Two Years and Counting Our Joy

I'm long overdue for posting an update on our adoption process. Sadly, not much progress has been made in the last 7 months. We have been waiting for all of our court documents to come in since we passed court last July. We need all of these documents to move to the next step, which is filing our i600, the request for citizenship for our children. 

I had planned on filing the i600 in Kinshasa and by doing so, getting another opportunity to see our kids. But unfortunately, our paperwork was not ready before my visa expired in October. A simple visa means a flight to our capital city, and $400 for the visa. I grieved seeing this window of opportunity close. I was so longing to see them again and reassure them we are coming back for them.

In December we finally received everything we need, but there were major errors on several of them. We are currently waiting on one more document to be corrected, so we can file our i600, God willing, sometime in February. Once we file, we wait for our approval and once that is received, the US Embassy in Kinshasa begins it's 3-6 month long investigation to ensure our children are orphans by US standards. Once this investigation is complete, we can apply for our kids US visas and hopefully travel to pick them up soon after.

During the last 7 months, while not much progression was happening in our case, a lot has been doing on in Congo and with Congolese adoptions in general. Most notably, in September the DGM (Congolese Immigration office) decided to temporarily stop issuing Exit Letters for children adopted by foreigners. The DGM shut down will continued, possibly until September of this year as they restructure their procedures. So, while we may be able to pick up our children before September, we will not be allowed to take them out of the Congo, until the DGM reopens. And when it reopens. we will find out what new procedures they are incorporating. 

When we begin this adoption process, I always saw 24 months as the 'worst case scenario' in terms of our time frame. But God's plans were different. We just hit the 2 year mark and have no end in certain sight. We are striving to be thankful for each day and month that passes, as it is ultimately bringing us closer to having J & T home. It's not easy though. In fact, it's probably the hardest journey I've ever been on. We go through spurts of excitement when we can tangibly DO something which gets us closer to them. Like forms to be filled out, emails to send, things to mail, etc and then more long dull months of just.....lots of waiting.  It's not just a simple feeling of impatience or excitement. It's not just a simple question of "do you trust God or not?" The best way I can describe it is-- as if you are fighting a battle with your arms tied behind your back and a blind fold on. You have to trust everyone around you, that is supposed to be fighting on your side, to protect you. You have to trust God to be your eyes and direct every step you take, no matter how dark it is. You have to listen to His voice for reassurance that the end is in His sight and by His strength you can persevere. It's a gut wrenching longing to have your children safely in your arms, yet not being able to do anything about it. It's a daily battle to fight off fears and worries that they may never make it home to you. It's frequent thoughts of wondering what they are doing, how well fed they are today and what are their tender hearts feeling.

Trusting God in the midst of all of these emotions and concerns is one of the biggest tests of faith I've ever had. I feel like we are living out James chapter 1, "because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" and I'm praying that we will "Let perseverance finish its work so that (we) may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." And with each trying day, we're counting our joy and relying more on our faithful Father. 

Birthday Boy turns 5!

I'm the proud mamma of a 5 year old now! And boy can I say I like 5! J has seemed to mature a lot in the past few months and I am really enjoying him at 5 (although I say that every stage). I told him he can just stop growing now and freeze at 5 because I love him like this...but he told me that's not the way it works and that he has to grow up! Well I'll just have to enjoy it while it lasts and I'm sure when 6 comes around, I'll feel the same way.

Daddy was away most of his actual birthday, so mommy and little brother tried our best to make it extra special. We did whatever j wanted. We hit up the mall, road the remote control cars, ate junk food, splurged on Baskin Robins, road the motorcycle games at the arcade, and then ended the day by meeting daddy at Hard Rock Cafe. He was one happy kid to see his daddy. That topped the day off and he couldn't stop smiling all through dinner. Said it was his "best birthday ever!" quite a few times.

The next morning we had a small party with some sweet friends to celebrate and play games. We enjoyed real pork sausage dogs (such a treat in S. Asia!), played archery (thanks to Nini and Jerry!), twister, frisbie golf, and munched on caramel apples and apple cake (birthday boys special request). It turned into an all day party as our Indian friends showed up once most the Americans were gone (India standard time), but it made the whole day fun. Jackson enjoyed the extra long birthday this year and was one happy kiddo!

Cotton candy ice cream-takes after his daddy!

Man after my own heart, mint and chocolate!

Setting up the archery at his birthday party

Daddy, showing them how its done...or just hogging the game?

Happy boy with his special request-apple cake.

I love this kid like crazy! (He's a full blown KID now! Crazy)

SO happy to have daddy home on his birthday. It's a shame they look nothing alike :) 

Hudson and Maggie waiting for their terms while Isaac shows them how it's done.

Hudson gave it a good shot.

Sweet Discipleship Time

One of the things I am enjoying most about homeschooling my kids is the daily bible study in our routine. It is J's favorite part of school and he and H have different activity books that go along with the story we read that day. I'm using Positive Action bible curriculum, the pre-k and kindergarten work books along with the God's Love bible storybook. I LOVE this bible storybook and think it's the best written kids bible I've come across. The pictures are beautiful and large and each story weaves together in the theme of redemption and need for Jesus' sacrifice for salvation.

Today we were totally off our routine so J and I did homeschool while H napped (we usually do it all together in the morning). It was a really sweet time together and he loved the one on one attention. During bible study, we read the story about the little children coming to Jesus and the disciples trying to turn them away. We talked about why Jesus said all must come to him like these little children in order to go to heaven. That we need to realize our need for Christ and depend on his sacrifice for our sins, not our own ability or good works. He responded with, "well I know I need Jesus, do YOU know you need Jesus mommy?" "Yes, I know I need Jesus." I said. "Well I hope daddy knows he needs Jesus too. Does Hudson know? What about Jeremiah and Tirzah?"

I love the sweet discussion that we get into from the reading of these bible stories and that it makes being intentional in discipling my kids, easier on a daily basis. It's a perk of homeschooling, to just include that time in their day and I hope I can continue to find good material at each age level and that all my kids continue to have enthusiasm for God's word.

If you're looking for a good bible curriculum for your kids, whether you homeschool or not, check out Positive Action. They have curriculum for all ages and are made for churches and home use.

The Long, Hard Wait & Adoption Update

When beginning our adoption process, we were very optimistic and hopeful that all the time lines we'd been given would fall along the short estimates. We, like everyone, hopes for the best and what we think is the best is the easy, smooth, and short path. While the Lord does bless some people with such an adoption journey, that doesn't seem to be the norm. The norm, seems to be a rocky, windy path without an end in sight.

One thing is certain, through all of this experience thus far, the Lord has proven over and again to be with us, to be faithful to His promises, to be our comfort and strength, and able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.

We are in a tough season of waiting right now. The path has felt rocky, winding, and the end is not yet in sight. In fact, it feels like the distance just doubled. This has tempted my heart to despair on more than one occasion. What keeps it going? Only a loving Father who gently reminds me that He knows is truly best for Jeremiah and Tirzah, even when I think I know better. I know through this trial, He is teaching us perseverance and deepening our faith and trust in Him. But I hold fear in the back of my mind of how long I can hold on. I know how weak my flesh is, and how quickly I can forget the Ebenezer stones He has put up along this path thus far. So, we need prayers. Not that we'll stay strong, but that when we aren't, His grace will be sufficient and we'll turn to it for comfort. I want to reach the end of this journey (which is the beginning of a whole new one) with a deeper faith, a borderless trust, and a quiet resolve that His grace is always enough for me. Something tells me I'm going to need those refined virtues to begin the journey of being a mom of four young ones.

So here is where we stand now. We are still waiting on birth certificates and one final document from the courts. We were hoping to have these by now, so I could travel to Congo to visit our kids and file our i600 form (petition to US government to recognize our kids as orphans). But, my visas to Congo expires Oct. 25, so it's looking like this isn't going to be an option for us. Once we get our paperwork, we will file the i600 form in the US (by mail). This will take 1-2 months to be approved and upon approval, our 3-6 month investigation with the US Embassy in Kinshasa will begin. (They are investigating to be assured our children are true orphans by US standards). When this investigation is finished, we will be given a visa appointment. Obtaining the visa takes 2-3 months. If at this point, the DGM office in Kinshasa has reopened (they just announced they are shutting down for up to 12 months), then we'll be able to travel to pick up our kiddos. What we hoped could be done this year, is looking more like a year from now. Accepting this in my heart has taken a few weeks, but God has been comforting me and giving me a piece that He is in control and caring for Jeremiah and Tirzah when I can't. We appreciate the prayers and encouragement many have offered to us lately. It is tough, but this long journey is going to have a destination that is so worth it all.