Since I Last Posted...

Ahh, yes, the inevitable checklist of a family who has a homestudy in progress.  At least we're moving forward, checking off the boxes.

I've read 2 of the 3 required books, and ordered the 3rd.  PapaBeast is working on the first one.  His work schedule is kicking his butt, but he's really putting in the effort.  He plans to be done tonight with the first book.  :)

We attended our first adoption class and we feel like we learned a lot.  They mostly covered the three parts of the adoption triad (adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees) and how the various factors in adoption affect all of them.  I hadn't really put myself in the birthmother's shoes before, so that was really eye opening.

We were fingerprinted.  It was hard to find the place, because it was in a post office box type store -- the sign for fingerprinting was TINY.  But we got it done.  One more box to check.  :)

I scheduled our CPR and First Aid class through the Red Cross next weekend.

PapaBeast has been studying for his citizenship test.  Becoming a US citizen will help simplify our paperwork.  Hopefully we will hear soon about his interview and test date.  :)

So, I really feel like we're getting closer to our goal.  Yes, Kazakhstan still has to officially begin accepting families into the program when it officially reopens.  Yes, we still need PapaBeast's citizenship.  But, at the end of the day, there's forward momentum.  And that's what counts.