It's in the Mail... FINALLY

The application is in the mail. FINALLY. Hopefully next week I can start working on my dossier and have it done in a week and a half. I hope this goes alot quicker. We need to get into the courts already.

Yet Another Picture

I love seeing this face. He is such a doll. Can't wait to hold him again. Please stay tuned. I have to run to the post office.

Trying to have a Merry Christmas

Today hasn't been great. I woke up at 3am and prayed that God would help me get our application together to mail today. I put the turkey in the oven at 5. Got up later because I knew I had to work tonight. Got to the Christmas party at Patrick's work and realized I forgot to wrap 2 of the gifts for the kids. Just wasn't feeling the spirit. Got home and got the application together FINALLY. Went to the post office. CLOSED. They closed at noon today. The UPS office wasn't open either. So I didn't get what I really wanted for Christmas. Then I remember, last year all I wanted was Ananya. She's here now. Prasun is smiling and looks very happy. All 3 of my children are healthy. We have lots of presents under the tree. It will be ok. Next year Prasun should be here. I'll forget all the hurt I feel today. He'll be happy and we'll all be a family.
I had to stop and count my blessings. There were plenty to count. First thing Wednesday I'll be at the post office to send the application off. I'll work like crazy to get the dossier done ASAP.
Have a Merry Christmas!

He's up to it Again!

Another family has traveled to India to pick up their baby. I love family reunions. Well this family saw Prasun. They said "We also saw Prasun, who had a completely endearing (and quick) smile. He is a charming little man!" I love to hear those words. Only 1 couple saw Ananya while we were waiting and that was only a month before we left.
Keep up the good spirits baby boy. We love you.
Amanda

One More Step!

We have completed one more step in this process and only have a million to go yet. We had our homestudy visit yesterday. We are only doing one because it has only been 3 months since our last postplacement visit. I'm happy to have it done and am praying the paperwork will come together without too much difficulty. I want my little boy. Today is really the first day I've had that feeling. The one where part of me is across the world and I just yearn to hold him. IN GODS TIME. In the meantime, I'll work with Ananya and teach Anthony and pray. I will find strength that GOD will lead us through this journey once again. I can't remember the pain from our first adoption. Ananya's smile erases those memories.
Onto other big news. Guess what?
Prasun was standing in his crib in the new pictures. I would never have thought. That is pure and simply GOD taking care of my baby boy.
I'm having a great week. I hope all of you are as well.
Joy, I'm praying for travel soon.
Prasun, I'm coming baby. God will hold your hand until then. I love you sweetie.

PICTURES!!!!!!

I can not even add enough smiley faces to express my joy today. We have pictures. I'm in a hurry but thought I'd throw a few out there.

Thanksgiving

We had to celebrate Thanksgiving without Prasun. We had a good time though as it was Ananya's first Thanksgiving. Next year will be even better. I'm hoping for new pictures in the next week or so.
I love you baby boy and hope to have you with me quick.
God will take care of you. Always.
Love,
Mommy

Names!!

The great debate.

Prasun Sebastian Phillips

Prasun Zachery Phillips

Can't decide.

Give me your opinion.
Hope to have pictures again soon.
Amanda

Update

Its been awhile since I've posted.
There isn't much going on and yet so much going on. I have been instructed to start our homestudy. I have applications from both agencies now. I just have to fill them out. Actually, I think I filed them out already I just have to gather a few random papers and send them in. They want the paperwork as soon as possible. I have so many things competing for my attention at the moment that I'm having a hard time getting it all done. I'm hoping to have my homestudy done in the next 2 months (hopefully sooner). The Indian courts are closed for the next 6 weeks celebrating various holidays. It would be great to have the paperwork ready to send. I just don't know. I have to ask God for the stregth. He will provide.
We haven't been blessed with any new pictures lately. I think at least 4 new families are traveling in the next month or so. It would be great to have new pictures for Thanksgiving. This way we can introduce him to some family with new pictures. I haven't mentioned any of this to my family in PA yet. So if you are up there, SHSHSHSH.
We have finalized Ananya's adoption now. I found out the hard way that in NC you don't get a court hearing with a judge. You submit papers and they mail you the decree. So as of September 26, 2007 Ananya is a legal Phillips.
Keep praying for us to have strength to complete the paperwork. It will get Prasun home to us.

Dear Prasun,

My precious baby boy. I just got new pictures. You seem to be growing so much. I can't wait to see the video that Mrs. Tami got while she was in India. I can remember so clearly how it felt to hold you. I savor that memory everyday as I wait for news. I'm so happy that God has opened our eyes and given us another son. You are in my thoughts everyday. I can remember waiting for your sister. The wait is so hard and the reward is so great. Know that you have people who love you already. We are making plans and dreaming dreams for you. Always remember that God has a plan and His timing is perfect. We will be together soon. I pray for you to be strong and healthy. Be strong my boy. Mommy is on her way. I love you.
Mommy

More Waiting...

I'm having a really stressful week. Last Sunday I started a diet Coke fast. That went until Thursday night because our case worker, and one of my favorite people, met with CARA. I'm not quite sure how it went as she left India to come home on Friday. I will hear sometime this week if she got a response. I'm on egg shells.
Monday I received the "offical" adoption application. I've mananged to fill it out, drop all the medical forms off, and pass out all of the reference letters. I wasn't at all overwhelmed by the paperwork this time. I just got my notebook and put dividers in it and got started. I have to schedule our appointments for physicals tomorrow. My husband isn't looking forward to that. I could care less. I just want my boy. I don't like being in limbo. I've been walking around for a week constantly praying. I really feel that God pushed me again and that I don't have to worry. God will bring my son home. At the same time, my human heart is scared. I don't know what The Plan is if not to adopt Prasun. I'm blessed on a daily basis and so thankful for it.
Our other roadblock is finalizing Ananya's adoption so we can actually proceed with Prasun's paperwork. I'm hoping to get the papers notarized and be able to drop them off Monday or Tuesday at the courthouse.
I hope that everyone enjoys the pictures I just received. There are so many families waiting for travel, I hope I get a few more pictures. I love to see Prasun. He is so cute. I am starting to remember what it was like to have a little boy. Anthony was so much fun. Ananya is a blast as well. I get to do the pretty dresses and hairbows. I'm looking forward to another round of boy stuff. I love the idea of having 2 kids so close in age.
Well... everyone please say a prayer for our family and this little boy.

New Pictures

Prayer Request

Everyone please pray for Prasun and our family. Our caseworker is meeting with CARA on August 16th to discuss our case as well other things. Please pray that we get a favorable response. Prasun needs a home! We need him.

New Picture

Without futher ado, our sleeping beauty. Yes he's wearing pink. If you have anything to say about it, think twice. I think he is so adorable. He's getting so big.
We are still trying to finalize Ananya's adoption so we can submit all the paperwork for Prasun. We have our app 1 approved so now we will start working on app 2 when it arrives. YEAH!! Our adoption coordinator with Dillon is traveling to India next week. She is meeting with CARA and is going to approach them about our adopting Prasun. She asked me to write a letter explaining why we are a good family for him. Anyone have any ideas about how to write a letter asking someone to give you a child?

I HATE WAITING!!!

I HATE WAITING!!!!
It stinks. I just want to go to India and say "We want to raise this little boy. We raise him to be a great man. Willing to give back to the world. Here are our 2 children. I think we are doing pretty good. Can I please take him home to his room?" Of course, I know its not that easy. We have to wait. I think that I have a better balance of the whole enjoy my children and morn missed days with others.
Our agency representative is going to pick up her daughter soon. She is going to try and see if she can present our case and get an idea whether CARA will approve it. I'm praying.
Good morning little boy. You have a Momma and Daddy praying for you. Have a great day. We will try to be there as soon as possible.
Love, Mommy

New Pictures

This picture was taken in May. He is just too cute.

This picture was taken in January. That is Ananya in the bottom. These 2 were cribmates, and hopefully they will become roommates.

This is my favorite picture. The day I met Prasun. He stole my heart.

Just A Little Something

Today, I filled out the part 1 application for our adoption agency. This will allow them to mail us the formal application. We have a little over a month until we can have our final post-placement visit for Ananya. Hopefully we can get an early court date to get finalized. Then, maybe within just weeks we can attempt to get all the information completed to get Prasun's paperwork to India. Everything is standing in the way of this adoption. I'm too young, the kids are too close in age, we don't have the money right now. We don't care. God impressed on Patrick and I that this is our son and we are going to put our hearts out there. Much better to deal with heart-break if it is not meant to be than spending a lifetime wondering "What If?" I'm so excited to start this journey. I just hope we get finished with Ananya's adoption very soon.

Not Much New

Not much news here. Ananya continues therapy. We see the orthopedist on Friday. I keep preparing my heart for not being able to adopt Prasun. I keep praying that God will allow me the joy to adopt this handsome boy. My mind says "it won't happen", my heart screams "HE'S MY SON". I'm trying to balance the two. Prayers are greatly appreciated. I'm trying to organize my house so that it will accomodate another person smoothly.

Pray the judge overseeing cases to Prasun and Ananya's orphanage will start working. He has backlogged alot of cases again. Many families are waiting for their children.

Secrets

This is my secret blog for the son I hope to bring home. He stole my heart in India. I've met him and held him. I've given my heart to him. I pray that God will allow my family to lead him and parent him. He is precious.
The blog is a secret because we have only had our daughter home for 3 months and can not start process for at least 3 months. We may have roadblocks, but I've been told "If God is for us then who can be against us."
Please pray that this little man finds a home soon. If not with my family, then with another family.