| The 3rd Overboy |
| 1.31.2009 It is true, we hope to adopt a third child. Actually we have been thinking, talking, praying, and wondering about whether or not to take this step since the Fall of 2005. Until recently the timing did not feel right. It feels right now. On 1.10.2009 we told our newest adoption agency that we would like to adopt a little boy, whose picture we had seen. I have spent the past years looking at pictures of waiting children, looking at children to be hosted, and scanning the websites of just about every adoption agency out there. Until 1.10.2009 nothing felt right, and then we saw this picture and everything felt right. At this point, we are waiting to learn more about this little boy - even basic information, like his birth date and where he is located. We have been furiously gathering paperwork so we can be ready to adopt when we learn more. We really believe that this child would be a blessing to our family, but as of today we do not know if it will happen. Being the religious type, we believe that God will make it clear what steps we should or should not take. We now eagerly wait to learn more, and see where this path leads. Stayed tuned as the adventure unfolds. As for how we got to this point - Our road to 2 children has not been completely easy, but it has been nothing but rewarding. We have faced unexpected challenges and many visits to doctors to make sure we are doing all we can to help Andrew and Adam reach their potential. In the process, we have learned that we love doing this. We feel so lucky to have 2 great kids - especially after we faced the potential of having no children. We feel lucky to have watched Andrew and Adam develop a friendship that has enriched each other lives (they may not always agree with this), and we believe another child would add to their lives and our lives. We also know it will be challenging, stressful, and push us to our limits at times - as Andrew and Adam have. We trust that God will not give us more than we can handle, or more than the boys can handle. Hopefully as this process inches forward we will listen to God and only follow his will - it will be great to see where He takes us. 2.14.2009 Waiting stinks!! We are still waiting to learn if we will be able to adopt a specific little boy. I am trying hard not feel attached, and failing terribly. What more can I say? Having seen a face I fell in love with, it is nearly impossible to not think about the joy that would come from adding another smile to our family. I want to pester our agency for information, but it does not change the wait, it just makes me a pest, and what is the point in that? So I pester my husband instead. This makes me feel marginally better, and he just lovingly laughs at my impatience, and struggle with feeling out of control. The great news is that this past week we finished our homestudy, and sent it to USCIS for approval to adopt. This is the only outstanding item for us to complete. When we get approval we will be in a position to submit our Dossier (big pile of documents) to then hopefully get travel dates. Sounds simple, right? We hope and pray it is. 2.24.2009 Waiting still stinks!! We certainly thought we would be further along as we almost start March. Oh well. I am trying very hard to 'let go' and relax and enjoy the process instead of letting every day that goes by stress me out. I am having marginal success. The wait has become harder because, yesterday we sent a list of questions to our agency regarding the health of the little boy we hope to adopt. We pray that all the answers come back good, and we can continue to move forward. We like living in the fantasy that our 3rd child will come along and fit in seamlessly, with a little time to adjust and learn English. Fortunately, there are many adoption professionals that help keep us objective versus overly emotionally, and in love with this little boy. We spoke with a doctor yesterday who helped us develop a list of questions to which we really must defer. We recognize our limitations, and generally know what type of 'issues' we feel prepared to handle. So we asked the tough questions to help confirm that the really scary issues, for which we are not prepared, do not exist. We ask for prayers, that we get the information we so desperately want, and confirmation that this little boy is really meant to be part of our family. Until then, we wait and wonder what lies ahead. We did learn that best case scenario we would travel 1-3 months after our dossier is submitted. We continue to wait for approval from Homeland Security to get our I-171H, so we are in a position to submit the dossier. We will continue to pray that this comes quickly and everything falls into place. 2.26.2009 As we ask for prayers, we have to believe that if this adoption is meant to be, it will be. So many things have happened to make us believe that this adoption is meant to happen, and we hope this continues to be the case. However, if the unexpected happens and we are not able to adopt this little boy, then we have to believe it was not meant to be after all - this is what I tell myself as we wait. 3.3.09 We hope we get our all important Homeland Security approval this week. We have written letters to the Field Office Director, our Senators, and our Representative, pleading our case. The Homeland Security website says they expedite cases for Humanitarian reasons - we believe a little boy in need of a family and medical care is reason enough - we will learn if they think so too. Stay tuned .... 3.5.09 No news. I think we have contacted everyone possible who could help us. Now, I am trying to let go and wait and see what happens. My devotional this morning was from Psalm 91 .. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble." I believe it is now our job to honor God no matter what happens. God is with us in trouble does not mean there will be no trouble. At this point we do not know if the answer to our trouble is that we will still be able to adopt Sam, or that we will lose him. This is a very hard place to be. I think it is now time to quietly sit in the place of complete uncertainty and see what happens. 3.10.09 I still smile when I think about the email I saw in my inbox ... it was from the Officer at USCIS. I could not open it, so I quickly sent it to Meric and made him open it. It was short and sweet 'Overman approval processed on 3.10.09'. This means we in a position to be able to submit our dossier and then travel. We now finish the paperwork, right not it is being reviewed by our agency, and then it will be submitted. We really are excited and hope things go smoothly, but this is 'international adoption' which means get ready for the unexpected. As long as it leads us to the little boy we love we will celebrate the journey. Click here for the next page which will have the next step - dossier submission - when it is completed, shortly thereafter travel date. :-) |
| Third's Time-line: 1 Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him 1.10.2009 Signed agency contract, and committed to adopt a little Boy 1.2902009 Final meeting with home-study agency. We now wait for them to finish their report. 1.30.2009 Completed fingerprints with USCIS for I-600A approval 2.10.2009 Completed homestudy, and sent it to USCIS 2.26.2009 Got an email from USCIS, saying 'leave us alone, it will take weeks to get to your file'. We asked everyone we know who prays, to pray that it happens quickly - so we don't lose the chance to adopt the Third. 3.10.2009 We got a wonderful email saying had USCIS approval to adopt - the officIal letter arrived on 3.13.09. |