No update today. I could use some help though. I've got about 15 of the $20 coupon books of savings in the Springfield area left. If anyone thinks they could sell 2 or 3 in their office, please let me know!

More on the trivia night

I believe we're about to receive a donation of 4 tickets to a Cardinal game for the silent auction.

Also, I'm starting to amass some door prizes. Some discount cards good at local businesses and some hats from maxpreps.com so far.

I now have an out-of-town friend (Fairfield, IL) reviewing my questions for me.

My church ladies guild is donating baked goods and perhaps some 2-liters of soda. Some of my relatives are also donating baked goods.

Well, my passport arrived yesterday, so we have both of those. Also, I obtained copies of physicals on all 3 of us, plus medical clearance letters on all 3 of us yesterday. Brock and I had to have blood drawn, but thankfully Preston did not. I've got a pretty bruise and three marks to show for it, as I had to get stuck three times (by three different people) before they were able to successfully obtain enough blood for the test. I'm a horrible blood draw patient.

Our coupon book sales have become stagnant, but I did sell a couple more this week. That brings us to 79. I still have 15 to sell, so if anyone is interested, or thinks they may be able to sell a couple at their office for me, please let me know. They're $20 and they have tons of savings at local businesses.

As far as the home study goes, I still need 2 more of the character reference letters I requested, plus we're waiting on this month's car loan bills in order to complete our Financial Statement. We need one more visit, which we may be able to complete over the phone. Preston will have to be interviewed this time as well.

Thanks to all who continue following our journey via this website. We love and appreciate all of our encouragers.

Brock's passport arrived in the mail yesterday. We also received a statement of how much we still owe on our mortgage. Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Reynolds, we also received paperwork in regards to the farm land in Brock & his brother's name. As soon as we receive this month's car bills, displaying how much we still owe on our vehicles, we should be able to complete our Personal Financial Statement.

I do still have two character reference letters to collect. I sent some questions in to the adoption agency last week, trying to obtain further information about Shaling. The questions were forwarded to the China contact, but I have not yet received a response.

Brock visited the Rochester library to try and check out some books for our book reports, but they didn't really have anything to do with adoption. We'll visit the Springfield library soon.

Brock's meeting with our Home Study counselor went well. He delivered a nearly inch thick folder of paperwork to her. We still need to have our medical appointments this Friday.

Plus, we began the required Personal Financial Statement last night. What a nightmare. I can't believe how strict it is on proof for every single asset and liability. I caused myself some unnecessary grief when I started comparing our monthly spending with our monthly income. I couldn't figure out how we were outspending ourselves so significantly. Then it dawned on me that I forgot to double our paychecks (I had us living on half of what we actually make). Oops.

We are waiting for two more character reference letters as well.

Once we get all of that paperwork in, the Home Study portion should be complete. We've also been working on items (separate from the home study) for the adoption agency. Some were submitted last week. Now, we need to do some internet-based parenting training and do three book reports apiece.

Update on the Trivia Night

Not much to report on paperwork. As I related in my Monday post, we sent off some forms to the adoption agency. Using the U.S.P.S. tracking on their website, I can confirm it was delivered. Also, Brock meets up with our Home Study counselor on Saturday.

However, I have been working furiously on the upcoming trivia night fundraiser. I've written 5 of the 10 categories. I spent some time yesterday learning how to use the overhead projector that will hook up to my laptop. Also, I've obtained various silent auction items such as a beautiful handmade purse, a Lia Sophia bracelet & necklace set, scented candles, and a Tim Wilkerson basket of goodies.

Our total coupon books sold has reached 74. Those are the books of coupons (mostly buy 1, get 1 free) good at a large variety of local businesses. Over $2200 in coupons is included. We sell them for $20 and turn the money over to In His Hands Orphans. Eventually half of what we bring in will go towards our adoption costs. The other half will build an orphanage specialing in kids born with cleft palates and obtaining surgery for them.

Our trivia flyer is below:

Checked a lot off of the list this weekend

Today, I'm mailing in some required forms to our adoption agency. They are as follows:

New Client Letter Confirmation
International Adoption Contract (19 pages, initials on every page, notarized)
Addendum for China Adoptions (notarized)
China Waiting Child Referral Agreement
Certificate of Financial Status (notarized)
Post-Adoption Reporting Agreement for Adoptive Parents

Also, I feel like we're so close and yet so far away with our Home Study. Brock got his fingerprints submitted over the weekend. He is scheduled for his one-on-one personal interview this Saturday. He's meeting our Home Study consultant at Panera in Bloomington. We got my interview completed the last weekend in January. We also had a Home Study visit that weekend. It is my understanding that we need one more visit after this.

As far as the paperwork we need to complete for the Home Study, the following items are completed:

• 17-page Autobiographical Questionnaire (Amy – 1/31/10, Brock – 2/21/10)
• Fingerprinting for State Police & FBI (Amy – 2/2/10, Brock – 2/27/10)
• Submit an Authorization for Background Check to DCFS (submitted 2/10/10)
• Certified Birth Certificates (Amy – 1/29/10, Preston – 2/4/10, Brock – 2/12/10)
• Job Description, Plus Annual Salary (2/26/10)
• Proof of Life Insurance (2/28/10)
• Proof of Marriage (2/1/10)
• Snapshot of Home & Family (3/1/10)
• Military Discharge (Not Applicable)
• Affirmation Statement (2/25/10)
• Guardianship Statement (2/11/10)
• Adoption Home Study Agreement (2/25/10)
• Criminal Arrest Statement (2/25/10)
• Post-Adoption Reporting Agreement (2/25/10)
• Criminal Arrest Statement (2/25/10)
• 6 Character Reference Letters (6 received as of 3/1/10)

The following items still need to be done:

• Certificate of General Physical Examination for Adoption Applicant
• Doctor Medical Reference
• Financial Statement & Support

We have appointments scheduled for March 12 with our family doctor. We will get the first two items on the list completed at that time. It is our hope to begin working on the Financial Statement & Support this week.