Busy, Busy, Busy.....

I know it has been a few days since we have posted, but we have been very very busy. When we found out that we got out court date we had a momentary sigh of relief. And I do mean momentary- since then it has gotten CRAZY!! We have had to get plane tickets, order new money, etc - The best was our visa's. I ordered our Visa's on Friday afternoon, thinking that I had a solid week for them to be processes. Guess what - NOTHING is every simple. As it turns out, Monday & Tuesday are a Russian Holiday and all forms of government are shut down. That means that our Visa's won't be processed until probably Wednesday or Thursday. That doesn't give us much time to get them back, but we have faith in the system........

Additionally, work has been crazy busy as well. Q4 is always the most hectic for my company and this year is no different!!!! I have lists of things EVERYWHERE. 1 for work, 1 for the kids, 1 for documents, and 1 for a to do list. And I only have 11 more days to accomplish everything. That is right 11 days!!!!!

Our itinerary is as follows:

• Nov 12th (JFK to Moscow) - got a GREAT deal on Areoflot.
• Nov 13th - Arrive in Moscow
• Nov 14th - Medicals in Moscow
• Nov 15th - Leave for Krasnoyarsk (Moscow to Krasnoyarsk)
• Nov 16th - Arrive in Krasnoyarsk
• Nov 17th - Visit Cassidy
• Nov 18th - COURT
• Nov 28th - GOTCHA DAY (Hopefully)
• Dec 3rd - Leave for Moscow (Krasnoyark to Moscow)
• Dec 4th - Appointment at US Embassy
• Dec 6th - Return Home (Moscow to JFK)

Dennis and I will try and keep the site posted on our activity as often as possible.

Have a great day,
Stephanie

The Post you have been waiting for.........

WE GOT OUR COURT DATE!!!!!!!!!!!

We don't have all the information yet, but we know that we will be in Court on Nov 18th.

Thank you all for all your prayers, and please keep them coming!!!!

Quote of the Day - 10/27/08

Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.

Quote of the Day - 10/26/08

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

Apostille

It's rather amusing that I am on a 1st name basis with the nice lady at the office when we get our documents Apostilled. Today, our documents (for Apostille) have been picked up and overnighted to the St. Louis office and hopefully to Kras by next week.

I want to take a quick moment to say CONGRATS to our friends in Kras now - they are now a FAMILY OF 4!!!! (I can't wait to see pictures)

"If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes"

Corrie TenBoom

Extension of I-171H

We found out that since we (most likely) will not be travelling to Russia until December, that we need to file for an extension of our I-171H form which expires December 21, 2008. This is the CIS (Citizenship & Immigration Services) form that allows us to adopt. It is officially called the Orphan Petition and we need it in order to bring Cassidy into the US.

The estimated time for an extension is 6 - 8 weeks. I hope that it doesn't take that long!!!!

5 Months

"Endurance is patience concentrated"
Thomas Carlyle

Today it has been 5 months since we said "farewell for now" to Cassidy. I feel like it was only yesterday that we were playing with her, holding her, laughing with her. She does not realize what a huge impact she has already made on our lives (even though she is not physically here with us). We thank God that he has kept watch over her in our absence, and that we have had the support of our family and friends the past few months.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We look forward to bringing her home soon.

Stephanie & Dennis

Quote of the Day - 10/18/08

“May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays.”

More Docs?

I guess I should be taking my own advice right now - FAITH. I am trying, but it is very hard. I received an email yesterday from our agency asking us to send documents that we already supplied (in duplicate, notarized, and apostilled). I am confused at this point, and hope to get some clarification by the end of the day today.

I remain confident that this little girl is meant to be part of our family, and Dennis and I will walk through fire to bring her home to us!!! Patience is my middle name.

"Be patient enough to live one day at a time, letting yesterday go and leaving tomorrow until it arrives."

Quote of the Day -

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing One of two things will happen: There will be somethign solid to stand on or You will be taught to fly"
~ Patrick Overton

Pick Up

OK - so final two (2) documents have been picked up and shipped off to the St. Louis Office. I have sent them via UPS overnight delivery so that they can be included as part of tomorrow's weekly mailing to Russia.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Also, please keep in your thoughts and prayers all our friends in Krasnoyarsk region. They are working hard to keep the ball rolling!

Stephanie

Drop Off

Went to Trenton, NJ today to drop off documents to be Apostilled for Russia.
(Thanks for notarizing them so quick Cheri)

Hopefully I can pick them up tomorrow. So far so good.

Progress

We are making progress!!! Our documents have made it to Krasnoyarsk region. Upon review of our documents in the Kras region, they asked yesterday to get a copy of a document from our original home study service (Adoption House), which is no longer in business. They needed a document from 2006/2007. Thankfully I keep EVERYTHING, but I don't know what I will do if they need it notarized and apositlled.

Keep your fingers crossed!!!

As always, please continue to keep us, and all the families in Kras in your thoughts and prayers.

We will update you as soon as possible.
Stephanie

Not the news we wanted

Well, it certainly is not the news we wanted. We found out today that our court date would probably not be until December (if then). Our documents have still not been translated and notarized after 6 weeks of being in Russia. As you can imagine Dennis and I are devastated, hurt, pissed, mad, and obviously very emotional.

According to the Moscow representative, they hope to have our documents finished and to the Krasnoyarsk region sometime in October. Oleg, the Krasnoyarsk region rep, estimates that we will not get a court date until December (if then). He mentions that it is all up to the judges in the region.

We have many friends in the Krasnoyarsk region right now (and in court). We pray that you come home soon with your little ones. Good Luck and know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers.

Stephanie (and Dennis)

Nothing Yet -

No news regarding our court date yet - But I want to say CONGRATS to Geoff & Karey who got their court date!!!!!! (and on my birthday no less - lucky day - Oct 14th).

Judges are back in session in Kras this week (from vacation again), so hopefully we will here something soon. Keep praying!

Stephanie (and Dennis)