Are you still here?
The question we get asked daily. Followed
by…how much longer are you here?
It’s been 3 months now since we landed in America, and hey
it’s been pretty great to be around for so many activities, family times, and
creating all those amazing memories. I know now that this time has been so
needed for our whole family to reconnect with family and friends. I have told
many people as well, I had no idea how important this time would be for Mia.
She has had so many firsts in these last 3 months. First time meeting the
extended family, first time on a boat, first time on a giant swing, first time
driving through a drive thru, first time eating In-N-Out, first time seeing a
bear, first football game, first time riding a horse, and the list goes on and
on! All these adventures have been amazing memories that we have captured along
with fun as a family. Our families have had the extra time to not just meet
this little sweet, spunky girl, but to get to know her and we have seen her
bond and tease and play with them. She knows her grandparents and Uncles and
Aunties and runs to them for hugs in a crowded room. If our trip was any shorter, everyone would
have missed out on the deepening of relationship we all needed.
I have to remind myself of the fact that Mia has only been
with our family 5 months. 5 Months and it has felt so much longer, in a good
way. We have been amazed how quickly Mia has adjusted to our family and life of
adventure. Just 5 months ago our family grew and all of us gladly adjusted to the
change. The first month was the craziest; it felt like I had a new child but
yet a little bit of a stranger. It was just weird not knowing her likes,
dislikes, her cry; is it serious, is she in pain or upset? However, slowly we all
learned more about each other, Levi learned how to restrain and not cross her boundaries
and is still learning. Noah learned patience in waiting for friendship, and
Alleyah has learned many big sister roles. Morgan and I are learning how to
teach with love and understanding that we have no idea what her past holds. I
can’t thank the Father enough for giving us the ability to speak her language
and the love we had for her years before we even met her. So going back to the
time we have had here in America, it has not been wasted. We have had family
days, and time away from distractions to just have a foundation for our new
family together.
So, are we still here? Well yeah we are and even though we
are in a state of feeling stuck we are also feeling blessed too. Last week we received
a much waited email saying our immigration case has been expedited and that we
will hear from the office soon. We did a happy dance and jumped for joy!
Following a letter in the mail just 20 minutes later…drum roll please… it stated
our adopted daughter’s citizenship has been denied!! What DENIED??? Now I
haven’t fully done the research but I think we might be one of the only
families that has gone through all the right channels and been denied
citizenship to an adopted child. It is a mistake somewhere in the immigration
office and someone misread her file. Denied? Gratefully, after many calls and
emails, Mia’s case has been re-opened and she has an appointment this Thursday!
If all goes well and no more bumps in the road, she will be an American citizen
this week!!! Next step is getting her a passport and then a visa to travel back
to Asia. We hope these few steps just takes 3-4 weeks to wrap it all up.
However, the denied status was just a little unprepared stress, but we know He
is in control. We are trusting that just like the last 3 months, Our Father has
a plan and we have faith that He has it all and in control.
Updates will follow, as we know more, just keep our case in
your thoughts!
Also a huge thank you to everyone who has blessed us and
kept standing with us during our wait. We are so grateful to have such a great
community around us. We have felt so loved these last few months.
P.S. Any friends from Asia, my kids would love to just show
up and surprise the kids at school they are back J
So lets keep our return a secret!
