Pray On

I woke up early yesterday morning anxious to hear news of the court proceedings in Russia. I was so incredibly sad when I found out the judge did not grant the adoption. After eight hours of court the judge said she was still not satisfied with their paperwork. She continued the proceedings until they submit additional paperwork. I do not know anymore than that. So please continue to pray for the children of Irkutsk and the families who love them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSIAH!!!

Happy Birthday sweet baby boy! We wish we could be with you. While we can't be there today we are thinking of you and can't wait to be with you. In two weeks we will be!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Special Prayer Request

As many of you know the wait for an adoption to be complete no matter how long you have to wait is very hard. From the moment you see your referral the longing is there. We first held Hannah in our arms when she was 8.5 months old. Leaving her in the Baby Home and returning home without her was the most difficult thing I've ever done. Waiting to bring her home was so hardest thing I ever thought I'd go through. Now as we approach the one year mark since we received Josiah's referral I realize that no matter how long the wait or the circumstances it is very difficult. In you heart he/she is already your son/daughter who you deeply love. Your heart and arms ache to be with him/her.

Knowing that, I'm asking you to pray for a family who is in Irkutsk Russia right now. First, a little background. When we adopted Hannah Irkutsk was one of the hardest regions to adopt from in Russia. From the time we received her referral to our court date it was fourteen months. At the time of her referral we knew we would meet her and then have to return to the U.S. to wait for a court date. At that time we throught the wait between trips would be three months. Three months quickly turned to six and then finally it was twelve before we could return. It was always rumored that the judge would retire and adoptions from this region would speed up. What no one anticipated was the events that finally led to the judge retiring and the aftermath. Just two short months after our adoption was complete an adoptive mother in North Carolina did the unthinkable.

Since that day only two American petitions for adoption were granted. The judge retired and the one who replaced her has refused to hear a petition from a U.S. family. Remember, we waited one year for our court date after we first held our daughter. So, when adoptions stopped in August 2005 families and children were already waiting twelve months to be reunited. Those children and families are still waiting over three years later. There is a family in Irkutsk now who will go before the judge on Monday Sep 29th. (Sunday evening EST) this is the first American family to have a court date with this judge. Please pray that the adoption would be granted. So many families are looking to this case for hope that they too may get a court date and one day have their child home with them.

We've Got Gold!

Today we travelled to Philadelphia for my sworn statement interview with the Adoption Officer at USCIS. This was our last hurdle before we head to Vietnam. We arrived early (1.5 hours)and had to wait downstairs in the waiting area before the guards would let us upstairs at the designated time. Knowing how important this was we were a little nervous they would not let us upstairs. We did finally get up there, and were called almost immediately. We went in and when we sat down the Adoption Officer pointed to a stack of I797C's on his desk, "That's gold." he said. "When you leave here today you'll have yours too." (BIG SMILE) And he was right! We have gold!! We have our extension. For those who don't know the I797C is the approval you need for an advance processing of an orphan petition. This is needed for our Visa interview in Hanoi.

Now let me tell you about our experience. Everyone knows I was a little leary of going from a few communications with him. But, today we saw a very caring man who took his job seriously. The stack of I600A extensions must have been 12 inches high. The fingerprint extensions, 6 inches and the new cases about the same. He is very busy and each case is very important. For those working through this office you should know that he understands the urgency of each case and while we want it right now, he will have it to you when you need it. While we were there he took care of my fingerprint extension, our approval extension and sent off the Visa 37 cable. Gold!

"Like cold water to a weary soul..

Is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25

And that good news came today! Yes, that's right we're going to Vietnam to be united forever with our son! We've waited for this day for so long, and I can't believe it's finally here! I looked at my phone this morning when it rang and immediately recognized the number. I knew it was The call, yet, I waited to hear those words "You have travel approval." Then the water works exploded. My sweet little girl didn't know what to make of Mommy crying her heart out. After I regrouped I had to spring into action. Lots to do now, we leave two weeks from Thursday!

Hannah just asked me, "Are you still crying?" Of course I answered yes, I think I will be for the next few days. Then she wants to know "Why?" My answer, "Because I AM SO HAPPY!"

Update Day

Last Friday was Update Day for Holt. Every quarter Holt families receive updates of our waiting children. It is a day we all look forward to each quarter. Our little guy is doing well. He loves receiving hugs and kisses and he shows jealousy of attention to others. This will be interesting because his big sister is the same way. Other things they have in common; he loves to go out with his foster mom and he loves water play. Looks like Aunt Jody's pool will get lots of use next year! Now for the best part, here's a picture of our little guy!

Praise GOD! I received a call from the Adoption Officer at USCIS this morning. As suspected my fingerprints were rejected. But, he is sending me out the instruction letter today for the police clearance and I have an appointment for the sworn statement next Friday. And the AO was so nice to me on the phone. Oh, Thank you Jesus! Thanks everyone for your prayers!

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the LORD, for his is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer; Romans 12:12 NKJV

Prayers Needed

I was fingerprinted in April 2007 and everything was fine. In fact, I was fingerprinted by the state in April 2008 and those fingerprints were accepted too. Last week I received a call from Immigration saying my fingerprints were rejected. This was for our fingerprint extension. I was told if they were rejected again I would need to get a letter from the local police station for my residence for the last five years. And that the Adoption Officer at Immigration would then have to interview me. This could be a problem since it took eight weeks for him to tell me my fingerprints were rejected and we are expecting our travel approval at any minute.

Well, I went to get re-fingerprinted today. And I sure need prayer right now. The tech tried a few times to get readable prints. But, almost everytime with every finger the red warning light came on. My anxiety grew with each red light. After she captured all of them she went back and did three of my fingers again. She didn't look optimistic when we were finished. Of course she can't tell me if they'll be accepted or rejected but, she said that at least three of them didn't look good. She asked the Immigration Officer there what advice to give me. She told me to wait and call the Adoption Officer at Immigration in a few days. This added to my stress since it was clear to me after talking to him on the phone last week that I was nothing more than a number to him. By the time I opened the door to leave I was sobbing. After a good cry in the car I made my way to our favorite coffee shop and book store. Finally Mark called and convinced me to go talk to our social worker since our homestudy agency was just around the corner.

Thankfully she was there and not busy. We sat and talked and she confirmed my impression of the Immigration Adoption Officer. She gave me some advice and then prayed for us. It has been so wonderful with all the twists and turns, ups and downs of our two adoptions to have case workers who will lift us up in prayer.

So, now I am asking you for your prayers too. Please pray by a miracle that my fingerprints will be accepted. But, if they're not, please pray that the Adoption Officer's heart will be softened; that he will go ahead and tell me now what steps need to be taken and he will schedule an interview with me quickly. It's been 11 months since we received our precious son's referral, it's time to bring him home.

Flashback Friday

April 2005 - We were waiting to travel to Russia to adopt our daughter when I got a phone call from our agency saying there was a problem with our visas. Huh?! I'd been to Russia twice already, what could possibly be wrong? Well, the first two times I was on a tourist visa. This time around we needed an adoption visa. Since I was still in the military they didn't want me to say I was an Army officer. They (the staff in Russia) thought this would be a problem. Well, I knew I couldn't lie. So, we got a little creative. Since my primary duty was coordinating a major exercise I became an event coordinator. Not knowing if htis would work or if we were ever going to get our visa I headed out to lunch. As soon as I turned the key in the ignition the first words I heard were "I'm not worried about tomorrow, for the LORD will work it out somehow." Wow! I just sat there and cried. I knew we would get our visas and be able to adopt our daughter. The CD went with us to Russia and there were many times during those wonderful weeks in Russia that two Moms and their babies danced around out tiny kitchen to Babbie Mason's "It's Good to Be Alive".

I now lean on those words again as I got word that my fingerprints were rejected and I need to be refingerprinted. If they are rejected again I could then have to go to our local police station, get a letter saying I have no criminal record for the past five years (no big deal) and then schedule an interview with the Immigration Officer. Huh? How many times have I been fingerprinted in the last four years for our two adoptions? And why, oh why do I find this out now seven weeks after we were fingerprinted the last time? All this as we're expecting to get our travel approval any day now. I could sit here and go crazy with worry. But, I'm going to bring out my old friend Babbie Mason and hold on to hope an not worry about tomorrow, For I know the LORD will work it out somehow! Yes, It's Good to Be Alive!