A bit of news and Why we need Sister home

We didn't get bad news today..just that they need more info...which I'm totally fine with...we are awaiting further clarification...so again...not looking like we'll have much news tonight...but I'm totally ok with that. It is amazing what God has done these last couple weeks to my heart...I have trusted in Him fully..but not only trusted in Him...but just plain trusted Him. It is just amazing and I pray that one day He'll put the words into my head to help me explain this journey we've been on...cause yes, it's an adoption journey, but even bigger than that, it has been a journey with Christ. The molding, changing, and learning of what my relationship with God is...and I am LOVING IT!

But until we get some more definite news...I thought you'd enjoy a recent trip to Bloomsbury farms...and it'll help ya'll understand why we need this little girl we call Sister home.
A big huge THANK YOU to Tiffanie Lloyd Photography for taking the first two pics.

Reason #1 Momma can't handle much more of this wrestling...Addie needs sister to play.

Reason #2 We need double the cuteness in this house, I mean really...why would you not want double the amount of awesomeness?

Reason #3 Momma don't fit on a child's teeter totter...Sister would fit perfectly.

Reason #4 Cause Sister has the coolest daddy ever and one child just isn't enough to play in the corn pit!

Suspension Lifted

As of today Sept. 26th, Joshua Tree Adoption has been lifted of the suspension placed on them on Aug. 26th! Praise God! We are all so thankful for this wonderful news. Adoptions can now continue with Joshua Tree...pending adoptions and new adoptions!

Speaking of new adoptions....there is a 6 year old little boy with Down Syndrome waiting to be adopted in Ecuador...could you be his momma? Message me for details!

Currently it is 8:40pm here...and no news from our agency on the results of the meeting today with the social worker. I am believing God. His plans for us are good...but waiting is so hard! So we wait some more..all in God's timing, right?

Will update more when I hear something! Thank you for all your prayers. Praising God for the suspension being lifted and believing Him as we wait on our next step.

Having faith day by day.

It has been a busy couple of weeks! Addie is thoroughly enjoying school. As soon as I tell her it's time to get ready for school, she high tails it for her bedroom and is so excited to get dressed and get her shoes and socks on.

She also started Hippotherapy and is absolutely in love with it. On her first time the therapists had her riding forward, side saddle both ways, and reverse! The drive home from the stable is about 20 minutes, and I got a play by play the whole way home. I think I got just as much from it as she did! My Uncle Gene has horses, and so she has been on a horse twice before, but was either with me or my Uncle...so to see her up there on her own was so awesome!


Adoption:
Since my last post, we had a very successful Flapjack Fundraiser at the Galseburg, IL Applebees. We are so humbled and blessed by all the support of everyone. We raised about $1400!! Praise God!

Last Thursday we were to be getting the official referral of Sister. However, several weeks ago, the social worker in Ecuador that reviews the family documents prior to assignment had requested some more documents to supplement what was already in our home study and reference letters. The social worker wants to ensure that we are capable to parent two children with Down syndrome. The first letter requested was a letter about family support, respite services, etc and the second letter was about the functioning and level of care for Addie. Of course, the second letter didn't get to Ecuador on time with a fed ex delay....so tomorrow afternoon our agency rep in Ecuador is meeting with the social worker to review our documents. PLEASE PRAY! If this meeting goes well and the social worker approves everything, then we could get our assignment very soon!

I know that they are just trying to be cautious...a couple of years ago a case involving a child with special needs to not go well and the child was removed from the home...so I guess they are covering all grounds....I just wish I could show them the hundreds of families that live here in the states that enjoy and love and thrive in their families of multiple children with Down syndrome. Sister is already part of our family and I just pray that God continues to keep these doors open and gets us past this bump in the road. I can't help but think of the families that have been denied their adoption of kids with Down syndrome for various reasons...having faith..

A huge praise last Thursday is that one of the families that we are walking this journey with did get their assignment. I am so happy for them and pray that even though we have not be assigned, we could still end up traveling about the same time.

The second family that we are walking this road with are to be assigned this Thursday...hopefully, but we also thought they could be assigned the last three Thursdays...so praying for them as well.

Joshua Tree has submitted all the new policies and procedures to the accreditation committee...those items were reviewed on Friday and prayerfully we hope to hear tomorrow that their suspension has been lifted.

I am really praying this week will go as we hope it could. This last week was a very rough one. Between the stress of the adoption ups and downs a friend suddenly lost their three year old daughter. I attended the visitation this afternoon and it was very difficult. There are so many things I know we will not understand this side of heaven, but I sure wish I did. If you think of it, please pray for the VanZee family..the coming weeks will be difficult, but I know that God will carrying them through it.

I am so thankful to be back in a Bible study this fall with a group of women I adore. Shalane and Sheralee are wonderful leaders and have challenged us to be more active with memorizing scripture. I am so excited to see the impact that this will have on all of us!

Until next time...

Insomnia, anxiety, and learning to trust in God's plan...

"On August 26, 2011, the Council on Accreditation temporarily suspended the accreditation of Joshua Tree Adoptions, Inc. for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the Hague accreditation standards. This agency operates in Ecuador. During this suspension, Joshua Tree Adoptions, Inc. must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Hague Convention. If you have an open case with this agency, please contact the adoption service provider directly to find out how this will affect your case. This suspension does not prohibit the adoption service provider from providing adoption services in connection with cases involving non-Hague countries.
The suspension will begin on August 27, 2011 and conclude when the accrediting entity has determined that the adoption service provider has completed the necessary corrective actions. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website."

This is the notice that is on the adoption government website...our agency had sent us a letter last Sunday night explaining the situation....since this suspension is here in the states and is separate from the government in Ecuador, our agency isn't really clear on how exactly things are going to transpire in the coming weeks....and that leaves this momma unsettled....very unsettled. =(

God is in this. God is in this. God is in this. He can do all things. We will get Sister home.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phillipeans 4:6-7


According to our agency, a minor complaint was filed in 201 that caused the accreditation agency to look closed at all policies, procedures, and programs that Joshua Tree offers. Joshua Tree got the necessary documents to them and the complaint was resolved. However, since it cause the accreditation people to look very closely at all of Joshua Tree's policies and procedures, they have been asked to make some very specific changes to these policies and procedures, and then submit that to the accreditation agency...so until these new policies and procedures are approved and in place....everything is on hold....sigh....

I've been starting to deal with some insomnia...waking up in the night and can't fall back asleep and then the anxiety is causing some ugly traits to come out, specifically at my hubby...not cool....the devil is trying to work on both Zac and I...but he's not going to win this. God Is. He Will. He Can.

We are USCIS approved and are to be getting our "official referral" of Sister on Sept. 15th. There are also three other families that are to be getting their "official referral" in a different city in Ecuador this Thursday. Would you please join me in prayer this Thursday and next Thursday as we wait and see how this lovely story is going to play out?

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; He won't leave you" Deut. 31:6

We will get Sister home....not on my own timing, but God's...no matter when that is, we will be thankful. So. very. THANKFUL.

USCIS Approved for I-800A

After two months we are finally USCIS I-800A approved! We mailed the form on June 18th and the approval was dated Aug. 19th. We received it in the mail on Aug. 24th! (this is for all those future adoptees looking for timelines...because I've been scouring the web for them! LOL)

And, of course, God used this day to further the evidence of His might hand bringing our daughter home. The same day we got our USCIS approval we received a significant donation check in the mail. How cool is that?! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us, not only financially, but emotionally as well...it's been a long road and it's not over yet. =)

So now what? The assignment committee meets in Cuenca on Sept. 15th. So we PRAY PRAY PRAY that our case/dossier will be reviewed and approved. We are on the roster to be reviewed, but there have been times that the committee will reschedule their meeting, or not review all the cases, etc, etc...so we are asking for prayer that the committee does meet on the 15th and that they do review and approve our case!!

Once we are approved with the assignment committee we will get the "official referral" of our little girl. We then submit that referral back to USCIS here in the states and wait for approval of Sister....praying that it doesn't take the 2 months that it took for Zac and I to be approved. Once Sister is USCIS approved we will send that back to Ecuador and then we get a travel date! We are nearing these final steps. So exciting but so much to be praying that all goes without hiccups so that we can spend Christmas in IOWA with our girls! Can I just say how much I enjoy typing GIRLS!!! LOVE IT!!!

We are still throwing around the idea of taking Addie with us...but there are so many what ifs. 6 -8 weeks without her momma would be very hard on her and then to have me come home with another child would just not go well. But with her heart issues she can't be a certain elevations, so I have to check with her cardiologist to get his input. Our pediatrician is willing to send a prescription with us to use if she were to get sick so we could avoid a trip to the dr....but I just don't know what the best answer is and I have yet to feel like God is really pushing us one way or the other. I know that it would be easier on Sister to have the sole attention of Zac and I, but again, I just don't know...something to continue to pray about...

We have a fundraiser coming up on Sept. 17th back in IL where Zac and I grew up at the Applebees in Galseburg. They do "Flapjack Fundraisers"....tickets are $5 and we give Applebees $1 for each ticket sold and the rest is ours...so it's a pretty good deal! Just have to help bus tables and that's it! So if you're in the area, come join us! Sept. 17th 8am-10am.

In non-adoption news Addie has started school and is LOVING it. She comes home so happy and content and her teach has been awesome. She is also riding the bus, which was a very hard decision, but once Sister comes home she'd have to ride the bus then, so we decided that it would be best to start now so it's not such a change later....but the good news is she loves riding the bus and the driver and his rider (picture your grandma and grandpa) are amazing. Every day when they come to drop her off, as the doors of the bus open I always here Addie yelling MOMMA!!! and waving her hands real big...yeah, that will NEVER get old! Love that kid.

Online fundraiser to be coming very soon! Our last push to Bring Sister Home!!!