March 24, 2017

Yes, Jim and I are still actually adopting! Adoption is a LONG process! As most of you know our adoption was slowed when Jim took a job as a full time college coach at Ottawa University in Kansas. We recently updated our home study and gained immigration approval! After talking with our social worker at All God's Children today, we learned that our paperwork is in Pierre's hands in Burundi. That means he's working on the translation of the documents in hopes to be ready for the next committee meeting! So what are the next steps? How much longer? Here is what we found out today:

The Central Authority, committee that meets to place eligible children for adoption, meets quarterly. During that meeting, the committee looks over the paperwork of all waiting families and places them accordingly with eligible children. Not certain how many referrals are made during each meeting. Families have waited as little as 3 months, but as long as 15 months to be placed with a child. Once you are placed with a child, you are allowed to send gifts and pictures to him/her. It's currently taking 10 months from referral acceptance to travel, they are hoping to see that drop to 6 months. So basically our home study is in the hands of the Central Authority. We just have to patiently wait for them to match us with the perfect little guy or girl! The patient part is way easier said then done (ask Jim how crazy I've been driving him and the wait is really just beginning). We are hoping 2.5 years is the max amount of time we'll have to wait, but as our social worker stated today, the time frames are really just estimates. They (All God's Child) has no say in the speed of the process. They are in communication with Pierre daily receiving updates!

Pros- This gives us relief and plenty of time to continue to pay off the money we borrowed to make the 2nd payment, save for the 3rd and final payment, as well we save for our trip!

Cons- The wait!

What can you do? If you're the praying kind, please pray for our patience through this process to know that it's really in his timing. God will ensure we get placed with the most beautiful and perfect little guy or gal when the time is right!


You have no idea how much we LOVE and APPRECIATE each of you! A lot has happened in the past year and a half, but we know not only is our marriage stronger, but we're ready to be parents!


                   LOVE,
             Jim and Kelly

September 1, 2015

Jim and I are so excited to announce that our home study has finally been approved! We are now on the home stretch of our paperwork and preparing to file our immigration documents!  We continue to feel incredibly blessed throughout this entire process. It's hard to believe that we started this journey just 5 months ago!!! We need to make our next payment when we file our paperwork. We're sooooo close! We still have 140 puzzle pieces that are looking for sponsors for $30.00 a piece. Let us know if you want to help out! 

                     Love,
                Jim and Kelly

August 17, 2015


Jim and I are working hard to get the rest of our paperwork finished up. We are working on the final corrections for our home study, so this piece of our adoption process can be completed! All God's Children International (AGCI) has a goal for our paperworDok and 2nd payment to be submitted by September 14th. We are on track with the paperwork and getting there with the payment. We excited to announced that we have raised/saved $11,000 of the $15,500 needed for that payment thanks to the generosity of many of our friends and family as well as the diligent saving and cutting back that we've done.

2 Corinthians 9:15   Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

We, well I should say I'm getting  beyond anxious for this process to keep moving! Jim continues to keep me grounded on the realistic length of our adoption process. We feel so incredibly blessed that God is giving us the opportunity to be parents to some little Burundian girl or boy across the ocean! It's almost surreal to think the hardest part of our adoption process is almost over! Our paperwork has taken a lot of time and dedication. This is the largest of the three payments that we must make! (Praise the Lord!)

We ultimately know our adoption process is in his speed. We appreciate the continued prayers and support as we approach our big deadline of September 14th.

 Philippians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God

Love,

Jim and Kelly

August 9, 2015

Wow!

I've been meaning to sit down and blog for about two weeks now, but things have been hectic! Jim and I have been busy finishing up our paperwork for our home study and dossier. We are on track to submit our paperwork around September 14th as long as we can secure our next LARGE payment. We hosted a prayer night for Burundi we some of our friends. We're happy to announce that the election has concluded. The gentleman that the citizens were upset about running did win; however, the climate of Burundi seems to be calming over the matter. We are hopeful for continued peace surrounding the topic. We've also been told that adoptions are moving quickly in Burundi right now. Around this time next year, we could be traveling to Burundi to get our little bundle of joy! I tell you that we're getting more and more anxious. We'll be happy when all our paperwork is officially completed even though that will mean wait time. We'll be excited to get organized and our little ones room ready for them during that time!

We continue to ask for prayers as we travel down this path to parenthood. There was so much I wanted to blog about, but now I can't remember! We'll continue to keep everyone posted on the progression or our paperwork and next payment.


Love,
Jim and Kelly

                              All Our Guests for Prayer Night!

July 18, 2015

Today is going to be a full post because our internet has been out for awhile with all the amazing storms we've had! I need to catch up, since a lot has been going on with our adoption lately!

Last Sunday at church our pastor spoke with inspiration from Genesis 22: 1-18. He emphasized that if you obey God, he will bless you! But you have to be willing to say God, here I am! I'm yours..... Boy, is this true. When we start to feel overwhelmed or stressed about our adoption is when we stray from prayer and remembering that this entire adoption process is in HIS hands. We have to stand for him and he will bless this process as much as possible. We continue to find little blessings along this journey whether it be a donation, a nice gesture, or even extra money seems to find it's way into our checking account. We know that we stand for him and that he is and will continue to bless us through this process and help us overcome all the obstacles that stand in our way.

We hosted our small group over for a prayer night for Burundi because of their upcoming election. We prayed for Burundi's government leaders, Mugisha Children's home, and the future of adoption in Burundi. The election has been postponed again until later this month. We just pray that the election happens soon and the citizens of Burundi find peace in the outcome no matter what!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

Our paperwork coordinator from All God's Children International really believes that we're on track to submit our completed paperwork to them by September 14th. Wow! I can't believe that we might actually complete all these tasks in 4 months! If we are able to make this happen financially then after immigration and the Central Authority in Burundi accepts our application to adopt the waiting begins!!!!! We may only have to wait 8-9 months from that point which would be about a year from now that our little one would get to join our family!

Please continue to pray and help us spread the word regarding our puzzle piece fundraiser! Each piece gets up closer to our $12,000 that's needed for our next payment! 

Thank you again for everything!

                  Love,

            Jim and Kelly 

July 7, 2015

Good Afternoon!

Jim and I are excited to show everyone pictures of our first puzzle that has been pieced together thanks to all the wonderful donations. We truly appreciate everyone that has opened their hearts to help us make this adoption possible!

 Front of the Puzzle

                                          Back of the Puzzle

I can't wait to hang this and two more puzzles in our child's room! Thank you again to everyone that has sponsored a piece of our puzzle!!!!!

                     Love,
               Jim and Kelly

June 30, 2015

Back to Reality after my 12 day trip with students and families from Goshen High School to Europe. We traveled through Eastern Europe. It was an amazing opportunity, and one that I hope Jim and I can provide to our future son/daughter someday! I foresee trips to Disney World and the Grand Canyon in our near future, post adoption! Oh, those will be the days!

We have been working hard today to continue the paperwork journey. We accomplished a lot today and hope to get more completed tomorrow. We officially have 1 of our 3 puzzles put together as well. I will post a picture once it's sealed next week! :)

We want to thank everyone for their continued support and prayers! This is one of the most rewarding yet exhausting processes, we've ever been through.

        Pause thinks she's helping with the paperwork!


Love, 
Jim and Kelly