Thankful IN All things.....

I debated  writing this post because it's really not that big of a development in the adoption.  What changed my mind though came about as a result of me reading and studying the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voscamp. This book is about Ann's journey through life learning how to give thanks and gratitude in the day to day things.  It's about being thankful IN all things and not just for the good things.  This book has shown me that it is possible to take time to give thanks to God even when it seems there isn't much to be thankful for.  I highly recommend the book if you have not read it.  It truly is transforming.

So how does it relate to the latest developments in our adoption process?  Well, I received a message from one of our social workers the other day that said the Intra Country Adoption Board (ICAB) has requested more paperwork.  Apparently there was a discrepancy between the home study report and the doctors report so they are asking the we have the medical reports redone,again.   Also, they wanted Luke (who is now 10 but wasn't when we had the initial paperwork done)  to sign a paper that says he agrees with the decision to adopt. My initial reaction to the request for MORE paperwork was a big sigh of frustration..REALLY?..More?  But then I realized that the fact that they are reading through our dossier and that they caught these things means that someone, somewhere in the Philippines is actually looking at our paperwork!  And this I am truly thankful for!

The past week or two I have been trying to go about life as usual.  I've kept the process and our little one in my prayers, but in my attempt to not fret and worry, I've tried not to make it the number one thing I think about.  I'm trying to really enjoy Micah and Luke and our current family of 4 ;).  The one thing that had been on my mind though recently, is "Did our paperwork make it to the Philippines?, Is anyone looking at it or is it just sitting on a desk in a pile somewhere?".  We hadn't heard anything since sending it out and so I had begun to wonder.  Well, my answer came with the request for more paperwork.   It is NOT just sitting in a pile of papers somewhere.  It DID make it over to the Philippines and yes, someone IS looking it over.  And for this I am truly thankful!

Before reading the book "One Thousand Gifts", I may not have been able to take a deep breath and look for the positive in the situation.  I think my first reaction would have been frustration and worry and it would have stopped there.  I am still not happy to have to ask for more forms to be filled out, more papers to be notarized and more signatures to get.  BUT,  I am now able to look at this frustrating situation and find something to be thankful in it.  I'm truly thankful to know that someone, somewhere in the Philippines is reviewing our Dossier and pray that this is one step closer to a referral!

"Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks IN all circumstances.  For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:17-19

If only it was this easy....

Felt closer, if just for a few minutes...

The Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C.
The boys wanted to knock on the door and say that we are ready NOW :)

On it's way...FINALLY!

We received this message today from BCS... Woo Hoo!

Nine months after beginning the adoption process, our paperwork is finally in the Philippines.  Yep, 9 months, I've given birth to a healthy stack of paperwork ;)

Dossier to Country Date Confirmed!

March 26, 2012 at 1:16 PM ~ Alison M. Adema, International Services Coordinator

Good news! On the date listed above, your Dossier has been sent to the Philippines! We will be in touch with any new or updated information as it arrives. Please don't hesitate to check in with us or let us know of any questions you have. Sincerely, Your Philippines Team

We are continuing to pray for our child, for the birth family of our child, for loving caretakers in our absence and for time to go swiftly ;)

APPROVAL NOTICE !

 Today we received our I-800A approval from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration!  Woo Hoo!  This is hopefully the last of the paperwork but what does it mean?

It means that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reviewed our I-800A form, the home study, all evidence submitted and the results of our fingerprint record checks and has determined that we meet the eligibility requirements as the adoptive parents of a child or children.
** As if there was doubt (insert sarcasm)..

WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO ADOPT TWO CHILDREN FROM THE PHILIPPINES!

In David's words, "scary and exciting!".

Lord willing, our paperwork will soon be sent to the Philippines where it will sit and wait to be reviewed and matched up with our child/children.  It feels good to almost have this part of the process wrapped up.  But, I am anticipating a long wait for our referral,so I know the hard part of this journey is still to come.  In the meantime we are giving thanks for all of the good reports along the way (I guess we are okay people).  We will also continue to pray for HC3(and 4?),the birth family, the ICAB board who will be matching us in the Philippines and for patience, patience, patience.

Fingerprints and Freedom...

We had another appointment today.  This time it was at the immigration office.  We had to have our fingerprints taken for clearance for the adoption.  It was somewhat of a strange experience.  While the immigration worker took my fingerprints oh so carefully - one by one, I thought to myself, is this what it feels like when you get arrested and have to be fingerprinted?  Only, instead of being convicted or locked up, we were there to be cleared of any crimes or mishaps.

On the other side of the room, while we were confirming our freedom, there were about 10 people of other ethnicities, waiting and filling out paperwork in hopes to gain american citizenship and be free to live here in Grand Rapids.  It struck me of how I take my freedom for granted.  We are so blessed to be where we are!

Waiting expectantly...

This is from my devotions this morning.  It is hopeful encouragement from the book Jesus Calling.  I expect it will be one that I will repeat over and over while we wait for HC3 ;)

"Waiting , Trusting and Hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain." ... "Because you are Mine, you don't just pass time in your waiting.  You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust.  Keep your 'antennae' out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence."

"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."  (Hebrews 6:18-20)

" Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  (Psalm 27:14)

Why HC3?

You may have noticed my sign off name on the blog is HC3 tobe.  I've been asked why, what does that stand for?  Well, it's our silly way of referring to our child to be.  The past 8 months haven't been all business and frustration.  We've had fun with the boys discussing possible names.

We learned in our adoption training seminar that it is important to give our child an american name to help him/her fit into our american life.  It is also important to keep her Filipino heritage as well, so we will be using her/his Filipino name as the middle name.  The Philippines does not let you choose the gender so we have to be prepared for a girl or a boy.  The girl name was easy.  We've loved this name since we were expecting Micah but never got a chance to use it.  Choosing a boy name has been a little more challenging, but fun as well.  We've sat at supper with the boys some nights throwing out names and have come up with things such as Jude, Herman, Jonah, Ezekiel "Zeke", and some that were just plain goofy.  It's fun to bond with the boys like this regarding the adoption but in the end, we never did come up with boy name that we are certain of.  We have our ideas but we also have time.

So why HC3? Well, as we were talking about our future child it was confusing to say "he", "his", "her", or just baby?  So, David and the boys came up with HC3, "Hoekstra Child #3".  It's not as cute and personal as an actual name would be, but at least it gives us a way to make "the baby" more of a reality by referring to him or her as HC3.

We look forward to the day that we get the call and are holding the picture of HC3 and say welcome "________________".