Busy but GREAT day!

The things I have learned today:
- an 11 year old, working for God can truly make big things happen! "Feeding the Orphans" rocks!
- Maxwell and Anita are scared of dogs, um, not good. And yet, they say they won't be scared of "Mommy and Daddy's" dogs. Yeah, we'll see ...
- Most children in an orphanage or foster home simply want to be touched or held. Nothing more, nothing less .. they like to be validated and noticed. Easy enough!
- Taking two children to sit at the embassy for 3 hours (no food, water or electronics allowed) is not the easiest nor wisest thing to do, but we made it without too many breakdowns.
- Maxwell literally falls asleep 10 minutes or less from our destination while riding in the car. Happens every time.
- What the children did like the last trip, they don't like this trip. Really!?!? LOL

I got hardly any sleep last night. I went to bed at 2:00 am Ghana time. Ugh. Then I tossed and turned for another hour. Alarm went off at 6:00 am, time to get ready to head to the embassy again. Managed to get a shower in before the munchkins woke up. Sweet! They were literally awake as I got out. Perfect timing. Baths, dressed, breakfast and out the door by 8:20 am. We got our own cab and he took us to the embassy. We went in and waited and waited and waited some more. After several minor breakdowns by the kids, I figured I should ask the guard about our case. He was very nice and said "You here early, right?" Yup, since 8:30! And at this point it was 11:20. Yikes. Maxwell had constant tears and Anita was trying to hold it together. Given the circumstance, I can't much blame them. They were hungry, they were thirsty, they wanted to go ... as did Mommy. The embassy doesn't allow any food or drinks or electronics ... so you sit with bare minimums. Found out Anita can write her name! And well, Maxwell can't. I was nervous to even be called to our officer's window b/c I was just there yesterday. But after the help from he guard, two of the embassy officers apologized profusely for my wait time. I simply asked if "there was "anything" I could do to expedite our case. I would really like to wrap things up this week." The officer said "No, but I worked on your case a lot yesterday and I think we'll have an answer within the next day or two." I almost broke out in tears! Seriously. I thanked him many times over and we headed back to the foster home. So proud of my little ones. They didn't cause a scene, but simply were frustrated.
As we came back to the hotel, the O'Leary's were ready to go and be out on their first delivery of donations. I was so excited to be a part of "Feeding the Orphans." I got all 3 of us changed and fed for lunch and we waited for P. Then off we went. As we drove into the first orphanage and got out, we were greeted by so many amazing kids and adults. They were so appreciative and Kristie and Sydney hadn't even done anything yet. Too cute ... too awesome. The kids simply want hugs and to be held. In which we did. Maxwell and Anita were not happy. They were so very scared. They wouldn't even get out of the van at first b/c they thought I was leaving them. Ugh. I reassured them I wasn't. Then, they both became very protective. Maxwell would push the others away and say "no, my mommy." How hard it is for them to be so scared "their mommy" could so easily be taken away. This is reality for them. Reassurance for my two was in constant need today. Sydney (11 yr. old running "Feeding the Orphans") brought her bag of school supplies and misc.. items. They loved it! Every single item. It was amazing and so cool to watch.
As we drove away, we then headed to Max and Anita's foster home to drop off more donations by Sydney. Anita asked if she was staying and I told her "no, you're coming home with mommy." After that, she was as content as could be. Her and Maxwell played with their friends and ran around. They also decided to have a "last meal" at the foster home. Really?!? White rice and chili paste. Must have wanted it b/c they ate and their little tummies were sticking out when they finished. The foster children loved their school supplies and sang us a bunch of songs. The more you see the children, the more your heart breaks for each one to have a forever home! One orphan at a time!
We left the home pretty late. We were 5 minutes from the hotel and Max and Anita were passed out! Dead little weights. I have now figured out Maxwell falls asleep 5 to 10 minutes before we reach our destination. It's kind of funny b/c it happens every time. What's even cuter is that he'll be singing looking out the window and all of sudden his little head just starts bobbing and he falls into my lap.
When we got to the hotel, I didn't need to feed them dinner b/c they had full stomachs already. Had them take a quick bath, put on their pajamas and then they each got a mini banana, tiny piece of chocolate, and strawberry milk! WoW, right? Well, treats for these two for sure!
I heard my phone deliver a text message so I went to see who it was from. It was from Adam and it read "I got an email from the embassy...they issued the visas!!!" Are you kidding?!?! I wanted to run and hug somebody, I wanted to jump up and down. Ahhh!! So, I looked at the kids and said "Guess what?" And they just stared at me. Then I said "we got your Visa's!" They just stared again. And then I said "Mommy can take you to America!" And they lost it. They were so excited! Anita started jumping up and down, shaking her bootie dancing, and Maxwell just grinned. They were ecstatic. I ran right out to tell Kristie and she and I hugged and rejoiced together!! It was an awesome moment for sure. Right before bed, Anita says to Max as she's singing it "We go to America, we go to America, tomorrow!" Well little one, not tomorrow but soon, very soon.
It will forever be remembered. Adam crying, our families crying, me crying and none of us were together to share in the tears .. but we were all together in heart!! Thank You for the continued prayers and shield of protection!!! Words cannot express my thankfulness ... truly!!! I have a lump in my throat as I write this b/c I wish there was a deeper way to truly show what each one of you mean to me during this journey! All prayers were felt big time and there's nothing like following God in what He guides us to do! Amen to that!

A Good Sign ...

We woke up at 6 am to get ready for our embassy appointment. All 3 of us, showered, dressed, and fed before 7:50 am. Then out the door we went with Uncle P to the US Embassy. I gave the guards my email stating I can meet with an officer. They let us in. It was packed! People everywhere. And of course the many many stares of Maxwell and Anita with their white mommy. Oh well, I didn't care. After about 40 minutes, they called our case. As I walked up to the window, I told the officer I was granted to come in and follow my case (I handed him the email.) He said thank you. And then I said, "and here are their passports," slid them through the window and he said "ok, thank you." (THANK YOU GOD ... THANK YOU FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR PRAYING!! Please keep them coming.) He then proceeded to tell me why the case was taking so long, which really wasn't anything different than before. Either way, I explained our situation and that I need to travel home this weekend. He said they will try and expedite. I asked him if there was anything else I needed to provide, he said no. So, I take it as a positive the embassy has the passports in hand!
I've decided to praise every "single mom" out there. This little "single mom" gig is tough! The children are beyond excited to stay with me. Happy they don't have to go back to the home. They continue to ask where their Daddy is and this is a bit heart wrenching b/c they sincerely want him here. They continue to ask hoping the answer will change. But I guess all in all, they are extremely hopeful they will be seeing their Daddy in America! Anita prayed for "Friday" tonight. I asked "why Friday" and she giggled. She knows that if we get Visa's on Friday, we get to come home. She is hanging onto this tightly and with a giant smile as she says "America!"
Both the children have pretty bad stomach issues this time around. But they won't stop eating. And yet their little tummy's are protruding and they are uncomfortable. We are on a 30 minute "wee wee" and "poo poo" cycle right now. This just might make me go crazy. Sometimes bathroom trips are games for them and yet, they sincerely have to go too. It's a battle b/c if one has to go well suddenly that makes the other one's bladder take effect too. LOL. I'm sure you parents relate!
Maxwell and Anita begged me to take them swimming today. Begged me! So, we got all suited up (except for me b/c I forgot mine) and we headed to the pool. Anita climbed right in and Maxwell sat there, floaty's on and all. But he would have nothing to do with it. Wouldn't even attempt it. He sat on the edge w/ me while our feet dangled and Anita just swam around in circles, panicking that she wasn't going anywhere and couldn't' reach the wall. She was fine. I finally just lifted Maxwell in the water and he freaked out! Started screaming and crying hysterically. He wasn't drowning, not even close. Poor guy thinks he wants to swim and yet, just sits there and stares at the water.
We're all doing well. The word "no" hasn't taken effect in their little minds. More or less, they giggle and do it again. It's a bit frustrating but we're working it out. They continue to not let me out of their sight, literally. They run after me, even if I'm headed to the kitchen.
Keep praying my friends, we need it! God is good, all the time! We want to come home very soon, so very very soon!

On a mission

Some may be wondering ... how the heck did you just up and leave to Ghana? Well, here goes a few recaps of the past few days. We have been emailing the US Embassy Accra for several days with multiple emails. We kept asking for an appointment and we would simply get blanket responses. It was all very frustrating. And THEN ... we got an email on Thursday stating we could go the Embassy on the 30th and/or 31st to speak to an officer regarding our case. So you guessed it. Adam booked my flight and out I flew on Saturday all the way to Ghana. Single mommy ... here I come! Luckily there are 2 other families here right now, so I'm not "alone."
I flew out of San Diego on a full flight. Sat next to a couple for 4 hours and just as were landing I decided to ask them where they were from. They both said San Diego. She then asked where I was headed and I said Ghana, Africa. She simply just stared at me in shock. Then she asked why and I said "we're adopting." Then she stared at her husband in shock because guess what they're coming to Ghana to do ... adopt!!! Her husband is Ghanaian, so it was fun to share with them and I'm sure they will have a much different journey but they are here to find out their options. Needless to say, there will be another Ghana adopting family in San Diego!! Always a small world.
The flight from Atlanta to Accra was quite turbulent. I HATE turbulence and normally I have Adam to grip hold of but not this time. I tried to sleep through it but just as I would doze, shake, shake, bump bump. I got some sleep but not as much as I would have liked. Either way, I'm here.
Percy dropped us off at the Pentagon Hotel, along w/ the other families. He asked if we wanted him to bring the children and we said "yes!" So, we all sat around (literally) and waited a couple hours. And in they walked!! All the little ones ... all ready to see "Mommy's" and "Daddy's." I'm not sure my smile could have radiated anymore. Anita saw me and zoomed right over as did Maxwell. We could tell they all had been sleeping on their way here b/c they were awfully quiet. As I took first family pictures for the O'Leary's, Anita and Maxwell simply clung to my leg. I just kept smiling, kissing them, and telling them I love them. It's all so natural how much I love those two faces. Of course we ate chicken, jollof, and rice which the little ones managed to scarf down without a blink. They would have kept eating had I let them. I told them we would have more tomorrow. The showed my their full tummy's and then we were off to get ready for bed. Before going to our room, Maxwell looked at me and says "Mommy, where's Daddy?" Ugh!! I knew he would ask but they both wanted to know where their Daddy is. I explained he had to stay home in America. Anita's face lit up and said ... "we go see Daddy in America!" "Yes, sweet girl ... Mommy's here to try and make that happen." We watched a little Dora (not sure how all you mom's watch that stuff, LOL, Dora's lips move without words coming out... um, yeah.) Anita has a pretty bad runny nose and it's irritating her but all in all, we fell right back into place. They simply want to be touched and loved and adored.
They know we're going to the embassy tomorrow, they're excited. They do know it's the embassy that has to allow them to come to America. Their faces light up and yet, I have nothing to report on this mission. But, I am on a mission and it's time to complete it successfully!
Pray tonight please, I will need lots of strength and wisdom for tomorrow! On a mission ... on a mission!

Breaking Down ...

Let me set the stage first: I work for a construction company. I also work "onsite" in a construction trailer with 10 male co-workers. So ... one of my co-worker's (who I workout with) got back from vacation this week. He told me Monday we were working out Tuesday. Sweet! Now is good time to get my workouts back on track. And then, I left the house and forgot my stuff. Ugh! I didn't remember until half way to work. So, my co-worker comes up to me and asks "Turner, what time are we working out?" ... "Um, yeah, I forgot my stuff." He then proceeds to joke with me and banter, as he always does, everyday. Normally, I can take it, and it keeps me going, and I laugh a lot (which is a life saver,) BUT ... as he says "T, how could you forget your stuff!?!?" I looked at him and said so softly, "I don't know, I'm not thinking straight, I'm losing it, (my voice cracked) ..." and Yup, you got it. I started balling!! Tears streaming down my face! Poor guy. He just stood there and felt awful and didn't know what to say. What was he supposed to say? What he asked had nothing to do with our kids but I guess I can only hold it in for so long. He can't bring my kids home ... heck, I can't even bring them home. Oh man! Here I was, a sobbing mess, to my MALE co-worker. Thankfully, he's a Friend and there's always a reason God puts certain people in our lives at certain times. So, after my teary session, Adam willingly brought my workout gear to me ... and I battled it out ... 20 minutes of running and some ridiculous interval sets of nonsense he found for us to do! Well, thank goodness, a little stress was released, in more ways than one!
A breakdown for me ... smiled in the end!

Nothing, ok something, but really Nothing

NOthing to post :( ... ok, something, but I say "nothing" b/c I don't like the answer ... this is just me being REAL and being frustrated! Two families were awarded Visa's last week and are offically home with their little ones! This should be a good sign for us but heck, I really don't know. They were "in Ghana" b/c they chose to travel and we have been advised not to so we don't get "stuck" for an indefinite amount of time. But, I'm starting to think b/c they were there, it might have had bearing. I'm lost, so very lost at what I can possbily do to make the situation any better. I have prayers surrounding us daily, family wanting their new additions here with us, and everyone is confident God is going to answer. But, we prayed for specifics and our specifics didn't happen. God can move mountains, this I know. He for sure can move embassy paperwork, I have to have Faith in that!
We finally received a blanket response from the embassy on Wednesday, 08/18 saying they are performing an I-604 investigation which could take weeks if not months. (The embassy is investigating the legitimacy of each case and ensuring the children have not been trafficked.) This we knew. We have responded saying we have "turned in all paperwork required and all investigation interviews have been attended and completed for the I-604 investigation." We now are asking for an additional interview to drop off their passports. We are at the mercy of the US Embassy. Aside from traveling and taking our chances, emailing and calling is all we can pretty much do. And this, we might just have to do. But hey, I would be with my children, right?!?!?
... not an easy update ... but shoot, it's something ...

The Wait is taking its Toll

I would like to consider myself emotionally strong and grounded and confident but today wasn't that day. Well, Adam may think "emotionally strong" isn't any day, LOL. But that's ok. I've had my fair share of doubts, welled up tears, and moments I just wanted to lay my head down and sob. I'm lucky to have so many friends checking in on me and asking how I'm doing. Without them, I would be wreck ... I just might be curled up in my pajamas fighting the day. I truly believe God allows me to feel sad and He's kindly watching. I talk to him softly in my head, wondering when our prayers will be answered. I know it's in His time but I also know my heart can't take much more. We debate whether to travel and just spend time with Maxwell and Anita and then we contemplate the reality of this and we know the possible time this could really take. So, to say my brain is "full" ... well, that might be an understatement. To say "I'm emotionally drained" ... "yes, for sure!" I want to be giddy, I want to be calm again, I want to be reassured that by us staying here (in the States, that this is the correct decision.) I guess it's just all taking its toll.
Our in country facilitator is waiting for an email from the US Embassy stating he can drop of the kids passports. Once the Embassy has the passports, this should be a positive sign. They will need the passports in order to insert the Visa's. The Visa's are what we are waiting on in order to travel! Thus, I pray the US Embassy will want the kids passports on Monday and we will hear that we are going to granted Visa's on Friday. We can pray for specifics right? Well God, I'm here, waiting for your timing ... I'm just asking for your timing to be next week!

Sad but Calm ...

As our journey continues, I sometimes struggle with what to write. I have so many of my own questions and sometimes I start to doubt things too. For those who have never watched or followed an adoption journey it would be easy to think "she makes things up along the way." One day things are going smoothly and I confidently say "within in a month" or "within a couple weeks!" And then suddenly it's 3+ weeks or months or we simply "don't know." But, what I have learned is as much as I want everything to be planned and dates firm, well, International Adoption has many changing rules ... constantly changing procedures and rules! UGH! I want to yell UGH! But, I silently do so, in the back of my mind and yet, I'm at peace. A weird, unexplainable peace ... not really, I know it's God, God pouring his calming peace on me.
Anita and Maxwell's exit interview will hopefully be attended, via Power of Attorney, by our facilitator on Monday or Tuesday. Once the packet is submitted, we have been informed it could be 3+ weeks before the Visa's are issued. This is where my "Ugh" comes into play. Visa's used to be issued in a matter of days and now the US Embassy is conducting full investigations on all adoption cases. One might be wondering "what are they investigating and why?" Well, a few things (thank you Brady for shedding light on this) ... *Do the children meet the definition of orphans? **How did the children come to be in the care of the foster home? ***How did they come to be selected by an adoption agency? Basically, the embassy wants to be sure nothing illegal is going on, they want to understand how the Ghana adoption system truly works and they want to be sure our facilitator is not buying kids and their bio mom completely understands what is happening. So, all this being said ... we are thankful for the protection and yet we just pray the process to be quicker and the truth will prevail quickly ... as it always does! So, although I'm sad by the added time, I'm calm in the truth of God and His Love and His Light in our lives. We simply pray ... let's bring our beautiful Anita and handsome Maxwell home!

Packet, Interview, Visa's

As soon as we received our I-600 approval, we could then email the Consular section asking for a date to pick up our "packet" and the next sequence of events. So, we sent off our email on Friday, 07/23. Monday .. Tuesday ... Wednesday ... came and went. The other two families we filed with got their response emails and were asked to pick up their packets on Wednesday. Well, as Wednesday came, we knew we wanted and needed our packet picked up! But we had no confirmation and then all of sudden, there it was! The confirmation from the Consular to pick up our packet on any Wednesday. But, the email came too late and P couldn't get it in time. Thus, we wait another week. "Patience," I'm learning a dear dear lesson on Patience! But, VBS was in full swing, so I was beyond distracted, although I did shed a tear or two wanting so badly for my munchkins to be in the backseat singing and dancing with their silly mama!
Once our packet is retrieved, we can schedule an exit interview. Upon the interview, we will find out when Visa's will or "should" be issued. This is where a snag or two can possibly come into play. The other two families had their exit interviews today ... they were both told Visa's could take up to a month! As my heart sinks, I'm thankful to be prepared vs. shocked. Now we wait, we wait for our direction and plan of events to come with our packet, interview and Visa's...
It's not an exciting post ... but it's a post of info ... keep praying my friends!!!