WAITING

Sorry I haven't written lately, I just feel like I haven't had much to say for some reason, maybe just burnt out with a CRAZY busy schedule these days, I don't know, none the less, I am back in the saddle!


So we have entered the period of time that I knew would be the hardest to handle...the waiting...the out of your hands waiting. 


We do have good news though!  


Good news #1--Our dossier, the 1st of two major packets of paperwork has made it to her country and is waiting to be translated! YAY!! We are that much closer to meeting our sweet girl.  Not as great of news is that the committee that reviews the dossiers for new adoptions and also issues those long awaited first travel dates, is CLOSED. They intended to close for the month of September, but here we are in November and they still haven't opened, and with no word of when that will happen...UGH UGH UGH. I have been told that they don't like to grant more adoptions in a year than they did the year before so they close down in the fall for a period of time to regulate and control this. So we are just waiting to hear when we can be submitted to the committee and we are hoping and praying of course that they open ASAP!


Good new #2-- We had our USCIS fingerprinting appt last Wednesday the 26th and amazingly it was SO quick and easy, and painless. If you don't remember we tried to walk in early, as MANY other families have had success in doing, only to be turned away, and treated HORRIBLY with sarcasm and what I thought was a totally inappropriate comment. Well, the Lord proved again that HIS timing is perfect. We were frustrated that we had to wait 3 more LONG weeks for our actual appointment, but chose quickly to push those thoughts aside, and again refocus above. HE is the reason we are doing this, we need to follow his lead, and fall into his arms and allow him to reveal himself through this amazing life journey we are on. SO, fingerprinting went SO smooth, they were SO kind, and SO fast, and Richie Rich was playing on the television while we waiting...ha...couldn't get much better (I love that movie, and haven't watched it for probably 10 years!) MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, our USCIS APPROVAL (this is a HUGELY important document needed for our court trip for later that states we have the government's approval to be adoptive parents and bring a child back as a US citizen) was sitting in the mailbox on SATURDAY!!!!! Yeah, that's right, the approval I wasn't expecting to see for at least a couple more weeks, was sitting in our mailbox only 3 days later!! The approval said that they approved us the SAME DAY as our fingerprinting appointment. WOAH, Lord you are amazing, your timing is perfect, thank you again for the friendly reminder to lean on you!!


Good news #3-- There are four pretty spectacular teens who are passionate about advocating for orphans with Down syndrome and devote themselves to help raise awareness and funds for the families that are adopting! Pretty amazing girlies, huh?  Amanda, Genesis, Caitlin, and Madison known as "Guardian Angels" have selected our family to advocate for for the months of November & December!!! OH MY WORD!! These girls have beautiful hearts and are doing some incredible things for the least of these around us. PLEASE PLEASE check out their blog as they join our family for the next two months!!!!!


http://guardianangels-love.blogspot.com/2011/11/novembers-family-is.html


I can't believe how the time has flown already...November 1st...really? I knew it would go by fast, as a normal summer is ALWAYS so busy let alone one filled with adoption to-dos...then comes fall and the holiday season zips us right on through the new year before we know it!! Whew...we are on an amazing ride, and thank you so much for guiding us...supporting us...encouraging us...praying for us!! Thank you too for all the people who have donated to our FSP...my heart is moved and warmed everytime it goes up, knowing people are sacrificing and giving away something that they have worked hard for, for the love of our sweet little girl. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR BEING A PART OF OUR STORY!! 

WE ARE SOOOO VERY BLESSED BY OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!