We received our final note from Kate, at KBS telling us all is complete and we are done. "It has been a pleasure working with you and I wish you all the best as you continue this exciting adoption journey. Thanks, Kate". I just wanted to take this time to thank Kate at KBS Dossiers for her professional, prompt and loving service to us. At the beginning of this journey we really struggled with whether or not to use this service, or to save the money and try to do it all ourselves. Since we are struggling to get every penny for this expensive endeavor we really weren't sure if this was wise. Well, I must say "IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!" We are so grateful that we chose to work with Kate because we know now that she handled everything in an expeditious manner and was on top of things all the time. She responded to our questions immediately and everything was so stress-free. If you are in the process of adopting internationally may I recommend you save yourself the stress and hire KBS. There are so many papers to fill out and things to do, and having her handle all of the authentification process was just a major load off and it all went so smoothly.
Also, I can't be more grateful and pleased with Gladney, our adoption agency. Everyone has been so attentive, responsive, loving and genuinely caring in this whole process. When we started this journey we initially contacted several agencies. Gladney was the first to respond and kept responding. From our initial phone call from Debra Parris, to Tonia Anderson, Mary Thottukadavil and Kate at KBS, I can honestly say they have all been a pleasure to deal with and every one of them has a real heart to serve and do their jobs with the utmost professionalism and care. I thank the Lord for every one of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have all helped make this journey one of joy and ease as we have taken each step of faith, filled out every form, and signed, notarized and authenticated everything. I have made a book of this entire journey that is now four inches thick. Every email, every form and every blessing along the way has been documented. What an amazing experience this has been. And honestly it has flown by. Four months and we are already on the threshold of our referral. The LORD is so good and so amazing. Thank you Thank you Thank you.......
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you... Phil 1:3
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
CIS FINALLY APPROVED !!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 CIS approval arrived. Finally, we are finished with all of our paperwork! Today, Thursday, July 12, 2007, I personally took the CIS to notarize and then this and the FBI Clearance packets to the NC Secretary of State in Raleigh to be authenticated. It turned out that the notary on the FBI packet had Jerry's name along with mine so it was no good. The only notary at the NC Secretary of State came down to notarize the form for me, but as it turned out her notary commission expires this year, and Ethiopia requires that it be valid for at least one year. So, I had to go down the street to the CCBI building where the Sheriff's Dept notarized my document at no charge. Then I took it back to Secretary of State and they said it will be ready by tomorrow, Friday 7/13/07, after 11:00 a.m. So, I will go back to pick it up and FedEx it to Kate at KBS dossiers. Mary at Gladney told me today that as soon as Kate has all of our documents ready to be sent to D.C. for final authentication, she will let her know. Kate said this will be next week. It is at that point that we are considered to be on the waitlist to receive a referral!!! Hooray!! We are in our last days of pregnancy and about to find out who the LORD has planned for our family. We are really getting excited now. It could be anytime after next week???
In the meantime, our dossier will be sent directly to Ethiopia once authenticated by the US Dept of State and Ethiopian Embassy. (I hear this can take a week or two for each) Once it reaches Ethiopia, it will be translated and be held ready until we receive and accept a referral. Once we accept a referral, our dossier will then be submitted to the courts. They will call us when we receive a court date. Our in -country representative has the authority to represent us in court (We gave them power of attorney) without us physically being there. Assuming the court goes well, we will be expected to travel to Ethiopia two weeks after the approved court date.
So, that's it! We are done! We are just waiting now!!! It all went so smoothly and so quickly. Ellie and I were giggly all day today. We can't believe this is really happening. It's so surreal! From the morning I sat with the Word of God at my kitchen table fully expecting the LORD to tell me we were done with having children, to sitting here today typing these words, I am in a state of awe!! That HE would choose me to be a part of something so amazing and miraculous is just surreal!! I can't wait to see the precious little faces of the children he has planned for me to hold in my arms, and heart forever.
Oh, but how bittersweet this is. As I sit here with excitement,joy and great anticipation, I can't help but think of the precious mother and father in Ethiopia who have to face tragedy, pain, sadness, grief and even death, in order that we may receive this blessing of our daughters. Oh, LORD, how I pray for them and this whole situation. That through one's suffering, the ashes, you may bring beauty and restoration. May you find me faithful, obedient and humble to carry out this calling you have placed in my heart LORD. May you alone receive all the honor and glory. My precious daughters, how I long to know you, hold you, kiss you, and love you. My heart is yearning for you, filling with love and joy for you as I speak. My eyes are flowing with tears of compassion and sorrow for your family in Ethiopia, but at the same time, joy and hope for what the LORD has in store for you here with us in the United States of America.
We are all in prayer for you, your people and your country. Until we meet, may the LORD keep you in HIS precious care and give us all wisdom, discernment and protection as we seek HIS face, HIS will and HIS purpose. I LOVE YOU , YOUR MAMA!!!
Stay tuned as things can get really exciting any time now. We will post as soon as we get a referral! Also, please keep us in your prayers. We are in need of approximately $10k for travel expenses and we are applying for some grants. We are trusting the LORD to provide as he has everything else we have needed. But we do appreciate your prayers. Thank you all... please feel free to leave a comment so we know who is following along on this journey with us!
In the meantime, our dossier will be sent directly to Ethiopia once authenticated by the US Dept of State and Ethiopian Embassy. (I hear this can take a week or two for each) Once it reaches Ethiopia, it will be translated and be held ready until we receive and accept a referral. Once we accept a referral, our dossier will then be submitted to the courts. They will call us when we receive a court date. Our in -country representative has the authority to represent us in court (We gave them power of attorney) without us physically being there. Assuming the court goes well, we will be expected to travel to Ethiopia two weeks after the approved court date.
So, that's it! We are done! We are just waiting now!!! It all went so smoothly and so quickly. Ellie and I were giggly all day today. We can't believe this is really happening. It's so surreal! From the morning I sat with the Word of God at my kitchen table fully expecting the LORD to tell me we were done with having children, to sitting here today typing these words, I am in a state of awe!! That HE would choose me to be a part of something so amazing and miraculous is just surreal!! I can't wait to see the precious little faces of the children he has planned for me to hold in my arms, and heart forever.
Oh, but how bittersweet this is. As I sit here with excitement,joy and great anticipation, I can't help but think of the precious mother and father in Ethiopia who have to face tragedy, pain, sadness, grief and even death, in order that we may receive this blessing of our daughters. Oh, LORD, how I pray for them and this whole situation. That through one's suffering, the ashes, you may bring beauty and restoration. May you find me faithful, obedient and humble to carry out this calling you have placed in my heart LORD. May you alone receive all the honor and glory. My precious daughters, how I long to know you, hold you, kiss you, and love you. My heart is yearning for you, filling with love and joy for you as I speak. My eyes are flowing with tears of compassion and sorrow for your family in Ethiopia, but at the same time, joy and hope for what the LORD has in store for you here with us in the United States of America.
We are all in prayer for you, your people and your country. Until we meet, may the LORD keep you in HIS precious care and give us all wisdom, discernment and protection as we seek HIS face, HIS will and HIS purpose. I LOVE YOU , YOUR MAMA!!!
Stay tuned as things can get really exciting any time now. We will post as soon as we get a referral! Also, please keep us in your prayers. We are in need of approximately $10k for travel expenses and we are applying for some grants. We are trusting the LORD to provide as he has everything else we have needed. But we do appreciate your prayers. Thank you all... please feel free to leave a comment so we know who is following along on this journey with us!
Friday, June 29, 2007
TRAVEL PACKET
We still have not heard from CIS as of today. We are expecting to hear from them any day now. The current status is that the government in Ethiopia will be closing the beginning of August to end of September. But, children are still being referred to families during the rainy season, so we are hopeful that we can still get our dossier turned in and get a referral for our daughters during this summer sometime.
Meanwhile, I have been having some strange dreams lately. I dreamt that the doorbell rang and this lady was standing there with her car door open in front of my house. She said,"Aren't you the family that wants to adopt multiple children?" Yes, I said. "Well I have a baby in the car that needs a family. Her mom thought she could take care of her but she has decided she can't do it anymore. She is 5 months old." She ran to the car, brought her to me and said, "Here, look at her, what do you think?" I immediately called to Jerry and the kids and they all came to the door. We all agreed, we'll take her! Then she said,"Come with me to sign the papers." Jerry and I were then walking up a huge flight of stairs to an office where we signed some papers and immediately came home with a beautiful chubby little blue eyed curly topped precious baby girl. When we got home, I said, come on and lets get the crib set up, go buy diapers, formula, etc. and get everything for our baby. We had like a 2 hour notice all together from start to finish. Then, my heart started to race and I began to panic. I said "if Ethiopia finds out about her they won't let us get our daughters??" Then we were trying to figure out how to hide her for a while. I finally woke up with a totally stressed out feeling and a knot in my stomach. I was so glad this was only a dream!
We have received the travel packet information from Gladney for our trip to Ethiopia. This is exciting! We have to decide on which airline and hotel to book, and figure out all the details. So far, we are pretty sure we will go with Ethiopian airlines because they fly direct from D.C. We are also interested in staying at the guest house on the property of the orphanage vs. a hotel. Ellie really likes the idea of living the real life they live instead of being a tourist. She also wants to be able to visit with all of the other children there. I know my heart is going to break when I see all of the children that we can't take home with us. I am praying so hard for grace, peace and courage to be able to go through this experience in a God-honoring way. I sometimes fear I am going to be crying the whole time from just seeing all the poverty and poor children that have lost their parents and families. I have been reading "There is No Me Without You" by Melissa Faye Green as so many other families have recommended. It is just such a tragic state of affairs that this poor country and precious people are going through. My eyes are being widened to how very fortunate we are and how little I realized how many people around the world are suffering. Education is available only to those who can pay for it. Girls are especially disadvantaged and are often forced into prostitution because of lack of skills and jobs. Even when the fortunate people get an education, there are few jobs available to put it to use. There are many well educated people begging in the streets for lack of a job. I have been overcome with the thought that so many of our young people today are taking drugs, rebelling against their parents, doing poorly with their education etc. and I can't help but think about how the people in Africa are not able to get an education unless they pay for it, they are dying of starvation, disease and living in extreme poverty. I wonder what kind of an impact it would have if every American student had to take a mandatory two-week trip to Ethiopia or some other impoverished part of Africa for a community service project before they could graduate? I wonder if the attitudes would be one of gratitude and life-transforming? While I am looking forward to traveling to get my daughters, I am preparing for a very difficult life-transforming experience as we will be seeing first hand, the difficult living conditions that we only see on commercials here in the USA. I am truly being humbled and already shedding tears! I sincerely pray that somehow, we can make a difference and be a blessing to everyone we come in contact with while we are there. This is so not a vacation or happy time we are looking forward to. Yet it is probably the most exciting and life-changing trip that we will have ever experience. I am just feeling the need to be in much prayer and prepare for this trip spiritually more than physically. I long to hold my daughters, wipe their tears away, kiss, hug and love them with all of my heart, and most important, teach them to love, trust and lean on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for true healing, safety, security and direction. Only He can restore them and bring them true joy.
Meanwhile, I have been having some strange dreams lately. I dreamt that the doorbell rang and this lady was standing there with her car door open in front of my house. She said,"Aren't you the family that wants to adopt multiple children?" Yes, I said. "Well I have a baby in the car that needs a family. Her mom thought she could take care of her but she has decided she can't do it anymore. She is 5 months old." She ran to the car, brought her to me and said, "Here, look at her, what do you think?" I immediately called to Jerry and the kids and they all came to the door. We all agreed, we'll take her! Then she said,"Come with me to sign the papers." Jerry and I were then walking up a huge flight of stairs to an office where we signed some papers and immediately came home with a beautiful chubby little blue eyed curly topped precious baby girl. When we got home, I said, come on and lets get the crib set up, go buy diapers, formula, etc. and get everything for our baby. We had like a 2 hour notice all together from start to finish. Then, my heart started to race and I began to panic. I said "if Ethiopia finds out about her they won't let us get our daughters??" Then we were trying to figure out how to hide her for a while. I finally woke up with a totally stressed out feeling and a knot in my stomach. I was so glad this was only a dream!
We have received the travel packet information from Gladney for our trip to Ethiopia. This is exciting! We have to decide on which airline and hotel to book, and figure out all the details. So far, we are pretty sure we will go with Ethiopian airlines because they fly direct from D.C. We are also interested in staying at the guest house on the property of the orphanage vs. a hotel. Ellie really likes the idea of living the real life they live instead of being a tourist. She also wants to be able to visit with all of the other children there. I know my heart is going to break when I see all of the children that we can't take home with us. I am praying so hard for grace, peace and courage to be able to go through this experience in a God-honoring way. I sometimes fear I am going to be crying the whole time from just seeing all the poverty and poor children that have lost their parents and families. I have been reading "There is No Me Without You" by Melissa Faye Green as so many other families have recommended. It is just such a tragic state of affairs that this poor country and precious people are going through. My eyes are being widened to how very fortunate we are and how little I realized how many people around the world are suffering. Education is available only to those who can pay for it. Girls are especially disadvantaged and are often forced into prostitution because of lack of skills and jobs. Even when the fortunate people get an education, there are few jobs available to put it to use. There are many well educated people begging in the streets for lack of a job. I have been overcome with the thought that so many of our young people today are taking drugs, rebelling against their parents, doing poorly with their education etc. and I can't help but think about how the people in Africa are not able to get an education unless they pay for it, they are dying of starvation, disease and living in extreme poverty. I wonder what kind of an impact it would have if every American student had to take a mandatory two-week trip to Ethiopia or some other impoverished part of Africa for a community service project before they could graduate? I wonder if the attitudes would be one of gratitude and life-transforming? While I am looking forward to traveling to get my daughters, I am preparing for a very difficult life-transforming experience as we will be seeing first hand, the difficult living conditions that we only see on commercials here in the USA. I am truly being humbled and already shedding tears! I sincerely pray that somehow, we can make a difference and be a blessing to everyone we come in contact with while we are there. This is so not a vacation or happy time we are looking forward to. Yet it is probably the most exciting and life-changing trip that we will have ever experience. I am just feeling the need to be in much prayer and prepare for this trip spiritually more than physically. I long to hold my daughters, wipe their tears away, kiss, hug and love them with all of my heart, and most important, teach them to love, trust and lean on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for true healing, safety, security and direction. Only He can restore them and bring them true joy.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
FBI CLEARED MY FINGERPRINTS!!!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
I walked into the kitchen to find the mail pile. As I picked it up I saw an envelope from the FBI and fully expected another rejection. To my shock and surprise my second request and eighth set of fingerprints have been cleared!! Now we are just waiting for the prints from CIS to clear and then we are completely done. Kate Sproat at KBS Dossier service told me everything else is completed and has been authenticated by city and state. So, this is the only thing holding us up. It's ready to go to Ethiopia!
Friday, June 15, 2007
We finally received Ellie's passport today! It took 14 weeks but at last we are now ready to go as soon as we get the call. Ellie has also started her own blog. www.myethiopiansisters.blogspot.com She is journaling from the perspective of a big sister waiting for her baby sisters. We are working on her bedroom, getting it ready to move her sisters in. We bought a bunk bed with twin over full and a trundle twin under the full. It is white, and fits perfectly with her Shabby Chic motif. She is purging everything from nick-nacks to clothes to make room for our precious girls. We are praying so hard that we get three.
We just read about a family that adopted triplet 5 month old boys from Ethiopia and we were so encouraged that it is possible for us to get 3 girls. Oh, please pray for us too. We definitely don't want just one. Although we will take her if that's all they refer to us. I just believe it would be better for the children if they have a sibling with the same color skin, so as not to feel so different from the rest of us. Also, after adopting the twins, I really like the fact that they always have a playmate and buddy. They get along so well and laugh and cry together.They have each other to always lean on. They are just precious. They too are praying for their "Baby thithas from epiopia ". The other night I was putting them to bed (later than normal) and I rushed through our prayer time. As Jeremiah was getting tucked in he said, "MAMA! We didn't pray for my baby thithas from epiopia!" He was very serious and concerned. So, I apologized and told him to go right ahead and pray for them. He did and we all felt so much better. They even pray for them to be warm and not to be hungry. They are just absolutely precious boys. These girls are going to be so blessed to have them for big brothers. The third reason we want three girls is because we want to redeem the time and make up for lost time. After having 5 children for the past four years, we are so regretful that we didn't have more children when we were younger. We have come to a place in life that we realize having a lot of children is an awesome gift, privilege and joy! I don't want to do anything else with my life. I want to spend the rest of it just raising and encouraging children to know, love and serve the LORD!
I walked into the kitchen to find the mail pile. As I picked it up I saw an envelope from the FBI and fully expected another rejection. To my shock and surprise my second request and eighth set of fingerprints have been cleared!! Now we are just waiting for the prints from CIS to clear and then we are completely done. Kate Sproat at KBS Dossier service told me everything else is completed and has been authenticated by city and state. So, this is the only thing holding us up. It's ready to go to Ethiopia!
Friday, June 15, 2007
We finally received Ellie's passport today! It took 14 weeks but at last we are now ready to go as soon as we get the call. Ellie has also started her own blog. www.myethiopiansisters.blogspot.com She is journaling from the perspective of a big sister waiting for her baby sisters. We are working on her bedroom, getting it ready to move her sisters in. We bought a bunk bed with twin over full and a trundle twin under the full. It is white, and fits perfectly with her Shabby Chic motif. She is purging everything from nick-nacks to clothes to make room for our precious girls. We are praying so hard that we get three.
We just read about a family that adopted triplet 5 month old boys from Ethiopia and we were so encouraged that it is possible for us to get 3 girls. Oh, please pray for us too. We definitely don't want just one. Although we will take her if that's all they refer to us. I just believe it would be better for the children if they have a sibling with the same color skin, so as not to feel so different from the rest of us. Also, after adopting the twins, I really like the fact that they always have a playmate and buddy. They get along so well and laugh and cry together.They have each other to always lean on. They are just precious. They too are praying for their "Baby thithas from epiopia ". The other night I was putting them to bed (later than normal) and I rushed through our prayer time. As Jeremiah was getting tucked in he said, "MAMA! We didn't pray for my baby thithas from epiopia!" He was very serious and concerned. So, I apologized and told him to go right ahead and pray for them. He did and we all felt so much better. They even pray for them to be warm and not to be hungry. They are just absolutely precious boys. These girls are going to be so blessed to have them for big brothers. The third reason we want three girls is because we want to redeem the time and make up for lost time. After having 5 children for the past four years, we are so regretful that we didn't have more children when we were younger. We have come to a place in life that we realize having a lot of children is an awesome gift, privilege and joy! I don't want to do anything else with my life. I want to spend the rest of it just raising and encouraging children to know, love and serve the LORD!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
SECOND FINGERPRINT APPOINTMENT
Friday, June 8, 2007: We headed out to Charlotte, NC again for our second mandatory fingerprint appointment with Immigration Services. Weleft at noon as our appointment was scheduled for 3:00. Everything was going so smoothly until we came upon a car accident that brought the traffic to a screeching halt. What should have taken us 2.5 hours took almost four to get there. As we pulled up in front of the place,we saw the guard at the door looking like it was closing. Jerry jumped out of the van, ran to the door and literally stuck his foot in it so the guard could not close it. Needless to say, she was a bit concerned.
Jerry explained to her that we were stuck in traffic and there were not one, but two car accidents that delayed our journey. All of the letters and instructions we have received from CIS state if you don't keep your appointment it is an automatic denial! Well the guard said it was too late, the office closed at 4:00 p.m. and there was nothing she could do about it. The machines were off and the employees gone. The woman must have had some compassion for us though because she said we could just show up at 7:45 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, and she would let us in without an appointment.
So we drove four hours for nothing today. Now we all needed to go potty and the kids were hungry, so off to McDonald's we went. The twins were so funny. Jimmy said, "Mama, that was a really long ride, too long and boring".
Now we had to just turn around and drive right back home. We made it home in about 3 hours and still had time to celebrate Jerry and Jonathan's birthday. Melissa and Randy were at the house when we got home, Mom had cooked a delicious dinner of chicken cutlets, Penne Pasta, salad and yummy bread. We ate again, had delicious chocolate cake with Ganache icing that I had prepared on Thursday. We sang, opened gifts and all shared what a blessing these two guys are in our lives. We thanked the LORD for His amazing design and creation of our family. We are so richly blessed. This was a long day but it still turned out blessed.
Jerry and I decided to leave all the kids home Saturday morning and and we got on the road at 6:00 am to head back to Charlotte. We arrived at 9:00 a.m. and found the place packed with people this time. We waited for an hour and a half for my fingerprinting and then headed back home after a bite to eat. After three trips to CIS,the prints are off to the FBI to get approved, or denied again. Jerry's boss gave him a bottle of ridge builder for me to use this time so maybe they will come out better.
Jerry works in the same building as Sirchie, which is the company that makes fingerprinting products. So, now we just have to wait again for the next step. This is the only thing holding us up. Everything else is completed. We know the LORD has a plan and His timing is perfect. NO need to worry, all is under HIS control.Only HE knows what will happen next.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
Psalm 130:5
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139:1-6
Jerry explained to her that we were stuck in traffic and there were not one, but two car accidents that delayed our journey. All of the letters and instructions we have received from CIS state if you don't keep your appointment it is an automatic denial! Well the guard said it was too late, the office closed at 4:00 p.m. and there was nothing she could do about it. The machines were off and the employees gone. The woman must have had some compassion for us though because she said we could just show up at 7:45 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, and she would let us in without an appointment.
So we drove four hours for nothing today. Now we all needed to go potty and the kids were hungry, so off to McDonald's we went. The twins were so funny. Jimmy said, "Mama, that was a really long ride, too long and boring".
Now we had to just turn around and drive right back home. We made it home in about 3 hours and still had time to celebrate Jerry and Jonathan's birthday. Melissa and Randy were at the house when we got home, Mom had cooked a delicious dinner of chicken cutlets, Penne Pasta, salad and yummy bread. We ate again, had delicious chocolate cake with Ganache icing that I had prepared on Thursday. We sang, opened gifts and all shared what a blessing these two guys are in our lives. We thanked the LORD for His amazing design and creation of our family. We are so richly blessed. This was a long day but it still turned out blessed.
Jerry and I decided to leave all the kids home Saturday morning and and we got on the road at 6:00 am to head back to Charlotte. We arrived at 9:00 a.m. and found the place packed with people this time. We waited for an hour and a half for my fingerprinting and then headed back home after a bite to eat. After three trips to CIS,the prints are off to the FBI to get approved, or denied again. Jerry's boss gave him a bottle of ridge builder for me to use this time so maybe they will come out better.
Jerry works in the same building as Sirchie, which is the company that makes fingerprinting products. So, now we just have to wait again for the next step. This is the only thing holding us up. Everything else is completed. We know the LORD has a plan and His timing is perfect. NO need to worry, all is under HIS control.Only HE knows what will happen next.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.
Psalm 130:5
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139:1-6
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
THE CASE OF THE MISSING FINGERPRINTS
Well, just as I suspected, CIS has also rejected my fingerprints due to the fact that they are not legible. They have rescheduled me for June 8, 2007 for a mandatory appointment to do them again. Since I haven't grown any new fingerprints I'm sure they will be rejected again. But, off we will go and drive another 6 hours for a 15 minute appointment. Nothing else new for now. Stay tuned.....
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