Friday

It's Friday of the most challenging week in our adoption journey. We have contacted Congressmen, the Department of State, USCIS, the National Visa Center, and the US Embassy in Sofia...we are exhausted, but satisfied knowing we have done ALL we can possibly do to bring our daughter home. It's up to the Visa Office and the Embassy in Sofia to "discuss" our case. Now, we wait....

Two words...AT REFERRAL..apparently these SHOULD be following your requested age range on your homestudy/I800A...or else it is "interpreted" by the embassy to mean age at COMPLETION of the adoption. Although, this is apparently NOT a rule that is written down anywhere...don't you think it should be??? We need the embassy and the USCIS on the same page here folks! It's causing a huge mess right now for families adopting from Bulgaria.

Obviously, our defense is that our adoption is FINAL! Our paperwork went through 4 groups of people, I800A, I800, National Visa Center, and the provisional visa interview(which was held by the SAME guy!!!)...and this was never an issue...until NOW????? Come on!

We DID hear from our agency that we have a week or so before we lose our July 3rd travel date...

Did I mention that if we have to do the update he's requesting it will take months!


Did I mention our yard sale/fundraiser got rained out!! SIIIIGGHHH!

So, here are our prayer needs right now...

*That God sends SOMEONE with a soft heart to intervene on our behalf with the embassy and visa office as they "make a decision"...pray they will make one in the best interest of the child! Not the best interest of the embassy!

*The guy at the embassy that started this little party is off on vacation next week, pray his constituant will be tender and willing to "interpret" it differently:)..

*I would really like some news Monday if possible, I know that may seem too specific and ...demanding, but time really is slipping away from us.

*Pray that we will trust in His provision for the travel, it will cost about $5000 total...ummmm, we're not there yet!!! We know it'll come at exactly the right time though..and if you feel like "chipping in", just click that little button at the top left side:).

*Pray for Ava...she has a family now and doesn't even know it..and we have a daughter who is in an orphanage(unacceptable)...pray she is safe, happy, and healthy, and that Jesus is preparing her heart for us to come and get her!!! SOON!!