Fingerprint Prayer Request

It arrives at your mailbox in a tiny unassuming little envelope:

The Golden Ticket 

aka: I-171H (USCIS approval)  

But while the envelope may be small and unassuming it holds a really really important paper.   It is the U.S. government's approval to us (international adoptive parents) to adopt.  Specifically, for those of you who are interested, approval from the Department of Homeland Security's -  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  Without this tiny little piece of paper our adoption cannot be completed.  And like everything in adoption, there are a number of steps involved in getting this approval. 

Step 1:  Fill out important 1-600a (some people fill out I-800(a?) instead......I think it depends on the country) and send it in with  an official form of identification, a large fee and a copy of our homestudy.  Then wait while the USCIS office process and I assume approves it. 

Step 2:  The USCIS office assigns you a date and location to be fingerprinted.  Your electronic fingerprints are sent (somewhere) for approval.  Then you wait again.

Step 3:  Receive The Golden Ticket in mail!!!

So I found out a few days ago that my Immigration fingerprints were rejected.  sigh.  sigh. sigh.  We've been waiting for The Golden Ticket in the mail.  Instead, a rejection notice.  

The USCIS office assigned me another time and date about 3 weeks from now.  Problem is is that I am going to be needing The Golden Ticket pretty soon.  We are supposed to send The Golden Ticket in our Court Dossier (the final 2/3 of our dossier) either right before we leave for our first trip (March 26th - April 1st) or soon after we return home.  

SO  I am going to attempt a walk-in fingerprinting appointment this coming Monday morning.  I am going to get up early and drive 21/2 hours away and plead with them to let me get my fingerprints redone.   This particular office is notorious for turning away walk-ins.  Thankfully I know someone who recently walked in to this office and was able to get it completed.   

Please pray for me on Monday morning.

Travel Date!!!!!!!

We found out this morning that we got our (1st Trip) travel dates!!!!  We will leave March 26th and return April 1st.  So in little over a month, Lord willing, we will get to meet our little guy!!!!!!  This first trip's purpose is to meet him and then officially declare in his country that we would like to adopt him. 

Praise God!!  We are picking up momentum again!!!  Please keep praying for us!!  Todd and I are not big international travelers so this is big stuff.  

 

The Roller Coaster

My friends (and family)............the adoption roller coaster is a wild ride. A wild wild ride.  I am finding that the ups and downs are exhilarating and heart-rending all at the same.  It can be so excruciatingly slow then.........suddenly so fast life reels out of control.  So where are we at on this wild ride, you ask?!  We are currently hanging upside down and the coaster is broke.   Yep, that's us. 

  At least, once again, this is what I feel, even though it's probably not that bad in reality.  But I feel we are not going anywhere fast and knowing that if we could just get the momentum going......maybe we could finish the ride. 

In times of uncertainty, I am forever thankful for what I know - that God knows the big picture.  None of this is a surprise to Him. NONE.OF.IT. 

And what I love about God is that He loves this precious little boy and sees such great worth in that sweet little soul.  So, if you would, please continue to pray for us and our precious son, that we could meet him soon.  Thanks.  I would appreciate your prayers so much.

  

And so we

wait......and wait some more. 

We were supposed to hear last week (at the earliest) what our first travel date was.  What we heard was that they are backed up and swamped.  This feels similiar to, though not quite as dramatic as, going past my due date with my first child.  When you lose your date of expectation, then it feels like it might not ever happen.  Ever.  That's what it feels like, even though my head knows that it will happen eventually. 

A Special Family

Here's some inspiration for your Thursday!!!  I am posting about a fellow Reece's Rainbow family -

The Fritz's. 

all the Fritz children



I first found out about them when they were adopting 4 (yes 4, non-sibling adoptions!!) special needs children in Eastern Europe at the same time and followed their blog during these adoptions.  Recently, this family's story made it into the news, and I realized that I didn't even know the whole of it!  Amazing!! 

Moving Right Along

Since January was like hitting the 'pause' button on our adoption, we were hoping that February would be more like 'play' and start picking up.........and ....well it has!!!  We found out yesterday, that our Registration Application (first 1/3 of our dossier) has been officially submitted!  We should find out in the next 2 weeks what our first travel date is! 

We also found out that our little guy is still officially at the baby home and that the staff is looking forward to our visit!!  YAY!!!  I can't wait!! 

We also got our Immigration fingerprinting done before the blizzard broke loose!!!  We are just waiting for one more piece of paperwork (that has to do with these fingerprints) and the last 2/3 of our dossier will be completed.!!