Monday, November 15th, 2010 -- "God meshes two hearts together for adoption" -- A small group meeting at Shauney and Teddy's home turned into a prayer meeting that would change the course of our lives. God had put adoption on my heart since our mission trip to Ecuador but God was still patiently working on the heart of Craig. Our divine moment came in that living room as the Holy Spirit took two hearts and meshed them together, calling us together for a new journey and revealing a new call on our lives. He gave us a bleeding heart for the plight of orphans and then called us to adopt.
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 -- "Africa" I am not sure how to explain drawings of the heart but God whispered in my heart several years back that He had a plan for me in Africa. I just didn't know it would be this. Our mission trip to Ecuador changed me dramatically but something that was said by a fellow team member resonated deep within me. Craig and I were both on our knees, I think working on concrete of some kind. (I became "Mortar Momma" while I was there.) I remember clearly as if it was yesterday Ted coming over to us and saying nonchalantly, "I can see you two working on the mission fields of Africa someday." and then walked away. Something about that simple statement clung to my heart similar to the way the concrete clung to every little crevice it could find on my body. After searching adoption options in Africa, I was immediately drawn to DRC. On this day I write my first inquiry to an agency about their Congo program. And just before I join the waiting list I ran into my first obstacle.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 -- "Obstacle #1" I got the e-mail: My director has cautioned me to not accept new applications until these we can ascertain that this program will continue to move along on a fairly dependable course. My heart sighed. I waited. I started to stare at the mountain in defeat.
Friday, December 17, 2010 -- "Start looking into Ethiopia/Rwanda Adoption" I thought God had closed a door in the DRC. In hindsight my feeble faith had. The more I read, the more fear grew about adopting from a country so unstable. I started to look into other programs but my heart kept saying "Wait" When it came down to submitting my application I couldn't do it. You can read my conflicting thoughts...."Searching"
Friday, February 25, 2011 -- "Fill out application to adopt from DRC" Craig and I are sending our application out today to adopt from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yes, we are going through a door that I thought was closed. You can read about how God moved my mountain here...."An exciting beginning"
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 -- "We are on the list!" We are officially on the list. They received our application.
Thursday, March 10, 2011 -- "Send in our first papers for our home study" The paperwork begins!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 -- "First Home Study Meeting" Our first home study meeting went well. Our worker J. was so nice and personable and I immediately felt at ease.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 -- "Fingerprints Done" Craig and I had a lunch date and got our fingerprinting done.
Friday, April 15, 2011 -- "Personal Interviews" They went well :-)
Friday, May 13, 2011 -- "Home Inspection" Our last visit with J. until our post-placement. I think I may miss her. So will the kids. The kids hardly let her leave after showing her everything. Just a few paperwork things to wrap up and our physicals to do.
Friday, May 13, 2011 -- "Home Inspection" Our last visit with J. until our post-placement. I think I may miss her. So will the kids. The kids hardly let her leave after showing her everything. Just a few paperwork things to wrap up and our physicals to do.
Sunday, June 19, 2011 -- "Father's Day Referral" On Father's Day I get a phone call from our agency while I am outside picking in the raspberry patch. I learn about my son for the first time and hang up and weep.....Exciting Father's Day
Sunday, June 21, 2011 -- "Meet Moise" Receive our referral letter and picture of Moise via e-mail. Instantly drawn to the sad eyes and sweet smile.
Friday, July 13, 2011 -- "Home Study is Approved" Our home study is approved and was sent to Wasatch.
Friday, July 15, 2011 -- "Officially Accept Referral" In order to officially accept our referral we had to make a big down payment on our foreign fee and get our home study approved. Praise God that he provided. We are now officially on the paperwork trail to make Moise our son.
Thursday, July 21, 2011 -- "Sent out our i600a" Next step is fingerprinting appointments.
Friday, July 29, 2011 -- "We received your i600a text confirm" Dear Applicant/Petitioner: Your USCIS application/petition has been received and routed to the National Benefit Center for processing.
Thursday, October 6th, 2011 -- "Sent off our i600" We sent off our i600 before approval of our i600a. I talked to Supervisor and he said I could indeed do that even though others had said I couldn't.
Friday, October 13th, 2011 -- "We received your i600 text confirm" Received weird 2:00 a.m. text saying they had received our i600 application. Prayed for friend T. and the others traveling. Talked to her the next morning and she had also been up at 2:00 a.m. calling about the VISA of her son. God works in mysterious ways :-)
Friday, October 18th, 2011 -- "i600a Approval" Received our i600a (171-H) approval
Monday, November 7, 2011 -- "YOUR APPROVED" Received our i600 approval. Learned that Embassy date was set for Dec. 19th.
Monday, December 19th, 2011 -- "Embassy Appt" Heard that all went well at the Embassy Appt. Pa Pa J. took the kids out for lunch after their interviews. Now just waiting to hear that his VISA is issued so we can travel.
Friday, January 6th, 2012 -- "VISA" Heard news that VISA should be printed on Monday! Time to prepare to travel.
Friday, January 13th, 2012 -- "Headed to the DRC" Made travel plans after checking with my agency only to find out that the VISA was printed but was unable to be picked up due to things going on at the embassy. We are not deterred, though are prepared to stay longer then a week, and are flying out on faith knowing that God will once again work in his AMAZING way.
Sunday, January 15, 2012 -- "Moise is finally in my arms!" What a joyous day as I stepped into a moment that had been waiting for me my entire life. It was as amazing as I thought it would be, feeling him in my arms - seeing his smile - loving him in the flesh instead of pixels.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 -- "VISA is in my hands!" Due to holidays in the DRC on Monday and Tuesday we were unable to go pick up our VISA which we hoped was printed and ready to go. The very first thing we did was go to the embassy and we were seriously in and out in 5 minutes with our VISA and papers in hand. Talk about good timing! We spoke briefly with D. and she was so nice and took the time to talk to Moise even.
Saturday, January 21, 2012 -- "EXIT letter" Another miracle - our exit letter was printed and to us in 4 days pushed through by a great lawyer and PRAYERS prayed by all of you. We are headed home as scheduled, keeping the flights we had booked. GOD, I PRAISE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING BLESSINGS UPON BLESSINGS!
Monday, January 23, 2012 -- "Home Sweet Home" Jet lagged, tired, but deliriously happy and blessed to be home with our gift from God, our sweet precious boy.
