I am grateful for persistence.
I am grateful for following my journey.
I am grateful for love in my heart, a heart that is open for more.
I am grateful for having faith and courage to take unchartered paths!
I am grateful for Jen Macaluso Gilmore and her assignment “If I can see it, I can believe it” (vision board) — without whom I would not be in the position I am today. Check out www.somethingdifferentnyc.com
I am grateful that, with a tiny healthy measure of anxiety and “holy cow!!!”, I actually feel 110% certain, finally a “knowing”, that this is what we were meant to do.
I am grateful that my family is on board.
I am grateful to know that my dream benefits others and adds to our family in a most magnificent way.
I am grateful to know that in 12-14 months (give or take) our lives will change in ways I don’t think I ever would have imagined. Ever!
I am grateful to announce that yesterday Gary and I signed, notarized and sent off a contract to an international adoption agency that will begin the journey of us bringing home a little boy to join our family from the Republic of Kazakhstan in Central Asia (nestled between Russia and China.)
I am grateful that my mother was there with me when I sent off the envelope and, like a true grandma, wiped the tears in her eyes as she told me “congratulations!”
I am grateful that even though there is still much for me to do, collect, sign, seal and deliver as part of our dossier, we have begun the most important part — that of actively and legally committing to bring home a child waiting for his forever family.
I am grateful that it has been 17 years since I was first drawn to International Adoption and a very long 15 months since I actively began researching the possibility and that all this time was exactly how long I needed to take. While I thought I was taking a long time getting the courage to go down this unchartered path, what was really happening is that all the stars were getting ready to be aligned properly so that our family would form together as it was meant to.
I am grateful for dear friends who wrote me beautiful reference letters to prove our worthiness to bring home baby boy Karp.
I am grateful that we still have 12-14 months to wrap my head around this — and grateful to not have told Emma and Eden yet as they would think this is happening tomorrow.
I am grateful that although this still feels so far away to Gary, he is committed, on board and ready for a major life change. Not just the adoption, but three kids in general!
I am grateful that my passion and education has helped Gary to be a dad who eagerly signed on the dotted line and felt happy doing so.
I am grateful and hopeful that Emma and Eden will be the best big sisters a little boy could hope for.
I am grateful that I have dear friends who have 3 children and can show us the way!
I am grateful that I have dear friends in the adoptive community who can show us the way!
I am grateful for the support of wonderful people in my life in all ways.
I am grateful, once again, for the Power of Right Now without which I would never have stepped into my dream and made this a reality soon to be. Adoption, although always tugging at my heart, felt as if it was out of my reach and that kept it at bay. I was finally able to make this little boy someone I could see clearly.
I am grateful for the little boy who will join our family when the time is right.
I am grateful for his birth mother who may or not be pregnant just yet — May she stay healthy and safe and find peace within. His birth dad too.
I am grateful to be at peace with so many unknowns and grateful to be hopeful that all will be okay.
I am grateful to still have a year to finish the photo albums of my family of four so I can be ready for the next set!
I am grateful for the stamina and stick-to-itiveness that I will need over the next 1-3 months as I gather the appropriate governmental and legal documents to bring us closer to the prize.
I am grateful for the patience we will have as we wait to be matched with our child, when the time is right. Keep our eyes on the prize!
I am grateful and hopeful that this experience will touch us in ways we never could imagine and those in our circle as well.
I am grateful for those who have gone before me.
I am grateful for Julie and Colene at Journey Home Adoption agency who championed me and encouraged me, gave me space and gently nudged me, for almost one year and I wasn’t even a client yet.
I am grateful that I felt right at home in their care.
I am grateful to be able to be a Forever Family for a child who has waited for one.
I am grateful to accept the next chapter of my life, when it comes, with gusto!
Yahoooo!!!!
Steph
I’ve longed for the day when I’d feel ready to finally get on the proverbial bus and declare it. I’m on it! Please join me and enjoy this song! This one is for you, Miss R!(Note: Please scroll all the way down to STOP my Playlist so you can hear this oh so appropos song, a favorite of Emma’s, by the way. Enjoy!)
To The Karp family –
Stephanie – Your writing again brought me to tears, what a gift and natural talent for words you have. The way you express your feelings is incredible, as if I was standing right with you.
I want to be the first to say congratulations on joining JHA! We are honored to be chosen to assist you in the adoption of your new baby boy! We are one big family and very excited to have you join us. I can’t wait to begin with you. 🙂 Congratulations again on this big step and Welcome!!
Julie and team
To The Karp family –
Stephanie – Your writing again brought me to tears, what a gift and natural talent for words you have. The way you express your feelings is incredible, as if I was standing right with you.
I want to be the first to say congratulations on joining JHA! We are honored to be chosen to assist you in the adoption of your new baby boy! We are one big family and very excited to have you join us. I can’t wait to begin with you. 🙂 Congratulations again on this big step and Welcome!!
Julie and team
To The Karp family –
Stephanie – Your writing again brought me to tears, what a gift and natural talent for words you have. The way you express your feelings is incredible, as if I was standing right with you.
I want to be the first to say congratulations on joining JHA! We are honored to be chosen to assist you in the adoption of your new baby boy! We are one big family and very excited to have you join us. I can’t wait to begin with you. 🙂 Congratulations again on this big step and Welcome!!
Julie and team
Let the official journey begin!! I wish you and your family the best.
Let the official journey begin!! I wish you and your family the best.
Congratulations!! What wonderful news! Welcome to the bus and to the journey. I’m so glad you jumped on.
Isn’t Colene awesome! I love her!
Congratulations!! What wonderful news! Welcome to the bus and to the journey. I’m so glad you jumped on.
Isn’t Colene awesome! I love her!
Congratulations!! What wonderful news! Welcome to the bus and to the journey. I’m so glad you jumped on.
Isn’t Colene awesome! I love her!
Steph,
I am so excited you are on the bus to baby boy Karp!!
LOVE your grat’s list, so well written and beautiful, as always.
Congratulations!!!!
I can not wait to see you and the girls in a few weeks.
Big hugs,
Carolyn and Henry
Steph,
I am so excited you are on the bus to baby boy Karp!!
LOVE your grat’s list, so well written and beautiful, as always.
Congratulations!!!!
I can not wait to see you and the girls in a few weeks.
Big hugs,
Carolyn and Henry
Steph,
I am so excited you are on the bus to baby boy Karp!!
LOVE your grat’s list, so well written and beautiful, as always.
Congratulations!!!!
I can not wait to see you and the girls in a few weeks.
Big hugs,
Carolyn and Henry
You are definitely on your way! I’ll be following along and can’t wait to see this journey bring your little boy HOME!
So, what’s next? Is your homestudy finished? You should start a timeline on your blog.
Best wishes!!!
🙂
You are definitely on your way! I’ll be following along and can’t wait to see this journey bring your little boy HOME!
So, what’s next? Is your homestudy finished? You should start a timeline on your blog.
Best wishes!!!
🙂
You are definitely on your way! I’ll be following along and can’t wait to see this journey bring your little boy HOME!
So, what’s next? Is your homestudy finished? You should start a timeline on your blog.
Best wishes!!!
🙂
HOORAY!!! Congratulations! We’re wishing you guys a smooth, safe, and fullfilling busride.
Can’t wait to follow along!
Wow, congratulations! You have gone so far already, it’s really happening! Talk to you soon!
Wow, congratulations! You have gone so far already, it’s really happening! Talk to you soon!
Wow, congratulations! You have gone so far already, it’s really happening! Talk to you soon!
What a wonderful post. I am so happy for your family. Welcome to the journey. Hold onto your faith that it will all happen.
You do have so much to be thankful for.
Tracy
Yippee! You know what the “on the bus” song is, so time to start singing:
One hundred bottles of beer on the wall…
Oh, wait! Or rather… One hundred bottles of milk in the fridge…
I’m so happy for you! Congratulations and welcome to the bus. It’s a bumpy ride, but I can honestly say that it is so worth it. Thanks for the shout out. 🙂
Love,
Regina, Frank and Milo
Yippee! You know what the “on the bus” song is, so time to start singing:
One hundred bottles of beer on the wall…
Oh, wait! Or rather… One hundred bottles of milk in the fridge…
I’m so happy for you! Congratulations and welcome to the bus. It’s a bumpy ride, but I can honestly say that it is so worth it. Thanks for the shout out. 🙂
Love,
Regina, Frank and Milo