I-800A Application

Our I-800A Application was received in Texas on May 7. (It is my understanding that we will know approval status within 90 days of that date.) The application was then forwarded to The Hague Adoption Unit in Missouri. Soon, USCIS will schedule a biometrics appointment for us to have our fingerprints taken.
Once we receive our I-800A Approval, we can start the sealing process for our final documents!

A Miracle in the Making

Tonight I read an article about a baby buried alive in China. When the baby was born, the parents didn't even want a birth certificate for their child, knowing it would soon be abandoned.

"The boy's family -- including the infant's grandmothers -- allegedly hired a man for $290 to get rid of the baby, according to Xinhua.

That day, the hired man left the newborn to die in a cardboard box in the wilderness. Two days later, believing the baby to be dead, he buried him, according to Xinhua.

Later, a woman who was picking herbs on a hillside heard a wail. With the help of a few villagers, police rescued the baby and sent him to the hospital.

Wu said the baby was in critical condition -- coughing up mud, his whole body covered in scratches and bruises -- when he arrived at the hospital.

The baby weighed 7.8 pounds when he was born. By the time he was rescued, he weighed only 5.9 pounds."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/14/asia/china-baby-buried-alive/index.html

This breaks my heart in so many ways. The baby in the picture had a cleft lip. This sweet, innocent baby survived but so many others have not. This could be my baby's beginning. I have always assumed I would be telling my child that he/she was given up for healthcare reasons. But this story reminds me that my child may not have been relinquished in love. That my child may struggle with his/her origins when a story like this is exposed. 
But have no fear baby, your life will get better and better from here. And we will love you forever, regardless of imperfections as we all have them.
Please say a prayer tonight for this little boy.

"No, I will not abandon you as orphans - I will come to you." John 14:18

Changing Labels

Perfectionist. Pragmatist. Pessimist. These words have described me, have labeled me. No matter where our labels come from, we become our labels if we don't change them. Our identity, our personality, and our character can become wrapped up in our labels. I'm not a fan of change. I don't even like updating or upgrading. Change is hard, but so very important. First, we should turn to Jesus for healing and replacing past wounds with truth. We receive a new name, a new identity. Daughter. Heir. Child of the one true King. Then we can grow, change, and develop new personality. Our new character shows love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. My new labels should be understanding, compassionate, and positive.

What if your labels were orphaned, abandoned, or deformed? Children are sensitive to words spoken around them. Some kids may claim false labels, leading to negative self fulfilling prophecy. As parents we must help change our children's labels. We must create an environment of grace, mercy, and trust in our home. We must destroy hatred, regret, and unforgiveness. We must display maturity, health, and strength. We must speak truth by openly communicating with our children. We must speak hope by telling our children that God has a plan for their future. We must speak life by praying over our children. And we must speak love to remind our children of their Heavenly Father's unconditional love. 

Inspired by http://subsplash.com/daystargso/v/a734abe

"Speak life to the deadest darkest night

Speak life when the sun won't shine and you don't know why

Look into the eyes of the broken-hearted 

Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, speak love, speak life"

TobyMac - Speak Life

A great video to discuss labels, bullying, and the impact of our words with kids.

Completed home study!

So today is another one of those "three steps forward, two steps back" kind of day...

The day started off with realizing two forms were completed incorrectly and may need to be completed and resealed again. Huge bummer. I was really upset a mistake was made and feeling the weight of this enormous task on my shoulders. I am tired of checking something off just to erase the check and almost check it off again then instead throw the pen. I was barely keeping my brain calm when my first patient of the day turned out to be a terrible situation. There is nothing like someone else's problems to put my own problems in perspective. So my brain gave in and I cried for her (and a little for me). I prayed "God, take this complicated process off my mind because I just can't do this alone."

A couple hours later CHS called to tell me that our Home Study (Pre-Placement Assessment) Report was finally complete. Hooray!!! We've been waiting on this report for a long time. When I returned to my first patient, I felt her sorrow. I could sympathize her pain. She reminded me that my joy of being one step closer to adopting, is someone else's sorrow in being one step closer to loss.

I planned to pick up the report during lunch break. On my way to CHS, I made a turn too early and needed GPS to get back on track. I thought I could get there myself but eventually turned to Google to help complete the drive. Wouldn't you know it, I ended up passing by a Post Office, which needed to be my next destination. So while my detour lost time, I had to ask for help and actually ended up right where I needed to be, even better off than before. God showed me He knows exactly where I am and can take me the rest of the way, perhaps on a better path than I had imagined. It's all in His perfect timing.

After I picked up the report, I mailed it with our I800A Application (for Determination of Suitability for Adopting a Child) to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). One more form completed. 

This song was playing when I got out of the car at work and when I got back in. 

You'd be amazed the places that I'd go to be with you, where you are...

Be still and trust my plan

I'm more than you think I am

(Danny Gokey)

I know He is with me. I need to be still and trust Him, to calm my overactive brain.

Finishing Touches

On April 20, CCAI (our placement agency) issued their notice of approval on our homestudy report. Wahoo! On April 21, the homestudy report was presented to the Children's Home Society of NC Board for final approval. Unfortunately after a week's review, the Board wanted modifications. So now the report will go back to CCAI again and be presented to CHS Board again. Please pray for a completed homestudy report! This process has taken way longer than expected and we are ready to move on.