The APPOINTMENT is finally here!!! Prayers have been answered and I appreciate all the prayers.
So, I have been working on my VISA paperwork and I was waiting on the "letter of invitation" from my agency before I could send it all off. I had not received it yet as of the 16th of December, so I decided to call my agency and check on it and ask a few questions about the Visa paperwork. As I was talking to the agency, they sent me the letter and also told me that they would be hearing about some embassy appointments later that day. I was extrememly excited and couldn't wait to hear if it was mine or not. So, the day passed and I didn't hear anything, but hoping for something the next day. Well, the next morning came and still nothing, so I assumed I wasn't one of the ones having their embassy appointments. I decided to email, because that is what a freaking out, ready to get her baby girl home, mom does! :) I got a RESPONSE!!! It stated that her appointment was THIS FRIDAY!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I had another screaming moment!!!
What this means to me, is that since her appointment is this week then my dad and I should be traveling on the 6th of January!!! That is 2 1/2 weeks away!!! This is a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for me!!
God is so good!! Thanks everyone for your prayers and support on this journey!! God bless you!!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Pictures and APPROVAL!!
So the story goes!!
Well, yesterday morning I woke up out of a dead sleep and had to check my phone at 4:30am. Do you want to know what I found?????? :) It was the EMAIL that I had been longing for for almost 7 weeks. It was an update on my sweet Amayah (Egide) and beautiful pictures of her. She was smiling which made this momma extremely happy and truly that smile melted my heart. I had been hoping to see that smile! So, you can probably understand why it would be hard to go back to sleep. I am pretty sure I stayed awake for almost an hour and then I finally went back to sleep, which then I didn't hear my alarm or maybe I did and turned it off but I overslept!! Oops!
I think the smile on my face told everyone that I had got some news because they were all asking today if I had heard anything. If they didn't ask I didn't hesitate to share. haha! Even though I was excited about the pictures, I was still hoping for the approval for my I600-to get my visa and for her to get her appointment to get hers.
Well, it was a long day of school, basketball practice, and then a basketball game. I finally got home and checked my mail!!! IT WAS THERE!! THE APPROVAL! I am pretty sure everyone in my neighborhood heard the scream of excitement. I was jumping up and down and turning flips(lol just kidding....I would hurt something), but I was screaming and jumping up and down. I then had to call everyone in my family and friends and we did the screaming together. I think everyone is about ready for her to be here!! :) I got the approval scanned and sent to my agency and they are working on everything else now.
I have no way of knowing when I will for sure be traveling, but my hope is to be going at the first-middle of January!! Although, this journey has been extremely hard at times and sometimes I wonder if I can really do this, God reminds me I can!! GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME....AND ALL THE TIME....GOD IS GOOD!!!
Continue to pray for me and Amayah and everyone else that is going through this process, because until they are home with you things are uneasy. Thanks and be blessed!
Chasity
Well, yesterday morning I woke up out of a dead sleep and had to check my phone at 4:30am. Do you want to know what I found?????? :) It was the EMAIL that I had been longing for for almost 7 weeks. It was an update on my sweet Amayah (Egide) and beautiful pictures of her. She was smiling which made this momma extremely happy and truly that smile melted my heart. I had been hoping to see that smile! So, you can probably understand why it would be hard to go back to sleep. I am pretty sure I stayed awake for almost an hour and then I finally went back to sleep, which then I didn't hear my alarm or maybe I did and turned it off but I overslept!! Oops!
I think the smile on my face told everyone that I had got some news because they were all asking today if I had heard anything. If they didn't ask I didn't hesitate to share. haha! Even though I was excited about the pictures, I was still hoping for the approval for my I600-to get my visa and for her to get her appointment to get hers.
Well, it was a long day of school, basketball practice, and then a basketball game. I finally got home and checked my mail!!! IT WAS THERE!! THE APPROVAL! I am pretty sure everyone in my neighborhood heard the scream of excitement. I was jumping up and down and turning flips(lol just kidding....I would hurt something), but I was screaming and jumping up and down. I then had to call everyone in my family and friends and we did the screaming together. I think everyone is about ready for her to be here!! :) I got the approval scanned and sent to my agency and they are working on everything else now.
I have no way of knowing when I will for sure be traveling, but my hope is to be going at the first-middle of January!! Although, this journey has been extremely hard at times and sometimes I wonder if I can really do this, God reminds me I can!! GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME....AND ALL THE TIME....GOD IS GOOD!!!
Continue to pray for me and Amayah and everyone else that is going through this process, because until they are home with you things are uneasy. Thanks and be blessed!
Chasity
Friday, November 30, 2012
Holiday Season
Happy 6 Months to my baby girl!!!
Well, holiday season is here and I love the holidays!!! This year though things that I love doing and being a part of is hard to enjoy because all I want is to have Amayah enjoying these things with me.
There was Thanksgiving which in my family is just a very relaxing holiday and if you can make it to the parents great, but if you can't then we will see you at Christmas. Thanksgiving this year consisted of Dad, Mom, myself, Joshua (brother), Danielle (sis in law), and their daughter Harper. Harper is one month and 3 days older than Amayah. I'm so excited they are so close in age! I know they will be the best of friends!!:) While home I got an email from the agency just letting the families know of the kiddos in the DRC are all safe, and they are keeping up with all the fighting that is going on. They will take action to keep the kiddos safe if it comes to that point. We got the Christmas lights put up on the parents house, so I considered myself the favorite daughter for the day at least since I was the one who helped dad put them up. I love getting they one on one still with my parents! I have to admit I have some wonderful parents!! I am so thankful that my dad is getting to go with me to bring Amayah home. Looking forward to that day!! Well, on Thanksgiving day we have the tradition to enjoy the Black Friday shopping! It's not about the shopping for us but the fellowship that we have during that time with each other. So we got it going at about 2:30am. I finished up at 7:30am and then headed home to sleep for a bit. My goal for the weekend was to get up the Christmas decorations!! I had to keep myself busy because when I was not doing something I would start thinking about how I want Amayah here right now enjoying the Holiday with me and I would just get very emotional! I know The Lord is taking care of her until we finally come together!! So I got the Christmas decorations up and the house cleaned!! Amayah's room a little more organized and her baby Einstein put together!!! Yay!! My nephew, Noah was born over the Thanksgiving holiday!! So glad he has made his appearance.
I don't want to go another holiday without my sweet baby girl, but I know if I have too that it is all in God's timing! I pray that God would continue to watch over all our kiddos that are at the transition house or not quite made it there yet. I also pray for all the families that are in the same boat that I am in. This journey is such an emotional journey, but know that the day you get to bring your kiddo home is going to be the best day ever!! Oh how we long for that day!! I pray they we all get pics soon to ease our hearts and minds!
Thanks for all your support!!
BLESSINGS!
Chasity
Well, holiday season is here and I love the holidays!!! This year though things that I love doing and being a part of is hard to enjoy because all I want is to have Amayah enjoying these things with me.
There was Thanksgiving which in my family is just a very relaxing holiday and if you can make it to the parents great, but if you can't then we will see you at Christmas. Thanksgiving this year consisted of Dad, Mom, myself, Joshua (brother), Danielle (sis in law), and their daughter Harper. Harper is one month and 3 days older than Amayah. I'm so excited they are so close in age! I know they will be the best of friends!!:) While home I got an email from the agency just letting the families know of the kiddos in the DRC are all safe, and they are keeping up with all the fighting that is going on. They will take action to keep the kiddos safe if it comes to that point. We got the Christmas lights put up on the parents house, so I considered myself the favorite daughter for the day at least since I was the one who helped dad put them up. I love getting they one on one still with my parents! I have to admit I have some wonderful parents!! I am so thankful that my dad is getting to go with me to bring Amayah home. Looking forward to that day!! Well, on Thanksgiving day we have the tradition to enjoy the Black Friday shopping! It's not about the shopping for us but the fellowship that we have during that time with each other. So we got it going at about 2:30am. I finished up at 7:30am and then headed home to sleep for a bit. My goal for the weekend was to get up the Christmas decorations!! I had to keep myself busy because when I was not doing something I would start thinking about how I want Amayah here right now enjoying the Holiday with me and I would just get very emotional! I know The Lord is taking care of her until we finally come together!! So I got the Christmas decorations up and the house cleaned!! Amayah's room a little more organized and her baby Einstein put together!!! Yay!! My nephew, Noah was born over the Thanksgiving holiday!! So glad he has made his appearance.
a little bit of Christmas decor
clothes for the future!! :)
baby einstein!! Can't wait for her to be playing in it!!!
I don't want to go another holiday without my sweet baby girl, but I know if I have too that it is all in God's timing! I pray that God would continue to watch over all our kiddos that are at the transition house or not quite made it there yet. I also pray for all the families that are in the same boat that I am in. This journey is such an emotional journey, but know that the day you get to bring your kiddo home is going to be the best day ever!! Oh how we long for that day!! I pray they we all get pics soon to ease our hearts and minds!
Thanks for all your support!!
BLESSINGS!
Chasity
Monday, November 5, 2012
Another Step......
The journey continues, but we have moved on to the last big step in the adoption!!! On Thursday, October 25, 2012 I sent of my Immigration paperwork. I was told once I got that to them that things could move really fast!!! I thought to myself, " I wonder if their fast is the same thing as my fast."
October 24th......Running around like a crazy person trying to get everything together for the immigration process, because I knew that on Thursday I would not have time to do any of the paperwork except for send it off. Made multiple calls to the agency to make sure that I was doing it correct. So at 6:00pm THE PAPERWORK WAS COMPLETED!!!
What this paperwork means is......Amayah can be scheduled for her embassy appointment in Congo, which the attorney will take her too. I used to would have had to be there, but they changed it to where just the attorney could take the child. After the embassy appointment then she will receive her VISA. That means I will get to go and get her as soon as she receives her VISA!!! I cannot wait for that day to be here.
She is 5 months old and she is changing all the time. I can't believe how big she is getting. The last report I got she was 14.7 lbs and 61 cm long. So I have a niece that is 6 months old and she is a pound lighter but the same length, so that means Amayah is a little bigger than her and month younger!!:)
I had my shower on Nov.4th and got lots of great things! I am very appreciative of all the support from friends and family on this amazing journey. I hope you enjoy the new pics of Amayah!! :)
October 24th......Running around like a crazy person trying to get everything together for the immigration process, because I knew that on Thursday I would not have time to do any of the paperwork except for send it off. Made multiple calls to the agency to make sure that I was doing it correct. So at 6:00pm THE PAPERWORK WAS COMPLETED!!!
What this paperwork means is......Amayah can be scheduled for her embassy appointment in Congo, which the attorney will take her too. I used to would have had to be there, but they changed it to where just the attorney could take the child. After the embassy appointment then she will receive her VISA. That means I will get to go and get her as soon as she receives her VISA!!! I cannot wait for that day to be here.
She is 5 months old and she is changing all the time. I can't believe how big she is getting. The last report I got she was 14.7 lbs and 61 cm long. So I have a niece that is 6 months old and she is a pound lighter but the same length, so that means Amayah is a little bigger than her and month younger!!:)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
She Made it to KINSHASA!!
Hey everyone!! I got some great news on October 5th!! I emailed the agency to find out if they knew when they might move my angel to the transition house. I got a response stating "that they were moving some kiddos today and the rest over the weekend." That meant that Amayah was being moved really soon. I figured if she was the one moving that day I would have known, but later that day I found out she had made it safely to Kinshasa!!!! That made me super excited!!! So not it looks like I will be receiving regular medical updates and pictures. YAY! I get to see my little angel growing on a regular basis.
The transition house is where I will be picking her up from, but I still have a few other things I have to do. I need to get my Visa and she will have an embassy appointment, get her passport, and her visa!! Hopefully by first of December I will be traveling with my dad :) to pick up Amayah Grace!!!
I will write more soon when I get more information!!
Continued prayers would be greatly appreciated!
The transition house is where I will be picking her up from, but I still have a few other things I have to do. I need to get my Visa and she will have an embassy appointment, get her passport, and her visa!! Hopefully by first of December I will be traveling with my dad :) to pick up Amayah Grace!!!
I will write more soon when I get more information!!
Continued prayers would be greatly appreciated!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Journey has been AMAZING thus far....
The timeline of this Journey so far.....
January 25, 2012- Sent in for Adoption Application
February-March-filling out lots of paperwork for agency as well as the Homestudy.
April 26, 2012- Homestudy is ready to be picked up!!
May 22, 2012- Dossier packet was completely ready to be sent off....so off it went!!! :)
June 4th, 2012- The Dossier packet was sent to agency to be translated.
June 8, 2012- Got the BEST news EVER! My baby girl had been born on May 30th, and I received pictures of my angel!!! Very big SMILES and tears of joy were shed!! So the waiting game began!
June 25, 2012- Sent off first care package!! (She needed some girlie clothes)
June 29, 2012- Dossier was sent off to Congo!!
July 12, 2012- Dossier submitted to court in Mbuji Mayi (waiting for judge to sign for approval)
August 2, 2012- 2nd round of Pictures
August 3, 2012- 2nd care package was sent off.
August 13, 2012- I600 Fingerprints (my pinkies took forever to get good prints on!!)
August 25, 2012- My sister and I completed her room!(With the help of the nieces!)
September 1, 2012- 3rd care package was sent off.
September 5, 2012- 3rd Round of Pictures
September 7, 2012- Email stating I should have judges signed approval the week of Sept. 21st.
September 22, 2012- The Email came!! I got the judges signed approval!!:) MAJOR STEP!!
October 1, 2012- Got the news she is about to be moved to Kinshasa!!!! Huge step!!
So now it is October 2nd, and they are moving Amayah to the transition house by the end of this week. Oh my goodness, I am so excited!! The transition house is a house that my agency built in Kinshasa to bring the kiddos to, to get ready for their life with their new families and new home. It is also the time where they get some of the final processes done, like the passport, visa, and a few other things. While she is there I will be receiving weekly updates of her height, weight, medical information, and pictures of my angel. She will be there with about 20 other kiddos, 9 nannies, and 4 guards that are hired by the agency. I am so thankful for her and I can't wait for the day to be getting on a plane to go get her. I sent off another care package today!! :)
I will keep you posted as I hear more!! Thanks for your support!!
Love in Christ,
Chasity
January 25, 2012- Sent in for Adoption Application
February-March-filling out lots of paperwork for agency as well as the Homestudy.
April 26, 2012- Homestudy is ready to be picked up!!
May 22, 2012- Dossier packet was completely ready to be sent off....so off it went!!! :)
June 4th, 2012- The Dossier packet was sent to agency to be translated.
June 8, 2012- Got the BEST news EVER! My baby girl had been born on May 30th, and I received pictures of my angel!!! Very big SMILES and tears of joy were shed!! So the waiting game began!
June 25, 2012- Sent off first care package!! (She needed some girlie clothes)
June 29, 2012- Dossier was sent off to Congo!!
July 12, 2012- Dossier submitted to court in Mbuji Mayi (waiting for judge to sign for approval)
August 2, 2012- 2nd round of Pictures
August 3, 2012- 2nd care package was sent off.
August 13, 2012- I600 Fingerprints (my pinkies took forever to get good prints on!!)
August 25, 2012- My sister and I completed her room!(With the help of the nieces!)
September 1, 2012- 3rd care package was sent off.
September 5, 2012- 3rd Round of Pictures
September 7, 2012- Email stating I should have judges signed approval the week of Sept. 21st.
September 22, 2012- The Email came!! I got the judges signed approval!!:) MAJOR STEP!!
October 1, 2012- Got the news she is about to be moved to Kinshasa!!!! Huge step!!
So now it is October 2nd, and they are moving Amayah to the transition house by the end of this week. Oh my goodness, I am so excited!! The transition house is a house that my agency built in Kinshasa to bring the kiddos to, to get ready for their life with their new families and new home. It is also the time where they get some of the final processes done, like the passport, visa, and a few other things. While she is there I will be receiving weekly updates of her height, weight, medical information, and pictures of my angel. She will be there with about 20 other kiddos, 9 nannies, and 4 guards that are hired by the agency. I am so thankful for her and I can't wait for the day to be getting on a plane to go get her. I sent off another care package today!! :)
I will keep you posted as I hear more!! Thanks for your support!!
Love in Christ,
Chasity
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Day I Found Out!
THE DAY I FOUND OUT!! J
June 8th, 2012-Friday
The day started out just like any other summer day, except for Charity, my sister, was coming to stay the weekend with me. I was looking forward to spending the weekend with her, but I knew there were a few things that I wanted to get done in the house. Papa was going to come over and texture and paint the guest bathroom. When Charity arrived we just hung out, but I knew I needed to go to Lowe’s to make sure I had everything Papa would need to complete the bathroom. While I was there I got the most exciting news that I had been praying for, for so long!!! The news that Amayah had been born and I would be receiving pictures and information on her very shortly!! Oh my goodness, I could not believe it!!! I started crying right there in Lowe’s because of all the joy I had in my heart and I thanked the Lord for bringing her into my life. So the phone calls were made to family and friends that she had come into my life, and let’s just say the Lowe’s trip took a lot longer than I had intended because my thoughts were only on AMAYAH! J After leaving Lowe’s we had to run a few other places, which one was to see a girl that Charity and I had coached. As we pulled up to where she worked, I looked at my phone and noticed I had a new email. IT WAS THE EMAIL! I could not wait to see Amayah's face!!! I opened the email as fast as I could and I finally saw her face for the first time. I stood and stared at the picture for a long time and shed some more happy tears. It was Amayah, the one I had prayed for and dreamed about for so long. It didn’t take long for me to send those pictures on to family and friends where we all admired my precious new little girl. I found out that she were born on May 30, 2012 and I found out that she was my little girl on June 8, 2012 (Papa’s Birthday). She already brings so much joy to my life just through seeing her beautiful face.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Since I was a little girl......
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...."
This is a verse that I absolutely love and thank the Lord that He is in control of my life. I know there are times when I think I should make the decisions that best suit how I feel about the situation, but it is Him who truly knows what we need to do in our lives. That's why this journey that I am on is no doubt the will of the Almighty God. It all started when I was a little girl.....
I remember being a little girl talking in my room with my twin sister about being a mom to a little one from Africa. As we sat there talking about adopting, it always felt so real to me. Although I was only a little girl, the emotions I had for the kids who needed homes was so strong. I would hear stories from people or watch things on TV and just cry because I felt so bad for them. I knew that this would be a part of my life forever in some way. Even though I talked about it so often when I was young I had no idea that God would make sure that it would play out. Oh how God is simply amazing!!
So.....God began his journey of me adopting a little one from Africa a long time ago and made it real in January of 2012. I started looking into agencies and where in Africa I felt that the Lord was leading me to. The Republic of the Congo was where I felt I should adopt from and the agency "A Love Beyond Borders" had everything that I wanted in an agency. Well, I was still in basketball season and I knew that I couldn't really start the paperwork until the season was over. February 5th the journey to get Amayah began with LOTS of paperwork to get done including a Home Study which scared me more than anything!! Well, the homestudy and paperwork were all completed and the Dossier packet was sent off to the agency in May. YAY!!! The journey to really find MY little girl could truly begin.
This is a verse that I absolutely love and thank the Lord that He is in control of my life. I know there are times when I think I should make the decisions that best suit how I feel about the situation, but it is Him who truly knows what we need to do in our lives. That's why this journey that I am on is no doubt the will of the Almighty God. It all started when I was a little girl.....
I remember being a little girl talking in my room with my twin sister about being a mom to a little one from Africa. As we sat there talking about adopting, it always felt so real to me. Although I was only a little girl, the emotions I had for the kids who needed homes was so strong. I would hear stories from people or watch things on TV and just cry because I felt so bad for them. I knew that this would be a part of my life forever in some way. Even though I talked about it so often when I was young I had no idea that God would make sure that it would play out. Oh how God is simply amazing!!
So.....God began his journey of me adopting a little one from Africa a long time ago and made it real in January of 2012. I started looking into agencies and where in Africa I felt that the Lord was leading me to. The Republic of the Congo was where I felt I should adopt from and the agency "A Love Beyond Borders" had everything that I wanted in an agency. Well, I was still in basketball season and I knew that I couldn't really start the paperwork until the season was over. February 5th the journey to get Amayah began with LOTS of paperwork to get done including a Home Study which scared me more than anything!! Well, the homestudy and paperwork were all completed and the Dossier packet was sent off to the agency in May. YAY!!! The journey to really find MY little girl could truly begin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)