Official Hague Approval for India Adoption Granted

                                                                                        

                                              

We have not updated our blog in a while, but here we are.  This is a really slow process (AKA a very LONG paper-based pregnancy).  One of the hardest things about international adoption is that there is no due date you can count on.  At least with pregnancy you know a ballpark time frame, whereas with international adoption there are so many steps that could hold things up (or speed them up-this is what we hope for...lol) that one just really does not know when it will finally happen.  It really forces one to fully rely on the timing of the Lord, because only His hand can move things along in India and only He knows when it will happen.  Most of the time we feel totally helpless in this process because really we have little to no control over any of it.

We had an America World update conference call a few weeks back.  They had their India representative to speak about what we can expect to happen during the process and the different ways that we might get referrals.  It was good to review some of the information we had heard before and we also gained valuable knowledge concerning the future process. 

Our biggest news is that yesterday we received our official approval for India Hague adoption in the mail!!!  This means that we should be registered with India’s Central Adoption Resource Authority any day now.  It also means that we are officially eligible to receive referrals, although it is unlikely that we will get a referral anytime very soon.  Still, just knowing we could is exciting!

While the next phase is exciting, it is also very expensive.  It is not the most exciting part to think about;  but thinking (and mostly praying) about it is a must.  We have already spent several thousand dollars, which doesn't even scratch the surface on the final cost.  Part of the reason our financial needs are so great is that we are preparing a dossier (the huge file of official documents that gets sent to India) for four children.  We have said in our home study that we would be open to a sibling group of up to four children, so that means we have to prepare quadruple of all the paperwork, 
notarizations, apostilles, etc.  The paperwork part of this is very costly.  

If we actually get a referral for four, we will of course have to get 4 passports, plane tickets, etc.  Honestly, we do not have the finances at our disposal to complete the next step.  We are fully relying on the Lord to provide as He has been faithful to do thus far.  We are open and appreciative to anyone who is willing to help in any amount.  We have a donate tab to use on this blog for those who are interested.  We also covet your prayers for our future children and this whole adoption process.         

On another note, this past weekend we were so thrilled and honored to able to join in on the first birthday festivities for Aneekah.   She is the precious daughter of our dear friends Vineeth and Sarah.  There were a lot of darling Indian children at the party, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  Actually, we were both dreaming of the day we arrive at the orphanage and see a room full of children like the ones at the party.  We talked about how those children will likely respond the way some of the children at the party did; they will cry when we pick them up and be somewhat afraid at first.  We joyfully look forward to them bonding with us and us bonding with them as we become a family.

Aneekah on her birthday

 Aneekah one year later...

The latest Indian fellowship gatherings have been wonderful.  We are really enjoying the friendships we are establishing there. 

Some of the dishes I made for the gatherings included samosas with mint chutney (which was a LOT of work, but it turned out delicious and perfect), 

tandoori chicken , and fruity rice dessert.  I would say that my Indian cooking skills are increasing and improving.  I am so happy about this because I want to be able to cook traditional Indian foods for our kids and I want to teach our daughters to cook their native dishes.

Thanks to all who are reading this because you are walking through this life-changing and exciting time with us!

My times are in Your hands… Psalm 31:15