Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Passed Court, Now What?
Ghana Process After Court:
1)Wait for adoption decree - issued after Court
2)Apply for Birth Certificates of our children in Ghana
3)File our I-600 (needed for immigration for our children) - google this for more details :)
4)Apply for our children's "adoption passport"
5)Wait for Approval of I-600
6)Pick-up Visa packet
7)Wait for Visa interview
8)Wait for Visa print date (after interview - this is for the children to exit the country)
9)Bring our children home!!!
***Our agency and Power of Attorney (who is in Ghana) helps facilitate and complete many of these steps. We do a lot of the steps that say *wait* :) Don't get me wrong, international adoption requires a lot of paperwork and acting on the part of the parents, too (A LOT)! But, WELL worth it!!!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Adopt Together Profile - Tax-Deductible Donations for the Halls
Hello friends and family,
Adam and I decided to work with a non-profit called Adopt Together to help us raise the remaining expenses for our adoption of our beautiful girls E. and P. We are humbly asking for your help, and any amount of support is so appreciated- prayers, $5, $10, $30,
Or whatever you can do. It is tax-deductible. Please check out our profile, and share with your friends and family to help bring our babies home!
We will also put your name on one of our puzzle pieces (see below in the blog for more details) when you donate!
Blessings, The Halls
Click on this link:
http://adopttogether.org/hallfamilybuiltonfaith/
Adam and I decided to work with a non-profit called Adopt Together to help us raise the remaining expenses for our adoption of our beautiful girls E. and P. We are humbly asking for your help, and any amount of support is so appreciated- prayers, $5, $10, $30,
Or whatever you can do. It is tax-deductible. Please check out our profile, and share with your friends and family to help bring our babies home!
We will also put your name on one of our puzzle pieces (see below in the blog for more details) when you donate!
Blessings, The Halls
Click on this link:
http://adopttogether.org/hallfamilybuiltonfaith/
Why is Adoption So Expensive!?
Why is adoption SO expensive!? Adam and I hear this question a lot now that we are adopting, along with other questions regarding adoption and costs. It seems unfair. And well, we feel like it is unfair, but without sounding too cliche' - life isn't fair. You would think that if parents and families wanted to grow their families through adoption, and there are children WAITING, literally WAITING, SITTING, unstimulated and unloved in orphanages, then why shouldn't that same loving family not be able to bring home their child that God has placed in their hearts. Surely not because they are not able to afford the initial $25,000 to $40,000 that is the average cost of an international adoption? But sadly, there are many families that would consider adoption if they could afford adoption. There are also many families that adopt who use any means available to pay for these adoption expenses, including family sacrifices, budgeting, savings, credit cards, loans, fundraising, 401Ks, etc. It may seem unreasonable to have such high expenses for such a loving process, but agencies, attorneys, government entities, etc. are providing a service and until you are in the process it is hard to understand how these expenses get to be so high for families.
So, I'm going to try to explain the best I can:
Here's some examples of adoption fees and approximations of those fees:
1. Home Study ($1,500-3,000)
2. Immigration Fees ($3,000-$3,500)
3. Document Charges (varies depending on country, agency, etc.) ($100-$1,000)
4. Agency Fees and Attorneys Fees ($8,000-$24,000)
Agencies and attorneys facilitate the adoption including identifying a child, completing the orphan investigations, obtaining medical information for a child, preparing/reviewing/submitting the dossier, filing for court, arranging travel for the family, representing the family at court, and much, much more.
5. Travel and Accommodations ($4,000-$12,000)
One of the main reasons international adoption is so expensive is that travel, often more than one trip, is required. Depending on when you travel, you could pay high-season ticket prices. Additionally, in-country accommodations may not be as inexpensive as you might think. Sometimes, it costs just as much to stay in your child’s birth country as it would in your own. Adam and I experienced this to be true of our children's birth country Ghana, in the city we stayed in, Accra. Plus, we are planning to take 2 or 3 required trips to Ghana.
Other fees may include education, foster care, passports, vaccinations, etc.
For Adam and I, we have the following:
Foster Care for 2 children every month, Vaccinations, Passports, Education
*Many Immigration Updates because we have been in the process of adopting for close to 3 years for paperwork. Also, we have had to update our home study 2 additional times on top of our original home study.
There are certainly other costs I have not mentioned here, and many expenses are unique to the country/program you adopt from.
But, while adoption is a costly leap of faith, our family believes we are truly being guided by God and with God's grace, we have faith that we will be able to bring our girls home. Like any of our children, we will do anything we need to in order to bring them home and into our care. And so, although it is so hard to ask for help in the way of money, we so humbly do ask for your help if you are able to.
We have stepped out in faith again, and we are asking you to step out in prayer and if you are able to support us in any way financially to bring our babies home please do - and in doing so there will be 2 less orphans in the world :) And we will be so blessed to be able to call them our daughters and our sisters. And you will be able to call them friends, neighbors, and family.
Love, the Halls
So, I'm going to try to explain the best I can:
Here's some examples of adoption fees and approximations of those fees:
1. Home Study ($1,500-3,000)
2. Immigration Fees ($3,000-$3,500)
3. Document Charges (varies depending on country, agency, etc.) ($100-$1,000)
4. Agency Fees and Attorneys Fees ($8,000-$24,000)
Agencies and attorneys facilitate the adoption including identifying a child, completing the orphan investigations, obtaining medical information for a child, preparing/reviewing/submitting the dossier, filing for court, arranging travel for the family, representing the family at court, and much, much more.
5. Travel and Accommodations ($4,000-$12,000)
One of the main reasons international adoption is so expensive is that travel, often more than one trip, is required. Depending on when you travel, you could pay high-season ticket prices. Additionally, in-country accommodations may not be as inexpensive as you might think. Sometimes, it costs just as much to stay in your child’s birth country as it would in your own. Adam and I experienced this to be true of our children's birth country Ghana, in the city we stayed in, Accra. Plus, we are planning to take 2 or 3 required trips to Ghana.
Other fees may include education, foster care, passports, vaccinations, etc.
For Adam and I, we have the following:
Foster Care for 2 children every month, Vaccinations, Passports, Education
*Many Immigration Updates because we have been in the process of adopting for close to 3 years for paperwork. Also, we have had to update our home study 2 additional times on top of our original home study.
There are certainly other costs I have not mentioned here, and many expenses are unique to the country/program you adopt from.
But, while adoption is a costly leap of faith, our family believes we are truly being guided by God and with God's grace, we have faith that we will be able to bring our girls home. Like any of our children, we will do anything we need to in order to bring them home and into our care. And so, although it is so hard to ask for help in the way of money, we so humbly do ask for your help if you are able to.
We have stepped out in faith again, and we are asking you to step out in prayer and if you are able to support us in any way financially to bring our babies home please do - and in doing so there will be 2 less orphans in the world :) And we will be so blessed to be able to call them our daughters and our sisters. And you will be able to call them friends, neighbors, and family.
Love, the Halls
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Trip To Ghana - Trip One (of 2)
Adam and I were blessed to spend the first ten days of July in Ghana. The trip just fell into place and soon we were traveling not only to take our first trip to Africa, our first trip to Ghana, but *most AMAZING* to meet the children we would be *SO blessed* to welcome into our family forever. We are so thankful to God for bringing these children into our lives (and for the safe trip!) and for the many friends and family that stepped up to pray for us, take care of our children and our pups, feed us as we frantically did our last-minute packing, take care of last-minute paper-work, and chit chat about this and that before our trip while packing and tying up loose ends! Side Note: Packing was pretty comical, to say the least. I bet Adam stepped on our scale probably close to 20 times for each of our 2 checked bags that were loaded with donations and goodies.
The trip was beautiful, life-changing, precious, and we will remember our time in Ghana forever. The people in Ghana are so beautiful inside and out. Everyone we met greeted us with open arms, smiles, and friendliness. The country was lush with beautiful flowers, trees, tiny lizards, and the vast ocean. But what captured our hearts, of course, was our children - beautiful, stunning, sweet, precious - love at first sight :)
Leaving them, however, was heartbreaking. No amount of adoption preparation classes, discussion, meditation can prepare you for this. Prayer and then seeing the love in the eyes of their foster mom got us through it.
And so, we hold our breaths for our 2nd trip to Ghana - which will be the trip we are able to bring our children home. There will again be tears as we leave Ghana, but this time we will be leaving with our precious girls and crying both tears of joy (Praise God - the most amazing JOY) and sadness, sadness over their grief - their loss (ours too, because it has become ours, that's what happens when you are family).
The trip was beautiful, life-changing, precious, and we will remember our time in Ghana forever. The people in Ghana are so beautiful inside and out. Everyone we met greeted us with open arms, smiles, and friendliness. The country was lush with beautiful flowers, trees, tiny lizards, and the vast ocean. But what captured our hearts, of course, was our children - beautiful, stunning, sweet, precious - love at first sight :)
Leaving them, however, was heartbreaking. No amount of adoption preparation classes, discussion, meditation can prepare you for this. Prayer and then seeing the love in the eyes of their foster mom got us through it.
And so, we hold our breaths for our 2nd trip to Ghana - which will be the trip we are able to bring our children home. There will again be tears as we leave Ghana, but this time we will be leaving with our precious girls and crying both tears of joy (Praise God - the most amazing JOY) and sadness, sadness over their grief - their loss (ours too, because it has become ours, that's what happens when you are family).
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Shirts & Puzzle Pieces: Bringing our children home one piece (puzzle piece/shirt) at a time, now that we have found renewed PEACE and HOPE!
Help us bring our 2 children home (we are requesting 2 siblings) and with Ghana we are required to make 2 trips:
Please if you love Africa, love our T-Shirt Designs, would love to donate toward our adoption, or have any other reason to donate, we welcome you to. We have shirts for adults and children. You can also donate a smaller amount that you are able to, and we'll put your name on a puzzle piece. Anything and everything helps :) Also, in this time as we wait to bring our children home, the most power request we have is for you to pray for our family as we wait.
Thanks to all our Friends and Family, and may God Bless :) The Hall Family
P.S. See to the right hand side of our blog for more information, pictures, and ordering info about our shirts.
Please if you love Africa, love our T-Shirt Designs, would love to donate toward our adoption, or have any other reason to donate, we welcome you to. We have shirts for adults and children. You can also donate a smaller amount that you are able to, and we'll put your name on a puzzle piece. Anything and everything helps :) Also, in this time as we wait to bring our children home, the most power request we have is for you to pray for our family as we wait.
Thanks to all our Friends and Family, and may God Bless :) The Hall Family
P.S. See to the right hand side of our blog for more information, pictures, and ordering info about our shirts.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Update - Part Two
Peace - Another Door Opens
Just want to start out by saying GOD is TRULY AMAZING! Shout this out!
Just when you think you can take it no more, and can take it no more, he literally scoops you up, and you have strength and continued hope. No one, no one, other than him can do this!
We have found PEACE AND HOPE. Thanks to God - and his workings through these people: Thanks to a couple of FB friends and families that have guided us on FB and an amazing, ethical, responsive, patient agency (with all our questions and uncertainties after a failed adoption with Rwanda). And the many, many prayers and support by family, friends, and our church.
We have decided to adopt from Ghana, Africa :) A beautiful country that we are falling in love with - wait a minute, we are in love with :) - their people, their country, their culture, and most of all our future Ghanaian Children.
Just want to start out by saying GOD is TRULY AMAZING! Shout this out!
Just when you think you can take it no more, and can take it no more, he literally scoops you up, and you have strength and continued hope. No one, no one, other than him can do this!
We have found PEACE AND HOPE. Thanks to God - and his workings through these people: Thanks to a couple of FB friends and families that have guided us on FB and an amazing, ethical, responsive, patient agency (with all our questions and uncertainties after a failed adoption with Rwanda). And the many, many prayers and support by family, friends, and our church.
We have decided to adopt from Ghana, Africa :) A beautiful country that we are falling in love with - wait a minute, we are in love with :) - their people, their country, their culture, and most of all our future Ghanaian Children.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Long Past Due Rwanda Update
ONE DOOR CLOSES
We have been getting a feel from "rumblings" and information from families we know personally, families in Rwanda, families on FB, and other families working with other agencies that our adoption journey in Rwanda is no longer looking very promising :(
We have not been at peace for a very long time...
We have heard that as Rwanda transitions from being Non-Hague to Hague that they are no longer processing any more international adoption cases. We have also heard that they are working toward closing orphanages, re-uniting children with any family found, and developing a foster-care system. We do not know, at this point, if and when Rwanda will start processing international adoptions.
And, as I said, we have felt a sense of uneasy, stirring emotions, not peace.
So, we've been doing a lot of praying. Down on our knees, crushed hearts praying. We have been whole-heartedly adopting a child from Rwanda for 3 years - love the country, love the culture, love the people, love the child we dreamed and prayed for.
(Part One)
We have been getting a feel from "rumblings" and information from families we know personally, families in Rwanda, families on FB, and other families working with other agencies that our adoption journey in Rwanda is no longer looking very promising :(
We have not been at peace for a very long time...
We have heard that as Rwanda transitions from being Non-Hague to Hague that they are no longer processing any more international adoption cases. We have also heard that they are working toward closing orphanages, re-uniting children with any family found, and developing a foster-care system. We do not know, at this point, if and when Rwanda will start processing international adoptions.
And, as I said, we have felt a sense of uneasy, stirring emotions, not peace.
So, we've been doing a lot of praying. Down on our knees, crushed hearts praying. We have been whole-heartedly adopting a child from Rwanda for 3 years - love the country, love the culture, love the people, love the child we dreamed and prayed for.
(Part One)
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Wait
Heavy Hearted... Yearning to hold my baby...
The wait is so hard. I continue to pray for patience and peace in my mind and heart and in my family's minds and hearts. We all struggle, at times... Not just me, who is blogging.
Never in my life have I put more trust in God, felt so close to God, and relied more heavily on God. I am weak, he makes me strong. I am fearful, he brings me peace. I question, he gives me answers. I ache with pain, he says to "embrace the pain, hold on to the pain, feel the pain, always remember the pain - cry and feel the pain of my people everywhere." In my loneliness, he continues to be here. So, I continue to ache, cry, pray...that's ALL that I can do. But, yet, that is so AMAZING.
I am encouraged and amazed at the stories of some of my blogging families... These 2 families are in Rwanda bringing their babies home :)
http://theschulzfam.blogspot.com/
http://lotstolearnbutmoretolove.blogspot.com/
I pray that we will be in Rwanda at Godspeed :) I pray that we will have comfort in his plan:
Psalm 33:11 (NIV)
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
(NLT)
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken.
Is 14:24 (NIV)
24 The LORD Almighty has sworn,
“Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
and as I have purposed, so it will stand.
(NLT)
24 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:
“It will all happen as I have planned.
It will be as I have decided.
Is 46:10 (NIV)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
(NLT)
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
The wait is so hard. I continue to pray for patience and peace in my mind and heart and in my family's minds and hearts. We all struggle, at times... Not just me, who is blogging.
Never in my life have I put more trust in God, felt so close to God, and relied more heavily on God. I am weak, he makes me strong. I am fearful, he brings me peace. I question, he gives me answers. I ache with pain, he says to "embrace the pain, hold on to the pain, feel the pain, always remember the pain - cry and feel the pain of my people everywhere." In my loneliness, he continues to be here. So, I continue to ache, cry, pray...that's ALL that I can do. But, yet, that is so AMAZING.
I am encouraged and amazed at the stories of some of my blogging families... These 2 families are in Rwanda bringing their babies home :)
http://theschulzfam.blogspot.com/
http://lotstolearnbutmoretolove.blogspot.com/
I pray that we will be in Rwanda at Godspeed :) I pray that we will have comfort in his plan:
Psalm 33:11 (NIV)
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
(NLT)
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken.
Is 14:24 (NIV)
24 The LORD Almighty has sworn,
“Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
and as I have purposed, so it will stand.
(NLT)
24 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:
“It will all happen as I have planned.
It will be as I have decided.
Is 46:10 (NIV)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
(NLT)
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
T-Shirts
THANK YOU so much to all of you who are donating and ordering our shirts! We are truly blessed and grateful! Please email us if you have questions at familybuiltonfaith@gmail.com We will be sending out more info on T-Shirts and our adoption soon!
Also, we are close to ordering our puzzle, in which the puzzle pieces will soon have your names on them :)
Also, we are close to ordering our puzzle, in which the puzzle pieces will soon have your names on them :)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Catch-up
We've really had a busy few months! Work has been busy for both Adam and I (and continues), our youngest (A.) had to have sinus surgery (along with adenoids and ear tubes), our niece was born, friends' babies born, trip to Minneapolis, Holidays with family and friends, visit from our dear family from San Diego... The list goes on and on. And, everyone that knows me, knows that I am not a person that enjoys being on the computer more than I already need too! So, least to say, I've neglected my blog. But, really a lot has been happening with the adoption preparation, not a lot of movement in Rwanda, but some...
The wait around the Holidays for our baby and slower movement in Rwanda is sometimes unbearable. I've really struggled with the "ups and downs" - so many joys and blessings and fun times with family and friends and also an aching in my heart wondering and wishing and hoping for our dear baby in Rwanda.
Well, it has been 4 months DTR! A long 4 months waiting, but short with all our joys and blessings. Hard to explain the way I feel - so happy and blessed for my family and friends and at the same time so sad, anxious, and uneasy as we wait for our baby to be part of his/her forever family.
So, in hopes to make the "wait" more bearable, I am going to blog about some of the fun things our family and friends are doing during the wait to prepare, learn, enjoy, and experience our upcoming adoption.
So here are a few happenings to share (We've done so many other things, but I'm just going to start with the latest activities):
Activity #1 1/3/2011
Ordered the shirts we designed ourselves to hopefully help with the adoption process costs. They are super cool! Thanks to my creative and talented husband! We will get more information out soon so you will all know how to donate to our adoption and get your shirt(s) to enjoy & celebrate us bringing our baby home in the future!
Activity #2 1/8/2011
Our family experienced the yumminess of Ethiopian food for the first time! We had: spongy, light, & slightly sour injera; "bits" (delicious pieces of lamb in a savory spicy brown sauce); mango juice (L. and A.'s (our kids) favorite), Ethiopian coffee (knock me off my feet, full bodied, cinnamon flavored, hot, & delicious), and a small veggie side with kale and red beans (yummo!). Such an experience! We truly enjoyed. It is also a African Grocery, too. We highly recommend!
More to come.....
Please continue to pray for us, if you will... Pray for Rwanda, Pray for those who care for the orphans of Rwanda, Pray for the orphans, Pray for the families waiting for their children, Pray for us - peace in mind and heart as we wait!
The wait around the Holidays for our baby and slower movement in Rwanda is sometimes unbearable. I've really struggled with the "ups and downs" - so many joys and blessings and fun times with family and friends and also an aching in my heart wondering and wishing and hoping for our dear baby in Rwanda.
Well, it has been 4 months DTR! A long 4 months waiting, but short with all our joys and blessings. Hard to explain the way I feel - so happy and blessed for my family and friends and at the same time so sad, anxious, and uneasy as we wait for our baby to be part of his/her forever family.
So, in hopes to make the "wait" more bearable, I am going to blog about some of the fun things our family and friends are doing during the wait to prepare, learn, enjoy, and experience our upcoming adoption.
So here are a few happenings to share (We've done so many other things, but I'm just going to start with the latest activities):
Activity #1 1/3/2011
Ordered the shirts we designed ourselves to hopefully help with the adoption process costs. They are super cool! Thanks to my creative and talented husband! We will get more information out soon so you will all know how to donate to our adoption and get your shirt(s) to enjoy & celebrate us bringing our baby home in the future!
Activity #2 1/8/2011
Our family experienced the yumminess of Ethiopian food for the first time! We had: spongy, light, & slightly sour injera; "bits" (delicious pieces of lamb in a savory spicy brown sauce); mango juice (L. and A.'s (our kids) favorite), Ethiopian coffee (knock me off my feet, full bodied, cinnamon flavored, hot, & delicious), and a small veggie side with kale and red beans (yummo!). Such an experience! We truly enjoyed. It is also a African Grocery, too. We highly recommend!
More to come.....
Please continue to pray for us, if you will... Pray for Rwanda, Pray for those who care for the orphans of Rwanda, Pray for the orphans, Pray for the families waiting for their children, Pray for us - peace in mind and heart as we wait!
Friday, September 24, 2010
One More....Prayers from my Blogging Friends
Wow!
I just read my comments after the day of fasting and praying for orphans on Sept 8! My blogging friends - you are truly amazing, and I will be forever grateful for your prayers, support, and education. It is truly amazing to see the bond that God has given us, emabracing us across the States and Nations. Thank You!
*Keep praying and with God's Guidance, we can make a difference and BECOME different because of the orphans of the world.
I just read my comments after the day of fasting and praying for orphans on Sept 8! My blogging friends - you are truly amazing, and I will be forever grateful for your prayers, support, and education. It is truly amazing to see the bond that God has given us, emabracing us across the States and Nations. Thank You!
*Keep praying and with God's Guidance, we can make a difference and BECOME different because of the orphans of the world.
WooooHoooo! Sept 20th
Here's what we rec'd (slightly modified) from our caseworker:
Dear Rwanda Program Families:
We wanted to share with you good news that we received from our in-country representative. He has informed us that the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion has accepted your family’s dossier and you are now officially waiting to adopt a child from Rwanda. While the Rwanda program is still very new and continues in its pilot phase, we are anticipating that from dossier submission it will likely take up to a year for families to be matched with a child and bring that child home from Rwanda. As always, we will keep families posted if there are any new developments in the program or your individual case.
Least to say, we have a lot to celebrate. We're going to be bringing our baby home soon! Thank you God for being truly AMAZING! We are so blessed with your Grace, Strength, and Support! We will continue to follow the path you have us on, and we are truly thankful!
Dear Rwanda Program Families:
We wanted to share with you good news that we received from our in-country representative. He has informed us that the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion has accepted your family’s dossier and you are now officially waiting to adopt a child from Rwanda. While the Rwanda program is still very new and continues in its pilot phase, we are anticipating that from dossier submission it will likely take up to a year for families to be matched with a child and bring that child home from Rwanda. As always, we will keep families posted if there are any new developments in the program or your individual case.
Least to say, we have a lot to celebrate. We're going to be bringing our baby home soon! Thank you God for being truly AMAZING! We are so blessed with your Grace, Strength, and Support! We will continue to follow the path you have us on, and we are truly thankful!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Prayers for Rwanda and Bringing Our Baby Home
There's a whole invisible world that gathers under the category of the international adoption blog community. It's amazing. Friends united through the blogging world. Today (Wednesday Sept 8th), we are joining hands and prayers for the orphans of the world. Please consider joining with us by praying and fasting today, or a day this week, for our baby and others. Their stories can be found here (http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-does-it-have-to-be-so-hard-part-2.html).
Please pray with us that the people in charge of Rwandan adoptions would be able to move quickly through the stack of dossiers that represent families and open arms. Pray for the children who are waiting to be united with their families. Pray for the sisters who run the orphanage where these children live. Pray for everyone involved that they be and do what they need to be and do. May God move mightily and may we see many doors swing open and many kids go home.
Please pray with us that the people in charge of Rwandan adoptions would be able to move quickly through the stack of dossiers that represent families and open arms. Pray for the children who are waiting to be united with their families. Pray for the sisters who run the orphanage where these children live. Pray for everyone involved that they be and do what they need to be and do. May God move mightily and may we see many doors swing open and many kids go home.
Friday, July 16, 2010
July Update
Hello All,
Just a quick update. Well, we are diligently working on our Dossier documents so they are ready to be state certified once we get USCIS Approval of 1-600 A Petition. And then they go off to be authenticated by US Embassy and Rwanda Embassy. And then off to Rwanda - YEAH!
We are all trying to be patient... We are doing a lot of reading, about various adoption-related topics, and a lot of praying.
God keeps speaking to me and showing me signs to keep my strength!
Just a quick update. Well, we are diligently working on our Dossier documents so they are ready to be state certified once we get USCIS Approval of 1-600 A Petition. And then they go off to be authenticated by US Embassy and Rwanda Embassy. And then off to Rwanda - YEAH!
We are all trying to be patient... We are doing a lot of reading, about various adoption-related topics, and a lot of praying.
God keeps speaking to me and showing me signs to keep my strength!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Culture of Rwanda
We are now celebrating Rwanda Holidays, too!
http://rwanda.usembassy.gov/holidays.html
And going to start trying some Rwandan Food! Here's a look into the cuture....including food.
http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Rwanda.html
http://rwanda.usembassy.gov/holidays.html
And going to start trying some Rwandan Food! Here's a look into the cuture....including food.
http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Rwanda.html
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May Update
Adam and I have almost completed our home study, and we will soon be working on our dossier!
5/9/2010: Mother's Day! What a Celebration! I am truly blessed - My hubbie/my best friend, my children (including the one waiting for us in Rwanda), my mom, my mom-in-law, my grandparents, all my family, my friends - all God's Blessing!
5/1/2010: Met my mom and Mikaela in Fremont at the Blue Bottle Coffee Shop. Was intrigued and amazed by the beauty being displayed on the walls. It was Rwanda - the people, the culture, the way of living. I'm so drawn to this country! See the website below on our blog - photographer is Dean Jacobs from Fremont. Amazing story!
5/9/2010: Mother's Day! What a Celebration! I am truly blessed - My hubbie/my best friend, my children (including the one waiting for us in Rwanda), my mom, my mom-in-law, my grandparents, all my family, my friends - all God's Blessing!
5/1/2010: Met my mom and Mikaela in Fremont at the Blue Bottle Coffee Shop. Was intrigued and amazed by the beauty being displayed on the walls. It was Rwanda - the people, the culture, the way of living. I'm so drawn to this country! See the website below on our blog - photographer is Dean Jacobs from Fremont. Amazing story!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Rock Rwanda - Check this Out
Rock Rwanda Beaverton, OR Rock / acoustic / Christian Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos ReverbNation
Heaven's Lullaby - Issakar - One Of My New Favorite Songs
This Link is on the bottom of our blog, too.
Heaven's Lullaby - Issakar - One Of My New Favorite Songs
This Link is on the bottom of our blog, too.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Leap of Faith
3/21/2010
We want to share some exciting news! Our family will be expecting a baby in the next year through adoption. After months of prayers, research, soul-searching, and more prayers, we have decided to adopt from Rwanda, Africa. We couldn't be more excited to share this news, and we are already anxiously awaiting bringing our little baby boy or girl home!
I'm already feeling the emotions of waiting to welcome our little baby into our family. From being totally excited and overjoyed to anxious, eager, and sometimes scared.
Liam and Ava are already trying to decide if they will be welcoming a little boy or girl, and asking may questions - "How old will the baby be, Where will he or she sleep, Where's Africa, When will our brother or sister be here?" Liam also said that he needs to start working out his arms more so that he won't have any problems holding the baby! They have also already started spreading the news (to their teachers), so we figured we better get the word out to all our family and friends.
We will be sharing updates to friends and family on this blog. We will also be educating ourselves and you on international adoption, Africa, and Rwanda. We'll probably include some updated pics of the awaiting brother and sister Liam and Ava, too.
I think my next update will be some information on the remarkable country of Rwanda, where our baby may already be waiting for his or her forever family!
We want to share some exciting news! Our family will be expecting a baby in the next year through adoption. After months of prayers, research, soul-searching, and more prayers, we have decided to adopt from Rwanda, Africa. We couldn't be more excited to share this news, and we are already anxiously awaiting bringing our little baby boy or girl home!
I'm already feeling the emotions of waiting to welcome our little baby into our family. From being totally excited and overjoyed to anxious, eager, and sometimes scared.
Liam and Ava are already trying to decide if they will be welcoming a little boy or girl, and asking may questions - "How old will the baby be, Where will he or she sleep, Where's Africa, When will our brother or sister be here?" Liam also said that he needs to start working out his arms more so that he won't have any problems holding the baby! They have also already started spreading the news (to their teachers), so we figured we better get the word out to all our family and friends.
We will be sharing updates to friends and family on this blog. We will also be educating ourselves and you on international adoption, Africa, and Rwanda. We'll probably include some updated pics of the awaiting brother and sister Liam and Ava, too.
I think my next update will be some information on the remarkable country of Rwanda, where our baby may already be waiting for his or her forever family!
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