The Process Update

As I promised recently, here is our adoption process update.


By the beginning of August, after months of an organizational/USPS/Chittenden household paper windstorm,we FINALLY got our dossier complete and money wired to the Dominican Republic's Central Authority for Children (CONANI). By August 27th, we received an email from our agency saying "There is some sensitive information which I need to discuss with you, so I would like to schedule a time for a telephone conversation in which we can talk."


This.Did.NOT.Feel.Positive.


And it was not.


After one hour on the phone, we were told by CONANI that "regretfully under our laws their case cannot prosper to an adoption."


Punch in the gut.


Every emotion.


Once we were able to regroup, we reached out to our incredibly committed friends in the DR to tell them and map a "what's next?" plan. Because we all believe, this is not over.


Praying and wracking my brain for next step, I thought about a family our adoption agency had told us about who were trying to adopt two girls they got to know from the DR. Of course, our agency could not share their information with me, but thanks to Google, I was able to find them! And with much excitement, I read that they had just arrived home in the US with their two girls after a three year battle for them. I poured over their blog and found many similarities in our situation.


After a few Facebook messages and missed calls, I caught up with Heather, the mom of these two precious girls (and of four other kiddos!) We spoke at length about both of our stories. She shared the ups and downs of the process for them and we planned to get our husbands together to hash out the process. So amazing to finally get to speak with someone who knows the process and understands where we are. Thank you God for this "sister." WHat an amazing gift.


Our hope was restored.


I hate to say we lost hope. But when human beings are involved, and policies seem to trump relationships, sometime we can just go there.


"Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."


There He was, as a family of 8 from Alabama...our "light." Our new hope that someone who has been-there, done-that was willing to take us under their wing and guide us through this next uphill battle for our precious girl.


And as always our "Rear Guard."