Almost time

It's surreal that we submitted our completed dossier to the attorney in Haiti on October 21, 2011,
eight months after meeting our son and receiving permission to adopt him.

A full year after meeting Sister Carmelle and getting her blessing to adopt from the orphanage in Fondwa.

This week we submitted the final documents requested by the United States Citizenship and Immigration department to support our son's orphan status.

Now we wait . . .
We have gotten better at waiting.

The next step?
USCIS will (hopefully) approve Dimitry's orphan status and legal adoption --

they will notify us via email,

and we will sing and dance and shout praises of joy.

Then,
we will wait for the final email: a visa application appointment.

After all this time and travel and expense,
this is the end of the adoption journey . . .
and the beginning of a wonderful adventure.

Along the way,
we've met some awesome individuals and families
who have shared their stories, their struggles, their triumphs, and their advice with us.

Most of these faces we will never see in person,
but thanks to Facebook and email,
we know them
and we've cried with them,
we've prayed for them
and we've rejoiced as they've gotten closer to bringing their babies home.

Soon, it will be Dimitry's turn.

I cannot believe that he turned 8 years old this week.

I cannot believe how much has happened and changed since that first trip to Fondwa in February 2011.

I cannot believe that we are finally this close to our son's homecoming.

Now,
we wait.

The Pictures Don't Lie

Time continues to pass, despite my efforts to wish Dimitry home.

It's been too many months since we've seen his sweet face or held him in our arms,
but somehow, it's still a surprise when we see photos that capture him aging.

You know how little ones go through a change from toddler to little person?
The fat pads in their cheeks go away and their jawline lengthens just enough to provide an appearance of an older child, rather than baby. It's a sad sort of change for parents and loved ones to see that first obvious sign of growth that also indicates growing up.

For the first time since we've loved our son,
(we met him in February 2011, in case you forgot)
photos reveal that he is no longer a little boy.

2010

2011

. There is no denying that Dimitry is obviously a big kid now.

December 2013

Wow.
When did this happen??

2012

Adoption Day, 2013

It's a bit heartbreaking,
not because time has passed,
but because he has done without so much for so long.

I cannot fathom who Grant or Addison would be without a mama and daddy to love them, correct them, hold them, tickle them, feed them (and gripe at them for not eating) . . .
how can this child possibly be changing into a little man when we haven't even had the opportunity to help him be a child?

And this is the newest photo . . .

January 2014

It bothers me even more.
Did he take a growth spurt?
Why is he so thin compared to a photo taken 1 1/2 months ago?
Look at those big kid teeth.
That collar bone is sticking out way too much.
I want to feed him.

Does he realize these photos are being taken for us?
I'm sure he does.
Does he know how sorry we are that he isn't here yet?
I doubt it. It's not his reality to understand "here."
Does he know that it's killing me that he is in Haiti for yet another birthday?

Dear God,
Please continue to bless my baby boy.
Cradle him in Your arms when he needs comforting.
Hold him in Your hand when he needs protection.
Watch over him and guide him. Heal his heart and his body.
Please Lord, bring him home.

Praying for the Finish Line

Sometimes in life's journeys,
it's difficult not to wonder if we are all alone on the path.

Other times,
like NOW for my family,
there is no doubt that someone is paving the way,
providing the means,
and blessing us beyond belief.

After 3 1/2 long years of worry, fundraising, traveling, politics and paperwork,
we have reached the very end of Dimitry's adoption process.
His file is in USCIS in Port-au-Prince,
awaiting approval of his I-600 application.

It sounds simple enough, but many families have known heartache, even at this late stage.

We have been asked to provide 2 additional translations
(I didn't even realize we haven't ever seen the final adoption decree and certificate),
which we are needing scanned to us from Haiti,
and a letter from the nuns at the orphanage regarding Dimitry's journey to them.

Wow
Simple enough, right?

It's been a full week without communication from Fondwa . . .
perhaps the nuns are on retreat and without internet access?

We have been so blessed by other families sharing this journey.

The K family, adopting a dear friend of Dimitry's at the orphanage,
have supported us and assisted in communicating with the nuns recently.
Even they cannot make contact.

This morning, I posted a prayer request on Facebook,
specifically asking for communication to happen so we can continue to move forward with meeting USCIS' requirements for approval.

What did God grant us?
C, a mama adopting twin dollies from Fondwa, contacted me and is leaving for Fondwa tomorrow morning.

Again I say, WOW

Despite traveling to secure evidence for her own children's approval, she graciously offered to act on our behalf to gather the information we need.

Our son turns 8 years old in 10 days --
all I want for him, is a family.
He deserves that, doesn't he?

God has this in His hands, clearly.

January 2014

Today, we received word from USCIS
(our first communication with them since they received Dimitry's file on December 16th or 17th).

It was exciting and a bit scary to see their title on my email list.

Was it good news or bad?

I am relieved to tell you that they asked for translations to be submitted (something we emailed to our attorney twice, and asked him to submit with the original documents), a timeline of our visits to Haiti, and a letter from the sisters regarding our son's history at the orphanage.

Whew

That means that our file is under review,
apparently has not been dinged for significant deficits or questionable paperwork,
and that we are making progress.

January 27th will be Dimitry's 8th birthday --
could it still be possible to get him home??

Little Boy,

We cannot wait to bring you home to our mountains,

and while it isn't Jacmel, 

we even have water :)