On our way at last!

Hello everyone...I would like to tell you that we are in Ghana now, but no we are in New York. This has been a crazy couple of days so let me start back a bit... on Monday evening at about 9 PM we were told that our court date for our adoption was scheduled for Friday the 30th and we needed to be in attendance!!! Yikes....well the problem with that was the Visas! To travel to Ghana you must have a entrance visa....and visas take at a minimum 72 hours to expedite (well at least that was the quickest we could find). Well I went into a bit of a freak out mode and didn't know what to do! We could go see our babies, but how???! So working with our agency and P in Country it was decided that this constituted a travel "emergency" and that we would be able to get our visa upon arrival in Ghana. Now this is not that uncommon, however, a bit uncertain as we found out. We debated on what to do and finally booked the trip with flex tickets and our coordinator talked with immigration in Ghana and it looked like everything was okay. So we headed out this morning for the airport with knots in our stomachs and got our boarding passes out of Indy and boarding passes for the second part GHANA. Yipee! We were on the plane...New York here we come. Arriving in New York we proceeded to our gate and sat down to relax for a moment before heading out for our long flight! Then...all of a sudden....yep, there it was...."would all passengers come to the desk to have your documents checked prior to boarding" followed by "if you do not check your documents you will not be allowed to board"....YIKES....we got in line and when we got up to the desk ...completely armed with our emails from coordinator etc...we were told nope, no way...not going to happen.. I would like to tell you that the lady was nice and understanding..., but anyway....we begged, we pleaded, we explained...but NEVER did we get nasty or mean ( dont know why...but we just didnt let it rock us) Hmmm....a God thing perhaps? So anyway...she said she needed the approval on official letterhead with our passport numbers on the approval etc..and she needed it in 10 minutes or we were not going anywhere. So we just hit the floor on the side of the desk and started dialing numbers...we got a hold of our agency director and she got right on it...in the mean time another family traveling came over and attempted to help, however, they had not heard the announcement and didnt know they had to approve the documents so we told them to just go quickly (they didnt have the visa either) and by the grace of God they got on and I would think should be soon to arrive in Ghana as I type! Hee-Hee...got to admit that made me feel a bit better. So anyway....we continued to work with the lady at the desk and within 12 minutes our adoption agency had the document emailed to the Delta rep! I mean come on....this was amazing. So we could still see the plane, but they had closed the door! So after some not so gentle persuading we got the rep to go see if they would let us on and the answer was NO. Yikes...so close. So finally we worked with the lady and she approved us for travel tomorrow...same flight and time....just one day later. This means as soon as we get off the plane we will head directly to court! I bet we will look a mess, but thats okay.... So then we went to collect our luggage because of course they removed it when they did not allow us to board...and guess what? Dans luggage was not there! We sat and waited for 2 hours while they attempted to find his suitcase.....nope, not here...finally decided must have gone on to Ghana! LOL So that meant taking a cab to Queens to find a late night Target to buy Dan some clothes for court! Oh and also me a new suitcase, because on the way out of the airport I caught the bottom in a elevator and when I pulled on it the entire top ripped off! Crazy, Crazy day!!!! But silver lining is .....we are off to Ghana tomorrow and I am going to see my kids on Friday and I did call Delta tonight to confirm that they are going to allow us to board, we will (hope and pray) get a final decree on Friday, Dan will not have to wear his dirty clothes to court, and I got a new GIANT size suit case! Guess that is it for tonight.....Please excuse grammer, spelling, logic, sentence structure and everything else.......LOL!

Another weekend fastly approaching!!!

Okay...another weekend is on the way! Sigh......Nothing new to report other than more shopping!lol Found the cutest little girls dresses at Sears! They are called Dolly and Me...cute little sun dresses with coordinating doll dress! Coolest thing I have ever seen. So cute....bought some for Sophia, of course Katie or Elissa would think that is not nearly as cool as Sophia and I might! LOL Getting kids ready for back to school! August 11th...cant believe it is almost time already, nor can they! I guess I will just keep busy and let God do his work and attempt at being patient!!! Hey one very COOL note: I did (via some friends of ours) find a tutor in our area that is from Africa! My friends say he is one of the coolest people ever and a phenominal teacher! His wife just happens to be a white lady so they are obviously familiar with multicultural families and they know the history and culture from where my children will come! Is that not amazing???? Told you God puts the right people in the right place. We are extremely excited and hope to have him help us when the children get home to prepare them for school!!!!

Another day has come and gone

Another day has come and gone....and no news. Well I take that back....a friend got some good medical news today ! So praise Jesus for that for sure. As we went around on the boat this evening and I looked at the beautiful sunset I wished so much to have our little L & S with us. As I heard my little girls laughing and having such fun, I wished I could hear L & S voices mixed in! I would guess that you don't hear the sound of truly happy children to often where they are now. I am not complaining honestly, because I know that God has them in his right hand and there is no better place for them to be. I know that he has a plan and that in his time we will get to hold them and touch them and tell them how much we love them. I know that when God is ready we will bring them home and we will walk down that airport terminal and see our sweet children greet their brother and sister that traveled so far to come home. It will be such joy...., but for tonight I will just pray and hold them close in my heart. Until the hope of tomorrow........

Fun shopping day!

Okay...call me crazy, but I had to do something! We are not completely sure of the children's sizes, however, a few little "birds" gave us their opinions. lol So we went SHOPPING today. My oldest daughter and I bought little dresses and hair bows, little stretchy bracelets ! So fun....then of course we got our little man some cool sports outfits and undies! It was great...we just hope some of it fits. From what we hear it is very expensive to purchase clothes for the children in Ghana so I think we will bring a little sewing kit and just put a little tuck here and there if we are way off! LOL Gosh that almost makes me sound domestic, hugh? NOT!~~~~
Hope everyone has a great weekend....looking for great things to happen next week ~~ Fingers Crossed.

One Little Extra Bit....

07-08-2010 Got email confirmation that Ghana does have our I600A approval! This
important confirmation for process! So yea!!!!

Here We Go.......

Well I never thought I would be blogging, however, I never thought I would be doing a lot of things that I am now embracing. I guess I never thought I had anything to say that people would find interesting enough to read ! lol. Well I think I am changing that way of thinking a bit, because it is not always about the author, but rather the subject matter and let me tell you this subject matter is WONDERFUL! Our family is adopting!! We are probably 2/3 through the process and we hope to have our children home by fall. This can be a very taxing process and as we are walking it, we have found many people who have shared their story and it has helped so much! One of my favorite movies is the movie Pay It Forward...and that is what I want to do. If I can give information, inspire or comfort others with my journey then that is what I want to do.....so here we go.....

Lets see I am married to my absolute BEST FRIEND! I know a lot of people say that, but how many really mean it? I do. God certainly knew what he was doing in giving me Daniel...he knows how to "talk me off the ledge", make me laugh, comfort me when I hurt, and stand beside me when I just need a friend.....I love him dearly! We have four biological children...Nicholas who is a junior in college and engaged! Jessica who is 18 and off to college this fall, Katelyn who is 11, and Elissa who is 9 ! We have been blessed far beyond anything we deserve! All of our children were via the help of medical intervention with the exception of little Elissa ! She was our extra blessing! LOL All the children were c-section and when Elissa was born she had some difficulty breathing and was in ICU for a few days...this kind of thing makes a person stop and think, and we certainly did. Dan and I decided to recognize our blessings, be thankful and not push the envelope! We are a very close family and being together means everything to us. If you gave me a sack full of money and told me I could go anywhere in the world my first question would be can I take my kids? I appreciate being with them and cherish every (okay...almost every) moment with them. So having said all that....let me tell you how we got to where we are now.....
During the Haitian crisis in 2010 our eyes along with the worlds began to be opened by the Holy Spirit to the suffering around us. I mean yes, we realized that our world has alot of hurting people and needs...but I mean we really saw it! So in January we received a email from our Church that a possibility existed that Haitian refugees could be coming to Indiana and would we be willing to foster or consider adoption if the situation presented itself? I remember sitting and looking at that email...it felt like I stared at it for such a long time....I could feel the Holy Spirit move within me, and those of you who are followers (I hope all) will know what I am talking about! It is a feeling not easily confused or imagined. As I sat and felt the warmth of that move throughout my being and I knew what he was calling us to do. I literally wept..., and honestly some of it was fear. As I attempted to reason with this new thought....and rationalize, all I kept coming up with is "are WE good enough"? "Are WE the right family? " Then the realization of how am I going to bring this up to Dan set in ? LOL Well that evening we all sat around the family table and discussed...of course all the kids said ABSOLUTELY! Dan sat there very quiet at first and said he needed some time to pray about it. Told you he was a great guy! So that is where we left it, we were all going to pray about it and just take some time to digest it. The next day I took my girls to dance class at the YMCA and was talking to some lady friends who happen to have adopted children from Asia and they gave me alot of insight and information...God is awesome how he puts the right people in the right place along the way! So as we all know....the Haitian children were not going to be able to find homes for some time, with the mess the authorities were dealing with it was clear our community would not be called upon for a very long time. Dan and I were a little puzzled as to what Gods plan had been with this, we felt maybe God simply wanted to see if we would answer his call? Okay.....so a few days later (back at dance class) I again was talking with my lady friends about the little children of Haiti, when one of my friends asked if I had ever looked on "Rainbowkids.com"? I simply stated "oh no, we aren't ACTIVELY looking to adopt, yet we simply feel we had answered the call from God about Haiti"....so time went on.....a few days later I was at the computer and kept getting the nudge to look at the web site, curiosity? Nope I know what it was! Anyway....I sat and scrolled down the many, many photos of children and it was so sad the number of children needing a home....and then suddenly there it was!!!! A picture that took me in and held me in a way that is hard to explain. Those eyes, those faces!!!! Oh my goodness they are MY children! How can that be ? No question, God had started us on one road, just to bring us to the road to find L & S. I felt the Holy Spirit like I had never felt before...maybe he wanted to make sure I really GOT IT this time! LOL He knows I can be a little slow....
So I waited a few days before showing the rest of the family. Dan again, wanted time to pray about this. The next day Dan had gone out to lunch and spent time in prayer and he called me and simply stated that he had got his answer. God had also gave him a very DIRECT and clear answer to what we were to do! Amazing~~~ So now let me tell you about where the journey has led so far.......


Early Feb 2010 - Contacted Agency and found out general information about the children and
process.

Feb 24, 2010 - Sent in application to Agency! We are on our way now!

March 2010 - This entire month was spent collecting information for Dossier, preparing for
home study, getting beds, preparing room etc....

April 22- 2010 - Received completed home study.

April 22-2010 - Filed I600A application.

April 26-2010 - Updated photo received!!!!! They are beautiful

May 28-2010 - Printing appointment (forgot to send 18 year old daughters birth certificate,
Thank Goodness they printed her anyway....

June 16- 2010 - The golden ticket!!! We got the I171H. What a beautiful day!

June 17- 2010 - Dan and I got travel vaccinations. 8 shots each! YIKES...

June 18- 2010 - Mailed Dossier to agency along with a little rag doll for S and a little car for L
Also sent a little photo album of family for the kids. So now we wait to see
what happens.....

July 7- 2010 - Heard from in country representative...hopefully court by mid to end of
month! This is great news!!! Not sure if we have to attend yet. He aso, sent
photo of L & S with photo album and little toys! They are absolutely
beautiful and amazing!!!!

Okay....so that gets us to now....We cant wait to meet our children! We have been very fortunate to have met (through the Ghanaian Angels) a group of ladies who are also taking this journey, and what they have shared has been so comforting in times of frustration and inspiring in times of doubt! I thank all of them for their obedience to what God is having them do. It makes such a difference to share our stories and that is why I want to do this...I hope I can help someone else.