6 Steps Back

Robby and I are very discouraged right now because we've had a major setback in our adoption process. The Haitian consulate has decided that there are more documents that need to be authenticated, notarized, translated and legalized. This is a new law that is affecting everyone going through the adoption process. Needless to say, we are VERY discouraged right now since we thought we were on the last U.S. step (the work we could do). We're not starting over, but we have to take several steps back. Blah.

Robby reminded me that God's timing is perfect and I do believe that with all of my heart, but I feel like I was almost about to give birth and the doctor said, "Oops. We messed up. Your due date isn't for 3 more months." It just stinks. There's nothing we can do about it except comply and do the work.

This morning, as I was thinking about it and just grumbling to the Lord (He can take my grumbles!), I thought about this:
the Haitian government could say, "You need to charter a private rocket ship, fly to the moon, collect moon rocks, and bring them to us to meet your adoption requirements," and you know what? We'd do it! We'd do anything for our baby girl! So, some extra paper work is worth it and we will persevere.....stay tuned!

Chicago-bound!

Today we mailed our 9 documents to the Haitian Consulate in Chicago. This is the LAST STOP in the U.S. before we get to send the whole dossier to Haiti. VERY exciting!!!! We are rounding 3rd base, folks!

I am a member of a Yahoo group with other families adopting from Haiti. Word is that referrals are happening 6-10 weeks after dossiers arrive in Haiti. Incredible! The wait use to be almost a year to be matched with a child. To think that we will see our daughter's face that soon just makes us giddy!

Happy Weekend!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This morning, I talked with the boys about Martin Luther King Jr. and his mission. They remembered watching the "I Have a Dream" speech last year. Mostly, they wanted to argue about why "all of their friends" (this is a joke in itself because most of their friends are homeschooled!) didn't have school today, but we did. "So unfair!"

What always surprises me when we discuss race and racial tensions and the way things used to be in America is the fact that they really can't comprehend living in a world like that. We are about to bring a baby girl into our family. We love her already and can't wait to squeeze her and kiss her. She happens to have brown skin. That's the way our boys look at it. They are completely color blind and I am so thankful for that. They truly don't understand why white people owned black people as slaves in the past. Noah has read a lot of American history books this year, so he's learned a lot about slavery and the way slaves were treated.

We ended our discussion by reminding each other that God created every person and we are all equal in His sight. I am so thankful for my boys and their love for all people.

Good mail day!

Just yesterday I blogged about running to the mailbox every day. Today was a great mail day! We got Robby's certified birth certificate (man, the state of OK is REALLY slow!). We also got a letter from the government that I don't really understand, but I'm pretty sure it's important. It's regarding our visas for orphan adoption and says something about our I-600 form being sent to Port au Prince. I'll have to ask our agency exactly what it is, but it's good. : )

So, as soon as our dossier gets back from the translator (hopefully, tomorrow), we'll get it in the mail to the Haitian consulate in Chicago. LAST STOP before Haiti!!!! Wow!!! Everything seems to be moving quickly now!

Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. I stayed up WAY too late last night watching slide shows and videos posted by our orphanage. If you have time and enough Kleenex, check them out:
http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/parentslookback/

Through tears, laughs, and smiles, here is what I realized: God has called us to adopt from Haiti NOW because He knew I couldn't handle the process that was in place just 2 years ago. Many of these parents had waited 2 years after being matched with their child. One mom said she had received 20 monthly updates on her child (the orphanage sends pictures/updates to adoptive parents every month while they're waiting). After the earthquake hit, Dixie, the orphanage director, worked tirelessly with the US and Haitian government to get the babies at GLA humanitarian parole. These videos say it all. Incredible! Here is very clear evidence of God bringing good out of an otherwise horrible situation.

Mail!

I feel like a little kid running to the mailbox every day...just hoping for something good in there. Still waiting on the state of Oklahoma to send Robby's certified birth certificate.
Heard from our translator today that she is finished and mailed the dossier back to us. Looks like we can get it to Chicago as soon as that birth cert. gets here. My goal was to get it to Haiti by March, but it looks like God's plans might be bigger! : )Woo-hoo!

Sweet story: last night we were waiting to get our picture made for the church directory. A sweet lady in our church was chatting with the boys. Jonah was being very outgoing about being the baby brother. I just sat there and listened, but wondered if he'd mention his sister. Not 10 seconds later, he said, "I won't be the baby much longer! We are adopting a girrrrrl!" It was so sweet. I just love how their hearts are just as excited as ours!

Waiting...

Just a quick update:
Right now, we are waiting on the dossier to be translated. It's in Miami FL with a French lady and she promised to get it done in a week (mailed it last week). So, we should be close. Then, it makes its last stop in the U.S. at the Haitian consulate in Chicago before going to Haiti.
We are getting soooo close!