Homestudy Approved and sent to USCIS

Our home study was just approved by DCFS!  Praise God!

So, along with the approved home study, we sent a few other documents and the I800A form to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.   We will need to wait 6-8 weeks before we get the USCIS approval.  In the meantime, we will be invited to Chicago to get fingerprinted for immigration.

We are also now in the "system", with our international adoption agency.  Which means that they will start to search for a match for us in China. We are excited to know that God's hand is at work right now as we wait for a match!  This process could take awhile, but knowing that the search has started makes the process less painful.

On a side note, I just need to brag on my kiddos!  They are so eager and excited to open their home and lives for a new sibling and are all brainstorming on ways to fundraise.  Some of their ideas are to earn money by selling artwork, lemonade, cookies, and old toys and books or doing yard work or babysitting for others.  I love that God is working in their hearts to think of and help others.  They are each such a huge part of this adoption and at times are more excited than we are!  We are so thankful for the spirit of the Lord to shine in their lives!

Home Study Approved

There is a two step approval process for our home study.  The first step is for the home study to be approved from our adoption agency, and that has happened!  We are excited to now have our home study sent to DCFS for their approval.  It does seem that with each step, we are moving closer to bringing our little one home.  However, we are realizing that these steps seem so much longer when there is nothing for us to do but wait upon others.  So, we pray...

We pray for our little one to be safe and securely loved by his/her caregivers. We pray for him/her to be prepared for the transition to their forever family.  We pray for them to know us and quickly recognize that we are going to love them and give them security. We pray for their hearts to find peace through all that will happen during the transition to our family as their little world is rocked beyond anything we can comprehend.

We pray as God prepares our hearts and home for this new addition, that we will have an open mind as to who God has chosen for us.  We pray that we love unconditionally, just as the Lord loves us. We pray that we cherish and welcome this child into our home with the same tenderness that the Lord has welcomed us into His arms.  We pray for our kids to sacrifice of themselves for the life of their new
brother/sister.

We know that God is using this time to prepare us for this precious child and we are opening our hearts to what needs to be prepared inside.

You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

Psalms 10:14,17-18

Adoption Update!!

This week, our home study was completed!   This is just the beginning of the process, but it is a large portion of the paperwork that we needed to fill out. The home study is being sent to DCFS for final approval.  Of course, we still need to complete our dossier and countless other forms, but like I said, this is the first step .. and it is a big one!

We have so many people to thank for getting us this far along.  So many that rearranged their schedules to help with childcare, wrote reference letters, went out of their way to get appointments changed and information gathered.  Thank you for your helping hand in getting us one step closer to our waiting child!

Also, can I say .. I LOVE technology today!  Not only is this blog thing new to me (of which I'm finding it to be scary and interesting all at the same time), but so is the fact that we can order a vital record on-line (even from another state!) and have it sent to 2 different offices to get the proper certification needed for our dossier!  That saved us a day traveling around WI!  woo-hoo!

Remember Him, Who We Celebrate This Weekend

As we prepare to celebrate the death and resurrection of our heavenly father, we take a few moments to realize how grateful we are for the wonderful savior we have that gives us hope and mercy to overcome our sins in this world.  Without the sacrifice of His body on the cross, there would be such despair and and overwhelming pressure, but through His grace, we are forgiven and set free.  

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."Colossians 1:13-14 

We also praise the Lord for making it clear to us that we are to pursue International Adoption.  He has placed the right people and the right situations in our lives this year that has convicted us on no longer pursuing a foster to adopt child, but rather a child in a foreign land.  We never had a country in mind, but through the works of God, China choose us!  We know that is a special child waiting for us and can not wait to meet him/her.  

Some have asked why we would want to adopt.  We can only point to the commandments of our Heavenly Father:

James 1:27

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

The following song and video describes what God has instilled in our heart and why we are persuing this adoption:

Kings and Queens - Audio Adreniline

Adoption Started

We have done it!  We have applied to adopt...from China!  As many of you know, we have gone through the state foster care systems in Arkansas and Illinois, but never had a settled feeling about it.  We knew God commanded us to open our home to an orphan, and we are finally down the path He has planned for us!  We started our International Home Study on Friday, February 8, 2013.  We have an overwhelming amount of paperwork, classes and appointments, but are forging ahead knowing that His great plan is perfect. We are so thankful for all of your support through our many years of prayer, planning, moving, and chasing other avenues for this adoption.