God makes me smile!

Although nothing has changed with the details of the "one missing paper and signature" situation that we found out about yesterday....Wow! today is amazing!!

Just got a call from our social worker in GR and she said the team in Ethiopia contacted her this morning. They want our permission to tell the girls about us today!!   I'm literally screaming and crying over here!  This is such great news since we originally were told that they couldn't tell the girls about us until we completed this PAIR process (you know, the one with the missing paper and signature!)  Anyway, I'm reassured that the social workers in Ethiopia feel it's appropriate timing to tell them and that time is TODAY.

My first question is that since we are not through with PAIR and it could now take much longer to complete, is it good to tell them and have them wait for us now that they know we exist.  My social worker said "we are fighting tooth and nail to get this process finalized!"

I just want to say that adopting is far more emotional for me than any pregnancy I've ever experienced!!

And, God has such an amazing presence.  Yesterday's news was tough.  Today, look at what He did!  He surprised 2 darlings with the news that they have a family! 

Thanks so each of you who lifted this up in prayer.  YOU make a huge difference!!

Crushed....

I feel crushed right now.  We had heard that things went well with the parent/guardian interview 2 weeks ago and I inquired with the US Embassy as to when we would get our official clearance.  Well, we got an email from them this morning stating that they are unable to move forward at this point and are need ONE additional paper signed.  Big deal, right!?  Well, apparently it is a big deal to obtain.  

The Ethiopian team has known about this particular form for months and have been trying to get it and get it signed by the appropriate authority.  It's from a difficult place to travel to and the person who needs to sign it isn't always available or even there.  Our social worker said it's "literally one signature that is keeping us from moving forward."

Oh, why does Satan do this!?  Well, I guess I do know why!  He is trying with all his might to keep these girls from being in a loving Christian family.  God has proved over and over through these adoption processes that HE alone is in control!  Right now, I need to focus on the fact that my God is a lot more powerful than one signature on a piece of paper!  He can do this and I have a big feeling He will amaze me as He always does!!

I would ask you to join in praying that this form we are waiting for is obtained, signed and we can move along smoothly and quickly into the next step!  Thanks for your continued prayers and support.  It means so much and especially to 2 beautiful girls who need a mom and dad!!

HUGE step!

We found out today that the parent/guardian interview took place as scheduled on 9/4/14.  Both of the girls parents/guardian's arrived and the word is that it "went well"!  HOORAY!!  This is a huge step.  Nothing official, just a portal message at this point.  Waiting for the legal papers from the US immigration, then it's onto court!

Thanking God for His continued faithfulness...

P.A.I.R process nearly complete!

The P.A.I.R Process (pre-adoption immigration review) is coming down to the final step.  I am asking for prayers on Thursday, September 4 at 7:30 am Ethiopia time, that's 12:30am our time.  Our girls parent/guardian interview is scheduled with the US Embassy in Ethiopia.  Both girls cases will be heard that morning.  When this is complete, we are basically finished with the pre-processes.  

Next step, we will receive a confirmation via email from the USCIS (immigration) that we've passed and will be allowed to set up a court date.  That means sometime after mid-October our girls parent/guardians will travel for Ethiopian court and complete their part of relinquishing the girls.  Then, we will get a court date to travel!  Typically this is 3-5 weeks after parent/guardian court, but because courts are closed right now, we are told there will be a backup.

So.....we are seeing some amazing progress!  This PAIR process used to take 4 months now just a couple.  Praise to God!

Please pray that there are no issues that arise, errors in paper work found or more translation difficulties on the morning of 9/4/14.  That's less than 2 days away!  I'd be lying if I didn't say it is a bit unnerving because it is always possible that their parent/guardian could change their minds.  They absolutely have that right.  

My selfish side wants them (the parents and guardians) to show up, sign off and be done.  Deep down, however, I know it would be best for both girls to remain with family, remain in Ethiopia and never have known hurt.  Unfortunately, that is not the world we live in.  There is sin, there is pain, there is loss, there is suffering.  No child should have to be without a mommy and daddy.  God willing we are going to take 2 beautiful little girls out of that scenario and show them what a family's love looks like.

August 14

I'm giggling even thinking about how crazy this must sound, but I have to say it...
You know how people have favorite colors, favorite ice cream flavors, favorite shirts, favorite restaurants.  Well, I have a favorite day.  It's August 14.  It has been for years!  I know, weird.  I really don't know why.  My favorite number is 14, August is summer, I don't know, it is just my favorite.  August 14 makes me happy.

Well, 2 years ago, on August 14, we were in Ethiopia for our court date.  We met with the Ethiopian Judge in her office, on August 14, and she signed our official Ethiopian adoption papers and made Kyah our legal daughter, on August 14.

We got some amazing news today about our adoption, that I will post about in the future.  But for now, all I can say is that August 14 ROCKS!!  God is good, all the time!!

Today, August 14, is our sweet "B's" birthday!  Coincidence?  I think not!  Nothing is by chance.  My sweet daughter on the other side of the world just turned a year older, today, August 14.  God willing, this will be the last birthday she ever experiences as an orphan!  

I can't explain how it feels to be so in love with someone (actually 2 someones!) who I've never met.  To think that they don't know that I am here for them, loving them and planning for them from afar.  So, we are going out for ice cream tonight as a family.  Celebrating her birthday in our hearts.

All I know is that next year we are going to PARTY all together, in person, on August 14!

Mega pictures and P.A.I.R.

  

Sol & Kyah just chillin' in the hammock

Family photo is currently missing 2

Jesse, Solomon & Kyah having fun on the first warm day this summer.

Kyah enjoys our pygmy goat, "Billy"

Fun in our pool!

Kyah needed to get out of the pool and listen to music on the iphone

Posing by our calves  =)

Kyah is getting braver by the day with our calves

Playing in the sandbox

Solomon found a great way to pick cherries from our tree  =)

Jordan by our new pasture

Todd took a day off from work and we enjoyed a family bike ride

stopped to check out a creak then back to our house for an afternoon at the pool.

Gabe joined us at Peach Wave for some yummy goodness!

I discovered "divide and enjoy" bowl separators.  Amazing idea!!  =)

"Gramma La", as Kyah calls her, helped decorate a princess cake for Kyah's birthday party.

She was so excited for her birthday!   Couldn't wait for everyone to arrive, sing to her and, of course, open up her birthday presents!

Grandpa Lee & Gramma A. gave Kyah a princess doll.  Perfect choice and she loves it!

She smiled the entire party and even sang along while we all sang "happy birthday" to her!  Ha!

Trying on her new strawberry lip gloss.

Then, out for a Chinese lunch with Aunt Lisa and cousin Lily

Putting lip gloss on Jesse....what a good big brother!

Uncle Kirk is the best!

Another party with Grampa Jack & Gramma La

Our big 3 year old!!  Love her so very much!!

Apparently Kyah takes after her big brother Jesse.  She was on the monkey bars at our house, fell and hit her head and ended up with 4 staples in the back of her head.  She was a trooper when getting the staples put in (although drugs helped a lot!)  She sluggishly told the doctor and nurse "ok guys, enough!" over and over!


P.A.I.R. is the process we are about to begin with our adoptions.  It stands for Pre-Adoption Immigration Review and basically is the US Embassy reviewing our girls cases to make sure all is in order (that it's Ethical, that they fit the US guidelines as orphans, etc).  We have been waiting for months to begin this part of the adoption process.  It is a lot of legal paper work (around 40 documents for each one) and we have been waiting for a couple that have been difficult to collect.  And, I am happy to say it is all finished and sent in today!!  We should hear in a couple of weeks that they have received it and then we are told that it takes between 3 - 4 months to complete.  That time seems long, but 3 - 4 months slips by quickly.  (I'm trying hard to remain positive, can you tell!?!)  Once that is done, Ethiopia schedules the parent/guardian court and then WE GO!  

Each step we conquer seems huge when waiting, so today feels great!  

Specific prayer requests:  

*for the I600 forms that were sent in today, to arrive complete and thorough. 

*that no further investigating will be necessary and this will simply be approved.

*for "T" and "B".  Our 2 precious girls who desperately need a family to call their own.

*that during this time of waiting, God will work in all our lives and grow us in wondrous ways.

To Him be all the glory!!

What will they think?.

Our girls don't know we exist.  I feel like I am on the edge of my seat waiting to find out that they have been told.  Because they are of age to understand what adoption means, the social workers in Ethiopia feel that it is best to wait to let them know until the time gets closer for us to come get them.  At first I was thinking "tell them!  Don't wait!" Now, however, I'm realizing why they choose to wait to let them know.

The process will take many months yet and if they know about us now, and we wait months and months to come get them, they will begin to loose trust in us already.  So...we wait to tell them.  Seems like the word "wait" appears often in adoption processes.  But, I totally understand this.  I have asked, if it seems appropriate, to video the social worker letting them know that they have a family and have been chosen! That someone loves them and wants them to be a part of their lives!  

How will they react?  Excited?  Scared?  Confused?  Probably all of the above. We've been told that all children at the orphanage see strangers arrive and take their friends and they know that those kids will now have families.  And, that every child wants it to be "their turn".  Although they don't know what all of this will exactly look like, they all want it to be for them.  

In our April update of the girls, "B" actually asked her social worker if they thought that someone would adopt "T" and herself together?  ....interesting question from her.  =)  Makes me wonder if they do know more than what we think they do.

I'm just so excited for both of them to have hope.  I see pictures of smiles on their faces and they seem to really being taken care of well.  However, at the end of the day, they are still in an orphanage.  I want them to have the hope of a future with a family that will love them forever.  I can not wait to look into their eyes, cup their face with my hands and say "YOU are now mine!"