A wee bit excited....

It's official - we've moved onto the next phase (#145, just kidding) of the process! Our agency was quick to respond to USCIS's request for evidence and our officer emailed today to tell us that she had passed our file on to Addis........

So what happens next? Our remaining process looks something like this:

1. The U.S. Embassy will review her paperwork again to see if there is anything else they need and in most cases schedule an interview with someone involved in the case - however our case is a bit different and we are hopeful that all we will need is to re-submit some documents that we ALREADY have in our paperwork. If that is the case, the interview would be unnecessary, but we'll see. This phase of the process normally takes at least a few weeks.

2. When the Embassy is done with their investigation they issue a PAIR letter (which stands for Pre-Approval Immigration Review) this means that little miss would be cleared to go TO court because she is cleared to come into our country as adoptable. The U.S. used to do this investigation and clearing after court, but now it is done before (hence Pre-Approval). It does add some time to the front end of the process, but it is SO much better than checking to see if the child can come into the country AFTER court, and they are already legally yours. This PAIR letter typically comes via U.S. mail a few days after clearing the above step.

3. The PAIR letter must be sent to D.C. and authenticated before physically heading to back to Ethiopia to join our dossier (the paperwork that we completed back in 2012) and be submitted to court.

4. The first court date is issued (and takes place) which is with the same person in step #1 above, or hopefully in our case, not needed - just paperwork resubmitted.

5. FINAL STEP - Adoptive parent court date - this is where we get to travel! Typically happens a few weeks after the first court date takes place. After this court date, little miss will be officially our daughter and we can take custody of her a day or two after that date. 

Of course timelines on each of these steps can vary depending on the case. In adoption, there is no "normal", we are living proof of that :) I've seen some people fly insanely fast through these steps and I've seen others drag for months on end. I don't have any idea how our timing will play out, but obviously I'm hopeful for sooner rather than later!

To top off the awesome news of heading on to the next step? We got our sweet updates today.

Update week #30. 

Whew. 

Thirty weeks. Seven months. Although I am grateful for these updates, I am SO ready to be done with updates! This week I put a recent picture up on a bulletin board next to one from 6 weeks after our referral - wowza. This little miss has grown and changed developmentally like you wouldn't believe. Not weight wise, mind you. (as she has only put on 3lbs since last January and only 1/2 of ONE OUNCE in the last six weeks) Sigh. Oh how this mama is ready to get little miss home! Here is a picture from today in her 0-3month romper that I brought for her when I traveled in mid-May :)

Happy girl!

Please continue to pray for the health of this precious little one and for favor as we are getting near the homestretch of our adoption process. Also be praying for me. For patience. As time is drawing nearer I am fighting being a bundle of anxiety. I want so badly for this to move along at a good pace and get back to my gal. It has caused me to pick up a burden that isn't mine to bear......and I am finding myself daily (hourly, by the minute even) fighting to stop. Look up. And give it to the Lord. Hard to admit - but hey, you all - I am human and with that? Weakness. Times like this it glaringly comes to the forefront again. I am weak, admittedly weak - but His power is made perfect in weakness.

How.I.Need.Him!

I heard this song recently at a women's event at church.....oh my. Worth the listen.

You make me Brave

Bethel

I stand before You now
The greatness of Your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of You
King of Heaven in humility, I bow

As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a way
For all to enter in

I have heard You call my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So, I will let You draw me beyond the shore
Into Your grace, Your grace

As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a way
For all to enter in

You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me beyond the shore
Into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now
The love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me beyond the shore
Into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now
The promises You've made

As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a way
For all to enter in