I just had to write to praise the Lord for His goodness and for other Christians that love Him and sacrifice for His glory and honor! Today, we received another gift of money for the adoption. The Lord never ceases to amaze us in His timing and faithfulness. We have been Christians long enough to know that, often, the Lord instructs us to do things that sometimes we just don't want to do. Maybe it requires inconvenience, pain, sacrifice of money or time, etc. and we just ignore what He is telling us to do. Ashamedly, I have been there myself on more occasions than I would like to admit. Nonetheless, when we actually do walk in obedience to His leading, the blessings are greater than words can even describe. It is our prayer that this precious family experience a double measure of God's blessings! There are two boys in Russia and a family in Purlear who are forever grateful...
As an update..our adoption agency has our dossier (formal paper work), is waiting for one form to be completed (on their end), and then our dossier is approved to go to Russia where we will be registered and wait our referral for the boys. Are we excited? You better believe it!
Blessings to all,
Kim, Craig, Taylor, and Leah
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Fingerprints for USCIS Approval
Craig and I traveled to Charlotte, this morning, to be fingerprinted by the federal government. The fingerprinting is for a form called the I-171H and is submitted to the USCIS (United States Citizenship Immigration Services). The approval of this form allows families to bring a child born overseas into the United States and is a required step for a child to gain US citizenship. However, Russia will allow families to submit the dossier before receiving the USCIS approval.
The initial dossier was suppose to be delivered to our adoption agency today. So, hopefully, we will hear something positive on that end very soon. As for now, we have done all that we can do and will wait to hear if the dossier is approved and able to send to Russia. Then, we will begin some more document gathering and paperwork!
We really appreciate the prayers on behalf of our family.
Blessings,
Kim
The initial dossier was suppose to be delivered to our adoption agency today. So, hopefully, we will hear something positive on that end very soon. As for now, we have done all that we can do and will wait to hear if the dossier is approved and able to send to Russia. Then, we will begin some more document gathering and paperwork!
We really appreciate the prayers on behalf of our family.
Blessings,
Kim
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Apostilling complete!
We thought we would give you an update on the adoption process. As you can already see, we only post when we have a "news-worthy" event! A couple of weeks ago, we sent off our initial dossier (formal paperwork for Russia) to be apostilled (stamped with a special seal) by the NC Secretary of State. All the documents were apostilled except for two forms. We had sent these items with the attachments recommended by our adoption agency, but nevertheless, they could not be accepted. Instead, they were returned with us with corrected sample attachments. We re-submitted the documents and they were apostilled and in our hands by the end of this past week. (As a side note, our adoption agency said that rules vary so much for each state that it is difficult to maintain the correct templates for each document and country. They plan to develop a "tips" sheet for prospective adoptive parents that will help them if faced with issues such as these.)
Tomorrow, we will be sending the initial dossier to our family coordinator, who will look over the documents, hopefully approve them, and then they will be forwarded to Russia where they will be registered. Once registered, the "normal" wait time for a referral is 6-9 months. Of course, as believers, we know that the Lord is in control of time, so we will just sit back and wait to hear from Him.
In the meantime, we will continue to do paperwork and collect documents for the "court dossier" which will be used in Russia. The paperwork, literally, will never end! Even after we make our 1st visit to Russia, to see the boys, there will be documents to be collected and submitted for the particular region in which the boys reside. Anyway, the sending of the initial dossier is just one more step in the process, but it is significant in that it is necessary to receive the referral...so, we are very excited to have this one "under our belt!"
As always, thank you for praying for our family as we anxiously await to be united with our boys in Russia!
Love and blessings,
Kim, Craig, Taylor, and Leah
Tomorrow, we will be sending the initial dossier to our family coordinator, who will look over the documents, hopefully approve them, and then they will be forwarded to Russia where they will be registered. Once registered, the "normal" wait time for a referral is 6-9 months. Of course, as believers, we know that the Lord is in control of time, so we will just sit back and wait to hear from Him.
In the meantime, we will continue to do paperwork and collect documents for the "court dossier" which will be used in Russia. The paperwork, literally, will never end! Even after we make our 1st visit to Russia, to see the boys, there will be documents to be collected and submitted for the particular region in which the boys reside. Anyway, the sending of the initial dossier is just one more step in the process, but it is significant in that it is necessary to receive the referral...so, we are very excited to have this one "under our belt!"
As always, thank you for praying for our family as we anxiously await to be united with our boys in Russia!
Love and blessings,
Kim, Craig, Taylor, and Leah
Friday, March 4, 2011
Step by Step!
Well, adoption is a process...a slow one at that! As the days go by, we are making some baby steps. This past Monday, we mailed off the I600-A application. In order to adopt internationally, each family must be approved through the United States Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS). The approval allows families to bring a child born overseas into the United States and is a required step for a child to gain US citizenship. Also, yesterday, we were able to get our additional documents notarized. Notarization is necessary before sending everything off to be apostilled. An apostille certifies the aunthenticity of a signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and identifies the seal/stamp which the document bears. We will send the documents to Raleigh to the Secretary of State office which will apostille the documents.
There are a few papers in our Home Study that have to be re-done or another original still to be sent by our social worker. We are waiting on these items. Too, we have to let our family coordinator at America World Adoption look over our notarized forms to make sure they are okay before sending all the information to Raleigh. Hopefully, this will all come together sometime next week.
We really appreciate your continued prayers. We trust the Lord's timing in all aspects of the adoption.
Blessings,
Kim, Craig, Taylor, and Leah
There are a few papers in our Home Study that have to be re-done or another original still to be sent by our social worker. We are waiting on these items. Too, we have to let our family coordinator at America World Adoption look over our notarized forms to make sure they are okay before sending all the information to Raleigh. Hopefully, this will all come together sometime next week.
We really appreciate your continued prayers. We trust the Lord's timing in all aspects of the adoption.
Blessings,
Kim, Craig, Taylor, and Leah
Saturday, February 26, 2011
God's Amazing Grace!
Taylor is usually in "charge" of the adoption blog and does a wonderful job, at that! However, I wanted to write this particular blog because I, myself, need to brag on the Lord. As many of you can well imagine, adopting one child is very expensive; adopting two children (at one time) is "crazy" expensive. Craig is a full-time missionary evangelist (who heads a ministry which is faith-based) and I am a stay-at-home mom. Having a faith-based ministry means that our family income comes from individuals, churches, and corporations who financially support our ministry, each month. I say all of that to say that obviously, we are not wealthy (monetarily speaking). However, those of us who know Jesus, are wealthy beyond measure, because we have a home in Glory!
Since feeling led to adopt the boys, Craig and I have struggled with the logistics of the finances for the adoption. We know that the Bible speaks against debt. "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7) But, how do you come up with $85,000?! Yes, that's what is needed for our family to go to Russia and get these two little boys. We, quickly, came to the conclusion that, indeed, WE couldn't come up with the money. So, we decided to put it back on the Lord. We knew if He had called us to this endeavor, He must have a plan to bring us the money. So, we exhasuted what bit of savings we had and then waited. Our initial savings was enough to complete the Home Study. We had to have the Home Study finalized to proceed with the Dossier (formal paper work for Russia). The first form for the Dossie requires a copy of the finalized Home Study to be sent along with it. In addition, the cost for this one form is almost $1000. This we did not have.
This past week, we received the finalized Home Study in the mail. I could, now, send the first Dossier form. But, no, we had no money to send with the document. Today, we received (from a precious young couple) a significant monetary gift that will allow us to not only send the document, but take us through the remainder of the Dossier and provide for half of our first trip to Russia! (Russia requires you to make two trips-one to see the boys for an initial visit in the orphanage and another to bring them home.) Do you see what the Lord has done? He not only provided the money, but He was right on time! He sent the money at the very same time the Home Study was finalized. Monday, we will send off the first document with a money order.
Many of you probably think the couple who gave us the money is "well-off." Well, they are not. They are much younger than Craig and I and the precious lady stays at home with her young children. They are not even related to us! Why? Why would they do such a thing? They could have used the money for their own needs or, if they had extra, given it to their relatives. Why give money to go toward our adoption? Because, this couple values life and children. They live in a modest home and are hoping the Lord will bless them with many more children. At some point, in the near future, they will probably need a bigger home. This special, young wife even told her husband, "I will live in this house forever, if it means Craig and Kim can adopt those two boys." That doesn't even sound like a comment you would here in this "me" culture, today. They are sacrificing for the lives of two children they don't even know.
Yes, I am bragging on this couple, but ultimately, I am bragging on the Lord. He is the One who has done such a great work in the lives of this dear husband and wife and their love for Him is evident in their actions. So, we praise the Lord for His amazing grace! He is forever faithful.
No, we don't know where the rest of the money will come from for the remaining adoption expenses. There is still a long way to go. But, we stand on God's Word. "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Romans 4:21) He is able and we will trust Him...after all, the Lord is always right on time! "The people therefore was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record." (John 12:17)
Your prayers are appreciated!
Much love and blessings,
Kim and Family
Since feeling led to adopt the boys, Craig and I have struggled with the logistics of the finances for the adoption. We know that the Bible speaks against debt. "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7) But, how do you come up with $85,000?! Yes, that's what is needed for our family to go to Russia and get these two little boys. We, quickly, came to the conclusion that, indeed, WE couldn't come up with the money. So, we decided to put it back on the Lord. We knew if He had called us to this endeavor, He must have a plan to bring us the money. So, we exhasuted what bit of savings we had and then waited. Our initial savings was enough to complete the Home Study. We had to have the Home Study finalized to proceed with the Dossier (formal paper work for Russia). The first form for the Dossie requires a copy of the finalized Home Study to be sent along with it. In addition, the cost for this one form is almost $1000. This we did not have.
This past week, we received the finalized Home Study in the mail. I could, now, send the first Dossier form. But, no, we had no money to send with the document. Today, we received (from a precious young couple) a significant monetary gift that will allow us to not only send the document, but take us through the remainder of the Dossier and provide for half of our first trip to Russia! (Russia requires you to make two trips-one to see the boys for an initial visit in the orphanage and another to bring them home.) Do you see what the Lord has done? He not only provided the money, but He was right on time! He sent the money at the very same time the Home Study was finalized. Monday, we will send off the first document with a money order.
Many of you probably think the couple who gave us the money is "well-off." Well, they are not. They are much younger than Craig and I and the precious lady stays at home with her young children. They are not even related to us! Why? Why would they do such a thing? They could have used the money for their own needs or, if they had extra, given it to their relatives. Why give money to go toward our adoption? Because, this couple values life and children. They live in a modest home and are hoping the Lord will bless them with many more children. At some point, in the near future, they will probably need a bigger home. This special, young wife even told her husband, "I will live in this house forever, if it means Craig and Kim can adopt those two boys." That doesn't even sound like a comment you would here in this "me" culture, today. They are sacrificing for the lives of two children they don't even know.
Yes, I am bragging on this couple, but ultimately, I am bragging on the Lord. He is the One who has done such a great work in the lives of this dear husband and wife and their love for Him is evident in their actions. So, we praise the Lord for His amazing grace! He is forever faithful.
No, we don't know where the rest of the money will come from for the remaining adoption expenses. There is still a long way to go. But, we stand on God's Word. "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Romans 4:21) He is able and we will trust Him...after all, the Lord is always right on time! "The people therefore was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record." (John 12:17)
Your prayers are appreciated!
Much love and blessings,
Kim and Family
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Dreary day joys!
On a dreary day in February (Don't get me wrong, we need the rain!), we have a little "joy" to share with you...we have recieved our finalized Home Study! That means we can press forward with our dossier (formal paperwork that will go to Russia)!!! Yippee! We still have a long way to go, but we have just left one stepping stone and we're jumping onto another. Praise the Lord!
Please continue to pray for us as we embark on a journey up a moutain of paperwork to be notarized and apostilled! :)
Blessings from our family!
Taylor
Please continue to pray for us as we embark on a journey up a moutain of paperwork to be notarized and apostilled! :)
Blessings from our family!
Taylor
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Progress...
We are beginning to prepare the boys' room, but before we can do anything we are having to clean out the basement to make room for the upstairs stuff. (Our bonus room will be the boys' room.)
We are waiting on our finalized Home Study to come in the mail, any day! Once this is received, we can begin work on the dossier (the formal paperwork for Russia)!
Thank you for your prayers!
Kim
We are waiting on our finalized Home Study to come in the mail, any day! Once this is received, we can begin work on the dossier (the formal paperwork for Russia)!
Thank you for your prayers!
Kim
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