No News...

No news on the adoption front...still waiting to see if we are going to be approved the first go around. Praying that is the case and that we are not delayed further by having to fix anything and resubmit for approval. We did have to go get out firngerprints redone as they were expiring on our I600 form. So that is done and we have received our new I 600. I am sure we will have to be fingerprinted many more times before the adoption is complete...

We are keeping busy this summer...see Mason's blog for a full account of our summer activities!



We are headed out this weekend to celebrate the 4th with family in Lake Chautauqua, New York! We are also getting to see Andy's family in Ann Arbor this week so we are taking a midwest tour to see our families!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Mother's Day 2009

Praying today for all our children's birth families, all our friends waiting to become forever families, all our mother's, mother-in-laws, stepmothers, and our many friends who are learning the ropes of parenthood right along with us!

Here are my two kids right now...waiting for one more!



LEGACY OF AN ADOPTED CHILD

Once there were two women who never knew each other
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother

Two different lives shaped to make you one
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it
The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name
One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried you tears

One made an adoption plan, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.

Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?
Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love.
---- Unknown

Submitted!

I received an exciting email this morning. Looks like my prayers were answered and we were submitted last week! God is Good!

Your application and dossier was filed at ICBF on Friday.
We hope to hear from ICBF within 2 months or sooner!

Praying for sooner ;) This is an exciting step for us. The next step will hopefully be approval which starts the official timeclock until referral. It will be a long time (3-5 years) for us to be matched with a child but it is exciting to be closer to even starting the official wait. The wait it very long but we are praying that timelines decrease in Colombia instead of increasing....a girl can dream ;)

Good News!

I received some exciting news today from our agency:

The translation of your dossier has been completed. The
application and dossier will be submitted at ICBF early next week.

After the submission we must wait for several weeks to hear from ICBF about
the code number for your application and weeks later if you are approved.

I wish we were submitted this week...but I will take "early next week".

We are still plugging along....

A new ICBF list came out this week and right now, it is looking like about 3.5 years from when we are approved by ICBF until referral. Praying that this timeline does not lengthen but that it will shorten over time...

Crossing our Fingers....

We are praying that our dossier is going to be submitted to ICBF this week! Last week was delayed as many government offices and workers are not available to work during Semana Santa.

Hoping this is our week for submission!



This wait after our submission is going to be incredibly long! Possibly 4-5 years! So we are praying that the submission to ICBF and approval from ICBF are fast so that the true wait can begin after our hopeful approval from ICBF.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Phillipians 4:6

Where is our Dossier??

It has arrived in Bogota, Colombia!

Yeah!! Next news we are waiting for is the dossier's submission to the ICBF.

For now...I am just sending our paperwork good vibes in Colombia...

Here is a picture of Bogota at sunset:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day! We celebrated with many, many other people this weekend in downtown Chicago for the dying of the river and annual parade.

This is my wish for you:
”Comfort on difficult days,
smiles when sadness intrudes,
rainbows to follow the clouds,
laughter to kiss your lips,
sunsets to warm your heart,
hugs when spirits sag,
beauty for your eyes to see,
friendships to brighten your being,
faith so that you can believe,
confidence for when you doubt,
courage to know yourself,
patience to accept the truth,
Love to complete your life.”

Irish Blessing