OK, first the "bad" news. The file made it, but our attorney was still not able to get an appointment this week. So, we will wait 2 more weeks for the next step. I hate for 2 weeks to go by with no progress in the official adoption paperwork, but I was reminded yesterday that God does not waste time. He will still use this time of "waiting" in our lives to prepare us even more for things to come. This time is not wasted at all! I praise Him for that encouragement!
Now, the GOOD news! I received new photos of our boy, and he is so beautiful! He looks great and he even looks like he has filled out since we were there in December. He is such a tiny little guy, but his cheeks look fuller and his color looks good. He was happy and smiling, and the psychologist at his orphanage said that he is doing well, is healthy, is energetic, and they are working with him often to practice walking!
Those pictures were a great way to begin my day!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Letter in Hand
Our approval notice came in the mail today. The National Visa Center has our file. They just need to do whatever it is that they do with it, and send it on to the embassy overseas. The file really needs to arrive there within the next 24 hours for our attorney to be able to do the provisional filing of the visa this week. Otherwise, I don't think it will be done for 2 weeks b/c our attorney has another family to travel with next week. If the provisional filing is done this week, then I think we may still have a chance at court for his birthday. If it isn't done for 2 more weeks, then I just don't see how court could possibly happen before his birthday.
I trust that the timing will be perfect, either way, but I feel like a lady who is about 38 weeks pregnant, and just really ready for the baby to show up! A "paper pregnancy" is no less emotional than a physical one, for sure!
I trust that the timing will be perfect, either way, but I feel like a lady who is about 38 weeks pregnant, and just really ready for the baby to show up! A "paper pregnancy" is no less emotional than a physical one, for sure!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
No news, really...
We are still waiting. Our I-800 was approved, but we haven't received the letter yet. Not that it matters, because we don't have to do anything with the letter. The important thing is that the National Visa Center gets the approval and processes our "file", then sends it on to the embassy in Bulgaria. The National Visa Center does have our approval (I confirmed this on the phone on Friday), but they don't have a "required time frame" to act on that and send the needed documents to Bulgaria. I hope they send it on early this week. I am missing our little boy terribly!
Friday, January 14, 2011
APPROVAL!!
I had a phone message from our immigration officer stating that we have received APPROVAL!!!
I know that some of you have no idea what that really means - just know that it is a big step on the road to court. The next step is to have an Article 5 letter issued by the embassy in Bulgaria.
Today is January 14. Last year, our commitment paperwork arrived in Bulgaria on our son's 6th birthday. His 7th birthday is on February 22. Please pray with us that we will be able to have court by his 7th birthday! We will not be able to travel to pick him up until about 1 month after court, but I really would love for him to be officially OUR SON by his 7th birthday!! 7 years is a long time to wait for a family! It would just mean so much to us, to celebrate his birthday as our son (in every sense of that word) this year! Now, this would truly take a mighty work of God for court to happen that quickly. However, I have personally seen God act in MIGHTY ways, providing for every little penny we have needed for this adoption and for even making us aware that this precious little non-verbal child even needed a family, when Nick could not even speak for himself! I KNOW that God is able to do this, and I would love if you would all pray for this with us!
Thank you for following our journey! I will have Jeremy show me how to post more pictures soon!
I know that some of you have no idea what that really means - just know that it is a big step on the road to court. The next step is to have an Article 5 letter issued by the embassy in Bulgaria.
Today is January 14. Last year, our commitment paperwork arrived in Bulgaria on our son's 6th birthday. His 7th birthday is on February 22. Please pray with us that we will be able to have court by his 7th birthday! We will not be able to travel to pick him up until about 1 month after court, but I really would love for him to be officially OUR SON by his 7th birthday!! 7 years is a long time to wait for a family! It would just mean so much to us, to celebrate his birthday as our son (in every sense of that word) this year! Now, this would truly take a mighty work of God for court to happen that quickly. However, I have personally seen God act in MIGHTY ways, providing for every little penny we have needed for this adoption and for even making us aware that this precious little non-verbal child even needed a family, when Nick could not even speak for himself! I KNOW that God is able to do this, and I would love if you would all pray for this with us!
Thank you for following our journey! I will have Jeremy show me how to post more pictures soon!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A *Little* Progress
The mailman was VERY happy to deliver our mail today!!!
I was VERY happy to take it from him!!!
I was sure that it was our I-800 approval.
I am glad that I checked the envelope before I hugged him (that could have been awkward)!
It was only a receipt from USCIS, stating that they received our I-800 application. I mailed it on 12/17, and they signed for it on 12/20, so I already knew they had received it. At least this confirms that it is in their system, so we may have approval shortly.
Meanwhile, I keep watching the videos of our sweet little boy! I received word from the orphanage that he is doing well and has not been ill this winter. Most people don't get updates between trips, so I was thrilled with that news!
I hope I have more to update soon!
I was VERY happy to take it from him!!!
I was sure that it was our I-800 approval.
I am glad that I checked the envelope before I hugged him (that could have been awkward)!
It was only a receipt from USCIS, stating that they received our I-800 application. I mailed it on 12/17, and they signed for it on 12/20, so I already knew they had received it. At least this confirms that it is in their system, so we may have approval shortly.
Meanwhile, I keep watching the videos of our sweet little boy! I received word from the orphanage that he is doing well and has not been ill this winter. Most people don't get updates between trips, so I was thrilled with that news!
I hope I have more to update soon!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Waiting
For anyone who is interested in the process, we are waiting for our I-800 to be approved by USCIS (US immigration). After that approval, there are more steps, but I won't cover those until we get through this one.
I spent the first week home from Bulgaria finishing up paperwork and filing the I-800. Approval could come sooner (or later). I am praying for really, really soon.
I miss Nick very, very much. I understand the theory behind 2 trips and knowing the child that you are committing to. However, 2 trips is very hard emotionally. I am hoping these days of waiting will be few.
Joy
I spent the first week home from Bulgaria finishing up paperwork and filing the I-800. Approval could come sooner (or later). I am praying for really, really soon.
I miss Nick very, very much. I understand the theory behind 2 trips and knowing the child that you are committing to. However, 2 trips is very hard emotionally. I am hoping these days of waiting will be few.
Joy
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