The most common question friends and family ask is “When is he coming home?” We wish it was sooner than later. The process is complicated and will take months but I’ll try to explain it here and so you have a better idea of what has to happen for our little guy to come home.
We started early in September by completing application documents for the adoption agency and commitment documents for Eastern Europe. $250 accompanied our application and when we heard that we were officially registered in the country we sent a payment of $1793. Since that time, we have been working diligently on the Home Study. This includes a collection of many documents, birth certificates, clearances, fingerprinting, driving records, parent education, etc. etc. We have completed all the paperwork and will begin working with the social worker next Saturday. At this point, we have spent $825 on the paperwork and will shortly owe a $1750 fee for the home study. The home study is somewhat complicated by the fact that we are trying to sell our house and get settled in a new one with more bedroom space to accommodate our little one. We are praying that God’s will be done in this area, but have to admit that it has been somewhat frustrating to think about either extending our home study or having to do an amendment eventually. The home study will be part of a packet of information that is sent to Eastern Europe called the Dossier. We must do additional fingerprinting, paperwork and submit an i800a application and a fee of $890. When the dossier is complete and sent to Eastern Europe, we will need to send an $8000 fee. Please pray for us as we develop perseverance for the journey, success with managing our budget and fundraising to not acquire debt in this process, and patience as we wait and not get discouraged for what our little guy is missing as he spends his 2nd year in an orphanage. Despite the frustrating timeline and the overwhelming expense, we know that in God's perfect timing, our little guy will come home! I don’t believe it is a coincidence that both Carl and I experienced childhood experiences that were similar and were filled with great love, laughter and happiness from our immediate families as well as extended families. I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that our family traditions include attending church every time the doors were open or holidays with houses full of extended families. I don’t believe it is coincidence that my friend Luianne said to me one day after school when I was teaching 5th grade
“if you go on another mission trip, I’d like to go with you” or that it was coincidence that on that very evening that my aunt invited me to her church to hear my missionary friend, Doug, speak. And I don’t think it was a coincidence that as we visited, he told me about Jay and Teanna which led to three amazing weeks spent working with orphans in Eastern Europe. And I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that many years later, Carl and I met at the most unlikely time for us to marry … in the middle of my doctoral program. And I don’t believe that it is coincidence that he ended up attending a networking group with an international adoption agent who just happens to coordinate adoptions from that very country. I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that we went on a cruise to Bermuda where a young man named Anthony who served us on the cruise (among others) became our friend and stirred our hearts to provide a family and a future to a child in a far away land. And I don’t believe that it is coincidence that Carl and I together feel that this little guy so very far away is already a part of our family. Where has God been orchestrating events in your life and calling you to responsive love? |
AuthorI'm a teacher at heart and love to learn. I am the wife of Carl and the step-mom to Marissa. I am soon to be mom to a precious little boy in Eastern Europe. ArchivesCategories |