Relaxation, Anniversary & DTE Date!!!

The family and I returned yesterday from a much needed vacation.  Away from schedules, work, laundry, cooking, etc...

We spent 4 glorious days in Destin, Florida relaxing and baking on the beach!  (Yes, we did use sunscreen!)

We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary and it was wonderful!  

While in Destin, we received our official DTE date!!!  (This is so crucial in the adoption world!) DTE-Dossier (all our paperwork) to Ethiopia.  

We can start the count NOW!  7-9 months when we should receive the CALL about our precious baby girl.  This time frame can change.  Hopefully, if will not change to a further wait time.

It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.
Lamentations 3: 22-23

Good... no GREAT news!

WOW!

This has been an exciting week in our adoption world!

On Monday, I headed out to Austin to get our Dossier state certified.

I drove the entire way! Pretty good for someone who does not like the freeway...at all!

My good friend drove with me! We had a blast on our drive!



After certifying the documents we ate lunch at a Moroccan place and then went in search of a FedEx!

I was literally shaking with excitement as I was copying the last crucial papers. I was so excited that I left my credit card in the machine in Austin (did not realize until I was home).

So...the Portilla *paper* baby was priority overnighted to McLean, VA on Monday. It was received on Tuesday and our agency has been doing the last leg of the certification and authentication process.



So what happens next?

OH MY!---Our DTE (dossier to Ethiopia) date will be next Friday, June 13, 2008.

Our 16th Wedding Anniversary. I can't think of a better present.

We *officially* start the WFR (waiting for referral) phase now. As of date, 7-9 months is the expected time for a healthy infant girl 0-12 months. January-March 2009 we should receive "the call."

What I am thankful for:

Safe travel of our documents to VA.
God's continued faithfulness.
That I am at peace with the wait.

Please pray for:

Continued peace in this next phase.
Our baby who is probably growing inside her birth mommy. Also, the birth mom's health and safety.
Continued referrals from the two orphanages in Ethiopia.

Thanks for sharing in our JOY!

I heart the US Postal Service!

Our 1-171 form came in today's mail! WOW!!!!!

We are beyond thrilled. After much jumping up and down and screaming we...

Headed to Dairy Queen for some celebration ice cream. It was delicious!

What a GREAT day!

We now will travel to Austin to get our huge amounts of paperwork state certified. It will then be overnighted to our agency where it will be authenticated and translated and head off to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

We are hoping to be DTE (dossier to Ethiopia) by June 13, 2008.

The next phase is 7-9 months long, waiting for a referral for our precious baby girl.

What you can pray for:

* Save travel to Austin
* All our documents are in perfect order thus preventing delays
* Our DTE date will be established quickly
* Continued patience and trust in our Lord! Mommy has been a little week in this area!

Thankful for:

* QUICK delivery of our I-171--10 days from our fingerprinting appointment! WOW!
* The funds needed for this phase were provided in FULL--miracle of God!
* Finding Joy in this Journey. It is my *goal* to find joy daily in our journey to Ava.
* God blessing me with some AMAZING friends who continue to listen to every detail of the process-- Thanks for being there and lifting me up--I love you guys!

Words cannot express how full our hearts are today!  This is a long process but we are so blessed in knowing that God has great plans for our family!

Guess what we did today (actually Yesterday)!

This is what a happy mommy and daddy look like!

Guess what we did today!

WE GOT FINGERPRINTED!!!! It was so exciting.

After a day of phone tag with my "friend" at the USCIS, I finally spoke to her on Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. She was so nice and so helpful. She received our overnight package and promised to work on our case over the next week. She asked for my email address and contact phone number. Within 30 minutes--we had the documents in hand to go and get fingerprinted.

What an amazing turnaround!

I never dreamed (but really hoped) that we would get this important step done so quickly!

What happens next:

* We need to receive the I-171 form that allows us to travel with an orphan (should receive within 2-4 weeks)
* Drive to Austin--get everything authenticated.
* Fedex our package to AW in Virginia. Hopefully, our papers will be in ET sometime in July. It may be later or quicker!

What can you pray for:

* Quick delivery of the I-171 
* FUNDS--we need $3200 to send in with our paperwork to AW. We know God will supply all our needs.

Praising God for:

* His faithfullness and peace.  It is hard to remember sometimes but he IS in control of every detail.
* We are finding Joy in the Journey. This is a difficult and lengthy process but we are so encouraged by all that has happened so far.

Thank you to all our family and friends that continue to pray for us.

**USCIS Update**

I had my appointment with USCIS on Monday morning.  After going through security and standing at a tiny window to ask my questions--I left with a name and phone number of someone within the Orphan Dept!  I immediately called and spoke with this VIP and hopefully we will have our fingerprinting appointment scheduled sometime this week or next.  

What can you pray for:

* Favor with my contact at USCIS in getting a *quick* fingerprinting appointment.
* That our paperwork will not sit on someone's desk being ignored.
* For the I-171 to be processed in a timely manner.
* Lastly, that God would supply all our needs financially.

This is such an exciting journey.  Tulio and I have seen the hand of God in every single step of this process.  What an amazing story we will get the honoring of sharing with our precious baby girl!

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Mail Call!

Yesterday my hubby and I spent all day painting our bedroom (precious hubby was THRILLED!)

After several hours of assisting my husband (at 5 feet I can only reach so much) I needed a break! Let me just say---usually I hate being so short BUT when it comes to painting, being short works in my advantage.

"So sorry love, I can't reach any higher...can you get it."  

SHHH!!!...don't reveal my secret--we have several more rooms to paint and it is my darling's favorite household chore.

Anyway, back to the topic of this post...the mail.

I went to check the mail, hoping and praying along the way that our home study report would have arrived while I was "working."

Guess what---it was THERE!  I ran into the house clutching this precious package.  I opened it up and immediately started crying.  So much has gone into this report and it is so important!  

On Monday, I have an appointment with Homeland Security to hand deliver our report and ask some questions...please pray for a successful trip.

Check back Tuesday for an update!

Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!  Psalm 34:8

Adoption Update

We are so close to getting the finalized copies of our home study reports.  

YEAH!  

What's next?

1.  Fingerprinting with USCIS (hopefully in May).
2.  Wait for the I-171--a very important document.
3.  Go to Austin to get everything authenticated at the state level.
4.  Send everything to AWAA--they do all their "stuff" on our paper baby.  I will post all the details when we get to that point.

AND Hopefully...

We will have a log in date (LID) sometime in late July, early August.

THEN...the wait for a referral begins.

As of now, the wait for an infant girl is 7-9 months.

Please pray that everything continues to move smoothly.  

We are on schedule, with very minor hiccups.

*** Please pray for all those involved in this complicated process!  There are have been some issues with power outages in Ethiopia.  This is causing some major delays and frustration for all involved.***

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.   Psalm 9:10