nothing new, but....

after talking with our agency through email today, it is very possible that we will not have a referral by the cut off date of 9/1. possible, but not positive. so we'll continue to wait and see.

...yes, still waiting.....

i wish i had some really great news to post, but nothing yet. yesterday was 8 months 'DTV' and we still wait...and hope....i feel like i could get a call any day with news of a referral or news that it just isn't going to happen in time. But I'm still praying!

tick...tick...tick

good news-A few more families from our agency received referrals this week.

our news-We are still waiting....

...it's been awhile...

So it's been a month since my last update, but really, no new news. We've been told that so far the agreement to continue adoptions has not yet been resigned, so as of now, we still need a referral by Sept. 1st to be able to continue. We are 'cautiously hopeful' at this point...and still praying! Monday will be 7 months since our paperwork was sent over, at the start of this crazy adventure referral time was estimated to be 4-6 months, now it is 7-9 months. Let's hope so!

HOPE

A few of the families at our agency received their referrals and one even got approval to travel!

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD;be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

More Press

This article was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune today. A little different perspective....

Proverbs 16:9...

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

There is an official statement out today from the US government stating that the agreement to continue adoptions between the US and Vietnam will not be resigned. This means that official referrals for children will need to be made by September 1st or paperwork will be returned. We do not know the length of time adoptions from this country will be suspended, nor does anyone. Please pray that if this is the Lord's plan for our family, HE will see it through to completion. At this point, it is all we can do....

MSNBC story
US Embassy statement

5 months DTV

Our paperwork has been in Vietnam for 5 months today....which means we are 5 months closer to meeting our little girl, but still no news when that may be!

Every child is a gift from God......some just take a little longer to get home!

No News Yet

Trust in God....Trust in God.....Trust in God.....i keep repeating this in my head when i start to get anxious about WHEN we will hear news about our little girl. my head understands, my heart is having a harder time.

Great Week

It's been a week of great news from families at our agency. Many families received their approval to travel to get their little ones and will be leaving soon.... and a few families even received their referrals! Things seem to be moving in a positive direction...yay!!

Prayers Needed

There is a virus going through the orphanages right now causing many babies to be hospitalized. Some of these babies have lost their lives due to complications from the virus....some had already been matched with a family who was working to get them home. Please pray health for the babies and love over the families who had already welcomed these little ones into their hearts. Click here to read more about the virus.

HMMM

Just to let you know that my kids are thinking about the adoption....the latest question was from Jacob: Are we going to keep it a secret that she was adopted?
Well, of course, I was cracking up on the inside but thought it was really great that he is thinking through all of the issues. I answered that we were never thinking of keeping it a secret, but she will not look like us, so it will be very obvious that she is adopted. So even before she realizes it, other people will start to ask us about her. It DID open up a great conversation about what our answers will be....i just love my kids!

I've been tagged

My friend Karen tagged me for a meme. I think I'm supposed to answer a bunch of questions about myself......

The Four Things MEME

4 jobs I have had:
swim instructor
frozen yogurt squirter(remember, it was all the rage in college)
speech pathologist
Mom(eg. maid, taxi driver, nurse, teacher...i fill in as i go)

4 places i've been
Sweden
Italy
China
NYC

4 movies i've watched over and over
Grease
Singles
The Notebook(yes, i cry every time)
Rocky

4 shows i watch:
Lost
24(is it coming back?)
House
Friday Night Lights

4 places i'd rather be right now:
Hello...i'm adopting, so Vietnam:)
sunning at the beach
vacation with my husband
vacation with my family

4 favorite things to eat:
chocolate anything
a really fabulous slice of cheese pizza
chips and queso
lettuce wraps at pf chang

4 places i've lived:
Brandon, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Amarillo, TX
Yakima, WA

4 things to look forward to this year:
Again, this IS an adoption blog...so seeing my litte girl for the first time
Jacob turning double digits
Camdyn's first communion
SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

Today is a big celebration in Vietnam....Tet. It is the beginning of the new year, the year of the rat/mouse. I've been told that children born in the year of the rat love to be cuddled, love to eat, love to sleep, and are eager to learn. Sounds great to me:) And Tet actually spans over several weeks in February, it is a time when families travel to be together and special festivals are held. In 2009, we will have a new holiday to celebrate!

it's been way too long

I know it's been 2 1/2 months since my last post about adoption, but no news in the world of international adoption means...well, means no news. I am hoping that by May we will have a referral(a picture and medical records)and then travel 3-4 months later. JUST WAITING is much, much harder than completing paperwork. The good news is that other families in our agency continue to get referrals and travel to Vietnam. In the meantime, we continue to pray and get excited to meet our little girl.

True Love.....

Today, Joe and I celebrate 13 years of marriage!! It's been one wonderful ride...and the best is yet to come!

DTV

I finally talked to my agency today and all of our paperwork is in Vietnam...I think we were officially DTV(dossier to Vietnam) as of 11/08!!!! YEAH!! They said in 4-6 months we should have a picture of our little girl. I am SO relieved to have the paperwork behind us, but now it is almost harder to JUST WAIT!

One More Stop!

Today we got all of the paperwork back from Tallahassee with everything signed and sealed. Tomorrow it will all be sent out to the Consulate and then on to our agency. This is all happening so much faster than expected...and it is really starting to sink in. One of the best parts for me is that my sister, Heidi, is due with a little girl the end of February. I know a couple of years ago neither of us could have imagined having another little girl in our families.....life is so cool, and God is so good! We are truly a blessed family!

Paperwork Milestone!

On last Thursday, the 18th, we received our I-171H in the mail...the last piece of paper from US immigration granting us permission to adopt internationally. YEAH! On Friday, I had all ten documents that were notarized sent out to Tallahassee. I should get them back by the end of this week, then to the Vietnam Consulate, then to our agency and to Vietnam! I'm hoping that by mid-November we will be DTV(dossier to Vietnam) and be officially on the waiting list:) Whoo-hoo, all the paperwork is almost finished! Our agency tells us we should have a referral in 4-6 months from DTV, which means a picture and medical records. After the referral, we wait to get 'travel dates' which are typically 2-3 months after the referral. We are ALL very excited!!!

Fingerprints....check

We went to the immigration department this morning and sat in a LONG line to get our fingerprints in the system! One more step down. Now, we get to wait for our I-171H to arrive. This part of the adoption process is a lot like the first trimester of a pregnancy...the most important things are happening(as far as the paperwork), but it feels really slow and there is nothing to show for it:) (at least I'm not gaining weight)