september update round up
It’s been awhile since I’ve written much, but that’s only because we have been flat out here with home renovations. This biggest happiest news is that (thanks to the power of social media), we were able to get Pella to move our window installation up a whole month to October 18th. This is HUGE, because it means we will be able to wrap our home study process up in October and get our i800A filed with USCIS. Big steps towards getting our girl home.
In other renovation news, things are moving at a fast speed now. We have all the tradies here this week - HVAC, electric, and plumbing. We are out of the house this weekend so the spray insulation can be done, and then drywall folks start on Monday. It’s so exciting to see our beautiful #fishhawkhouse take shape again. Thomas and I are busy trying to make all the itty bitty decisions like fans and pendant lights - there is far too much choice, but I am so happy to be here.
We had a little working bee at our place this past weekend with a group of dear friends we have known since Atlas was a baby. We blitzed the front stairs area, mulching, laying stone, reframing, and making it safer and look much tidier. This is a temporary fix until we one day add the wrap around verandah, but as this could be years away (sigh). We also welcomed another family of friends who helped continue this work and also scrubbed our kitchen until it shone, perhaps for the first time in 30+ years.
Still to do outside before the 9th - add railings back to the deck off the kitchen (we removed the rotten old ones and cut 2/3 of the deck away, also due to rot). Finish laying stone in front and in the back, move and stack the last of the firewood, and lots of gardening weeding and edging.
In adoption news, we found out what specific orphanage Tippi was in and not surprisingly, it sounds like quite the grim place. There are no good orphanages, but hearing firsthand stories of families who have picked up children there, just hit home the reality, the heartbreak, and the desperation to get her home.
We also booked in our county inspections for the last week or so of October (the earliest dates we could get post the windows going in). Fingers crossed tight for smooth sailing. We have just entered Mercury Retrograde, but we are hoping a positive attitude and a whole lot of good energy will get us through unscathed and without anymore delays.
In fundraising, we have already raised just over $7000! This is so unbelievably amazing and we are incredibly grateful. We appreciate everyone’s love and support more than we can say. ♡