How Did We Get Here?

There's a new group of photographs on our fridge these days.  It was a bitter journey to finally get them up there, but our appetite is whet and the taste is getting sweeter everyday.

Our Kiddos

June 2018 - As we attempted to grieve our loss and celebrate "Jenny's" potential forever family, we continued to hear God nagging us in the background:  "Your journey isn't over yet.  This was never supposed to be the end."  There were days spent laying in bed in our darkened room trying to shut out the Voice.  Too many tears were shed and our hearts were raw.  Some friends drew close to us while others distanced themselves.  We were all forging new territory...how do you grieve the loss of something you never had?

July 2018 -  Through the tears, we had never lost faith in God's plan or His calling for us.  Jenny was one of millions of orphaned children in the world.  Now she was one less, and we still had open arms for a child who needed a forever family.  We reached out to our placing agency and told them we were ready to consider child from another Hague country (one with a stable and open program, please!) and would they please send us available girls, ages 0-5?  They sent us the profiles of four boys.  And only one of them was under the age of five.  And that's how we met sweet "N".

August 2018 -  The paperwork chase begins again as we scramble to update our Home Study and apply to change countries before our current approval with USCIS expires on Nov 4, 2018.  More fingerprints, more background checks, more financial statements, more doctor's appointments.  When we got our original approval from USCIS almost a year ago, I remember seeing the Nov 4, 2018 date and scoffing at it with the certainty that our child would be more than settled into our household well before that deadline.  And now it was approaching like a racehorse while we were lagging somewhere only inches beyond the starting gate.

September 2018 - We officially commit to adopting N.  We receive medical files that we forward to our international adoption doctor at CHOP.  His condition(s) are much different than Jenny's, but we're confident that we have the support and strength to welcome him and his potential ailments into our family.

October 2018 - Our Home Study needed to be updated to show that we're capable of parenting a boy, from a different country, with different medical and/or cognitive conditions.  Our social worker had gone on maternity leave (congrats, Katie!) at the beginning of September, but fortunately had updated everything for us to the point where her supervisor only needed to fill in the blanks.  We got the finalized Home Study just days before the November 4 deadline and squeaked in an extension application to USCIS and asked permission to change countries.

December 2018 -  One month after applying for an extension and change of country, we were granted our approval.  Once again, we rushed our documents into Trenton to be apostilled (ie certified authentic) and got them submitted to the adoption agency just before the holidays.

Viv is ready to Rock and Roll and meet her new brother!

January 2019 - The Ministry will decided if we are a good match for him and they will actually invite us to come and spend a week with him before accepting the referral.  We expect to travel in early March 2019.  Once we meet him and spend time with him, we can decide to fully commit and apply for his Visa and a court date which is typically 4-6 months later.  With God's grace and timing, we could have him home with us by the end of summer.

We know nothing is guaranteed.  Believe us, we've experienced first hand the uncertainty of international adoption.  But when God calls, you can't let your past or your emotions stifle His word.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.  (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)