We're Going to Hong Kong!!

I have withheld this information for the last couple of weeks, hoping that we would get High Court Order, so that I could let you all know that we got High Court Order and we are travelling to Hong Kong.  But, even though we don't have it yet, we have our travel itinerary!  I find it quite unusual that I was able to make flight arrangements without having the HCO, but I'm OK with that. The social worker is confident that it will come in this upcoming week.

So here's how our life plays out in the next week and following.  We leave June 7, bright and early in the morning, stop in Chicago with a 4 hour layover, and then on to Hong Kong, which we will arrive on June 8 in the evening.  On the 9th, we'll sleep in and sight see a little bit (not much).  Oh..... did I mention Ashton is coming with us?  Yes, the social worker felt like Noah would transition better if he were with us.  On the 10th, we finally meet Noah for lunch with a bunch of people.  I think she said social workers, government officials, and the entire extended foster family.  On the 11th, we go to Noah's school, meet his teachers, and talk to them about his academic abilities and what he needs extra help with.  On the 12th, we have an extended visit with him doing whatever we want for at least half the day.  I've been told not to push too hard on capturing "Hong Kong", but to focus on bonding.  With this in mind, we will probably stick around the hotel and swim in the pool and maybe walk around the local area.  If there is a park near by, we may go there.  It is rainy season in Hong Kong right now, so the forcast doesn't look too favorable for a lot of outdoor activities.  And then....on the 13th... he is officially ours.  This is our Gotcha Day!!!!  YEA!  He will stay with us the rest of the time in Hong Kong, and we leave on the 15th.

Please pray for us while we are gone.  Pray for safe travels. Pray for Noah that the transition for him will be easy.  Pray for his foster mom, who is very anxious and sad that we are coming (she must love him very much). Pray for pretty weather while we're over there, and most of all please pray that God will use this experience to His Glory in whatever capacity he need to to bring someone closer to Him.

Thank you, and we'll be blogging again soon :)

World Down Syndrome Day 2013

As we come to the end of 3-21-13, World Down Syndrome Day, I reflect on my day and can't help but be amazed at where God has brought me in my life.  Two years ago, March 21st was just another day in my life.  The only thing to mention about this day, is that it's the day before my brother's birthday.  It still is the day before my brother's birthday, and that is worthy of mentioning, but it now represents a pillar day for me and my family.  I would never have dreamed that God would lay on my heart the desire to adopt, let alone adopt a child with special needs.  But He has and I am on fire about it!  I am eager to be a mom to Noah, and eager to become involved in organizations promoting awareness of Down Syndrome and special needs.  I'm eager to connect with other families who have children with Down Syndrome and form lasting friendships.  I can't wait until that World Down Syndrome Day when I can hug my own baby and let him know how special he is and that there is a wonderful day set aside for the whole world to acknowledge just how special he is!!  I'm shooting for 2014!!!

Article 5!!

We are so excited to finally be telling you that we received Article 5 today! This is what that means according to our Bethany Hong Kong adoption process paperwork:

     The U.S. Consulate will issue the Article 5 letter and forward the letter to Social Welfare Department (SWD) for further processing.  The SWD processes the additional documentation in the Hong Kong courts to transfer the guardianship to the respective agency.  It takes six to ten (6-10) weeks after the Article 5 is issued to receive the High Court Order.   During this wait time the Hong Kong agency will arrange the visa medical appointment for the child. 

This was another major hurdle that we needed to get past and I'm so excited to be moving forward.  They will now start working on Noah's visa and passport documents and hopefully give him the video, pictures, and gifts we sent him a while back.  I am so thankful to my Lord and Savior for not giving up on me, despite my inability to learn patience.  At least now I know there is nothing left to do but wait and dream about life with Noah!!!!

Could this be the Month???

It's been a while since I've posted anything on our blog.  I believe that's mainly because between Christmas and now, our adoption process has been very frustrating.  But, it is a new month, all the frustrating things are behind us, and I am praying that we will get that call sometime at the end of this month!  In the meantime, let me give you a slight glimpse into what we have been persevering through. Jake turned 18 on Christmas Day, which automatically added a new adult member to the household.  By the way, Mary turned 18 in September, so we finished all her paperwork by the middle of December.  Anyway, we had to wait until after the first of the year to start on Jake's paperwork because of the holidays.  Paperwork was filed after a comedy of errors and Jake finally got his fingerprinting done yesterday.  You can't just go anywhere for fingerprinting.  You have to wait until the US Immigration department sends you an appointment time.  And don't try to change the appointment....that would be way too complicated!  I find it quite humorous that as soon as the fingerprinting was completed, I called our Immigration officer who is over our adoption and he recognized who I was and before I could even tell him why I was calling he asks "Did Jacob get his fingerprinting done this morning?"  LOL!!!  I said, "Of course he did!"  He assured me that as soon as it came across his desk, he would push it through to the next level.  So now that we have completed all the paperwork for our two new adult members of the house (which has been a 5 month process), hopefully we will receive our Article 5 letter very soon and High Court Order.  I'm not exactly sure what either one of those mean, I just know I need to get them in order to go get my son.  I'm excited that I know things will move in a positive direction from here.  I have gotten no recent updates on Noah, no new pictures, and haven't even heard if he got our video and pictures yet.  The social worker in Michigan that communicates with the social worker in Hong Kong keeps asking for updates and gets no response.  Working with the International Social Services department is very frustrating!  I remind myself almost daily that God is teaching me two things through this process.. Patience and Contentment.  I'm sorry to say, I'm still in the learning stage :)  I appreciate my husband because none of the waiting bothers him, therefore, sometimes it doesn't bother me either.  But then, I won't lie, other times it just plain irritates me that he's not about to lose it over all the waiting (like I am)!  Nonetheless, God has his perfect timing for us to go get Noah, and it is fast approaching that time!  The idea that it could be at the end of this month is major exciting!  I shall keep praying that I will be patient, and content with the timing He has arranged!