Really? Seriously?

I have already admitted that I am not a patient person.  It does not come naturally to me.  I was raised that "No" = "Find another way to YES!".  So, I have employed this strategy throughout my life - from childhood until...well, even now. 

I just don't understand why it takes 65 days for USCIS to approve paperwork.  Did you know that it says on USCIS that adoption applications are given priority treatment?  I wanted to post a link to it so you could read it for yourself, but, of course, I can't find it.

I am really annoyed that it takes so long for this process.  To top it all off, I did not mail in the fees for the fingerprinting.  UGH!  Major goof.  So annoyed with myself over that one. 

So, last week Rob called USCIS to inquire about "expediting" our application.  He said the lady he spoke with was extremely nice and told him to call back this week.  He calls today - yes, they received our application in Missouri, it has NOT been assigned a case worker, and NO you may not send in the fingerprinting fee before you receive the request for it.  I think the person he spoke with on the phone last week was totally different than the one he spoke with today. 

65 days is a LONG time to sit and do NOTHING!  65 days is a long time to wait before we are able to get a referral.  I just don't have the patience for this kind of stuff.  Just do it.  Look at the paperwork, are we at least somewhat normal? Yes, OK, schedule the fingerprints.  Yes, I will be going early on the off chance that we will be able to get them done early.  Why all the unnecesary waiting? 

Oh, and this will not stop me from calling the FBI and begging them hurry the fingerprints along.  We are good law abiding citizens, maybe a couple speeding tickets here and there, we love our kids and we are able to provide a loving family for another child. 

I have NO SHAME in asking - we have a daughter that is waiting for us in the Congo.  She doesn't know it yet, but we do.  She is wanted and I will fight for her until I get her home!

This thing is tough...

We're making progress on the puzzle that we're using for the Be A Piece of the Puzzle fundraiser, but man, this thing is tough.  Neither one of us have ever put together a 1000 piece puzzle and it's proving more difficult than we had anticipated, but also more rewarding.  The other night during our small group that we host one of the couples "bought" a puzzle piece for each member of their family, then picked 5 random pieces and signed the back of them.  That was a really special moment for us, for in that moment we went from just assembling a puzzle to assembling a personal gift to our daughter.  It has also rejuvinated us in a renewed effort to finish it.  Here is how we are progressing...

PROGRESS!!!!!!

Finally!  I finally feel like some sort of progress is being made!  Last night I received a draft of the Home Study.  It was written beautifully!  Our draft is now being reviewed by our adoption consultant and I will pick up the certified copy tomorrow!  EXCITING! 

What is even more exciting is the fact that I will pick it up, put it with our I600a and go straight to Fed Ex!  Then I will race home, scan it, and upload to DropBox so our translator can access it to begin translating our Dossier! 

I am so excited I can barely contain myself! 

I cannot begin to describe the ways God has been working over the last week.  I can’t get into everything here, but trust me when I say – HE IS WORKING!  Here is just ONE example:

I live in a neighborhood where we all try to get to know each other – become a sort of “community” in the true sense of the word.  I created an “event” on Facebook to sort of broadcast our “Be a Piece of the Puzzle” fundraiser.  One of my neighbors down the street signed up to begin selling Stella & Dot jewelry.  She offered to donate ALL of her commission from my jewelry show to our adoption!  This totally came out of now where.  How could I say no to this?  So, I will be hosting a Stella & Dot trunk show on Friday, September 14^th!  So excited!  I am also so very thankful and grateful that she would offer to do this.  How special is she?  If you love Stella & Dot, or even if you don't, my show is already "live" and you can access it here:

http://www.stelladot.com/ts/50qi5

I know that in the adoption world waiting is the norm, but I am so excited that our home study is done, our documents are in translation and on Thursday morning, USCIS will receive our I600a via Fed Ex that I am almost bursting out of my skin!  These very important steps will bring us closer to meeting the daughter God has for our family!

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting......

Well, everything is turned in, the social worker has everything she needs for our Home Study.  Now, the only thing to do is *wait* for her to write it.  Secretly, I was hoping it would be done today so that we could send it off to immigration, but, that expectation was pretty unrealistic.

I really hate to wait.  I am a "do"er.  That's just me, I get things done.  Lot's of times I don't understand what the hold up is.  I just want to know what's going on, when it will be complete and then what will happen next.  Is that too much to ask?  Apparently so! 

I "subscribe" to Joyce Meyer's facebook thing and this popped up the other day:

Patience is not the ability to wait, but how you act while you're waiting.

Oh boy!  Well, I'm pretty much a failure because I don't wait well.  I usually whine and complain about what is taking so long!  Sounds like I haven't grown up and and I well into my 30's.  There are lots of moving parts in adoption and I am finally understanding why it takes awhile.

So, I have decided I will wait better.  THANKFULLY, we are leaving for vacation on Saturday so my mind will be focused elsewhere.  We will still have access to e-mail, so our process won't slow down, but not sitting at my desk all day will certainly help give my mind a break! 

Hopefully, by the time we get back we will be ready to send the home study to immigration for approval!