… oh wait, I already am crying.
My husband is flying today, so he’s no help. Hope you don’t mind standing in for him as a shoulder to cry on…
I received an email this morning from USCIS. And it’s not good news.
Evidently, they need more evidence before they can process our new approval.
Evidence being state clearances from the new state in which we reside.
Evidence I was told in a phone conversation with a USCIS officer that we did not need considering the brevity of our time residing in this state.
Evidence that might possibly add one more month to our wait for TA.
UGH.
Y’all might remember when we had another issue with the USCIS… I asked for your prayers. God intervened on our behalf and our approval was issued without delay. So I’m asking for your prayers again. Prayers for His will to be done. I know that God’s plan is bigger and better than my plan and if we must be delayed for whatever reason, I trust His timing above my own.
I do.
I really do.
And I’ll be reminding myself of that daily hourly constantly between now and the time I finally meet my girl.
But knowing it and being happy about it are two very different things.
Somebody hide the M&Ms.
I am so sorry! I can't imagine how hard this is for you. I will be praying for you to get your TA ASAP! Christy
I will definitely be praying for you to get your approval SOON!!
Praying for your TA!
Praying for you. It's okay–cry a little, eat a little bit of chocolate, and know that God is not in Heaven wringing His hands over this.
He will prevail. He's the man. (well, you know what I mean 🙂 )
Praying for you and your baby girl right now. God Bless.
Stefanie ~ I will be praying for all the issues to resolve and for a quick TA! HE is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or even think, so I'm asking for an Ephesians 3:20 miracle for you today!!! Hugs and Blessings to you and yours!!
Oh Stefanie! I am so sorry. I am teary as I type. I will pray hard for favor!!
I read your post yesterday, which was so moving (you write beautifully) and thought about the number of days we have waited for our sweet Jubilee. We started looking at her in January 2008 having just come home with Isaiah in August…so we thought we shouldn't even try to start since we were only home 5 months.
We started the process in 4/08. We were granted our PA on 7/2/08. Then all the newness of Hague and then our fire and then the aftermath (still dealing with that) and having to redo paperwork/homestudy because of our fire…and here we are mid-Oct 09 and she still waits. When we started she had just turned 6. December 26th she turns 8.
My heart is sick. I know that the Lord is working behind the scenes on her behalf, but from my humanness – big ugh and many, many tears!!
So maybe that explains the extra poundage I'm carrying these days? Pass the M&M's, k? xo
I am so sorry, Stefanie…I just said a prayer as soon as I read your post & will continue to pray!!
Go ahead & eat some of those m&m's 😉 ANd here's a great big cyber (((((((HUG)))))))
Oh I am sorry about the frustration of this news! Yes, prayers!
and {{{{HUGE HUGS!}}}}
Oh no, I'm so sorry. Consider this shoulder all yours. I think perhaps depending on the state you live in, the state clearance could happen pretty quickly. My clearances from several states were VERY fast. I emailed the request to TX and they emailed it back same day after some begging and pleading. And it doesn't need to be authenticated or anything, so perhaps the delay will be negligible. A tip – you can shave a few days from your I-800 processing if you have your caseworker email a scanned copy of the approval – you can email that to your agency and get it on to China. I saved a whole week that way.
Praying now from Hong Kong,
Kim
UGH!
Yes, this is one of those times to cling to His promises when nothing makes sense or seems fair.
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
Hugs,
Holly
Of course, Stefanie. Prayers sent!!
Stef, I'm sooo sorry. I know how your heart is hurting. It's just not fair.
You can totally count on me to make this a priority prayer today!!
Stefanie-
We will absolutely be praying for you!! If it's any comfort, we ran into a similar holdup and our agency hopped right on it and it didn't turn into an holdup at all!!
So sorry Stephanie! No worries.. God has it all under control!!
His ways… are not ours!
HUGS!!!
Keisha
Stef,
I totally understand what you're going through. We hit some big hiccups with USCIS too and we're still waiting for our approval, it's almost been 90 days. I am on pins and needles trying to stay calm right along with you. I am lifting you in prayer my friend.
Love ya!
Amy
Praying you hear good news very soon and that your TA arrives right after the news!
Hugs!
Ohilda
Please know that I will be praying that this all gets worked out and you get your TA soon. Oh, and I know too well about hiding the M&Ms
Mandi
No m&m's in my house. Praying from here too. The only people getting in trouble in your new state was the dog! Tell em Chris said so!
We will be praying for you to get your approval sooner than later.
Hugs from Indiana
Janet, Kevin, Ted, Philip, and waiting for our Eli
Praying here in Wisconsin.
I'm praying!
Stephanie, I just prayed for you. The wait is so very hard. I understand. I had to wait and wait and wait too. Then God, in HIS perfect timing, allowed me to hold my son for the first time as we met in the Romanian orphanage. God's perfect timing is there for you too. Believe.
aww, stef!!! i am so sorry! will pray for God's perfect timing and His perfect peace in your heart
I know you have no idea who I am, but know that I am praying for you. I will have my girls pray for you, too, since I truly believe that God listens especially hard to the prayers of children.
I love reading your blog and so desperately wish we could adopt 1 more child from China. We were all ready to start our paperwork when DH was laid off and then the new rules came out. We were truly hoping for a little one off the SN lists. So while another child may not find his/her way into our home, I celebrate for each child that does find a home and each family that becomes richer from the love and gifts of each personality.
Sending you cyber M&Ms!
UGH!!! As one who has had countless delays in our current process, I feel your pain. Do you have any of the triple chocolate M&Ms?
I'm praying for you as you wait!
love you…
btw- no more m&m's left. already ate them. my bad. 😉
hugs~
Amie
UG! Is ANYONE as over the I800 as I am?!?!?!?!?
Breathe and take baby steps.
Praying that someone will step forward to help you speed this along.
Maybe this happened now so that it WOULD NOT happen 2 weeks before you were supposed to get on a plane…I'm just sayin'.
I love you!
And this is totally a CHOCOLTE CAKE day!!!
(((HUGS)))
praying here too
He will move these mountains
xxx
s
Stefanie-
Praying for you and Vivi. I cannot imagine how your heart must hurt. Stay strong!
Mary Beth
Oh Stef~ I am SO feelin' your pain, girl!! I'm right there with ya. We've had SO many little delays lately, but the Lord has intervened in those we remembered to give over to Him in prayer and thanksgiving. But understanding and being 'happy' about it!?…you are RIGHT…they are TOTALLY two very different things! Prayers going up, dear friend. Keep us posted. God is WAY bigger than any technicality!
love ya,
~Tanya
OK – I am on it girl!! Lifting you up and that sweet ViVi too…
Come on USCIS.. Surprise us!
Blessings and a great big hug!
And, a bag of M&M's too!
Love,
Diana
Prayers being sent your way:)
Blessings, Ashley
Oh, you poor baby! Praying is in the works over here, Honey……
So sorry this is happening.
Prayers coming from Australia!!! come on please
Oh my word–why at this stage of the game do you have to jump through more hoops??
We went through something similar this Spring while waiting to bring our son home. It makes no sense that it has to be this difficult to bring home our babies!!
It WILL get here–soon, I pray! In the meantime–have those M & M's–the halloween ones are the best!
🙂
Amy —
mama to 6
2 from China!
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov 13:12
Praying for your entire family! I'm so sorry to hear about this delay and more paper work! I know that every day counts that you are without your sweet little girl!
Knowing that God has a plan – and He has pathed the road, He will have victory!!!
The Anderson's 🙂
Oh man…saying a prayer for you right now.
I'm so sorry that this is happening! Our process was delayed a lot and I remember the feelings. But, in the end our travelmate was the best and I believe it was divine intervention! Keep your chin up and eat those m & ms if they make it better at least momentarily…
I know. I feel your frustration. We are in an ever increasing size wait box. We are 6-8 weeks beyond the worst case scenario according to our agency.
However, as with our first adoption, God's timing was perfect for that one and I know that it will be for this one as well.
Praying that you receive the peace that passes all understanding as you wait.
I just prayed for ya'll!
You know, it won't be a second too early or late, His timing.
prayers
Jill
OH, I am so sorry. I trust God will have it all worked out according to His plan.
Here's to a quick TA!
praying….
praying…
praying….
Oh no! Stefanie, I am so sorry! I'm raising the roof here at school with prayers for you!!!! Don't have m&ms but do have fun size Snickers, Milky Way, and 3 Musketeers left over from a science experiment! I personally go for the Snickers cuz they have peanuts for Protein and an adopting mama needs her nutrients!!! Hang in there and do remember that God is in control !
Stacy
I am so sorry!!!
Praying for you…..
so sorry Stef… this is so incredibly hard. i will be praying for all of you.