A wise person once said, " When going through the adoption process, you can expect about five delays." Well the good news for us, is that we must be close to our quota. The latest of our delays was receiving our FBI clearances. Without it, your home study cannot be completed, and if your home study is not complete, you cannot file for your immigration paperwork(also known as I600A), and of course without the I600A, you cannot complete the dossier. So you get the picture by now. Praise God though, we finally received our FBI clearances. Now the ball is in the court of the Department of Homeland Security. It's not like they're dealing with much else right now, so I am sure that process will go by quickly. All joking aside, that is where we currently stand in the infamous "paper chase." We should expect to be notified shortly with an appointment in either Detroit or Grand Rapids to be fingerprinted. Shortly after our fingerprints are complete, we can then expect to receive our I-171H(favorable determination by the USCIS). Thus ends the "paper chase," and begins the "waiting game." At times it can be very frustrating, because you are so dependant on the abilities and availability of so many other people. For most of those other people, they do not share the same sense of urgency as we do. Like everything else in life however, it is all about perspective. We have decided that the delays we experience are all part of God's perfect timing to receive the exact child he has planned for us. That is something to take comfort in for sure. God continues to put things and people in our path to remind us, we are doing the right thing. Some day, in some motel room, in some city in China, someone will hand us our new little baby girl, and all the delays and frustrations will seem like insignificant distant memories soon to be replaced by new memories of one we call daughter. Until then we trust God in the process, and lean on our wonderful friends for support and encouragement.
From here the next milestone in our process will be receiving the I-171H, and then having our dossier land safely into the hands of the CCAA. We continue to be thankful for our friends who are praying for us daily. We can sense each and every one of them. Until next time, many blessings to all who read this newest post.
1 comment:
I have been thinking about you both and how you were coming along. I believe with you - that God has a plan and a special time with a special little girl. This process will be a test of patience & procedures. We have found it strengthening our marriage as we comfort and support each through our feelings & frusterations. One step closer - one day at a time. You continue to be in our prayers.
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