Midterm Status Report

It's about that time of year - heading further into Fall - that schools have midterms and (more interesting to us these days) the college football season is about halfway over. Go Irish! 7-0, yeah!* So we thought it would be good to give a status report of where we are. The home study is so much about behind-the-scenes stuff, but it can be nice to review how far we've come so far - because we're making great progress!

DONE
- monthly expenses sheet
- overall financial information with documentation (bank account, retirement, etc.)- evacuation plan & floor map of our house - fire safety survey & fire inspection - our autobiographies - guardianship agreement- employer letter for Dan- certified driving records- physicals for adults- Dr. letter for Zelie and overall health history- copies of: birth certificates, marriage certificate, adoption decree, latest taxes, auto insurance, and life insurance- several "sign and date" forms, such as the fee schedule and service agreement with our agency- 4 reference letters plus 1 reference who meets in-person with our social worker (don't think the in-person meeting has happened yet, but all references are in



STILL NEED TO DO
- fingerprints 
- child protective services background check - out for processing
- child support background check - out for processing
- meetings with our social worker - will happen once the above 3 items are completed

So we are well over halfway done!!!

Which is great news because our other big project - Dan completing his PhD - is also moving full speed ahead. The day after Columbus Day, he handed in seven copies of his printed and bound 300+ page dissertation (!!!) What a relief! Now he is awaiting a date for his defense, and of course will be preparing for that throughout the Fall.

"I wrote ALL of this?!?!?"

*Speaking of football (can you tell we're a bit obsessed? ;)) - we had the amazing opportunity to attend a Notre Dame game at Notre Dame, thanks to one of Bethany's former coworkers passing on tickets that she won but couldn't use. It. Was. AMAZING!! We were at the ND-Stanford game, which was incredible. Such an energizing atmosphere, and a great getaway weekend for us in the midst of a busy Fall. (Zelie had just as good a time at home with Bethany's parents.)

life motto

Happy to say that Zelie can recognize the golden dome ;) 

Goooooo Irish!!

And afterwards, someone was very happy to welcome Daddy home :)

Thank you for your continued prayers for us!!