1) The good news: Our home study is complete and was submitted to Illinois DCFS for approval, which should take 1-2 weeks to obtain. PLEASE PRAY that this step is completed quickly, because as soon as the home study is approved, we can overnight it to USCIS (US Customs and Immigration) to wait to be officially fingerprinted and then assigned a case officer and then (hopefully) receive our "golden ticket" (as the 171H document is called) which lets us submit our dossier to Eastern Europe to receive their referral to adopt Henry....*whew* are you as tired from reading that as I am from writing it/constantly obeses....I mean, thinking about it?!?!?!
2) The bad news: Some families we know have been waiting for WEEKS for a case officer to be assigned to process their 171H.... Keep these families in your prayers, there is no rhyme or reason for WHY they seem to be stuck in limbo...
3) Just some news: We just heard that our facilitations in Henry's country will no longer be able to "request" judges they know are friendly to international adoptions. I cannot call this good or bad news at this point...
As a lawyer, I like to think that judges will follow the law no matter their personal feelings. And technically this new policy has been in place since earlier this year, and it does not seem like adoptions are getting held up or delayed or denied in Henry's country, so I choose to be optimistic on this one!
4) My Mother's Day plans are in two parts this year. I will celebrate with my Mom and 2 (of 3) sisters and 2 (of 3) nieces and 3 (of 3!) of my daughters at my mom's house on Saturday morning. We are having a lovely "tea party" which will include a reflexologist to give us all theraputic foot massages. Woo Hoo! Then on Sunday afternoon/evening, I am having my dear mother-in-law and my mom (and dad) over for some pizza and the Bulls playoff game (where hopefully they will clinch this series)....
unconventional for a Mother's Day, I know ;-)
5) On Saturday afternoon and all morning on Sunday, we will be taking turns at my Church, St. Anthony in Frankfort, giveing away our beautiful bracelets for donations to Henry's adoption fund! Thank You Father Greg!!
6) I had my youngest brother and his daughter, my niece (who is 2 weeks older than my youngest daughter!) over to go to the park, have lunch, play, etc.... It looks like a bomb went off in my house....how much damage can two 2-year-old girls DO???? ummm, a lot.......
7) Finally, I have been pondering in my heart these instances making real how the Lord provides...
My bloggy friend Catherine (adopting 2 little girls with special needs from Easter Europe in the next few weeks), received a Grant she desperately needed at the last minute...
Nicole, who is adopting a little boy with HIV, thought her fundraiser "failed", until a man showed up out of nowhere with the funds needed for their homestudy....
An amazing woman named Adeye who advocates for orphans, who raised $16,000 in ONE WEEK to find a family for an 8 year old boy who asks his caretakers EVERY SINGLE MORNING if his family has come for him today....and his family is on the way to him very soon to make his dream come true!!
These true stories help to increase my belief in a good God and the goodness of people everywhere....
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers - biological, adoptive, spiritual - this Sunday!
The world needs your love!!!
Popped over here from Reece's Rainbow to see about Henry - he caught my heart and I've been praying for him along with many others. Small world - my husband and I lived in Frankfort for two years when we were first married. Our oldest was baptized at St. Anthony's and I taught CCD there for two years, too! God Bless your journey to your son - it's one we hope to be making ourselves someday.
ReplyDeleteToo cool you were at St. Anthony's! Everyone was so kind about our adoption plans and were so supportive of our bracelet fundraiser!
ReplyDeleteWill keep you guys in our prayers too!