Inspiration

I just read this quote on a friend's blog.  It is so appropriate and an inspiration to keep on fighting for my son.

"No desire will ever be placed in you by the Holy Spirit unless He intends to fulfill it. So let your faith rise up and soar away to claim all the land you can discover." -S.A. Keen

the last three months

Three months ago I was expectantly waiting for the news that it was time to board the plane and travel to Uganda to pick up my son.  As the days turned to weeks, it started to feel like the dream was fading.  Then I later found out that the issue was that the Ugandan government is in the process of deciding if they are indeed going to allow foreign families to fully adopt their children.  Since learning this information I have been trying to make sense out of it all.  There are times that it seems hopeless and other times I am confident that Bush will come home with me and become my legal son. 

Please pray that the issues with the court will be resolved soon and that this boy can finally come home.

A new picture - as we continue to wait....

Oh my gosh.., he is SO cute....

I just looked at this picture and was reminded of just how adorable this little guy is.  I can't wait for each of you to meet him!

Christmas Conversation

I just got off the phone with my son....  it was so good to talk to him!!!!  The first thing I told him was that his American family sends him greetings and love,  Exuberantly and with glee in his voice, he replied - "you come get me?"  His giggles and joy were a great indication of how excited he is to come.  He is waiting...., and  I am waiting.

Though we are thousands of miles apart there is a defnite sense of family between the two of us, and we are both anticipating the day that we will board the plane and make our journey home to America.

Please continue to pray for:

• a quick processing of the immigration paperwork and for the person taking my fingerprints can get nice clear prints.
• an appointment with an adoption favorable judge by February 1
• a quick and favorable decision by the judge
• for favor with the US embassy officials when we apply for his visa
• for the remaining $3000 to either come in through donations or that I can earn it by taking photographs of children, teens or families.
• for our (Isaiah and I) ability to communicate with each other, especially on the journey home.

detours and stops along the way

Have you ever had a dream in which you are trying to get somewhere, but keep finding yourself in random places or circumstances, and then wake up before you reach your intended destination? That's how this process feels at the moment. Each time I feel like I should have the clearance to go in a matter of days, something occurs. Yesterday, I received notice that there was something wrong with the fingerprints that I had done last week, and now I have to go back, but the appointment isn't until 12/30.... Also, I am waiting to be granted a court appointment. First I thought I would be home with Isaiah by Christmas, then I was thinking I would leave January 1.., now I am hoping to leave at the end of January or early February. It will be such a relief once I bring my son home.


This also reminds me of my road trip to North Dakota this summer. Whenever I take any type of a road trip, I am always eager to get to my destination ahead of time. My goal is to beat the expected time of Mapquest.... I was making good time and in great anticipation of getting to my aunt's house ahead of schedule, when I encountered road construction. This was not just any little road construction. The road was GONE..., and we had to wait for a pilot car to guide us through the non-existent road. Well you can just imagine what that did to my goal of getting to Bottineau ahead of time.... As I have travelled this adoption journey, this immigraion pre-approval feels much like the road that I had to travel through on my road trip. I'd wait for the pilot car. Slowly, travel through rough terrain. Wait for the next pilot car and do the same thing. Three pilot cars and probably an hour later, I was through the rough part and back on smooth roads. There were still incidental stops along the way, but progress kept being made. Really, there was nothing that I could do about it, but wait and move when there was opportunity. And guess what..., I did make it to my aunt's house and apparently it was at the perfect time....

For those of you looking for prayer needs, please pray for the following:

• a quick processing of the immigration paperwork and for the person taking my fingerprints can get nice clear prints.
• an appointment with an adoption favorable judge by February 1
• a quick and favorable decision by the judge
• for favor with the US embassy officials when we apply for his visa
• for the remainder $3500 to either come in through donations or that I can earn it by taking photographs of children, teens or families.
• for our (Isaiah and I) ability to communicate with each other, especially on the journey home.

The Waiting Game....

I realize it has been some time since I have posted.  Earlier this week, my sister and I drove to Tukwila to be fingerprinted as part of the pre-approval process.  Now that my prints are in the system..., I hope I don't end up being somewhere right before a crime is committed.  :)   I must say that I felt less like criminal getting these prints than I did when I was fingerprinted at the police station at the beginning of the process....  Actually, it was very quick and uneventful.

The waiting continues as we wait to get a court appointment.  I had hoped to go in January, but after talking with the attorney today, I am starting to realize that it might be in February...  sigh.   Please pray that we are assigned to a judge that is adoption friendly and acts quickly on  the cases assigned to him.   This is actually a HUGE prayer request, because once I arrive in country the process can be quite lengthy (as in months....) depending on the judge that presides over our case.