Twists and Turns

So yesterday we were on the phone with Gladney, as they are working hard to get some documents needed to process the I-600 immigration form in the States. We know time is getting short, but if we can get this form processed here, instead of how typically done in Ethiopia, we could have Gladney file our HIV waiver for us, instead of my filing it while in Ethiopia and waiting 2+ weeks for it to be approved, shortening my travel from 3+ weeks to only one week. This would be a HUGE blessing!

So I plan to contact my state representative, knowing I will need him to advocate for us so that USCIS can turn around the I-600 approval in about 5 weeks, instead of their typical 3-6 months.

Then late last night, our HIV advocacy group contacted me to let me know that as of yesterday, now the waiting on the TB test results for our little one is no longer required. So....once the embassy panel doctors sign off on her case, we can travel! So that could mean in a week, a couple weeks. Not...quite...sure, but SOONER. So we are still REALLY hoping to get the I-600 approved here in the States, but instead of a 5 week turn around, now we are talking about a 2 week turn around. Sounds impossible. Maybe it is. For the past year, I have been preparing myself for the longer trip, but in the past 2 weeks, with the possibility of shortening it significantly, I was feeling so much hopefulness about the possibility.

Some don't quite understand, thinking a nice long trip would be a wonderful way to see our children's birth country. And I totally agree --- when you are NOT adopting. The adoption trip is altogether different. Not a sight-seeing trip, but immensely emotional. Our sweet one will most likely be terrified of me at first, and I will just WANT TO GET HER HOME, start our family, start adjusting, settling in. That is virtually impossible while in Ethiopia, and without my sweet Farmboy, as he will be home with our 5 other kiddos.

Anyways, so again I am made profoundly aware how I have NO control in this adoption process. So we pray, do what we can, and see how God handles the rest.

Oh, and isn't she darling? She weighs more than Kume did when we adopted her, and Kume was 1.5 years older. Love the chub!