The overlying and underlying theme of adoption is waiting. And we find ourselves at it again! Since our last post we were submitted to USCIS (US department of immigration) for the first leg of the "PAIR" process (which is the US side of making our international adoption complete). We anticipated that this portion would take about a month before our case could be forwarded to the US embassy in Ethiopia for the second leg of the PAIR process. However, about a month ago we got a request for more information from USCIS, to be completed before our paperwork can get forwarded on to Embassy. Our agency has been working on getting this information, but we have not seen any progress yet. Please be praying that this information gets completed quickly and that this hiccough in the process will actually help to speed up the other two legs in the process and we are not met with any more bumps in our path!!
On a good note, we got new pictures of our sweet girl today. It looks like she's grown inches in the last couple months! That is so bitter sweet, as we want her to grow and be healthy (which it looks like she is), but it's so sad to see her growing up right before our eyes and we don't get to be there to witness it and experience it with her. But let me just tell you, that girl is CUTE!!! I can't stop looking at her pictures!! I am so excited to get to know her once she gets home!
On another positive note our sheet fundraiser that we've been doing has been tremendously successful and we were able to do two huge orders in the past month. We get a significant amount from the sale of the sheets and that has really added up quickly. We are really thankful for all who ordered sheets and supported us. We also got a very generous donation of tulle from our neighbor and we were able to make and sell about 10 tutus before Christmas mostly to people at Expedia. I also made a couple for my little nieces and maybe a few for sister as well ;). But through all of this fundraising we have been able to save a chunk of money for traveling fees, and a few other unexpected fees that have come up (we've had to completely updated our dossier, instead of just partially update it so some of the elements of that come with fees). We are so very thankful for everyone who has supported us financially and in prayers along this journey! Please keep praying for us, it feels we still have a long way to go.
