How Much Paperwork Do We Realły Have Left?

Let me start by saying that our anniversary is tomorrow, we'll, at least as I sit here on Monday and write this it's tomorrow - who knows how long it will take me to compose this post! Anyhow, June 2, 2015 marks TWENTY YEARS with my amazing hubby, Alan!! Seriously, as I look back it doesn't seem like it has been that long. Often times, I still feel so young - yes, I get that age is relative, but most people who have been married for 20 years are at least half-way through their parenting years and here we are, not even started. I don't feel like I'm 37, but when I think about my age, it makes me wish that this adoption thing would happen more quickly, you know? 

Yes, Homeland Security Has to Say, "Yes."

In February we submitted our I-600A: Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. This is a form that gives us permission from Homeland Security to adopt foreign children and emigrate them to the U.S. Shortly after submitting the application, we rceived a request for additional documentation with an 87 day window for submission. Eighty-seven days...no big deal, right? So, fast-forward some 50 days...ish. I thought we had what we needed...I really did. Yes, the letter said "certified court disposition" but really, is that any different from a background check saying that we have no arrests? Um, yes! And thankfully, our social worker caught it for us! 

I Really Wasn't Trying to Slack.

So, we needed a letter saying that there is no record of Alan having been arrested and gone to court and for a traffic violation (yeah, that's another story, for another day, but suffice it to say - ALWAYS use your full name...always). You know, when they wipe things off the record, it's hard to figure out who to call to verify this fact! Anyhow, Alan made LOTS of calls...lots. Finally, he got a hold of the right person around April 30th...21 days before we have to get this to the government. The woman checks the records and verifies that there is no record. This takes a few days to get figured out. She mails it to us on Friday May 8th...my sister verifies this as she went and paid the fee for us. It's coming from Great Falls, 3 1/2 hours away, no reason why we shouldn't have this letter by the 11th, giving us plenty of time to get our paperwork in...the problem is, it's not in the mailbox on the 11th, or the 12th, or the 13th...so Alan calls..."if it's not there on the 14th call." So he called and had to leave a message, along with 3 other messages the following day. Finally, he got a hold of her on the 15th. She certifies two new letters, but the mail has already run, it's Friday, she can't get it out until Monday...we need it Tuesday...not going to happen. UGH, frustration!

Thankful again that I have a sister in Great Falls who goes to the court house, picks up the letter and then sends it next-day air on Monday...meanwhile...our mail had come and the letters that had been sent ten days prior finally showed up. Guess what...they spelled his name wrong, on these official court documents - more frustration, especially for Alan :/ Our social worker told us to go ahead and submit what we had so we could get it in on time (did you know it costs upwards of $50 to overnight something to Missouri??) and to just try to get new letters - just in case (on a side note, we went to GF and it took her TWO MORE TIMES to get the letter right!).

If you're skipping to the good part, here it is:

I am usually so on top of everything, I don't like to wait if I know it needs to be done. I really don't know how all this got away from me...So, after waiting a little too long to get paperwork together, after spending three+ weeks to get what should have been a simple letter, after getting the paperwork there with just one day to spare, this afternoon, on the eve of our 20th anniversary, we got a letter from the Dept. of Homeland Security...

Alas...I must trust God's timing, of this I remind myself quite frequently. Those who know me probably know that I have told God that the best possible court dates would include anytime between June and September, Christmas break, spring break...you know, the dates that would work out perfectly for a teacher! While a teeny part of me believes that He might give me a "yes" to my best possible dates, I, again, have to remind myself that these are HIS plans, not my plans, that HIS ways are higher than my ways. Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." His thoughts are higher than my thoughts...He knows the end from the beginning and He is to be trusted, as is His timing.