What a sweet trip to school we had this morning. The lake we pass by was just glistening under the moon and Lilliana's sweet voice just melts my heart. I love her so dearly!!! I wish I could write down just half of the stuff she says. She is so innocent and sweet and hilarious!
She started off the trip by asking me if I had dreams and wanted to know if my dreams ever came true. And then a few minutes later:
Mom, she says, out of the blue, Do you have those "big blue thought bubbles?"
Big Blue Thought Bubbles???????????????? Ok, I'm asking myself what in the world she's talking about.
She says, "You know mom, like Curious George has. I want to have one of those; what you think goes inside them and you get to follow what you put in them and I want to follow mine. It would be fun."
And I laughed heartily.
The mind of a child.... how refreshing.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
New Fingerprinting? Again???
Well, I just received a letter in the mail today with a new fingerprint appointment. Yes, Dean and I have already had this done, but apparently mine didn't "take". I guess I just have smooth fingers. I also have an identical twin, but I have no idea if that has anything to do with the problem. She always has the same issue. I only write this as a journal and to let people who may be going through the process know to watch for this. If your prints don't get at least 60 - 70 percent readability, make them keep redoing it while you're there. Mine only registered at 40 - 50 percent and that took a while to get. It wasn't good enough for the FBI to process our paperwork. Now I have to take another day off work and probably spend the night in Atlanta due to an 8 am appointment time. Oh well, maybe my paperwork will have plenty of time left on it when we actually get to submit our dossier.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
New Fingerprinting Appointments
Hello to all. Today I found out we are scheduled to be fingerprinted in Atlanta on February 26. I'm glad to get this part completed as it will be one less thing to take care of and one step forward in our journey. Since it had been six weeks since I requested a new appointment, I decided to e-mail uscis to check and make sure they had received our request. They e-mailed back right away with our new date. Although we still have a little over a week until our appointment I was still surprised they had not notified us. I'm glad I checked on it while my husband and I had plenty of time to make arrangements for work and children.
On a different note...Today is a special day for Dean and me. We started dating officially 22 years ago February 13. Our first full day as a couple was Valentines Day 1987. He showed up at my door on valentines day 22 years ago with a stuffed grey Koala Bear. "Koala" is still upstairs in his spot on our guest bed. He still looks much younger then we do. Happy 22 years Husband!
On a different note...Today is a special day for Dean and me. We started dating officially 22 years ago February 13. Our first full day as a couple was Valentines Day 1987. He showed up at my door on valentines day 22 years ago with a stuffed grey Koala Bear. "Koala" is still upstairs in his spot on our guest bed. He still looks much younger then we do. Happy 22 years Husband!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Well, our excitement was short-lived as we had to re-schedule our fingerprinting appointments due to them being right smack in the middle of our Christmas vacation.
It is now six or so weeks later and we have not heard back from USCIS to reschedule, however, it is turning out to be a good thing (for now) as we have no idea when we will be able to submit our dossier to Kazakhstan.
We do have some good news (I think). (Nothing is certain with adoptions) Our agency has begun submitting dossiers to Kazakhstan again. Dean and I are currently in line at Number 12. Our dear friends, Phil and Lanetta Gobble are the first to go. However, they do need our prayers due to potential complications with document expiration dates. I am praying that their dossier will fly through the proper channels and that this precious family will find themselves on their way to get their son or sons very soon. You can find their story and join their journey by viewing their "Gobble Family Adoption" Website.
I had actually gotten to the place last week where I had placed our adoption and the timeline for it in God's hands and am learning to not be so anxious about the future of it. Today in church our Pastor began a series on "waiting". " A season of Waiting. " How perfectly timed his sermons are. God is showing me so many things during this process as well as allowing me to see his hand each step of the way. I am learning more about trusting Him for perfect timing as well as learning to live more by faith. I think these things are harder for a generation like ours as I am not really used to having to wait on much. If I want to call someone, I have a cell phone. If I want food, I eat. Etc... Last fall we planted a lot of bulbs around our yard and I can remember thinking to myself that if would be a long time before I would see the flowers from the bulbs. Now green stalks are peeking through the dirt. We planted strawberry plants and vegetable seeds yesterday and again I thought... I can't wait to see the vegetables ready to pick. I am surprised even now at how impatient I can be over the simplest things.
Although waiting on my flowers, vegetables, and our child is hard, (I know...the three don't even compare do they) , I am thankful for the process of becoming a little less of "I want it now". I am thankful for the process and wonder of God's creation; and I am thankful at how He is teaching me more about Him while we wait.
To Pastor Kelvin: Thank you for heeding God's voice and thank you for today's sermon.
To My Father, my best friend, and my God: Thank you for never giving up on me, for the blessings of a family, for wonderful friends at work and around the world, for the chance to take this journey, and for being who You are. Thank you for your Word. Dear Father...Thank you for your truth. Thank you for loving us so much.
It is now six or so weeks later and we have not heard back from USCIS to reschedule, however, it is turning out to be a good thing (for now) as we have no idea when we will be able to submit our dossier to Kazakhstan.
We do have some good news (I think). (Nothing is certain with adoptions) Our agency has begun submitting dossiers to Kazakhstan again. Dean and I are currently in line at Number 12. Our dear friends, Phil and Lanetta Gobble are the first to go. However, they do need our prayers due to potential complications with document expiration dates. I am praying that their dossier will fly through the proper channels and that this precious family will find themselves on their way to get their son or sons very soon. You can find their story and join their journey by viewing their "Gobble Family Adoption" Website.
I had actually gotten to the place last week where I had placed our adoption and the timeline for it in God's hands and am learning to not be so anxious about the future of it. Today in church our Pastor began a series on "waiting". " A season of Waiting. " How perfectly timed his sermons are. God is showing me so many things during this process as well as allowing me to see his hand each step of the way. I am learning more about trusting Him for perfect timing as well as learning to live more by faith. I think these things are harder for a generation like ours as I am not really used to having to wait on much. If I want to call someone, I have a cell phone. If I want food, I eat. Etc... Last fall we planted a lot of bulbs around our yard and I can remember thinking to myself that if would be a long time before I would see the flowers from the bulbs. Now green stalks are peeking through the dirt. We planted strawberry plants and vegetable seeds yesterday and again I thought... I can't wait to see the vegetables ready to pick. I am surprised even now at how impatient I can be over the simplest things.
Although waiting on my flowers, vegetables, and our child is hard, (I know...the three don't even compare do they) , I am thankful for the process of becoming a little less of "I want it now". I am thankful for the process and wonder of God's creation; and I am thankful at how He is teaching me more about Him while we wait.
To Pastor Kelvin: Thank you for heeding God's voice and thank you for today's sermon.
To My Father, my best friend, and my God: Thank you for never giving up on me, for the blessings of a family, for wonderful friends at work and around the world, for the chance to take this journey, and for being who You are. Thank you for your Word. Dear Father...Thank you for your truth. Thank you for loving us so much.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
December 2008 Update
Well, it has been quite a while since I updated our blog. We successfully completed our homestudy November 10, 2008 and are currently waiting on USCIS approval and fingerprinting. I am very thankful to have come this far, however, it could be another 6 months or more before our dossier can be submitted due to the number of dossiers ahead of ours. In one sense it is a good thing as it allows Dean and I more time to finish getting out of debt and raise funds for our adoption. But, that has not stopped the ache in my heart for the child we can not yet bring home. How thankful I am that I know God has our child in His hands and is working these things out to His timing. It also allows me precious one-on-one time with my sweet Lilliana who is almost 5 years old. I find comfort in knowing she will be a little older before we leave her for a three week period to travel to Kazakhstan.
I must also admit that I am battling fear these days about leaving Lilliana. I have it stuck in my head that no one knows her like I do and that I need to be here to take care of her and protect her. So much fear at times that I have doubts as to whether or not I can actually leave her. I am definately reminding myself that fear is not of God.
Since we started our journey last June, my eldest daughter, Lindsay, has successfully completed her first semester of college. She reminds me every time our adoption trip is brought up that she would like to be allowed to go with us on the second leg. She has such a heart for what we are doing. She is so good with kids that I keep telling her she may end up in Education. She quickly lets me know that is not what she has planned. That is fine with me as I know God has a plan for her life. If He can bring me to where I am today, through the trials, mistakes, and lost times as he has, and bless me in ways I would have never thought possible, I know He will bring our Lindsay through as well.
And sweet Lilliana..."Mommy, since we can't pick a boy or girl anymore, can't we just get one of each?" "Well, Dear, that's up to God. You will have to talk to Him about that." "Ok, Mommy, can we ask Him right now?"
...and each night when we pray, we pray for "Wilton Luke" (Farmer by the Spring, light). (We just had to give our child a name - even if we have to change it later).
It reminds me of Psalms 1: 3
This journey is hard. But I love what it is doing in my family's hearts. Real love, real lives, a real Jesus. We are happy.
God Bless and Merry Christmas
Janie Holland
I must also admit that I am battling fear these days about leaving Lilliana. I have it stuck in my head that no one knows her like I do and that I need to be here to take care of her and protect her. So much fear at times that I have doubts as to whether or not I can actually leave her. I am definately reminding myself that fear is not of God.
Since we started our journey last June, my eldest daughter, Lindsay, has successfully completed her first semester of college. She reminds me every time our adoption trip is brought up that she would like to be allowed to go with us on the second leg. She has such a heart for what we are doing. She is so good with kids that I keep telling her she may end up in Education. She quickly lets me know that is not what she has planned. That is fine with me as I know God has a plan for her life. If He can bring me to where I am today, through the trials, mistakes, and lost times as he has, and bless me in ways I would have never thought possible, I know He will bring our Lindsay through as well.
And sweet Lilliana..."Mommy, since we can't pick a boy or girl anymore, can't we just get one of each?" "Well, Dear, that's up to God. You will have to talk to Him about that." "Ok, Mommy, can we ask Him right now?"
...and each night when we pray, we pray for "Wilton Luke" (Farmer by the Spring, light). (We just had to give our child a name - even if we have to change it later).
It reminds me of Psalms 1: 3
"He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not whither,
and whatever he does shall prosper."
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not whither,
and whatever he does shall prosper."
This journey is hard. But I love what it is doing in my family's hearts. Real love, real lives, a real Jesus. We are happy.
God Bless and Merry Christmas
Janie Holland
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