Last night we were able to skype with the Ethiopian program director from Small World Adoption Agency (the agency we are doing our adoption through). We had a great conversation and again felt really positive about the decision to move ahead with adopting from
Ethiopia. This was the country that first caught our attention and hearts (more on this soon!) but we had felt a little hesitant with all the slow downs and issues Ethiopian adoptions were experiencing. He was just over there in June and had some really positive changes that he saw, was able to meet with many officials there and also hired a great new staff person that he was really excited to share about. Even though the adoption process has slowed down quite a bit in Ethiopia over the past year or two, it seems to be picking up some again and some of the changes he has seen has been positive. We felt really excited and confident coming out of our skype time with him and overall have really appreciated our agency and how hands on and helpful they are to us. So far, we have been nothing but pleased with our decision to use them as an agency and really impressed with how well they work with expat adoptions.
Our next step right now is to head up to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul sometime in the next month (hopefully before Steve leaves for India the end of August) and submit our application to adopt to the USCIS, along with our fingerprints, a copy of our home study and $750 application fee. Basically, we are submitting all our information into the US Government and they need to deem us "eligible" to adopt a child. This process can take up to 12 weeks.
It was really exciting getting our home study back and reading it over. For some reason it made the adoption feel a lot more real. Similar, maybe, to when you first hear the heartbeat or see an ultrasound during a pregnancy. Something is actually really happening! It also felt like a big accomplishment, all the things we had written, requested, ordered and thought through were all compiled together, forming our home study. A big milestone in our adoption journey! Thank you for partnering with us and for your
encouragement, thoughts,
prayers, and
financial support along the way! We can't wait to meet the little one the Lord has planned for our family through the miracle of adoption.
We can't wait either! What a wonderful picture this is, likening it to an ultrasound or heartbeat, makes it so real! Praying already for this little one and for all of you too
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I did another "catch up" on your blog today. As I have often been wondering how the adoption processing is going. Now I know. :o) Thank you for this awesome & exciting news as you carry on with perseverance,(sp?) patience, guidance from our Lord Jesus & excitement of this new bundle of joy upon arrival into your loving, gentle & caring arms. I don't know if I have ever told you this & not even sure if some of my family even remembers this but anyway... For a long time, (20 years ago) I too, had done alot of thinking & praying about adopting a child but I got to thinking more & more about it & decided it wouldn't be a good idea for me because of stamina & on-going health issues for one thing & then I was worried that this adopted person would end up taking care of me instead - So what kind of a life would that be for this adopted person? So...that alone wouldn't be right... I didn't like this conclusion but God said no... & I told God I understand... :o) So it will be even more special knowing you are in the process of doing this & I love you for doing this! Thank you for remembering these precious children who so need a loving home! I had better shut up now before this turns sappy! :o) Much, much love, hugs and continued prayers, Your aunt in SD!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update! Very excited for you! From what I've read about adoption (mostly from the links you have shared!) having the home study done is a huge accomplishment. Praying for you all and your precious soon to be with you child. I've been wanting to send a "Care package" but I don't really know what you all need/miss from the US. Send me an e-mail of some things?? I'd love to be a little blessing :)
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