Adoption Process Update:
WOW! It has been a whirlwind of a week! But a GOOD whirlwind-lol lol Finally our Letter of Acceptance from China was approved. So I instantly, I emailed that to our officer USCIS, and she so kindly approved it the next day! So Monday it is being routed to the NVC so we can get our GUZ#. These last steps I predict are going to happen very quickly since we have been trying to medically expedite things. This is awesome, exciting, and what is best for our MingMing; but it is also very stressful in bringing it all together and preparing for travel. International adoption is strange, it takes so long, and there is so much waiting. Then BOOM💥 it just takes off! I liken the build up of emotions towards the end of the process to riding a roller coaster. Do you remember what your stomach feels like when you are waiting in winding line to getting ready to board the ride? Then you finally get in your car and latch the safety bar down. You are so excited and anxious, but also a little afraid of what the ride is going to be ahead of you. There's no turning back now! You can't get off the ride once it starts. The roller coaster cars go around a couple turns whipping you to and fro and then.... they start ratcheting up the long and HUGE hill....... Well, we have been ratcheting up that BIG hill for a little over a month now. Last Friday we reached the top of the hill and now it feels like we are racing down that first huge hill! It's so exciting and a relief, but at the same time still scary and unsure of what lies around the next turn. By no means do I mean to minimize the profound and very serious state of adoption, but merely am trying to help paint a picture of just some of the emotions and their intensity that is associated with different stages of the adoption process. So if you see me looking a little dazed and confused, please extend me some grace and know that my mind has a 100,000 things on it right now. And my heart is already in China! Many of you have been asking us, WHEN we think we will be traveling to bring him home? I had been predicting middle to end of Dec., but NOWwwww it's looking more like it could be the end of Nov.!!!!! EEEeekkk! I think I lit a fire under my husband's butt this weekend! When I pointed out just how quickly the remaining steps may go and possible travel times, he looked at me and said, "Well I need to get ready and start planning! Oh my goodness, we have a lot to do before then and how are we going to come up with the remaining amount of $!" 😛 Really!?!? (I thought to myself😡) But seriously, it probably is best that he is the mellow laid back one- because if we were both as intense and anxious as I have been for the past month worrying about things- we probably would be at each other's throats. He does keep me grounded and really is trying to help where he can because he knows that from now until we leave for China is likely to be stressful on the entire family. So please continue to keep our family and the adoption process in your prayers right now.
Fortunately we did receive 2 grants in the past couple months. So we are so thankful for those. I still have 3 more out there that I have not heard whether we will be granted or denied. We really need these grants to come through, and before we travel. We also received a wonderful donation from a young man that does not even personally know us, but his sister shared our story with him and he has a special place in his heart for children and was willing to help us. We were so awestruck and moved that a stranger to us, would bless us in this way. Believe me, I thank Jesus everytime He shows His hand in this process, and I know that He is using each one of you to also be blessed by this adoption. I am ashamed and burdened that a huge part of the stress right now is NOT having the $ in the bank right now, to allow us to complete this adoption. I keep reminding myself though that HE has this! In fact he is ahead of us and has prepared a way (I just don't know what or where that is right now😖!) This is where my faith is definitely challenged and stretched!
So please continue to share our story with your friends and family. It's time to start gathering up our village again. We're going to make 1 last order of our T-shirt sales. Our AdoptTogether site and PayPal link is always up and running for those that are able and led to contribute towards our adoption. Let's get MingMing home! Who knows we may all be giving thanks this Thanksgiving over in China. I may be holding a precious little boy and giving thanks that we are blessed enough to get to be his family!
