Step 1- check

Today was a big day.

I turned in the first huge amount of paperwork to start our home study.
My amazing organizational skills and slight OCD is paying off in this process, as I had every piece of paper required, first try. :-)

Also I want to mention that I believe my two boys have named their sister already. I was really looking forward to sitting down with a picture and thinking of a great girl name!
However, these two only refer to her as "Catie".
It was decided by them one night around the dinner table that she should have a "Ca" name because Caden and Caleb are both "Ca". There were some really interesting suggestions that I feel I should mention, "Candy cane" "Car" "Cara" "Castle" "Canola" and "Carmel". After listening to several more, Caleb shouted out "Catie" and then we decided it would be "ie" instead of "y".
So, from now on she will be Catie. Maybe I will get to pick the middle name...if I am lucky.

As I went to turn in our paper work, one thing stuck out, the hardest part of this process for me (to this point) has been choosing the agency. For me this was a huge step because I kept thinking with the cost, we have only one shot at this. So, in my mind if I handed over my money to an agency who "wait listed" us or just decided to close...that was it.
As soon as I walked into our agency today "Ms. K" greeted me with a huge hug. We prayed over the cashiers check and went through the records one by one. That prayer and hug was exactly what I needed. We talked for another 20-30min about Orphan care and adoption in the bible.
It is now so clear to me that God sent me to them a few months ago, He knew what kind of relationship I would need with the agency and it's employees. He is so good that way.

Today we are also getting ready to go on our "annual" Disney vacation ;)
The boys are super excited of course, and Caden pointed out that we are going to Disney to celebrate completing the 1st step toward bringing Catie home. Caleb mentioned, rather excitedly, that next year we will be able to go see the princesses at Disney since Catie will want to (he seemed to be really excited about that).

So, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving full of turkey and pumpkin pie.
I know we had more than our share ;)

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
They mean so much!
Jenn