Oh the anticipation...

Well, hello folks,

Ryan here. Just wanted say a few things. Pick up a copy of Adopted For Life. Be it from the library, bookstore, or friendly neighborhood superhero. Read it. Pass it on. This book by Russell Moore is eye-opening.

As he does in his book, I've tried to compare what the process is like to what I think the process might be like for...gosh I'm at a loss for words...a couple doing this biologically, or naturally. I, at first, hesitated to say "naturally", but it's true adoption is not natural in the sense that God created it that way. It is the result of the fallen world in which we dwell. It may not be God's original intention, but it is God's call for our lives now. Not just mine and Jessica's life, but ours in a collective sense. Anyway, I think the comparison is like we're pregnant. We are anticipating the arrival of our children. We wonder what there names might be and imagine their little faces, and what games they might enjoy. So, it's like we're pregnant.

We just had our immigration approval notarized and dropped in the mail. Hurry up and wait. That seems to be the theme for the adoption process. Hurry up and get everything done so that you can sit on your hands in anticipation of receiving the referral. I guess the referral will be like the ultrasouund only our ultrasound will show more than a fuzzy shape on black backdrop. Anticipation.

I got an idea from some friends of ours. They adopted two beautful children from Haiti. They had t-shirts designed and printed. I didn't ask about what they used the proceeds for, but I know their hearts and I'm sure it went to the cause of adoption in general, probably Haiti specifically. We just recieved our shipment of shirts! We will have a picture up very soon so you can see what you're buying. Ha! You like the way I slid that in there? I'm only half serious. We do have N. shirts for a minimum of $15, but we don't expect that everyone will buy one. We are not keeping records of who does and doesn't. The proceeds will be used for adoption in general, but probably donated to another adoptive family that needs financial support. We love you all and know that you support us in a multitude of ways.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship throughout this exciting time in our life.


Thanks for reading.

Approved by Immigration/Random thoughts

Hey everybody,

We received our approval letter from Immigration just a week after we had our fingerprints done! So God did answer prayers there. Now just waiting for January to get here so our paperwork can be reviewed and we can be matched with our sweet children. I have been thinking about them alot lately and all the things we have to look forward to. It's just little things that make me think of them...Ryan and I were talking about this being the first winter in our home and I said I just wished the kids were home with us.

I'm doing a bible study by Jennifer Rothschild called the Fingerprints of God and by no coincidence she talks about God adopting us as his children. She says we were orphans needing to be "gotten" and God chose us. In John 15:16, it says "You did not choose Me but I chose you". This gives me a new perspective on how God must yearn for his children to come to Him when they have not surrendered their life to Him or are living in sin and out of His will. I know how badly I want to see and hold my children so I cannot even imagine how it is for God! I am not the best at putting my thoughts on paper so I hope that makes sense.

I believe God has brought some special people into my life to encourage us on our journey. I have met 2 women at church that have adopted multiple times. Thank you Lord for bringing these new friends into my life. I know this is no accident either. God is so good even though I do not deserve it.

Until next time,
Jessica

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to update y'all on what I found out this week! There's good news and not so good news. Good news is our dossier doesn't have to be translated; bad news is our dossier most likely will not be reviewed until January. The cap of 10 families per agency per year rule that you've probably heard us talk about includes us...at first they said we would not be included in this bc we were not adopting an infant but apparently N. changed the rules recently! Actually I wasn't as upset as I was when I found out we had to wait on Immigration approval a few weeks ago. I'm sure God had a hand in that!

I'm pretty excited that 2 of the waiting families from our agency will be traveling to N. in the next few weeks to meet their children. I can't wait to hear updates on how the trip goes!

Also, we have friends from back home that are in China now meeting their twin girls and will come home with them soon! How exciting! God is good!

Thank you to all those who are praying for us.

Jessica

Quick update on Immigration approval

I know many of you have been fervently praying since I sent out the request this week...thank you! Our fingerprinting appointment is September 30th. Not sure how long it will take for them to process things after that. Hopefully not too long. Thanks again for all the continued prayers!

Jessica

Prayer request

Well I found out today that our dossier can't be submitted to N. until we get an approval letter from the Citizenship and Immigration Office. This can take up to 90 days...pray this process goes faster. I am trusting that this is all in God's timing but I am disappointed.

Thanks for all the prayers,

Jessica

N. church

Ryan here. I am about to go visit a N. church with some new friends we've met here at seminary. Brandon and Cindy Shafer have graciously agreed to take me to meet these N. people that have church in Irving. Our thought is that this group of people could potentially be a vital part of understanding and continuing to engage in our children's cultural heritage.

Brandon has been fortunate to serve in N. and then got to know this people group existed after moving to seminary. I'm keeping the details vague because I'm not sure that I remember them correctly.

Well, I decided to just add to this post instead of writing another blog. I just got back from a wonderful time with the Shafers. I appreciate them so much for talking with us about N. culture and taking me to meet the group over in Irving tonight. Not to mention Brandon gave me a help-book on learning to speak the language!

On the way over Brandon and Cindy explained to me that church times change along with other aspects of the church that seem to be in constant transition. We showed up at 5 and walked around the building trying to find where exactly the meeting was taking place. We finally found Ati, Alex, and Harry. They were meeting in Ati's office. After warm introductions, Ati led worship on acoustic guitar. I guess I should mention that was all that was present: myself, the Shafers, Ati, Alex, and Harry. It was cozy in the office. They sang a few songs (hymns or choruses, I couldn't tell) in N. It was beautiful. I didn't know what they were saying, but I connected on a different level. Their passion for our Lord was evident.

Alex had some friends, Simon and Robbie, show up about the time we were going to read the Scripture. Once they were in and seated Brandon read from Romans 7, verses 14-25. Ati taught about our sinful state and our only hope being in Christ. It was a great time, meeting and worshipping with new brothers. They were excited to hear about our adoption and very inquisitive. We talked for quite a while after the service was over. It will be exciting to bring Jessica back to meet my new friends and even more exciting to bring our kids to meet them!

Well, I don't have time to say much more. I am currently reading a book that is revolutionizing the way I look at adoption. I have a blog brewing on the subject and I will lay it out soon enough. Until then, ta-ta.

Thanks for reading.

Now we wait!

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything. I waited 2 weeks to receive our home study in the mail...and I wanted the completion of the dossier to be my next post. So after 2 1/2 months of gathering and preparing paperwork, making multiple trips to have documents notarized, and combing over every document to make sure there are no cross-outs or write-overs(of course there were some mistakes...I had to get more copies of our marriage license and have the home study agency redo documents for me)...the dossier is complete and in the mail!! I am so glad to have this step done...it was really nerve-racking for me for a couple of reasons. I like to get things done in a timely fashion...I had to be really patient during these last few months when there were setbacks and that drove me crazy that I couldn't get it all done! Also, I am already OCD about things being perfect...when they told me how every document had to notarized and there couldn't be any write-overs on the documents and the notary's signature had to match their stamp...this just did a number on my already nit-picky nature. I'm sure Kim at the home study agency is tired of hearing from me. Listen to the dream I had last night...just to let you know how much I worry over such things. Well let me set this up for you. Yesterday, I was looking over all the documents one last time as I was organizing them and making copies and I noticed that one stinken' piece of paperwork from the home study agency was notarized with a signature that didn't match her signature on the other documents. So now I'm thinking I've got to call her on Monday and ask her to redo this document...great! Well I dreamed that I went to their office and asked her to redo the document and apparently she told me no or questioned that it needed to be done because I got really angry and told them just what I thought about that and the next thing I know the social worker is telling me they won't be able to do it at all because of what I said to them. So then I'm distraught, thinking how am I going to get this done? And I woke up...

I did receive some good news today from our adoption agency. They have found out from recent talks with the N. government that the government sees it as a priority to place children ages 3 years and older with their adoptive families.

I do have a prayer request...pray that the N. government will appoint a minister soon so that the wheels will begin to move for the adoption process for all the waiting families.

Until next time,

Jessica