::Homestudy::

We have turned in all of our homestudy paperwork and had our first home visit on Friday.  We loved our new social worker and look forward to working with her throughout the rest of our adoption process.  The visit was no big deal, and we weren't a bit nervous since we've done this before.  I remember preparing for our first home visit for Isaiah's adoption, and I'm pretty sure I was taking cookies out of the oven right before the social worker arrived.  This time, I was in the bathroom coaxing a three year old to poop on the potty.  Things have most certainly (and thankfully) changed around here.  :)

Isaiah was a gem while our worker was here.  I truly could not have asked for a sweeter attitude from him--he was not a bit shy and charmed Ms. Joy right off the bat. I'm glad she got to see him in his element.  (Sometimes he's shy in other surroundings.)  I love that boy so much.  He is so excited about bringing "Cinnamon" home.  This process has given us several opportunities to talk about his own adoption (in simple, age-appropriate terms), and although most of it goes right over his head, we hope that he sees adoption as a very normal thing for our family.  It is the way God has chosen to knit our family together. 

Our homestudy wrap-up visit will be on the 23rd, so we're looking forward to completing this leg of the journey.  After that meeting, we'll wait for our social worker to write up our homestudy report, wait for approval, and then we'll begin gathering our dossier paperwork.  At some point after the approval, we'll file for immigration, I think.   But I'll be honest...after this point, I really don't know what I'm talking about.  From here on out, this part of adoption is uncharted territory for the Marshall's. 

We've still got quite a ways to go, but it's exciting to think that at least one major part is nearly completed.  We covet your prayers for the rest of our process, for our daily life here in ministry, and for us as we prepare to add to our family. 
May Christ be glorified and may we be made more like Him.