Agency Received our Authenticated Dossier!

We just learned that our dossier was authenticated by the Rwandan Embassy and was received by our agency!!!  The frustrating part is that 2 of the documents were authenticated with errors, (with wrong names)--so those 2 documents are being sent back to the embassy and once they are returned (hopefully not a big deal and QUICKLY), our dossier will be sent off to Rwanda!

3 Weeks

Today marks 3 weeks that the Rwandan Embassy in DC has had our dossier in process for getting authenticated.  We are hoping our agency receives it SOON so it can be sent to Rwanda! We are told we could have a referral (picture of Myles with as much information as they have) within 4-6 weeks after Rwanda receives the file--which would be fantastic!  

Random yes, I am posting a picture of my favorite tree from our front yard.  It seems that often I fall into the "next fall when we see this colorful tree, we'll have Myles home with us"--type thinking. Today I was hoping, this spring when the leaves grow back on this tree, I hope to be watching green buds burst open WITH Myles.  :)  

Family Van

We went and picked up our 2004 Toyota Sienna today so we have a car big enough for our growing family.  As soon as the kids were buckled in and we started driving home, Keith's first words were, "Mommy!  I know exactly where Myles can sit!"  We love how Myles is already a part of our family--even if now he's only pictured in an empty seat in our van.  

Dossier with the Rwandan Embassy

Today we learned that our dossier has been received by the Rwandan Embassy to be authenticated.  

2 Cute-isms

The other day friends of ours told Keith that they were expecting a baby.  This friend doesn't look pregnant at all, so I said "Keith, the baby is growing in her tummy but you can't see it yet."  Keith smiled and said to our friends, "My Mommy has a baby, but he's growing in her heart!"  

Tonight after dinner Peter asked Keith what the first thing he'll say to Myles will be.  Keith said, "I'll tell him, God loves you."  

Dossier Sent Off!

Today we went as a family to notarize our CIS clearance and then to FedEx to overnight our completed dossier!  It is being sent to Gladney Ctr for Adoption in Texas, who will rush it off to the Rwandan Embassy after making it official.  We will then wait to be authenticated by the Rwandan Embassy...(supposedly a quick thing)--and then it will be sent to Rwanda, and we wait for our referral!

  

Approved

We received our CIS approval this morning, the dossier will be out of our house Monday!!!

CIS Wait

We filed for our I-600A document with our gov't (CIS) back in April--and are STILL waiting for the approval.  We have had our pile of paperwork completed for months now.  Apparently, because our home study was submitted to them June 11, our file didn't begin moving until then. This is the final document we need for our dossier in order to send everything to the Rwandan Embassy to get authenticated. Once that is complete (only a few weeks), our paperwork will be sent to Rwanda and supposedly, only 4 weeks after that we could have our referral!  (picture of our baby boy!)  

It has been SO hard to see the pile of paperwork just SITTING on the shelf and not moving toward bringing our son home.  I have prayed for our adoption and the orphanage in general...but not specifically for this CIS form.  Yesterday is my one morning a week when both children are at preschool.  I was home cleaning and organizing and praying.  I earnestly prayed about the CIS's response--asking God to please move things along if it is His will.  I asked Him to help me trust Him more during this time of waiting and wanting for our son.  Three hours later I checked my e-mail to find  one from our caseworker from Gladney Center for Adoption. This e-mail's purpose was to tell us that they had heard from the CIS and that our forms should be to us THIS WEEK!  :)  I know the Lord doesn't always answer our prayers right away--but when He does I just have to laugh (well, actually kind of a laugh-cry!).  I am such a slow learner at Trusting.   

Love from Across the Miles to Myles

Poem written by Peter's mother, "Gramma"

Love From Across the Miles to Myles 

Little Myles, we think of you

With wonder, trust and longings too

As first sounds come to infant ears

May they be those that cast out fears. 

May others hear your infant cries,

Oh Father, move, that none pass by,

May they wrap you in bunting, tight,

Singing softly, “It’s all right.” 

Do you hear our faith-trust-sigh?

That soon dear Myles, you’ll come nigh? 

Little one, what do you see ~

Mosquito net or leafy tree?

Oh God of lightness, bring the day,

Keep to him, darkness at bay. 

Little one, what do you feel,

The touch of us, for this we kneel?

We pray for those who care for you,

So our embrace won’t seem so new. 

Little one, our love grows strong,

This lullaby, our hopeful song.

We wait and watch with grateful hearts,

For you, this gift, which God imparts. 

Do you hear our faith-trust-sigh

That soon dear Myles, you’ll come nigh? 

With love and anticipation,

Gramma & Grampa

Starting the Journey

We are nearly through our paperwork journey toward our Rwandan son, which began March 1st, 2008.  The adoption paperwork began at that point, but our journey toward our Rwandan family began 9 years ago when we lived and loved in Rwanda.  After experiencing the culture, finding life-long friends, and even having a Rwandan wedding, we knew Rwanda would be part of our lives as long as we live here on earth.  

For me, living in Rwanda changed my life on so many levels.  Especially my spiritual life, I had never seen such extreme poverty combined with post-genocide living.  The faith that my friends had who had lost EVERYTHING--loved ones, entire families, innocence, homes...were filled with JOY despite all that they had been through.  There was an intense desire to know God and be filled with His Truth.  I think when poverty-induced death surrounds you daily, the brevity of this life causes you to think about Eternity on a very real level.  I went to Rwanda because I felt that the Lord had opened a door for me to teach at an English-speaking school as well as work with a group of artisan-widows from the genocide.  I thought I was going to "help" but instead I felt that I was ultimately the one who was helped.  God opened my prideful eyes to Him in a way that broke me.  I want to need Him on a daily/hourly/minute-by-minute basis like those Christ-followers did/do in Rwanda.