Update on the new & improved Stumpf Family

Here’s the long-overdue, much-asked-for update on how things are going around here.

The children arrive last Monday (April 2, 2012) at around 7pm. Tuesday morning started before 6am! Fortunately, everyone is waking at a much more acceptable (in my mind) time now!

Last week was a tough one for me, not because of anything the new children were doing, but the stress and anxiety going on in my head. I stopped sleeping and was an emotional wreck. It reminded me of bringing my first few babies home. The overwhelming “what have I done?” feeling.

Once I was able to get a few nights of quality sleep, things started looking up. Not crying over green beans was a blessing to everyone.

Bringing home a 12 and 14-year-old and integrating them into the family is not without adjustment! Bryan equated it with having foreign exchange students with the bonus that they speak English.

There is a learning curve as they try to fit into the culture of our family. We’ve been blessed with two children that are very anxious to please. They are trying very hard to learn how we do things. Emelie says that she’s noticed that they are even beginning to talk like Stumpfs!

Because of state law, the new children will need to be in public school until the adoption is finalized, about six months. Trying to enroll children this close to the end of the school year has not been a speedy process. By the time they finally get into school (looking like next Tuesday), they will have only about 28 days left until summer break.

I’ll admit that venturing into the public school system has been one of the things that was stressing me out. Things like gym clothes, proper school supplies, and lunch money are things I’ve never had to think about before. God has resolved many of these issues. I should have let Him handle things from the beginning! Shocker!

For the fall, we’re looking into an on-line public charter school to plug the gap until we can officially homeschool them.

I cannot express how much I appreciate all the prayers and support from my family, near-to-home friends and my on-line friends. Knowing that our family is being lifted up to the Father has gotten be through my days. This adventure is just beginning, and in four weeks we will get to meet the newest member of our family.

Our double blessing arrived today!

As I posted on Facebook earlier today, a change in the placement plan resulted in the our two children coming home to us this evening!

Last Friday, as Bryan and I pulled into the parking lot of a Japanese restaurant, we received a phone call telling us that the placement might need to be moved up. We were attending the state homeschool convention and suddenly we had a hard time keeping focus!

This morning we had a meeting and knew it would likely happen this week. We found out at 1 o'clock that confirmed that tonight would be the night.

So now it's 10 p.m., exactly one month after we received a phone call asking if we would be interested in these children, and 8 of our 10 children are settled in bed. Not sure that anyone is actually sleeping yet!

On tomorrow's agenda will be getting things unpacked, trying to figure out how to handle the rest of the school year, and loving on two children that have just entered their forever home. I'm thinking that making Easter clothes might have to wait for a while!

Don't I look good for carrying triplets?

Over the past couple weeks, Bryan and I have been blessed to be part of an adventure that will hopefully end in the adoption of two young people that have been "children of our hearts" since last summer. Within weeks of having our ninth little one, we will be blessed to be the parents of eleven! Sounds unreal, even to us!

Here's the timeline of how this has come about:
June 2011 - We were given information on a boy and girl that might be available for adoption. For much of last summer we pictured these children becoming part of our family.

Fall 2011 - Communication on the siblings dwindled to nothing. I assumed the plan had changed and they were no longer available. But we had a new pregnancy to focus on!

Fast forward to March 2, 2012 - I get a call from my adoption worker saying that the case worker for these children was anxious to interview us as soon as possible.  We inform her we are interested, but that we are pregnant: a scenario our home study said would impact our ability to adopt.

March 8 - During the interview, God's hand in the process and timeline becomes very apparent to all of us.  When the children were asked in what type of home would they like live, the girl answered she hoped they would have a baby.  The interview went fabulously and the review team voted unanimously to match us with the children.

March 14 - The case workers told the children about us and showed them our scrapbook. The girl said, "I would be blessed to be part of this family."

March 16 - We met them in person for the first time. I can't remember ever being so nervous. It went great!

March 18 - We introduced them to the whole family at a park. We started counting to ten when counting noses.

March 24 - The children were able to spend the day here at the farm and see our house.

Moving forward, we'll have more visits during their Spring Break and on weekends. Shortly after they wrap up their school year at the end of May, they'll be joining our family forever!

It's only been a couple weeks, but we feel these children have been in our lives forever! I guess God knew that all along!

Where my head has been...

I just haven’t felt the blogging mojo this week. Finishing up our school year, computer issues, cleaning poop off the carpet, and removing powder blush off my bathroom floor have taken much time and energy. I’ve been spending my evenings searching photo listings and sending emails to caseworkers.



I’m looking to get some balance back in my schedule. While I think I’ll still check the Indiana listing daily, I don’t think I need to check it hourly! The national listings I’m going to try to save for once a week.


Our homestudy has gone national. Copies have gone out to a couple other states. Our preference is to adopt locally for many reasons, but we feel called to cast a wide net and see what God will do.


I have to get up before 6am tomorrow (so, so wrong) to get Emelie ready for her contest. As soon as she walks out the door it will be time to get Jacob and Brigitta ready for their math tournament. We’ll get home just in time to see the Derby run and collapse for the evening.


I’ll try to put some fun stuff up on the blog next week. I’ve kept the sewing machine busy (great therapy!) and will show you some of my must-have patterns for spring...

Have a great weekend! And Happy Mother's Day!

Adoption Update - Not to be this time

We got the call today that the agency has gone with another family for the boy and girl we interviewed for. We're definitely sad as we had begun picturing these children as part of our lives. However, we trust that those that know these children best know what family situation will best meet their needs.

We've "thrown our hat in the ring" to be considered for three other sibling groups, so this could be just the beginning of many roller coaster rides. Thanks for all your prayers! They've definitely been felt!

Adoption Update - The Waiting Game

Our interview yesterday went very well from our perspective. We were told that a decision would be made by the end of the week. What?! That would be by tomorrow?! Holy cow! I thought this was a slow process!!

Both Bryan and I feel more attached to the children since the interview, which we didn't expect. Now I keep trying to talk myself down with "God's will be done. God's will be done." I just happen to have a very strong opinion of what I would like God's will to be! 

Thanks for all the prayers! While I was nervous prior to the interview, I felt pretty calm during. Could I ask for prayers for a good night's sleep tonight?

Adoption Update - Interview Tomorrow

Bryan and I are very excited because tomorrow we will be interviewing to be considered for adopting two children. This was the first sibling group we submitted our homestudy for, and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to interview.

Since we know that God knows what our family is to look like, we pray that God will bring the children he has planned for our family. However, our hearts have been knit to this boy and girl that we've never met, and so we are nervous as well!

Adoption Update - Another Milestone Reached

On Monday our social worker presented our homestudy before the Indiana Special Needs Adoption Program Specialists. The board voted to recommend us as an adoptive family!

I had tried to keep my mind off the proceedings all morning and was surprised when the voicemail came through. I shocked myself at my emotional reaction to the news. The children immediately started bouncing off the walls!

Now we can start searching for children. We pray that the Lord will guide every step (can we also pray for speed?)!

Adoption Update

We received some good news yesterday. Since we completed all our paperwork, and our social worker has completed the homestudy report, he submitted us for the SNAP board's agenda (those are the folks that will give us the thumbs up or down to adopt).

We'd been thinking for a month and a half it would likely be the April meeting, perhaps May. Nope - MARCH 14! There will be even more praying going on here, both for approval (naturally!) and for the children that we're hoping God has planned for our family.

Adoption Update

We are a few more steps down the road to adoption. Friday will be the last of our three home studies. The only paperwork left to do are the medical reports for Bryan and I (don't know why we're putting that off!). Hopefully we'll get appointments in the next week or two.

It's exciting to think that our family might look different before the end of the year! I can also get keyed up thinking about how that transition will take place. Breathe - God is in control of all of this! But I have some adoption books on hold at the library, just to get prepared!

We're hoping that Friday we might have a very loose time-line of our next steps. I know that the Department of Child Services rarely moves at lightening speed. Pray that I can have patience and peace with that!