Before the crazy begins, we just wanted to share about life
over the past few months.
Besides kids getting on each other’s nerves and bugging each
other to keep from getting bored, we have had quite the busy summer. We have
been busy filling out adoption paper work, traveling for meetings, and embassy
document visits. As well, the usual farming and daily encounters with local
friends.
So where are we in the adoption process? Yeah it’s a hard
thing to say, but somewhere in the 3-6 months range until Mia Jade is with us!
We celebrate with every document handed in, we dance with any new information
about Mia, and pray for her while she waits to hear she has us as a family
desperately waiting to welcome her to her forever family. I wish we were
further along in the process to show her picture, but the agency asks that her
identity be off of media until things are close to completion. I CAN tell you;
she is 4 ½ years old (almost Levi’s twin), they are 5 months apart. She is very
smart and has the sweetest voice. We have not met her but have just received
pictures and a video that I watch daily. She was born with a disorder where her
skull did not fully close. She has a big egg shape lump on her head where her
brain is protruding out. This may be the reason she was abandoned at only 2
months old. She has never had surgery. We will help her have this surgery after
her adoption. As far as we know, the surgery will not affect her brain
development. We are officially finished with our Home Study, which was a lot of
paper work! The next big hurdle for us is applying for grants and hoping we can
receive the funds for the cost of the adoption.
Other news…Morgan is heading to America! He will be in
Kansas City for a gathering. Some of you might know more about it. We wish we could
all travel and say hello, but it’s just not the right timing. Alleyah and Noah
both start school in just a week. Noah is going to also start attending the international
school Alleyah has been attending. It has been a huge blessing for her and we
know it will really help Noah in his studies as well. This allows me, (Lori) to
have even more time to train others here. I head up an activity that starts in two
weeks that will continue for the next 5 months. We know that after the adoption
we will all be heading to America to complete Mia’s citizenship. So, we are
just going to send Morgan to be our representative J However, he is leaving during
a busy time and will only be gone 2 weeks. He will only be in California for
about 3 days. That being said, he will not get to see all of you. However, he
will arrange an open house to anyone who has the time to check in and hear
about things in California. We will let you all know!
So, as for our next visit we hope all of us, including Mia, will
be there the beginning of summer 2017. We hope that during that trip we will
have adequate time with everyone.
Ok got to go…only a week left to get things in order before
things get even busier.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Blessings,
The Joneses
