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.