We have our fingerprint appointments!

Woohoo! I feel a little weird being so excited over fingerprint appointments, but it means that we are one step closer to getting our little girl! We are scheduled to go in on November 2nd at 10:00 in the morning.

The fundraising sale was better than I ever imagined it could be even with Friday being really cold and rainy! $500 was raised for the adoption through the sale and from generous donations. One lady said she saw our signs and that she couldn't stay but just wanted to give us a donation. She said she had 6 adopted children from Indiana and gave me a $20.00 bill. Then she left. Wow. The generosity of friends and strangers is amazing. I actually really enjoy having yard sales because of all the interesting people we get to meet and talk with. God certainly had His hand in our sale again. I had hoped to make $500, but really didn't ask God for it. I just prayed that it would be as successful as He wanted it to be and that we would get to meet others who we could talk to about adoption and about Him - and we did. We wouldn't have met the $500 mark either except our very last customers bought a stove from us for $75.00, which put us over the five hundred dollars that I had silently hoped for. Later, Kevin told me that he had hoped for that much as well. God is amazing, isn't He?

The puzzle is coming along as another 8 pieces were added to it with two separate donations - Thank you! We tried to match up pieces to make it a little more interesting to look at. I'm excited to get it finished and put up in the girl's room as it really is a cute puzzle.

I want to say a special thank you to my good friend, Sarah. I never could have gotten everything ready for the sale without your help. I really appreciate it.

In His name,

The Burgess family

One last yard sale in 2009!

Despite the cold temperatures and chance of rain on Friday, we are going ahead and having one last yard sale in 2009. There are a couple of large items that we will be selling including a stove, a table, and an entertainment center. I was too late to get the ad in the paper for the sale so I have been advertising it everywhere else that I can think of that is free - and we will be sure to put out a ton of signs to bring people in that way. Please pray for us on Friday and Saturday that the sale goes well and that we will be able to sell the bigger "ticket" items that we have. Time to get off this computer and out into that garage!

In His name,

The Burgess Family

Paperwork is moving along!

We just received in the mail a letter saying that the CIS office in Chicago received our check and application. (In adoption language - Our I-800A was received at the Chicago consulate on Sept 30th and we received back our I-797C- Notice of Action today on October 8). They are reviewing the application and will send us our fingerprint appointment date in the mail. The fingerprint appointment is officially called "biometrics appointment". "Biometrics" seems so much more official, and I am excited to go get them done. Now I will be anxiously waiting for the appointment date to come in the mail - maybe within another week! I'll let all of you know when we get to go.

In the mean while, I will spend my time teaching the kids, cleaning the house, and avidly reading the blogs of other families who are in the process of going to get their child or have already gone. I am learning so much from reading them. For instance, did you know that little children in China often wear what is called "split pants"? It is so that when they have to go - they can just go! Certainly saves money on diapers and pull-ups!

In His name,

The Burgess Family