Here is an update on our adoption. There is a lot here, so I
hope it is easily readable and not to difficult to follow. Over the last few
weeks we have worked on signing and helping others be aware of the petition to
help lift the suspension on exit letters, received a couple new photos of our
son, an update on how he is doing, and an update on how our court case is
going.
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| (Image Credit to http://www.petition2congress.com/) |
First of all I am so grateful to everyone that signed and/or
shared the petition to help lift the suspension on exit letters from the Democratic
Republic of Congo. I am so grateful for all of my friends and family who have
been so supportive!! I love you all! If you have yet to sign the petition
Click Here. For me it took several minutes to
complete, but I have heard it can take less than 2 minutes.
Most important of all we received a couple new photos and an
update on how our handsome little dude is doing. He is getting so tall!! I felt
as though this was the cleanest he had been in any of the photos we have
received of him. Plus, I finally remembered to ask what language he speaks.
Even though the official/government language is French there are over 200
different languages, and most people do not speak French in non formal/official
settings. I don’t know why I continued
to forget to ask what language he spoke, but I finally did find out that he
speaks Swahili. Also, I have asked before if he is told that he is being
adopted, but up until now the lawyer has said he was too young to really
understand. I found out that the orphanage tells the children that “they will
travel to be with their forever families”, so when he plays with his friends he
says “someday I will travel”. I can’t imagine what a shocking experience it is
going to be for him to have to leave his birth home/country, birth family, and
friends to come be home with us. I hope that as he is turns four years old soon
he will be able to begin to understand a little of what to expect over the next
couple of years of his life. He is constantly in our thoughts and prayers
throughout our day, and I frequently find myself praying for his safety and
courage.
Also, I wanted to let everyone know that we are waiting on
final judgment in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the court case of the
adoption of our son. After which there will be a waiting period up to 30 days
for the birth parents to finalize or cancel the adoption. Then we will submit
the last bit of paperwork which could take up to 4 weeks. During that time we
will submit final approval to immigration (USCIS) which could take up to 6
weeks. Then we will most likely have to endure an investigation that could take
up to 6 months. After that time Jason and I will travel to go get our son (once
exit letters are being issued again) which could take up to 4 weeks. During that time we will most important of
all be bonding and getting to know our son, have an embassy appointment, have
visas issued, submit paperwork to DGM, and finally have the DGM exit letter
issued. Then at that point we will return home and be united as a family! Once
here we will adopt him in the U.S. courts and follow all post placement
adoption tasks. I am pretty nervous about the travel to the Democratic Republic
of Congo, and any adoptive parents that have been to the DRC before and have
any advice on what to expect I would appreciate it very much.
One more little thing... I have told our son’s birth name to
many of my family and friends and just a friendly reminder to not share his
name in comments or posts as it is still private, since he is not legally
adopted into our family although he has already been adopted into our hearts.
Also, just in case anyone was wondering, his birth name will be the name he has
once he is home with us. We may give him a middle name, and he will take on our
last name.
We are still hoping that this will all happen during this
summer, but if any of you are good at math it may be more accurate to say by
the end of this year or beginning of next he will be home with us in his
forever family. Please continue to pray for our family or keep us in your
thoughts! I am again thankful for the all of the support of family and friends. I love you all so much!
Photo Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
