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| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 |
| USCIS approval |
We received our USCIS approval yesterday. Now we are ready to go on this side of the world. We know our dossier went into the country over a week ago. We just have to wait now. I have been gathering a list of items for packing. I can't believe it is getting close to time. I can't wait to hug them and tell them I love them.
My oldest daughter likes to sew. I was supposed to coach a gymnastics competition this last weekend, but it got cancelled because of icy conditions. Instead, Hannah and I made cloth books for the boys. One was Clifford and the other was Bob the Builder counting. We had a great time! I also got some books at Dollar General about Noah and Jonah. They had finger puppets attached to them. I thought they might keep the boys interested. I need to hit the attic and start rummaging through our toddler toys and take inventory.
We had another financial blessing last week. A coworker of Damon's put a note in his mailbox encouraging us and included a $100 bill. She did not even know we were fundraising or anything. She just wanted to help. God is so awesome! That very day I had been talking to someone assuring them that God would provide in one way or another. He just reaffirmed it with this precious lady. |
posted by 6blessings @ 7:56 AM  |
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| Tuesday, February 07, 2006 |
| Dossier sent off |
We have had some progress this week. We went yesterday and had all of our papers notarized at the bank. My husband then went and picked up the Letter of Recommendation from the Home Study Agency and headed off for the Oklahoma Secretary of State. He spent a few hours there getting our papers apostilled. We found out that Oklahoma is one of the priciest states in the country for apostillization. The average runs $2-$5 per document, usually capped off at $100. We were first told it was $25 per document here. Then they said they had a special adoption rate for Russia, $10 per document. I asked her if it was capped off. She said she didn't know what I was talking about. We had 29 papers apostilled, therefore $290. We'll have another set in a month or two. There are so many extra expenses not covered by the adoption agency fees.
Today we mailed our dossier FedEx Overnight to our agency. They suggested we send it right away because they had someone who could carry it in country this weekend. So, by next week our documents will be in Russian hands. Wow!! If plans all go well, we are hoping to hug our boys for the first time two months from today. All of a sudden, things are in a flurry. We are making several grant applications, hoping for some financial help. We realize that we need to have reserved excitement and take one day at a time. When dealing with 2 governments, there's no telling what could happen.=-) However, time is moving on and the process is continuing. We hear our area is going smoothly with adoptions right now. It's all in God's very capable hands. |
| posted by 6blessings @ 1:36 PM |
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| Friday, February 03, 2006 |
| Step by step |
It seems as if the whole process moves in spurts. We were sitting so long waiting on CIS and the home study agency to finish. Now, we are speeding along again. We had our fingerprinting done a few days ago. We will now just wait on them for their final approval. The very same day, we were told that if we would hurry with our dossier, it would hopefully be sent into the country in a little over a week. Therefore, we are hustling and bustling around trying to get the last minute things done on it and get it to the Secretary of State to be apostilled. After that, we will send it probably overnight to make sure it gets to the right people at the right time. Of course, then it will just be a waiting game again--waiting this time on the Russian government for approval to visit. According to our agency, we may be only about 2 months away from our first trip and our first chance to see our children. That is so exciting!
The money side of things is not speeding along. In fact, it has been all but stopped. We still have plans for a big garage sale in March or April. It will help, but of course, not nearly enough. However, I have found that the closer we get and the more paperwork we fill out, the less I am worried about it. I, instead, am more focused on just getting there. God told us He would provide and I believe He will. It may not be in the way that I thought at first, but He will provide and we will bring these kiddos home. We could not do it without Him.
I have read about so many families recently that have experienced lots of delays and disappointments with their adoptions. They are hurting so badly and want to control the situation so much. My heart aches for them, not only for their pain in the wait but also because they seem to be doing it all alone, without the Lord. They are mad at everyone else over their circumstances and don't know where to turn. If anyone reading this is in that boat, I would like to say "Lean on Jesus." I know there is a possiblility that in a few months I will need to read over this for my own self. I'm sorry for your pain. Here's a few verses that might help:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."- Matthew 11:28-30 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."- Proverbs 3:5 God will NOT let you down. He has your best in mind always. Lean on Him . Trust in Him. |
| posted by 6blessings @ 7:37 AM |
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| Wednesday, February 01, 2006 |
| Continuing on |
We have received our completed home study. Now we are working on our dossier. We have almost got all of the paperwork ready to go to be apostilled. We are still waiting on a few things. Also, we are going to be fingerprinted today. We finally got our referral letter to go. We applied to USCIS in November and just received the notice on the last day of January. It says it takes four weeks to process the fingerprints. I am very sick with the flu, but my husband's going to come pick me up and we're going anyway so we won't get any further behind in the process. Wednesdays are the only days they do the fingerprinting and we don't want to put it off another week.
Our agency sent a video of our children, to no avail. This is another thing we have been anxiously awaiting. She sent it over the computer. However, we can't open the file. My husband thinks she just sent a link to the video, not the video itself. We found out about it in mid-December and are dying to see it. Hopefully we'll get it soon. We are learning that patience is truly a virtue in the adoption world. God is good to support us and sustain us.
It has been extremely cold where the boys are, -20 to -40 degrees F, in the middle of the day. We have all been praying for good health for them and protection from the cold. |
| posted by 6blessings @ 6:19 AM |
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