Well, I thought I’d post something since I had the time. We received a letter from “Bureau of Consular Affairs” today. We are a little unsure as to just what it is. It states the Visa Center has received our paper work for our I600A, and that it is being forwarded to Russia. I’ll call Kristen on Monday to see what it is, and if we will need it with our paper work.  We are praying our I-171H will get to her on Monday or Tuesday, or maybe already there today. Our Secretary of State has been very fast on processing our papers, so I’m anticipating the same for these.

So…I’ve begun my self-lessons on Russian. I’ve learned “hello” and “goodbye”. So, should you be one who calls me on the phone, don’t be surprised if you hear some foreign greeting! Gotta practice somewhere. I figure if I learn a new word each day, reviewing all previous words, I should have a decent vocabulary, at least on a 3 or 4 year old level.

Well, I’ll post if I hear anything on Monday.

In His Watch Care,

Joy

Just wanted to let you know, we’ve sent dossier to AWAA, and our coordinator decided to wait to send this until she receives the I-171H, copied, notarized, and apostilled. She will send it all at the same time for translation. This may help save time at some point. We are praying she will receive the paper work tomorrow. I’ll let you know when we hear something.

Once it is sent to Dr. D for checking over, no news will be good news. He will contact AWAA if anything needs to be changed or added. If everything is good, it will go on to Russia.

In His Watch Care,

Joy

Well, another milestone was crossed yesterday!! We received our I-171H. This form is from Homeland Security, where we went to Charleston to get our fingerprints done. We expected them to take a little longer, but the Lord has wrapped that up for us. I’m so thankful to see God working throughout this process. If He wasn’t in control, I know things would go awry in my own hands. So…not only does my cup runneth over, but so much so that I’m drinking from the saucer. Thank you Lord.

We’ll have a copy made of this document, have it notarized as a certified copy of an original, send it to Raleigh for apostilling, and then have it sent on to AWAA. Kristen said she’d plan to send our dossier and the I-171H together to be translated. Sounded like it could take some of the worry out of the second trip, since it must go with us on the second trip.

So I had this wonderful dream the other night. It happened that Brent and I were discussing and realizing that AWAA works primarily with three regions. They are Nizhney, Krasnoyarsk, and Voronezh. So that night, I dreamt our friend Kris Keegan (who introduced us to AW) had three little baby girls from Russia. We knew one of them was our baby, but didn’t have the paper work to know which one. They were fussy, so I told her to give me one of the babies to care for for the day, so she didn’t have all three. So, there at school, where I teach, I took one of them, put her in a sling and she fell right on to sleep. I carried her around all day, during teaching and everything. I woke up before we ever got the paper work, but what a wonderful dream.

In His Watch Care,

Joy

Well, we have made all our copies of our dossier, and it is ready to be mailed off to AWAA. From what I understand, our 9-12 month wait begins when they receive it. We are truly praising the Lord to be at this point. If all is good on our dossier and nothing needs to be added or fixed, it will soon be off to Russia for translation. We will be waiting at this point. I’m not sure if we will hear each time another part is taken care of or not. Once to AWAA, they will look through it one last time, then send it to Dr. D, who is their mediator to Russia. He will then also peruse it, and then will send it to Russia to be translated if all looks good to him. Once it is translated, we are kind of on a waiting list. We won’t know anything until it is our turn to be put on a list. When it is our turn, they will register us in a region, and from there, it all gets a bit fuzzy. I’m not sure of all the details. But we will let you know as soon as we hear anything. Be praying with us that our wait time will be all according to God’s timing for us and our little one. Also, be praying specifically for our little one (Annalise), as we feel sure she has at this point been born since we have requested a 1-4 year old. Be praying for her safety, nourishment, and that the Lord Himself will comfort her until we can get there and bring her home. We would also ask you to pray that the finances needed will be there as we need them.

In His Watch Care,

Joy

Well, we are heading back from our mini-vacation in Williamsburg, VA. While away, our packet from SBI came in. We were thrilled to hear it made it back to us safely. It came in yesterday, Wednesday, May 14.

On Monday of this week I sent off the other three pieces needing to be apostilled. We are praying they will also come in this week so we can send the whole thing to AWAA Saturday or so. Keep us in your prayers.

Back to our mini-vacation, Brent had a training session in Williamsburg, and asked me to take off, and for all of us to go along. So, while Brent was working away, the boys and I went down to Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and some of the area shops. I’ll have to download some of the great pictures I got this weekend. It was truly a lot of fun. I was happy not to get lost being on my own. I am used to being with someone who knows what they are doing, and where they are going. The hotel we stayed in however, lost power the last night we were there, and had no hot water. We had to make do with the situation, and well, as you can see, we made it ok, none the worse for wear. I’m glad to be going home though!!

Ever In His Watch Care,

Joy

Well, Brent went down to Raleigh to have everything apostilled. When he got there, they said the police clearance letter had to have the fingerprint cards attached to them. Our deed needed to be a certified copy also. So, he went on with apostilling the others, and brought the other three home. We’ll have them sent correctly through the mail, and will pray they make it back to us by the end of next week. I’m praying to send everything out by Friday or Saturday of next week. Whatever happens though, I know it is all in His timing. One day before or after could mean the difference in the refferal we receive.  I know He has it all planned and in order for us. I’m thankful for His provision and wisdom in my life.

In His Watch Care,

Joy

Yay! Everything was good. We both had to redo our employment letter, which was a same day deal, very easy!! Soooooooo…Brent is taking our precious documents to be apostilled on Friday. The plan is for him to include a self-addressed, self-stamped envelope for them to return them to us. Be praying that they will be safe. Once we receive them again, we will make copies of the apostilles, then off to the agency they go. I’m praying to get that taken care of by the end of next week. Once it gets to the agency, our name is put on a list, and our 9-12 month wait begins. Almost there!!  Very exciting times.

In His Watch Care,

Joy

We didn’t hear whether our dossier was received, our family coordinator was off yesterday. (Can you believe people take off of work? Hee, hee :o) We’ll be praying that we’ll hear something Monday or so. Like I said earlier, it is all in God’s hands. I was talking to my mom yesterday, and  I told her I couldn’t help but keep thinking, there is a reason for the delay…in order to get just the right child. A day sooner, or a day later could alter our results, taking more time and money possibly.

Resting Assured in Him,

Joy

We sent our dossier to AWAA for review on Monday, and found out today that probably due to computer issues, it was not received. I frantically set about getting it sent again today, then it couldn’t be opened. When Brent got home, he was able to send it again, but we won’t know until tomorrow if they received it or not. Once we get the go ahead, we will be able to go and have everything apostilled in Raleigh. (Maybe next week) Yes, I have stressed some today, until I thought about the fact that God was not stressed, it all has to do with His perfect will for our lives. He knows exactly which child we need to bring home, and exactly when she needs to come home. What a blessing to know He is still in control, even when things feel out of control. Brent and I have decided to memorize scripture together, and this week’s seems so appropriate. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” If I will focus on God, I will find that peace of mind, knowing He goes before us in this, and has paved our paths already.

In His Watch Care,

Joy