Well 1 year has passed since we began our paperwork, 7 months since we submitted our dossier, over 5 months since our dossier hit the desk of the minister's office in Rwanda, 1.5 months since the minister said they finished reviewing our file and would email us a letter so we could move on to the next phase of the process, which we are still waiting for.
Ironically part of the reason we ultimately choose Rwanda was becuase it seemed a little bit faster than other countries and we really wanted to make a home for a couple of sweet baby girls as quickly as possible. We have officially waitied longer than most of our friends who have adopted from the US or Ethiopia. I'm also pretty sure we've been at this longer than anyone else that's adopting from Rwanda right now from what simple blog-o-spher research I've done. (not that we are comparing too much... though its hard sometimes not to. :) )
But, it is obviously not our time yet and we are gonna keep smiling, praying, hoping, and waiting. I cannot wait for those families who will soon meet their children... I am also anxious for those of us in que waiting for approval letters... hopefully the bright side of the extra waiting might be the ability to travel alongside another family or two. That would be fun!
Keep prayin for us... all of us waiting for news... the wait can be awfully daunting and tedious and we need Jesus to hold us up once in a while. :)
Every day we get a little bit closer to God's chosen day of meeting our beautiful baby(s)... that I can be sure of!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
colorado and update
This weekend we took a quick trip to Colorado and checked out colorado springs. Went to Garden of the Gods and the Air Force Academy etc. Sunday was Waterworld in Denver and the kids were absolutely exhausted after a full day of water fun.
I do not have anything too exciting to report on the adoption front. I had emailed the ministers office last week to let them know that our email address would be changing at the end of this week and got a response from her that confirmed the change and said our "file is being analyzed and we would get a response soon." I think this is a pretty typical response though... That same office reported over a month ago that our file had already been processed and we would get a letter in a few days. So we wait some more :) I know the minister's office is busy. I'm sure a letter will come, eventually. :)
We have officially been at this for a year, we started our initial paperwork this same time last August. Definiately did not think we would still be waiting for an approval from the government a year later but it is what it is.
I do not have anything too exciting to report on the adoption front. I had emailed the ministers office last week to let them know that our email address would be changing at the end of this week and got a response from her that confirmed the change and said our "file is being analyzed and we would get a response soon." I think this is a pretty typical response though... That same office reported over a month ago that our file had already been processed and we would get a letter in a few days. So we wait some more :) I know the minister's office is busy. I'm sure a letter will come, eventually. :)
We have officially been at this for a year, we started our initial paperwork this same time last August. Definiately did not think we would still be waiting for an approval from the government a year later but it is what it is.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
lemonade stand
It's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally week here in the Black Hills. Lots of bikes, leather and NOISE.
Kelton is going to set up a lemonade stand today and take donations for the adoption.
He is sooo excited.
I will take some pictures and post in the coming days.
No adoption news. Would love to hear something soon, but not holding our breath.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A Sacrifice
Here's a quick story that might just make you smile.
Last week my just-turned-seven year old son was scheduled to go on a field trip with some friends to a nearby waterslide park. The outing was going to cost us around $30 for entrance fees and food etc. The night before we were packing his stuff and he informed us that he wanted to stay home the next day. We, of course, thought he was feeling ill or something but then he informed us that he wanted to stay home so that we could put that $30 into the "bank to get his baby sister(s)" Buster and I were thoroughly impressed! We thought he might change his mind the following moring but he insisted that that money be saved to bring his sister(s) home. I was a proud mamma!
Speaking of adoption. Nothing new to report. The person in charge there reportedly had been and might still be on leave for awhile so nothing is being done. I doubt we will get our approval letter this week.
Last week my just-turned-seven year old son was scheduled to go on a field trip with some friends to a nearby waterslide park. The outing was going to cost us around $30 for entrance fees and food etc. The night before we were packing his stuff and he informed us that he wanted to stay home the next day. We, of course, thought he was feeling ill or something but then he informed us that he wanted to stay home so that we could put that $30 into the "bank to get his baby sister(s)" Buster and I were thoroughly impressed! We thought he might change his mind the following moring but he insisted that that money be saved to bring his sister(s) home. I was a proud mamma!
Speaking of adoption. Nothing new to report. The person in charge there reportedly had been and might still be on leave for awhile so nothing is being done. I doubt we will get our approval letter this week.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
maybe by Christmas
Well... nothing new to report. We are still waiting for our approval letter from the minister and cannot do anything without it. Even though they reported finishing our file a month ago we still cannot begin to work with the orphanages until it is official. Things seem to be taking so much longer than when we started this process last summer so at this point I am hopeful that we can travel to get babies by Christmas... it would be nice to be there for my birthday in November but at this point that might be pushing it. On the bright side winters in SDak are freezing so a sidetrip to Africa then might be nice.
So, we wait...
So, we wait...
Monday, July 13, 2009
pray for the adoption office
We still have not gotten our appproval letter from the minister. Our paperwork was done being reviewed three weeks ago and yet still no letter.
Rather than be frustrated with all these delays I think it best to pray for the government in Rwanda, more specifically the office that approves adoptions. My caseworker reports that inter country adoptions are not really on the "priorty list". In other words, the office where adoptions are processed have several other things they do and often times adoptions get pushed to the backburner. So, my prayer is that this week this office will have time, energy and enthusiasm to process the paperwork needed for several families to continue on in this process toward adoption. We are one of around fifteen families that are waiting for approval letters before nuns at the orphanages can find matches for our families.
I am sure that there is a lot going on in this office, and since there is really only one person who approves families, and that one person is often out traveling and completing other important work for her division, then it is so important to lift her up in prayer so that she can complete what needs to be completed and still find time to help find homes for the thousands of orhpans in Rwanda.
So, join me in prayer for time, energy, and ethusiasm... after all I know that God loves adoption and He is enthusiastic about finding homes for all children and that enthusiasm should pass through the ministers office as well! :)
Rather than be frustrated with all these delays I think it best to pray for the government in Rwanda, more specifically the office that approves adoptions. My caseworker reports that inter country adoptions are not really on the "priorty list". In other words, the office where adoptions are processed have several other things they do and often times adoptions get pushed to the backburner. So, my prayer is that this week this office will have time, energy and enthusiasm to process the paperwork needed for several families to continue on in this process toward adoption. We are one of around fifteen families that are waiting for approval letters before nuns at the orphanages can find matches for our families.
I am sure that there is a lot going on in this office, and since there is really only one person who approves families, and that one person is often out traveling and completing other important work for her division, then it is so important to lift her up in prayer so that she can complete what needs to be completed and still find time to help find homes for the thousands of orhpans in Rwanda.
So, join me in prayer for time, energy, and ethusiasm... after all I know that God loves adoption and He is enthusiastic about finding homes for all children and that enthusiasm should pass through the ministers office as well! :)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Not official yet
Well... we were super excited to hear that our paperwork had been processed last week and now we continue to wait for the official letter of approval from the minister. We cannot do anything without that so there are still no nuns in Africa selecting a child or children for us at this point. Because of recent policy changes from the Rwandan government, etc. etc. we are not anticipating a travel date to Rwanda this summer... it would be nice, but the chances are slim at best. So,we wait, and wait, and try our best to roll with the changes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
