Adoption is "lovingly" referred to as a paper pregnancy.
Well, I think that after this week, we can officially say that I'm in hard labor! Over the last week, I've experienced a myriad of emotions. From elation, to gratefulness to exhaustion to fear to pain. I've run the whole gamut but this time, I can't medicate lol. I would even swear that I'm nesting (although you might not be able to tell it by the looks of my house). I have all of the necessary items for successfully bringing baby girl home (I think...a lot of things have changed in the last 15 years). I've organized and sorted and thrown away or donated excess "stuff" that we don't need. I've gotten some precious help from some great friends and have been blessed by so many well wishes and prayers in this last week that I'm moved to tears at times.

Today I had an unexpected trip down the road after my visa application and passport were lost in the mail. There was only one chance to replace my passport and that was in Aurora, Colorado which is about 6 hours away. At the last minute, I called work and told them I couldn't work today because I had to take a road trip. I think the tears that were flowing prompted the powers that be to mercifully grant me the time to make this trip. All the while people were praying that I wouldn't have to replace my passport and fill out the visa application again but most of all that travel would be allowed to take place as has been planned.

God's got my back!! He heard the prayers. My mom was gracious enough to go with me and she has been and continued to be a great reasoning force for me. Somewhere around 3 hours into our 6 hour drive I got word that my documents had arrived at the visa processing place.
So many people were praying for exactly that to happen, so if you were part of that chorus, I thank you! I thank you! I thank you!
There was one small problem with the application that I sent in, so I spent a bit more time filling out another application but it is now correct and in the right hands. I'm told that there is enough time for it to be processed and mailed back to me. NOW, call me a little bit gun shy, but I'm a bit nervous that the same thing could happen when it comes back to me next week.
Again, I'll ask you for your prayers that my visa will arrive before Saturday, the 6th and that I can put all of the random and furious thoughts that are flying around in my head to use. I have good ideas in there, but they just need to come out sometime other than 2 a.m.. Ha, that's my most productive time these days.

I stopped to get the mail on the way home and inside was the best mail I could have asked for (OK, maybe I would have liked to have seen my visa and passport, but that's going to be next week). Take a look!!!!! Such a sweet sight! It gets more real every day. And my countdown is now at T-9. WOW!

I'm coming for you Gracie

Yep, that's right little girl, your mama is coming to take you home!

It will be 10 months since I saw you last and I wonder about so many things. I wonder if you'll remember me. I wonder if you've grown. I wonder if you'll be excited or scared to go on your new adventure with me. I can't wait to find out.

We have quite an adventure ahead of us you and I. I can see it unfolding before us.....

This is what I know so far: I will fly out of Eppley Airfield in Omaha at 10:30 AM on August 6th. I will catch a connecting flight at Chicago O'Hare at 3:40 PM and fly Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Germany. There is a +7 hour difference between the two cities. That makes this a little over an 8 hour flight. Then I'll leave Frankfurt at 7:50 AM on Sunday, August 7th and arrive in Moscow, Russia at 1:00 PM. Moscow is +2 hours ahead of Frankfurt. That makes this flight a little over 3 hours long. Then on to Novosibirsk, Russia on a flight that leaves Moscow at 10:45 PM and arrives in Novosibirsk at 5:40 AM on Monday, August 8th. There is a +3 hour difference between Moscow and Novosibirsk which makes this flight a little under 4 hours long. WHEW!

Sometime the first couple of days after I arrive in Novosibirsk, I will have my physical which is performed by several Russian medical professionals. I'm hoping to see Gracie on the 8th as well, but I don't know what will happen.

Court will be held on August 10th and God willing, the judge will say yes and so we'll begin our 10 day waiting period. My understanding is that these are 10 business days, so Gracie will be released on the 24th of August. There are a few details that need to be taken care of while we are still in Novosibirsk. She will need her passport made and I'm not sure what all else.

We'll leave Novosibirsk on the evening of the 26th and fly back to Moscow. While we are there, Gracie will have to undergo a physical and then we'll get her Visa so that she can enter her new homeland. :) There are several things I would like to do while we are there. I am really hoping to take Gracie to the zoo. I've heard a lot of great things about the Moscow zoo, but I will have to decide if I have the bravery to make that excursion or not. I also want to tour Red Square and find something small as a keepsake for Gracie to remind her of her heritage.

Then on August 31st, one Miss Grace Clifton will make her first Trans-Atlantic flight. We'll leave at 7:05 AM to arrive in Frankfurt at 8:25 AM. We'll leave Frankfurt at 10:45 AM and arrive in Chicago at 12:40 PM. That makes this an almost 9 hour flight considering the time difference. And then finally from Chicago, IL to Omaha. We'll be landing at 4:48 pm on Wednesday, August 31st. ANYONE who is near enough to come meet us at the airport will be welcomed with open arms and tears of joy. I won't guarantee that either of us will look or smell very good at that point, so be forewarned. You can cancel now for your own protection. For anyone who can't meet us at the airport, hopefully in the coming weeks we can try to meet up with you.

The very next day, we will begin a new month and Gracie will begin a new life. I expect that she will be overwhelmed with all of the changes and other than medical appointments, we'll spend most of our time in the quiet of her new home where she'll learn to be loved and to live as a valued part of a family who fought for her and loves her more than she can comprehend. I will be establishing myself as her mother and so she will not be out of my care during this time. I will however, be more than happy to receive any visitors as I'm sure this mama will want to catch up with everyone but I feel that I need to do what I can to ease Gracie's transition into her new world. I will of course be doing what I can to update this blog frequently to keep you all posted.

God is so good! I'm getting my girl!

A short update...and some hope

Well, I think the ball is beginning an ever so slight, almost imperceptible, suggestion of a roll.

My agency, which is located in Minnesota, contacted me the other day to tell me that the judge would not require any further documents that would slow my progress. She may however require me to hand carry other documents to her when I come, but nothing that will delay a court date. The next step in this long process is a meeting. It's required for any Russian adoption regardless of where the adoption is taking place and must happen prior to setting a court date. The meeting is with the judge, the Minister of Orphans (MOE for short), the orphanage director (whom I never got to meet the first time), and the social worker who observed Gracie and I on our second meeting. I will not have representation during the meeting but I don't believe I will need to. They are strictly discussing the legal aspect of Gracie's adoption to make sure all of the legal requirements have been met and she is truly available for adoption. I never knew about this meeting prior to this call, but it makes some sense to me now.

Well, this meeting is set for July 21st. Next Thursday! Since they are 12 hours ahead, I could wake up on Thursday and receive a court date as soon as my agency checks their emails! If not, then it is likely to come on Friday. I know they will be so happy to give me a court date!!!! This wait has been hard on them too!

And now, here's a prayer request for you all.....

USCIS (Homeland Security) requires all foreign adoptive parents and family members over age 18 to be fingerprinted and background checked. Sydney and I had that done a long time ago. Everything went well and I've had that in place for going on 18 months now. Well, those fingerprints expire for Sydney and I on August 10th. I am fairly certain I will be in Russia at this time. These fingerprints CANNOT expire while I'm over there. The adoption cannot take place on August 11th if they haven't been renewed. I've sent a request for re-fingerprinting about 2-3 weeks ago, but have not heard back from them and well, it's the government, so I've had no luck with contacting them by phone. I've sent an email to the ombudsman, but haven't received a response back for that yet either. Please pray that this is easily accomplished. Pray that Sydney can get the day off so we can go to Omaha for a 10 minute re-fingerprinting. Thank you!

This little girl needs to come home!