Friday, February 10, 2017

Update and New pictures

It has been one month since we started this crazy journey.  I don't even know where to start. We continue to learn about what it means to have faith. God continues to whisper words of encouragement and love. I feel him by our side as we take each step to reach this little boy who lives in an orphanage on the other side of the world. I am in awe as I reflect on the miracles that brought us to him. We have felt an urgency to move forward quickly. Things have been happening at lighting speed. We completed our home study and had our copy in one week! One week! usually this step takes 2-3 months.  We have completed our entire dossier and sent it to Ukraine except for our USCIS approval. Everything completed in one month! That just does not happen very often in the adoption world. We see God's hand in every step. Mountains just keep moving out of our way. USCIS sends an appointment time for adoptive  families to get FBI finger prints done. These appointments have a specific date and time. Our appointments ended up being on a day we were going to be in Disney land. We were a little frustrated because changing the appointment would delay the process, so we decided to take a chance  and walk in early and pray that they would let all 6 of us in. We only had a short amount of time because Makenley had to get back to school. There was a few people in line and I was a little worried they weren't going to let us. I explained our situation to the security guy and he said that he didn't think they would do it because there were so many of us. He came back a few minutes later and moved us to the front of the line! We were in and out within 30 minutes. Now we just wait for immigration approval and then we will be submitted to the adoption officials in baby boy's country to come and meet him. We have no idea how long this will take. USCIS is taking longer than normal to give approvals and Baby boy's country has added an extra step to the processes that is delaying families. We don't understand the changes they have made, They do not make any sense. These changes are making the process longer and harder. But, we will keep fighting. We will keep climbing the mountains that are put in front of us and jumping through all the hoops until we have him in our arms. This is the hardest part of adoption for me. I am  not good at waiting. Especially, when I don't have any control over any of it. During these times God continues to teach me about who he is.  The other day I received a recent video of our baby. That was such a treasured gift. I couldn't stop the tears as I watched his cute little face on the computer screen.  The love I feel for this little boy that I have never met is so hard to explain to those who have never adopted. I wish I could jump through the computer screen and hold him. I watch this video multiple times a day. I wish I could share it, but It has information on it that I cannot share yet. but, I can share pictures. I am not good at fund raising or asking for donations, so I am just asking for prayers. Prayers that we get USCIS approval within a month. Prayers for the families that are in country waiting for approval and prayers for us that are to follow that the process in  country will move quickly and that they will see what the love of a family does for these kids. Now for the best part pictures!!