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A friend and co-worker passed away this month after battling cancer for a year and a half. I was in awe of his courage and how he never complained. He never questioned that God chose him to endure cancer but accepted and embraced the journey. Seven months of chemo were endured while never missing a day of work. Some days he would be seen in the break room during lunch laying his head down or sleeping in his truck after work before making the drive home. He always gave God the glory for his strength and endurance.
God used him to draw co-workers closer together. We gathered and prayed with him and soon found ourselves praying for others and sharing our lives on a deeper level. We continue that even today. What a blessing. Thank you Lord!
We talked many times about our adoption process and he continued to lift us up in prayer. I always walked away encouraged and with a lighter spirit whenever we talked. As for his family he had a loving wife and two very young boys. The most heartbreaking part of his passing is that these boys lost their father.
It was mentioned during the memorial service that he often asked his family “Is it Sunday yet?” He looked forward to attending church and visiting with friends. Later as I thought about the memorial service that phrase “Is it Sunday yet?” clicked. Our adoption blog “Sunday Will Come”! I logged onto the blog and this spoke to me “"In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come.”
So my friend and brother in Christ - Sunday came and ended your suffering. I miss you and will never forget you. I am thankful that God allowed me to know you. Lord, thank you for using those specific words that spoke to my heart. Also, for reminding me that for his family and their grief - Sunday will come. We trust you Lord in all things!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
"Sunday" has been delayed
Yesterday was an emotional day as friends at Church wished us well. It began to hit home that we were finally about to meet our children. Larry talked with the Sunday School class about our trip and adopting the boys. We learned that each child in the class will bring their favorite food to give to the boys. Also, the children will learn some Spanish phrases so they can talk to the boys and make them feel welcome in class.
This morning we received a call from our agency that Juan contracted Hepatitis A and will be quarantined for three weeks. So our trip is delayed and we meet the boys March 12. We trust God and his timing so we will just continue to pray and wait.
This morning we received a call from our agency that Juan contracted Hepatitis A and will be quarantined for three weeks. So our trip is delayed and we meet the boys March 12. We trust God and his timing so we will just continue to pray and wait.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What a week!
Most of this week was spent dealing with USCIS and the National Visa Center. Monday the National Visa Center said they would search for our paperwork which FedEx delivered on the 11th. By Wednesday Larry was tired of being told "call back tomorrow" so he kicked it up a notch and Layla committed to search for the overnight envelope. She called back in a few hours to say they found the paperwork. We were so relieved the issue was resolved…or so we thought. Since we did not receive a confirmation email Larry called them on Friday. Layla said the paperwork they found turned out to be someone else’s.
Wednesday morning we emailed (you cannot call) Memphis USCIS to ask they resend our paperwork to the National Visa Center (this was before we received Layla’s call they found the paperwork which later turned out to be incorrect). Memphis USCIS responded that the National Visa Center probably would find the paperwork or were unaware they had processed it already. Does this make sense to anyone...uh NO. Memphis USCIS stopped responding to our emails asking they resend the paperwork. So Friday Larry went to the local USCIS and explained the situation. They called the Memphis USCIS and the paperwork was resent to the National Visa Center.
So we are leaving Tuesday and trusting God will take care of this issue.
Wednesday morning we emailed (you cannot call) Memphis USCIS to ask they resend our paperwork to the National Visa Center (this was before we received Layla’s call they found the paperwork which later turned out to be incorrect). Memphis USCIS responded that the National Visa Center probably would find the paperwork or were unaware they had processed it already. Does this make sense to anyone...uh NO. Memphis USCIS stopped responding to our emails asking they resend the paperwork. So Friday Larry went to the local USCIS and explained the situation. They called the Memphis USCIS and the paperwork was resent to the National Visa Center.
So we are leaving Tuesday and trusting God will take care of this issue.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Just around the corner
We received the amended I-171H in the mail on Friday. Thank you Lord! Our agency has another couple in the same situation and the US Consulate in Bogota issued the letter to begin court proceedings based on the amended I-171H. The National Visa Center still needs paperwork from CIS to send the cable visa to the US Consulate in Bogota. So, we will continue to check that this week.
We had the travel call with our agency which lasted about two hours. The call contained information regarding additional forms to fill out before we travel. We also talked through every step of the trip in detail so we know what to expect. It was a lot of information and we took three pages of notes. We also purchased a few more entertaining items for the boys since we learned there are a few lengthy appointments.
Today we thrift store shopped to provide clothes for the boys. Apparently, they will only have the clothes they are wearing. So, we used the year old height and weight information and an internet children’s clothing size chart to guess their current sizes. Hopefully we are close enough to provide some wearable items. We will also purchase shoes in Bogota.
We are so very thankful for the wisdom and guidance God is providing through this journey.
The coming week will be final paperwork prep and packing. Then it is off to Bogota!
We had the travel call with our agency which lasted about two hours. The call contained information regarding additional forms to fill out before we travel. We also talked through every step of the trip in detail so we know what to expect. It was a lot of information and we took three pages of notes. We also purchased a few more entertaining items for the boys since we learned there are a few lengthy appointments.
Today we thrift store shopped to provide clothes for the boys. Apparently, they will only have the clothes they are wearing. So, we used the year old height and weight information and an internet children’s clothing size chart to guess their current sizes. Hopefully we are close enough to provide some wearable items. We will also purchase shoes in Bogota.
We are so very thankful for the wisdom and guidance God is providing through this journey.
The coming week will be final paperwork prep and packing. Then it is off to Bogota!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Week in Review
Monday: Our agency suggests we show up at our local CIS office, explain the situation and ask to be fingerprinted. So, we gathered together any and all CIS correspondence along with our passports.
Tuesday: The local CIS office was very helpful. Our fingerprints were taken optically but Ramona's scores were low. The local CIS office says the fingerprints will probably be rejected and called later that afternoon to confirm it. Since we are in a time crunch, they will take a sworn statement on Wednesday when Ramona returns for fingerprints. If the fingerprints are rejected again, then this statement supersedes fingerprints. A criminal history letter from the county is also required. The Williamson County Sheriffs Department tells us that criminal history letters are issued on Tuesday and Thursday and must be requested in person. If the letter is requested on Tuesday, then it will be ready on Thursday, no exceptions. Ramona requests the criminal history letter and explains our situation and once again ask for an exception and if we can pick up the letter the next day. The response was "there are 100 gun permits in front of you". Well we certainly would not want to delay a gun permit! It was clear they did not "get it". We begin to gather, obtain notarization and make copies of documents needed to obtain Visas.
Wednesday: Ramona's fingerprints are taken but the scores are low. A sworn statement is taken. Larry drives to two counties for notary certifications and then to the state office for apostille.
Thursday: The local CIS office calls to confirm that Ramona's fingerprints were rejected for the second time. Larry picks up the criminal history letter and drops it off to the local CIS office. They say that the sworn statement and letter will be overnighted to the Memphis CIS office.
Friday: The apostilled FBI clearances and medical letters are mailed to Children's Hope in St. Louis. These will be sent ahead of us to Colombia for translation. Larry travels to ATL to obtain Visas. He dropped off the paperwork and they told him it would be about an hour. Larry picked up the Visas and the Consulate General came out to introduce himself. He wanted to tell Larry that he was very proud of us and our kindness to adopt these children. He said it would change these children’s lives. He also wanted to meet the children but since we live 4 hours from ATL that would be difficult. He comes to Nashville once a year and said he would call us to meet the children. We rarely think about how we are blessing these children’s lives. We just think what a blessing they will be to us and how honored we are that God is entrusting us with them.
We will continue to push and ensure the necessary CIS and National Visa Center approvals are obtained before we travel. We thank and praise the Lord that he made this a productive week. We know that he is in control and trust.
Tuesday: The local CIS office was very helpful. Our fingerprints were taken optically but Ramona's scores were low. The local CIS office says the fingerprints will probably be rejected and called later that afternoon to confirm it. Since we are in a time crunch, they will take a sworn statement on Wednesday when Ramona returns for fingerprints. If the fingerprints are rejected again, then this statement supersedes fingerprints. A criminal history letter from the county is also required. The Williamson County Sheriffs Department tells us that criminal history letters are issued on Tuesday and Thursday and must be requested in person. If the letter is requested on Tuesday, then it will be ready on Thursday, no exceptions. Ramona requests the criminal history letter and explains our situation and once again ask for an exception and if we can pick up the letter the next day. The response was "there are 100 gun permits in front of you". Well we certainly would not want to delay a gun permit! It was clear they did not "get it". We begin to gather, obtain notarization and make copies of documents needed to obtain Visas.
Wednesday: Ramona's fingerprints are taken but the scores are low. A sworn statement is taken. Larry drives to two counties for notary certifications and then to the state office for apostille.
Thursday: The local CIS office calls to confirm that Ramona's fingerprints were rejected for the second time. Larry picks up the criminal history letter and drops it off to the local CIS office. They say that the sworn statement and letter will be overnighted to the Memphis CIS office.
Friday: The apostilled FBI clearances and medical letters are mailed to Children's Hope in St. Louis. These will be sent ahead of us to Colombia for translation. Larry travels to ATL to obtain Visas. He dropped off the paperwork and they told him it would be about an hour. Larry picked up the Visas and the Consulate General came out to introduce himself. He wanted to tell Larry that he was very proud of us and our kindness to adopt these children. He said it would change these children’s lives. He also wanted to meet the children but since we live 4 hours from ATL that would be difficult. He comes to Nashville once a year and said he would call us to meet the children. We rarely think about how we are blessing these children’s lives. We just think what a blessing they will be to us and how honored we are that God is entrusting us with them.
We will continue to push and ensure the necessary CIS and National Visa Center approvals are obtained before we travel. We thank and praise the Lord that he made this a productive week. We know that he is in control and trust.
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