Mary at Holt called on Monday and said Victoria's passport should take a minimum of 15 days and that VCT filed for it on Sept. 3. It should be here NOW!!! We also got ICPC approval today, so now all we're waiting on is her passport. Fed-Ex also delivered the original court order and birth affidavit to us today. An exciting day of progress, but still waiting on the final call!!!
We're headed up to Michigan this weekend for Christy's wedding. Looking forward to hanging with the family, but I may be talking to our travel agent during the ceremony. :)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Verbal ICPC
Found out today that we have verbal ICPC approval. Holt should be receiving the written approval soon. And prayerfully Victoria's passport, too. I'm believing we're going to get "the call" within the next 2 weeks!!! Pray that all our travel plans, including Melissa's parents', fall together once we can book our tickets.
So much to think about and prepare for. We're putting together a "surprise jar" for Will and Logan while we're gone. Every other day or so they can pull a paper out of the jar on which will be written something special for them to find or do.... We're trying to make this time an adventure in their little lives. It hit me last night that we will be leaving them for about 18 days - and soooo far away. UGH!! I'm thankful they will be making priceless memories with their grandparents and I know our trip will be so busy and exciting that we'll soon be back home with them. And I will refrain from crying until we are down the road. God is faithful to keep us close while we're far apart.
So much to think about and prepare for. We're putting together a "surprise jar" for Will and Logan while we're gone. Every other day or so they can pull a paper out of the jar on which will be written something special for them to find or do.... We're trying to make this time an adventure in their little lives. It hit me last night that we will be leaving them for about 18 days - and soooo far away. UGH!! I'm thankful they will be making priceless memories with their grandparents and I know our trip will be so busy and exciting that we'll soon be back home with them. And I will refrain from crying until we are down the road. God is faithful to keep us close while we're far apart.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Written Guardianship!!!
Oh, my, I should have updated this a couple weeks ago! The judge in Bangalore issued written guardianship of Victoria to us on Sept. 3rd!!!! It is very surreal as we read over the 5 page document.
My favorite part: "The petition is allowed. The petitioners 1 and 2 (that's Billy and I) are hereby appointed as the guardians of the minor female child Victoria Rani born on 15.07.2005 with permission to remove the said minor out of jurisdiction of this court, out of India to the USA..."
Hallelujah! Glory to God! She all ours!! The document even refers to Will and Logan. :)
It took us longer than expected to get the written document, but we are getting so close to traveling now! VCT should have Victoria's passport in the next 2 weeks. We are also waiting for ICPC (stateside approval) which will take 1-3 weeks. After these 2 documents are received, we will book our travel and leave within about 2 weeks. In summary, we should be leaving within 6 weeks to get our girl!
Our suitcases are downstairs being filled up, documents are being assembled and photocopied, ideas are being put in the surprise jar for Will and Logan and many prayers are going up!
We sent Victoria what is prayerfully her last card, stickers and pictures. We took a picture of a doll and blanket we're bringing to her. My sister-in-law Julie helped me pick out the doll which has a little puppy and purse with it. It seems so "Victoria".
We are also able to take a gift for another child in foster care in Bangalore from his family here in America who is adopting him. It was like Christmas for me as I opened my friend's package to see what her son would be receiving. A truck, M&M's, disposable cameras and pictures of his forever family.
This wait will come to an end as some point and we'll have Victoria home sweet home.
My favorite part: "The petition is allowed. The petitioners 1 and 2 (that's Billy and I) are hereby appointed as the guardians of the minor female child Victoria Rani born on 15.07.2005 with permission to remove the said minor out of jurisdiction of this court, out of India to the USA..."
Hallelujah! Glory to God! She all ours!! The document even refers to Will and Logan. :)
It took us longer than expected to get the written document, but we are getting so close to traveling now! VCT should have Victoria's passport in the next 2 weeks. We are also waiting for ICPC (stateside approval) which will take 1-3 weeks. After these 2 documents are received, we will book our travel and leave within about 2 weeks. In summary, we should be leaving within 6 weeks to get our girl!
Our suitcases are downstairs being filled up, documents are being assembled and photocopied, ideas are being put in the surprise jar for Will and Logan and many prayers are going up!
We sent Victoria what is prayerfully her last card, stickers and pictures. We took a picture of a doll and blanket we're bringing to her. My sister-in-law Julie helped me pick out the doll which has a little puppy and purse with it. It seems so "Victoria".
We are also able to take a gift for another child in foster care in Bangalore from his family here in America who is adopting him. It was like Christmas for me as I opened my friend's package to see what her son would be receiving. A truck, M&M's, disposable cameras and pictures of his forever family.
This wait will come to an end as some point and we'll have Victoria home sweet home.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
It's About Blue, Too!
I want to comment on how awesome Will and Logan are! They think getting their new sister is the greatest thing ever. I'm so proud of how they have helped and have chosen to sacrifice in their own little ways for her: Making sure she gets a girlie sticker at the bank, setting out all her pictures with their sports trophies, saving fruit snacks for her, drawing pictures for her, helping in all aspects of preparing her room from painting to moving stuff to setting out her dolls, praying for her every night for almost 2 years....the list goes on and on.
Each time we get a new picture of Victoria, Logan HAS TO have a copy for himself. He has them all counted up and knows at any given time just how many pictures we have received of her.
When I made her bed up for the first time, Logan saw it first and ran to get Will saying, "Will, I gotta show you something right now!" Just tonight a good friend of ours, Jacky Hawkins, stopped over and I told her I wanted to show her Victoria's room. Both boys jumped up from eating their snack at the table and ran ahead in order to give her the grand tour of all the "princess pink".
Sometimes they say her name, Victoria, with a funny accent - like the Indian lady does in her referral video. It's so cute. They like to "pat her head" in her pictures or on the computer and they imagine just how tall she is (or isn't) compared to them. They have played with her toys and "washed" her play kitchen. They're ready to play with HER!
They want her to sleep on a mattress on their floor when she comes home. (We're hoping for this for a while to help with bonding.) They even offered to paint part of their room pink or put up a princess poster. We told them their room was theirs and they could keep it how they want it. (I'm thinking they would have had some regrets as soon as a friend came over.)
Please pray for them over the next few months. They will surely miss us when we travel and having Victoria home will be a big adjustment for them. In ways they will sacrifice more, but what they are gaining is so much greater. Pray they will continue to see how wonderful it is to have a little sister. Pray that they will bond quickly with her. Pray their love for her will grow and grow as she molds into our family. Pray that the compassion they already have will grow and pray for understanding beyond their years. Pray they will simply have fun with her as soon as she gets home. We've heard "the stories", but our God is greater and we're believing for a "supernatural" reunion and adjustment.
We are thankful for friends who have blessed our boys in the past few months. When I came home from Victoria's shower, Will was there asking if he could help bring things in. Little did he know there were some things for him, too! What a pleasant surprise for the boys to be blessed on such a special day.
When we first sought the Lord on whether to adopt or not, our first concern was how it would affect Will and Logan and if this is what God's will was for them. We know, without a doubt, what an amazing gift God is not only giving us as parents, but is giving to them. Any parent wants to "spoil" their children with good gifts. How much more does God want to bless us. We're so thankful that God is blessing Will and Logan in such an incredible and creative way. Words can't express what's in my heart. My heart is overflowing with love for my children and for my awesome God!
I can't imagine going through this wait without my boys. They have enriched this process for us in so many ways, have made it more fun and have added so much meaning to it. They don't realize how they "carry" their mama at times. Maybe they will some day. Just by being funny, keeping me too busy, hanging out together or hearing them pray for their sister to come home soon. When I have doubted, they have continued to speak it forth.
Yes, it is true, the pink would not be here without the blue!!
Each time we get a new picture of Victoria, Logan HAS TO have a copy for himself. He has them all counted up and knows at any given time just how many pictures we have received of her.
When I made her bed up for the first time, Logan saw it first and ran to get Will saying, "Will, I gotta show you something right now!" Just tonight a good friend of ours, Jacky Hawkins, stopped over and I told her I wanted to show her Victoria's room. Both boys jumped up from eating their snack at the table and ran ahead in order to give her the grand tour of all the "princess pink".
Sometimes they say her name, Victoria, with a funny accent - like the Indian lady does in her referral video. It's so cute. They like to "pat her head" in her pictures or on the computer and they imagine just how tall she is (or isn't) compared to them. They have played with her toys and "washed" her play kitchen. They're ready to play with HER!
They want her to sleep on a mattress on their floor when she comes home. (We're hoping for this for a while to help with bonding.) They even offered to paint part of their room pink or put up a princess poster. We told them their room was theirs and they could keep it how they want it. (I'm thinking they would have had some regrets as soon as a friend came over.)
Please pray for them over the next few months. They will surely miss us when we travel and having Victoria home will be a big adjustment for them. In ways they will sacrifice more, but what they are gaining is so much greater. Pray they will continue to see how wonderful it is to have a little sister. Pray that they will bond quickly with her. Pray their love for her will grow and grow as she molds into our family. Pray that the compassion they already have will grow and pray for understanding beyond their years. Pray they will simply have fun with her as soon as she gets home. We've heard "the stories", but our God is greater and we're believing for a "supernatural" reunion and adjustment.
We are thankful for friends who have blessed our boys in the past few months. When I came home from Victoria's shower, Will was there asking if he could help bring things in. Little did he know there were some things for him, too! What a pleasant surprise for the boys to be blessed on such a special day.
When we first sought the Lord on whether to adopt or not, our first concern was how it would affect Will and Logan and if this is what God's will was for them. We know, without a doubt, what an amazing gift God is not only giving us as parents, but is giving to them. Any parent wants to "spoil" their children with good gifts. How much more does God want to bless us. We're so thankful that God is blessing Will and Logan in such an incredible and creative way. Words can't express what's in my heart. My heart is overflowing with love for my children and for my awesome God!
I can't imagine going through this wait without my boys. They have enriched this process for us in so many ways, have made it more fun and have added so much meaning to it. They don't realize how they "carry" their mama at times. Maybe they will some day. Just by being funny, keeping me too busy, hanging out together or hearing them pray for their sister to come home soon. When I have doubted, they have continued to speak it forth.
Yes, it is true, the pink would not be here without the blue!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Good News (second time around)!!!!
The judge issued verbal guardianship yesterday!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!! I had sent Mary an e-mail early in the morning asking about the court hearings and signed it: "Believing for good news, Melissa" even though I wasn't 'feeling' it. But I knew to just BELIEVE even when it's looking bleak. And sure enough, she called that afternoon with the news. God has once again given us favor with a judge. Even though it appeared he or she might take their time, our case has gone quickly through the courts. Pray writtens are granted in a timely manner as well.
Our possible timeline:
2 weeks for the written court order to be issued
2-4 weeks for passport and ICPC
can book travel after that
Billy's sister's wedding in Michigan the last weekend of Sept.
Pray we can travel the first week of October!!!!!
Pray for :
The rest of the court process
Financial favor and good airline tickets and hotel rooms
Will and Logan to continue to feel secure as we prepare to leave
Victoria's tender heart
And however else God leads you. We still need prayer - probably even more than before!
My girl's coming home!!!!!
Our possible timeline:
2 weeks for the written court order to be issued
2-4 weeks for passport and ICPC
can book travel after that
Billy's sister's wedding in Michigan the last weekend of Sept.
Pray we can travel the first week of October!!!!!
Pray for :
The rest of the court process
Financial favor and good airline tickets and hotel rooms
Will and Logan to continue to feel secure as we prepare to leave
Victoria's tender heart
And however else God leads you. We still need prayer - probably even more than before!
My girl's coming home!!!!!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Progress Report
We received our quarterly progress report on Victoria. She has put on 1 pound which brings her to a whopping 25# and 33". Our little peanut is still in a size 2T. But she is healthy and happy. Her speech is improving as well and there was no comment on her motor skills. We believe her growth over the past year has helped in that area. Part of her report said:
"Victoria is fond of pet animals like cat and Dog.She also loves to watch Cartoon
network on TV. She loves to sing and dance. As per her foster sister she is open
to learning new things.She likes to eat non veg food and prefers spicy food to
sweets. The child says words like Amma, Appa, come , go and Kasu (money).
She can use more than two words and make a sentence."
She doesn't appear to be enjoying her headband in the picture. We have yet to see a picture of her with a full-blown smile, but are looking forward to seeing one in person. We pray this is the last report we get. Prayerfully we'll be the ones giving the reports back to India soon.
Setting Out the Dolls
Victoria's room is sooooo close to completely done - finish work and all. We got out some toys and dolls the other day. The boys have been looking forward to this for quite some time. Will bought Victoria a doll at his classroom store last year. They had so much fun setting out some of her things and even playing with her dolls. It was so sweet!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)
