4 Months and Trusting

Today marks four months since we accepted our referral.

That does not sound like very long when it is written on paper but it feels like FOREVER!

We found out today that we still do not have judgment.

This means our case has not moved at all in the last couple of months.

 

This was not the news I was hoping for at all.

I am still hoping to have the kids home by December.

This timeline is looking less and less likely the further we get into our process.

 

We started this Congo adoption during a time when a lot of changes are happening.

There are a lot of new processes being implemented in Congo which means a longer waiting time.

We want our kids home now, but that is only because we can not see God's plan.

We are waiting because He is not ready.

He has more for us to accomplish for His glory before we bring our kids home.

 

We are praising him for how perfectly he loves us!

Meanwhile

You may be wondering if my life consists of anything besides thinking about the adoption.

I am happy to report that it does!

While we are waiting, I am very busy with my wonderful life.

 Gavin has been very busy with work lately...what a blessing.

He recently took a few test to turn him from an excavation contractor to a general contractor. 

I am so proud of him and I can't wait to see what God does with this business.

 

Irelyn is growing every day. 

She is very oppinionated and "girly".

She is scarred to DEATH of bugs!

It does not help that her daddy thinks its funny to throw them at her.

She is using short sentences to tell us what she wants and is always being reminded to ask nicely.

I think of her as an "easy" child.

She has a sweet and gentle nature and likes to make us happy.

 



 

I just celebrated a birthday!

Its so crazy to me how much my life changes every year. 

I love watching God bless my life more and more everyday.

I have been keeping busy around the house.

I have been taking on more responsibilities with the business such a book keeping.

This summer I have enjoyed taking my little girl to swim lessons, the library, and the park.

I find so much joy in being a mommy!

 

Lets Get Real

Sometimes it is downright difficult to write a blog post.

I don't really know how to put in to words what we are feeling or how things are going.

I don't know how to tell people over and over again that I have no idea what is happening.

 

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate everyone who asks how our process is going.

I love that you all care so much about our family and I never want to you feel like you are bothering me by asking!

 

I am just so ready to be able to say, "We are ready to go get our children!"

The reality of it is, we are still so far away from getting on a plane and flying to Congo.

Every day that our children do not have a mommy and daddy breaks my heart.

Every time I think of the discomforts they experience without their mommy and daddy there to comfort them, I feel like my knees are going to fall out from under me.

I feel so tired of being so helpless to care for and protect my babies.

I am so tired of watching them grow up in pictures and not knowing their little personalities.

No child should have to grow up without a daddy to tickle them and a mommy to document every moment of their lives through pictures and videos.

Mine are...

Trying to explain how that feels in nearly impossible.

 

The way I feel and reality are two totally different things.

Reality is, God has my kids right where he wants them.

Reality is, God is filling in being our kids mommy and daddy while we can not be there.

Reality is, I can not protect my children...only God can.

Reality is, I am not helpless.  I have God fighting every single one of my battles for me.

 

This is so hard...but we are doing so good and we are so blessed!

Please keep us in your prayers.

 

We have not yet gotten an update about our court process. 

We were supposed to have judgement by now but have not heard anything about it.

We are praying we get some good news soon.

 

We need to come up with $6,000 by mid-July.

This money will pay the rest of our agency fees.

Please continue to pray for God's provision.

 

Boaz's feet...he is all boy, look how dirty!

This is about as long as they let Isryelle's hair get.  It is so cute!

 

 



How long again?

I can not even tell you how many times a week people ask what is going on with our adoption.

Usually they start out saying, "I know I just asked you..."

and ending with, "I just can't remember."

 

Adoption time lines are completely confusing and always changing!

Don't ever feel bad about asking a million  times where we are in the process.

My husband asks on a weekly basis because he is just too busy to keep up.

I am going to try and lay it all out for you guys on a regular basis.

 

Right now, I am pretty sure we are somewhere in our 30 day appeal period.

This is where a family member can step up and claim the children before the adoption becomes final.

When the 30 day appeal period is up, we will get what called CONA.

About a month after that, we will get our Act of Adoption and the kids will legally be ours!

We are guessing we will have our Act of Adoption sometime mid July.

 

Next, we file for the children's visas.

The applications will take 2-3 months on average to get approved.

Once it is approved and sent to Congo, our investigation period will start.

The investigation will take 4-6 months.

Then we will get a visa appointment.

Our visa should only take a few weeks to get issued.

Next Congo does an investigation that is rumored to take about 6 weeks.

Then we finally get an invite to Congo to pick up our kids.

 

This all looks a little depressing when written down on paper!

Remember that these are all man made times and do not reflect God's timeline.