As of Wednesday morning, we have a court date!
Our April 2nd appointment isn't exactly the February date we'd been expecting, but it is a gift. Now we can put pen to paper and flesh out all the little details that a trip of this magnitude - and the change of duty station following it - requires. Because amidst this life-changing trip, we will be relocating to a yet-to-be-determined new home in southern Mississippi.
We're not sure yet if we'll buy or stay in base housing again, but that decision can be made later, once we know when we'll get there. For now, we'll focus on what's immediately in front of us: enjoying our last six weeks in Hawaii as a family of four, preparing to meet three sweet little boys who our hearts have been longing for, and spending at least a couple of months in their home country, soaking up the people and the culture and all that awaits us there.
For now, we have silverware and bath towels to pack. (Really.)
Figueroa, party of seven, here we come.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Filed!
We found out this morning that our dossier was filed in court last week. It's still expected - and I use that term loosely, as some families have had significant delays lately - that we'll go to court in late January or early February. But for now, that is what we know and what we will try to prepare for. That means we could leave in a month or so. We'll hope, and we'll see.
For now, we're gathering paperwork, updating paperwork that is about to expire (again), and purchasing the last of the things we want to bring with us. We're making lists and checking lists and adding dress socks to lists, because it turns out that four little boys in suits shouldn't go sock-less in their dress shoes. How could I have forgotten about socks?
We're preparing the house and preparing our hearts, and marveling at how much we love three little people we've never met before. We're eager to get on a plane and go to them, to see that they're well, to stop wondering about and start getting to know.
It might be almost time.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Waiting
Our dossier arrived at its destination at the end of October, so for now we're still waiting on a court date. Last week, we were told that it may be late January or early February. While in many ways that seems so far away, we still have much to do to prepare for our travels and the huge changes that are on the horizon.
While we wait, we would so appreciate your prayers not only for us, but for our sweet boys, and for their caregivers. We know that even this time has a purpose, and we hope that this will all be, in each of our lives, for His glory.
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
While we wait, we would so appreciate your prayers not only for us, but for our sweet boys, and for their caregivers. We know that even this time has a purpose, and we hope that this will all be, in each of our lives, for His glory.
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Monday, October 21, 2013
And, it's off!
Our dossier is officially out of our hands, on its way across the ocean.
Last week, we got the draft of our affidavits that we've been waiting for, and were able to fill in some blanks and make a few edits before getting final approval from the attorney Thursday morning. After no less than one hour and ten minutes notarizing each document - that's the amount time we were actively and quickly working on it with the notary public! - we were ready to head to UPS. It was exciting and more than a little nerve-wracking to let all of that important, hard-won paperwork out of our possession, but it should be at our agency's office tomorrow morning and hopefully in the attorney's hands soon after.
Then, we wait to hear of a court date. Perhaps by the end of November we'll have one assigned to our case? That's our hope. While we wait, we still have a big boys' room to finish, a little girl's birthday to prepare for, and lots of moments in between to be present in and thankful for. So much easier said than done, but I don't want to wish away these last weeks, as eager as we are to get to the boys. There is a purpose to our days now, and how sad it'd be to miss what He has for us here, today, in this moment, with the people who are in front of us.
Speaking of the people who are in front of us, this space has grown quiet except for the occasional update on our adoption process. I've been feeling many things about my internet usage, its role in my interaction with family and friends, public-sharing versus private moments, and so many other things. To attempt to explain it all would take far too much time to write, and likely much more time than you'd like to read. Suffice it to say, I want to be present. I want to interact, authentically, with the people I love and the people around me. I want to invest in family, and in community. For me, that means removing a lot of internet sharing and time, at least while that feels like the right thing to do. We'll keep this space updated with the latest adoption news and, for the most part, leave it at that, for now. We are so thankful for each of you who takes time out of your day to check in with our little, growing family. You bless us with your interest and your excitement and your love more than you'll ever know. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Last week, we got the draft of our affidavits that we've been waiting for, and were able to fill in some blanks and make a few edits before getting final approval from the attorney Thursday morning. After no less than one hour and ten minutes notarizing each document - that's the amount time we were actively and quickly working on it with the notary public! - we were ready to head to UPS. It was exciting and more than a little nerve-wracking to let all of that important, hard-won paperwork out of our possession, but it should be at our agency's office tomorrow morning and hopefully in the attorney's hands soon after.
Then, we wait to hear of a court date. Perhaps by the end of November we'll have one assigned to our case? That's our hope. While we wait, we still have a big boys' room to finish, a little girl's birthday to prepare for, and lots of moments in between to be present in and thankful for. So much easier said than done, but I don't want to wish away these last weeks, as eager as we are to get to the boys. There is a purpose to our days now, and how sad it'd be to miss what He has for us here, today, in this moment, with the people who are in front of us.
Speaking of the people who are in front of us, this space has grown quiet except for the occasional update on our adoption process. I've been feeling many things about my internet usage, its role in my interaction with family and friends, public-sharing versus private moments, and so many other things. To attempt to explain it all would take far too much time to write, and likely much more time than you'd like to read. Suffice it to say, I want to be present. I want to interact, authentically, with the people I love and the people around me. I want to invest in family, and in community. For me, that means removing a lot of internet sharing and time, at least while that feels like the right thing to do. We'll keep this space updated with the latest adoption news and, for the most part, leave it at that, for now. We are so thankful for each of you who takes time out of your day to check in with our little, growing family. You bless us with your interest and your excitement and your love more than you'll ever know. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Next
So, what's next? We know there are three sweet boys waiting for us on the other side of the world, but there are still some things to do before we can get there.
We just received our acceptance agreement (a legal contract stating, among other things, that we will adopt the boys) and child reports (medical exams, declarations of birth, etc.) in the mail yesterday. Once we have some questions answered about what we're signing, we'll send it back to our agency. Tomorrow, we hope! Then, once they receive it and our next payment, they'll send our home study to their lawyer overseas, who will prepare affidavits for us.
Then we wait. For a week, or for a month. That's the expected range of time it could take.
When we receive those affidavits, we'll finish compiling our dossier, which will be sent back overseas to be used to file for a court date.
Then we wait again, for another month, maybe. That seems to be the current trend, but of course, like all things in intercountry adoption, that could change at any time.
The next thing we hear will be news of a court date, which may be weeks away, or perhaps days. We'll book plane tickets, pack bags, and tie up loose ends. We'll try not to explode from the excitement.
Because soon, someday soon, we will meet three precious boys who will, we hope, be our sons. I can still hardly believe that we could be so blessed. With all our shortcomings, all our failures, all our short-temperedness and unfaithfulness and the ugliness in our hearts, God is still choosing to give us the gift that is these boys. Wow. He is so good!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We just received our acceptance agreement (a legal contract stating, among other things, that we will adopt the boys) and child reports (medical exams, declarations of birth, etc.) in the mail yesterday. Once we have some questions answered about what we're signing, we'll send it back to our agency. Tomorrow, we hope! Then, once they receive it and our next payment, they'll send our home study to their lawyer overseas, who will prepare affidavits for us.
Then we wait. For a week, or for a month. That's the expected range of time it could take.
When we receive those affidavits, we'll finish compiling our dossier, which will be sent back overseas to be used to file for a court date.
Then we wait again, for another month, maybe. That seems to be the current trend, but of course, like all things in intercountry adoption, that could change at any time.
The next thing we hear will be news of a court date, which may be weeks away, or perhaps days. We'll book plane tickets, pack bags, and tie up loose ends. We'll try not to explode from the excitement.
Because soon, someday soon, we will meet three precious boys who will, we hope, be our sons. I can still hardly believe that we could be so blessed. With all our shortcomings, all our failures, all our short-temperedness and unfaithfulness and the ugliness in our hearts, God is still choosing to give us the gift that is these boys. Wow. He is so good!
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Friday, August 23, 2013
Where We Are
Can we interrupt this several-month-long silence to tell you something?
Something really big? And exciting? And wonderful?
We have a referral.
We've known it was coming, but this morning, we got the call. And now it's official. We have a referral!
Maybe most exciting of all is that baby #2, who now has a name and a face, is really babies #1, 2, and 4. That's right. Our family doesn't just get to grow by one, but by three!
H, S, and J are three, four-and-a-half, and six-and-a-half. They have the sweetest little faces that we cannot wait to see in person. We are so excited to meet them, and are so grateful that God would entrust three more little lives to us.
We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is where He wants us right now, and that knowledge gives us such great confidence, hope, and joy, in spite of all of the unknowns this journey holds. We're not selfless enough, loving enough, prepared enough, optimistic enough, anything-enough to do this on our own. But our God is El Shaddai - HE is more than enough.
"[We] are where [we] are for such a time as this - not to gain anything - but to risk everything." And somehow? Somehow, God is so good that really, in so many ways this hardly feels like a risk. Really, it just feels exactly right.
Something really big? And exciting? And wonderful?
We have a referral.
We've known it was coming, but this morning, we got the call. And now it's official. We have a referral!
Maybe most exciting of all is that baby #2, who now has a name and a face, is really babies #1, 2, and 4. That's right. Our family doesn't just get to grow by one, but by three!
H, S, and J are three, four-and-a-half, and six-and-a-half. They have the sweetest little faces that we cannot wait to see in person. We are so excited to meet them, and are so grateful that God would entrust three more little lives to us.
We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is where He wants us right now, and that knowledge gives us such great confidence, hope, and joy, in spite of all of the unknowns this journey holds. We're not selfless enough, loving enough, prepared enough, optimistic enough, anything-enough to do this on our own. But our God is El Shaddai - HE is more than enough.
"[We] are where [we] are for such a time as this - not to gain anything - but to risk everything." And somehow? Somehow, God is so good that really, in so many ways this hardly feels like a risk. Really, it just feels exactly right.
Friday, April 26, 2013
{this moment}
{this moment} à la SouleMama - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
