USCIS fingerprints

We got our date for USCIS fingerprinting.

We aren't scheduled until the 18th.

I was really hoping for earlier.

But, all in God's timing.

Not Much New

There's not much new news on the adoption front.

We received a receipt for our application to USCIS and will hopefully receive finger printing appointments soon.

That's the next step.

I've recently joined up with Kentwood Community Church and Families of Promise's effort to bring awareness to the plight of children who are parentless, in helping them to plan a Women's Event that focuses on Orphan, Adoption, and Foster Care issues.

I'm excited.

I obviously have a passion for these issues, and am glad to be putting my experience and knowledge to work.

I really hope that this event will have an impact on the hearts of the women of KCC and Grand Rapids (area), and in turn make the lives for children better.

I'm also going to be going with Families of Promise to "Your Church and the Orphan" Workshop, September 19, at Grace Community Church in Hudsonville. This workshop is designed for church teams to spend the day working on developing an orphan ministry or to strengthen an existing one.

And I'm also going to be coming along side Greater Hopes Family Services, helping to re-build their website and also help be part of a team that's going to focus on developing an alternative foster care program.

So, that's a lot of volunteering to keep me busy!

USCIS Cashed

So, because our home study took so long to get, combined USCIS processing times, we may not get to travel this fall like we hoped.

I'm not sure what God's timing in all this is for - but I sure hope to understand at some point.

I wish it were more simple, and our hearts will could be carried out with any financial or paperwork hurdles.

If it were possible I'd be on a plane tonight.

So, we've already sent in our USCIS application, and are hoping to hear back that they received our application, and get an idea of how long this is going to take.

I'm not sure exactly how it all goes.

But, they cashed our check a few days ago.

That said, Karl forgot to get the mail today...

So, once I realized this... excited that maybe we got something from USCIS, I ran outside at 11 o'clock at night, in the pouring rain to the end of the drive to check the mail.

I was sadly disappointed...

But I am glad to know that it at least has gotten there, because they couldn't cash our check had it not.

So, our prayers right now are for financial blessing, and timely paperwork.

One with out the other doesn't work, so we need them both at the right times.

We Have IT!!

I'm so thrilled to be able to change that title!

We have our home-study!

And we've sent off for USCIS approval.

I'm praying for a quick approval - because we have limited time before Olive's country closes down for Holidays, and would really like to get her home this year.

Still Waiting...

Still can't change that title...

Things are taking way longer than I had hoped.

But, I have been feeling God tell me to trust Him in this.

I feel like the timing of donations, and the timing of paperwork is to be very precise.

I have been getting a feeling that something is going to happen, that is going to give me that "ah-ha" moment... and we're going to say "that's why!..."

But, I still can't help but feel anxious that I want to go... and I want to go now.

That, or I want to know what that "thing" is to make the waiting more bearable.

But at last, I wont know until I know... and I suppose that's okay.

But, it's not going to stop me from griping about it ;)

Still waiting...

I wonder when I'll get to stop saying 'still waiting...'

We're still waiting.

But, we did get word that we should have our home study finalized and notarized by the end of the week!

Please be true!

Although I'm very anxious to move on to the next stage - we're coming close to having all our paperwork done, and it's actually making me nervous.

We're suppose to be leaving (according to my mental goal) in about 8 weeks, and we are lacking a good chunk of our funds.

I am doing everything I can to earn the money - knitting custom orders, weddings, photo-jobs...

I guess if I need to pray for anything right now - it's that God will provide, and that I'll have a more faith-full trust in God.