Over the last month, Janie and I have experienced a wide-range of emotions going through the adoption process. We sent in our I-600A form to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service in Miami for processing and received a letter back saying that it could take up to a year for completion. That sent a million “What if” questions in our minds. Add in the fact that we couldn’t get any straight answers from anyone didn’t help matters either.
In our minds we were bringing Chase home from Taiwan in early summer when he would be 8 months old. Now were we looking deep into 2010 when he would be almost 2 years old?!? I had just put together his crib before receiving that response from the USCIS and I began wondering if Chase would ever use it.
I have to admit over this past month, Janie’s trust in God was greater than mine.
But then a very well-connected friend of ours in Miami connected us with the office of one of Florida’s state senators and they assured us that the letter we received from the USCIS was nothing but a form letter and the processing for international adoptions was much faster. To be sure they said they would follow up with the USCIS office and make sure everything was in order.
We also just learned that our first court date in Taiwan is set for May 26. We will not be traveling for this first court date. Instead Ted Skiles (the director of the orphange) will go before the judge. Assuming everything goes smoothly, it appears likely about a month after the intial court date another will be set by the judge. THAT IS THE DATE WE MUST BE THERE! So God-willing, at the end of June we will be in Taiwan holding our son, Chase and preparing to bring him home!
Our friends, Mike and Kim Cottle are there now for their day in court to bring their precious daughter Kaley home. They sent us some new pictures of Chase (Kaley is the girl in the blue and red outfit fascinated with Chase’s Mickey Mouse). Mike said they also got some video footage of Chase which he will send when they get back (I will post that when I get it!).
Keep praying!
2 Comments
April 27, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Benny and I will be lifting the family up in prayer. Can’t wait to see Chase!!! God works miracles…he’s preparing you for yours
April 27, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Journey is such a good description for the adoption process… it is a definite roller coaster, but always amazing to see how God works it out in the end. He is so cute Matt!