Frog"

Like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but you put the Lips on the Frog.

The Frog has been Kissed. Where is the Prince?

He will come MANY, MANY, MANY years from now.

The Little Princesses enjoying their tea party

Playing on the swing-set.

What a BEAUTIFUL day!

Kalli, Cece, Renee, Rosie playing on the swing-set.

Rosie opening gifts

Wow! A jump rope. Now I just need to follow 3 special steps just like on Special Agent Oso to learn to jump rope.

Yeah! A new Dora movie. Can we watch it mom, can we?

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dear Rosie! Happy Birthday to you!

Eating cake.

The Three Little Princesses

Cece, Rosie, Kalli