I've been tagged

My adoption blogger friend Jennifer tagged me (http://ourlittledumplings.blogspot.com/).



I'm supposed to reveal 7 weird or random facts about myself....let's see, I can't think of weird so let's go with random:

1)when i was in college i worked at a frozen yogurt store(not that weird) and one day the Red Hot Chili Peppers came in to ask for directions(my one brush with fame)

2)my feet look just like my dad's so i have to keep my toenails painted

3)i started wearing a bra in 6th grade and walked in on the first day of school and some boy named david announced that i grew boobs over the summer(i still need therapy for that one)

4)i can't carry a tune at all but love to sing

5)i just received a plaque in the mail yesterday from FSU with my maiden name on it and 'meto conference women's swimming championship' 1990/1991, and a note saying 'sorry this is 17 years late'

6)i love being at the beach at sunset

7)i have 4 sisters, 1 sister-in-law and 13 nieces and nephews....can you say FUN family reunions...



I now have to tag 7 people:

http://www.blogfortheloveofpete.com/

http://hellomynameisdrama.blogspot.com/

http://thewoodard4.blogspot.com/

http://sellersfamily5.blogspot.com/

http://steveandrandel.blogspot.com/

ok, so i only tagged 5....

The updated homestudy is completed so soon I will forward it to immigration and wait for approval:) All of the other 11 documents are already authenticated and have been delivered to our agency's office. So......we are making progress, only 2 documents left and were finished with this part!

Did you notice anything new in the header?....that's right, we've switched our journey to China. I think all along we knew that's where she was, our little girl, so the past year was just part of our story to find her. What have we been up to these past few weeks? Well, since everything in our paperwork blizzard is a year old, we've had to start from square one. We have new birth certificates, marriage certificate, physicals(and China requires bloodwork), police clearances, employment letters, and oh yes, the home study. So at this point, we have 11 documents on their way to be authenticated and we are just waiting for our home study update to be completed and our immigration approval. I'm told we can just apply for a 'change of country' through immigration which would be a shorter approval time then if we have to completely re-apply. Anyway, I'm hoping that by the end of October this mountain of paperwork will be off to China. Oh yeah, and of course, we had to find a new agency, so after a few phone calls it was really clear which one was for us.

I'll keep you all updated....we're hoping to see our little girl's face by the end of the year:)

too early for details, but our journey is continuing....stay tuned!

ps-no, we did not get a referral from Vietnam

11 days left in August + no referral = it's over for us....unless by some miracle the governments agree to continue, but that is very unlikely.....

But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." Habakkuk 2:3


Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6

....one of my favorites....

Psalm 103
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins,
and heals your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's......

For as high as the heavens are above the earth
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our trangressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

this journey is coming to an end....

i was notified today that we have 10 days left to receive a referral from Vietnam in order for there to be enough time to complete the required paperwork before Sept. 1st....10 days.....and it does not look like we will end this part of the journey with a baby. pray for us, it's been an emotional year to say the least.

Thank you for this, friend....

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" (Is. 30:18)

If you are awaiting the fulfillment of a vision in your life, ask the Lord for His grace to sustain you. It will be worth the wait.

...six LONG weeks left....

to receive a referral before the close of adoptions between the US and Vietnam. Please pray for peace and patience and, of course, for some great news.
I'm wavering between peace and throwing a temper tantrum (which I'm sure would look really funny to my kids:).

Summer Fun!

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.