A Real Update!

August 18, 2014 – an early Monday morning. I am writing to you at 2:56AM, yes, really. I am not a “night owl”, or whatever this is by nature; however, after waking myself up sneezing  around 10,  have not been able to go back to sleep. I have tried it all – praying, reading my Bible, reading another chapter in one of our adoption books, Pinterest-ing, just lying there…… nada. I think that it is the excitement of taking another real STEP in getting our daughter that keeps me from slumber. It’s like trying to sleep the night before starting back to school – anticipation, a new adventure, just AWAKE!

So, after literally hours of being awake, here I am, writing an exciting update about what we plan to do today! First of all, we received our long awaited official Home Study in the mail on Saturday!! This was a big deal! So, yesterday, the Big O and I completed our I-600A form to send to the USCIS! We will send this thick package to their Dallas office tomorrow – after we take pictures, of course! The package includes our official Home Study, documents proving our identity, marriage & nationality, the actual form and two checks – one for $720 (to process the application) and the other is $170 (biometric fees for the Big O and myself). I have LOTS to say about biometrics fees; however, I will save that rant for another day. While I have not shared amounts of costs bills in the past, I am comfortable sharing these as they are public knowledge. This application is a petition to bring an orphan from overseas into the USA in the future. This will also petition the government to treat her as an immediate family member. Very Official – wouldn’t you say?!!!

Our understanding is that once this big dog is approved, we will then get to send our official dossier to Uganda. The approved application from the US government, along with an official Home Study (that thing is no joke!), photos, a first installment payment and other bits of documentation, will alert the nation of Uganda that we are serious about adopting in their country and wish to formerly be considered once a match is confirmed. We are still waiting on a “match” for our family. This is both difficult for me and not. It is hard because I long to see my child’s sweet face. I already imagine her playing here with her big brothers. At the same time though, seeing her face & knowing that she is waiting on us may make this wait even longer. Who knows? I try very hard to stay focused on the big picture, while moving one step at a time.

In the meantime (meaning, after we mail off this application and get the boys back to school), I will be applying for any and all of the adoption grants that we qualify for. This could take weeks, but I am determined and we are praying for God’s provision for this adoption. We will do what it takes to bring our little girl home. When God gives you a vision, He will provide for it, as well. This is His child that He is giving us to raise. A few friends have donated funds to us via their businesses - we are so grateful. He will provide the funds needed to make this plan, His plan, come to fruition. We are called to be faithful, believe, and work with what He gives us. We do and we are.

Looking forward to when the rest of the family wakes up so that we can go send this application off for Sister, together!! Only 3-4 hours until our little boys wake up and start their day! Thank you for joining us on this journey!