My Birthday Gift

Two months ago I had a wish to have Addy in my arms by my birthday.  Well, even though that wish didn't come true...I got the next best thing.

AN UPDATED PHOTO OF OUR SWEET GIRL!  What a wonderful birthday blessing for a mommy who is aching to be with her daughter!! 

Addy will turn 6 months this week and even though we will not have her in our arms, she is ours none-the-less!  The feeling of having a child whom God has chosen for you half a world away is one not many can understand.  It's hard.  It's sad.  It's challanging. 

But our God has a plan for all of us.  A plan for me as a mother.  A plan for Bobby as a father.  A plan for Eli, Ayla, and Owen as siblings.  And a plan for Addy, born 8,380 miles away from her parents.  And His plan is ALWAYS perfect, always right!

As hard as it is to describe, it's even harder for me to imagine having this sweet face in my arms in 5 weeks!   I almost can't believe that God has chosen OUR family to get to bring THIS sweet girl HOME.  For the next 5 weeks we'll continue to pray for her...and continue to dream of this silly, sweet face.

Yes, the tongue is out again;)  Look how BIG she is getting! 

My heart is melting!  I had no clue I could love some I've never met THIS MUCH. 

EMBASSY DATE!!!!

Quick post to just update you all that we received our embassy date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are a little bummed that our travel will end up being in September...but we are rejoicing in knowing (approximately) when we will finally meet our baby girl face to face!

We have been scheduled for our embassy "interview" on August 24.  We will not be there for this appointment and will have a representative there for us.  After the interview they will do an investigation to review how/why Addy is orphaned and track where she has been since birth.  This process usually takes 1-2 weeks but I'm hoping that being she is so young and has only been one other place, the investigation will be rather quick (just my own hopes!).

As soon as the investigation is clear, we will be cleared to travel and can go GET OUR BABY!!!!!

Bobby and I got up before dawn this morning and drove to Bismarck for our yellow fever and typhoid shots....we are officially done with every step of this adoption other than the appointments....

Between work, the new house, and our three kiddos, I am hoping to stay VERY busy so August flies by as fast as July did! 

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow---His hand has guided us along this journey 100% of the way.  He called us down this path and has been by our side gently guiding and proving all we need for EVERY step down to the penny, worry, and doubt!  Wow, our God is so great! 

Please take a moment today and reflect on all the blessings YOU have been given and the tough times He has helped you through.  If you're like me there are way too many to count!

Good (happy) night!
(P.S.  updated photos of our sweetness should be coming any day---yahoo!!!)

Are We Saving Addy...or is She Saving Us???

Today we sent the LAST bit of paperwork needed to bring Addy HOME!  The excitement around our house is buzzing like crazy!  Even the kids understand the time is getting closer and their excitement and anticipation has been turned up a notch!

Being the paperwork is done and appointments will SOON be made, it's time to start preparing to travel!! 

Last round of Hepatitis A/B shots tomorrow, yellow fever and typhoid next Tuesday....and of course....PACKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

To get SOON:

• Talcum powder
• Zip lock bags of all sizes
• Several bottles of hand sanitizer
• Toys for Addy's LONG flight home
• Baby carrier (Becky?!!?!?)
• Baby bowls for rice cereal
• Rice cereal
• Baby laxative
• Powdered pedialyte
• Anti-diarrhead medication
• Anti-fungal treatment medication
• MORE LUGGAGE BAGS!

Bought Today:

• Travel blanket/pillow
• Baby tylenol, mylicon, cortisone cream
• Super duper strength insect repellent (for clothes and skin)
• Teething Orajel
• Electronic converter
• Travel Alarm Clock
• Money/Ticket holders
• English/French Translation Book

Received Today:

• Two more boxes full of breast milk from a friend (to some this may sound disgusting...to me, it sounds like love)

Wanted Today (or in the next few weeks):
Our agency just started a transition house and they are in need of supplies!  We got word that sweet Addy arrived there on Monday and now has 17 other playmates.  We are beyond thrilled that she is there, but I am sure the caretakers are a little overwhelmed (all these children arrived in the last few days and there isn't much but beds and bare walls)!!!  We will be taking two duffle bags full of donations when we travel and may send some stuff ASAP.  What can you donate?????

• Bottom sheets for beds of all sizes: medium pop and play size, twin and double.
• Blankets for cribs and throw-size blankets
• Towels and wash cloths
• CD’s of music of all kinds
• Developmental toys for infants and young toddlers
• Puzzles for 4+ year olds
•  Shoes of all sizes especially croc-type, flip flops, easy to put on/off
• Clothing of all sizes, for all seasons with mostly hot weather clothing (not heavy sweaters
•  Underwear / training underwear for kids of all ages (esp. toddler/preschoolers)
• Light weight and medium weight coats/sweaters/sweatshirts
• Children’s training tooth paste and older kids tooth paste
• Tooth brushes for little ones and big kids
• Diapers of all sizes
•  Pre-folded cloth diapers
• Plastic pants to go over diapers
•  Formula
•  Older toddler formula
•  Chewable vitamins for toddlers and older kids
• Hair accessories for girls
• Good quality body lotion/oils
• Children’s DVD’s (for kids 8 and under) such as Elmo, Veggie Tales, Barney, etc.
•  Board books for pre-school age
• Wooden puzzles or other durable easy to use puzzles
•  Basic durable toys like: balls, building blocks, trucks, dolls, etc
•  Pillow case protectors, washable

Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

There are numerous verses in the Bible that mention giving and the purpose/reason/calling to do so. BUT, I have found over and over again that giving is not done to be rewarded, but should ONLY be done to bring Him glory and to exhibit the characters of Christ Himself.  All we have and all we are able to give has been given to us through the gifts God has given us. 

Just this morning I read a blog post by Ann Voskamp (http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/07/the-1-thing-you-really-have-to-know-about-your-family/).  I've been following her blog for some time now and my small group has been reading "One Thousand Gifts" for the past couple months--and she continues to break me--over and over again.  Today she wrote:

"We’re either responding with indifference or with intercession, either with apathy or aid.
You can’t look into the face of the poor and just plead the fifth amendment. Your life is always your answer."

She ends her post with this gut wrenching quote from Tim Keller:

“[Anything you have...] It is due to the century and place in which you were born, to your talents and capacities and health, none of which you earned.In short, all your resources are in the end — the gift of God.” 

Those faces....the ones of poor mothers, fatherless children, AID stricken communities... they very well could have been YOU OR I.  Yet here I am, living the American {dream} and about to make an orphaned child from a very torn, poor country a part of our life--the life of riches, comfort, and {joy}.

My heart is broken for US...our sweet family of six who are comfortable beyond all measure yet continually seek more. 

During a conference call with our agency the topic of "needs" for the transition house came up.  To us it's barron, boring, and drab.  But as Kelly reminded us, these 18 children that have been moved there KNOWING NOTHING MORE.  They are UPGRADING by moving to this house that has no toys, no washing machine, no "American" comfort. 

Through this process I've often wondered.........will we be saving Addy, or will she be saving US???????????? 

 

No New News on News

We had a conference call with our agency today for all of us families who are nearing the end:)  It was a follow up call after the email news we received earlier in the week...nothing new, but it was great to hear their voices and it made us feel sooooo much closer to bringing Addy home.  I got off the phone almost giddy and relaxed!

They pretty much confirmed that all of us families can expect we'll be travelling in 6-8 weeks (of course something could always come up, but that's a good estimate).  6-8 weeks means we *could* be travelling anytime between August 24-Sep 7.  If you recall my biggest dream has been to have Addy in our arms before she turns 7 months old (first week in September). 

I am hopeful today in believing that may be a reality! 

We also found out that Addy will be in her new, temporary home probably this weekend!

Starting the end of next week our agency will start submitting requests for the important appointments---that are usually scheduled about 4 weeks out.  After the first appointment (interview) they will review and investigage our case--average of 2 weeks.  Then Addy's visa will be issued and we will be called to get READY TO TRAVEL.

Again, this isn't no new news on the old news we received on Tuesday....but it reconfirms that we understand the process and will have Addy home shortly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Oh how I can't wait to see how her photos bring another shining face to our family! 

Have a great weekend!

Lastest News!

Some of you may recall that two of the ladies from our agency were in the Congo the past 3-4 weeks. During this stay they were preparing a "Halfway Home" aka "transition house" for the children. What does that mean?

Many agencies that work with international adoptions have transition houses. These are homes that children are moved to after they've been referred to a specific family. The children are then placed in this home until the families are cleared to travel and are under the care of people hired by the agency.

Our Addy has been living in an orphanage in her (very unsafe) birth region of the Congo. We do not have any information about this orphanage other than its name. Which means we basically have no clue what type of care she is receiving, what the living conditions are like, how many children, how many workers, etc, etc. Because our agency hadn't yet set up a transition home, that is where she has been since birth (we received our referral March 15).

We just received word that our sweet girl will be moved to the Halfway Home sometime this week or next. We are BEYOND excited about that!!!!! Her living there will mean:

· 24/7 care by caregivers

· Two nurses on staff

· House manager lives on property for 24/7 oversight

· Monthly medical evaluation by staff nurse

· Bi-weekly photos

· Running water, inside flush toilets and electricity

· Optional: Skype video conferencing with your child

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My worried heart can be at rest knowing she is in good hands and receiving proper medical care and love!

 The other news is that the process has changed (yes, again). Instead of US filing our I-600 in the DRC like we originally planned AND instead of us filing in the US like we last thought....

Our I-600 will be filed IN THE DRC by an ALBB representative who will file our petition and attend the embassy interview on our behalf.
(we're anticipating this interview to be in about 5 weeks)
After this interview they will have another appointment (typically 3-4 weeks after the first appointment) to get Addy's US Visa and file her exit permission.

At this point we will be notified to make our travel plans (will have one week or less notice). Really we won't know any travel dates until almost the day we board the plane....but it is pretty safe to estimate it will be ANOTHER 6-9 weeks from right now. Bummer!

I feel relieved about the Halfway House and bummed about the timing. Of course we're always wishing it was quicker (but then again, even if they told us to expect to travel in 4 weeks I'd wish it was sooner).

Little Miss Addy will have lived in the orphanage, the Halfway House, our current house, and then will be moved to her LONG TIME home this fall!!!! As anxious as I am, and as desperate as my posts may sound at times, we are extrememly busy this summer and finding more than enough to do to keep our minds occupied!

Here are a couple updated photos of the house being framed. Basement is done, main level almost done, will start the 2nd level next week!

Back of house (work in progress)...

Front of the house (yay, it's coming along!)

Well, I'm off to bed feeling somewhat at ease and still extremely curious and as anxious as always to be holding my baby girl!  (we have our first repite foster child--almost 2-- living with us this week so I'm getting a little sneak into what life will be like with four kiddos in my care!). 

I don't know how we would get through this long journey without faith in our Father and the understanding that He has called us down this path and will equip us as needed along the way.  Oh, our God is so great and His love is so mighty! 

Matthew  6: (33) Seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  (34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.



Tough Subjects

I am not confrontational.  In fact, I have only one friend who I have been able to completely and openly confront about true feelings/issues (thanks Becky!).  Usually I'm the"on-the-surface" type.  I'm not talking about things I'm passionate about like literacy or orphan care...but more day to day things.  I don't like to argure or be in awkward situations.  And I like for everyone to get along.

I have a feeling I'm in for a rude awakening in just a couple months!  I don't mind sharing our thoughts/opinions on bringing home our African princess.  What I don't want to face is those who don't understand or who are unwilling to accept the fact that two white people will be (and can be) adopting an African child into our home. 

BUT, there are times when others just don't KNOW or don't know HOW to even go about understanding such crazy people like us (really we're not crazy, we're just two people trying to live as Jesus would want us to and calls us to--but that's pretty crazy to a lot of people!). 

Last month I got a great message from a college friend asking for advice in helping her children not be "color blind" (that noticing skin color does not make someone racist, but the way you treat people is what is important).  She (like us) lives in a primarily white community. 

I am eager to hear the comments we'll receive from our primarily white community when we are toting around our beautiful 6 month old princess.  I truly believe most people will be open and accepting of our adoption...but I am not naive to believe all will be. 

As I promised Anne (the awesome mom who wants her children to understand different cultures), I will be blogging about these tough subjects as I find time (so---maybe never???) and as I am awkwardly placed in situations I'd rather not be in (but don't worry Addy, as much as I don't like confrontation, I'm going to stick up for you and your culture to the ends of the earth!).

White vs. black
Domestic vs. international
Adoption vs. orphanges
Small family vs. large family

I pray Jesus will shine through our family and the love He has for ALL will become more evident through our crazy white family including a beautiful African princess.

---------------------------------------------

We continue to wait for more information on our final processes!  We are expecting an update VERY soon (the next couple days).  Our agency's director and our family coordinator just returned on Friday from the DRC.  They were working on setting up a transition house in which THEY will staff--meaning we can be assured Addy will be getting care from great nannies.  

I also got an email with a statement for Addy's escort fees from where she is currently living in an orphanage to Kinshasa (where the transition house is).  I don't quite know what that means--will find out when I get our update--but that either means she has been moved or will be moved very soon to the new place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That also means we will have a better update about her, her health, her daily schedule, etc! 

We are hoping our I-600 will be filed or has been filed which would mean we could still be travelling in August (long shot-but possible!).

Praying for updates that will bring happy dances:)