–Updates originally located on AdoptTogether–

[January 18, 2023]

US Immigration Renewal

Today we received our official pre-immigration paperwork approval from US Immigration (again). I say “again” because we received our first approval around this time last year. Approval expires after a year, and we get one free renewal before we have to entirely reapply. We have high hopes that things will move along further for us this year!

In the meantime, we continue to wait being matched with our child(ren). We have the next level of our adoption education to get through as we wait. The truth is that patience can be difficult! However excitement remains high as we eagerly await notification of referral.

Financially, we have not had large expenses recently. But we know more are coming! We will need to pay for this next round of education, and, whenever we get through the referral stage, we’ll have more paperwork and travel expenses.

Thank you to our waiting partners!

[March 3, 2023]

Philippines Re-Approval

When people ask about how the adoption process is going, they usually get our response of “still waiting.” Three people asked me about it this week, but I was able to give them a little more. We were notified that the Philippines received and approved our updated paperwork, which included our renewed home study and other “current” information that needs to be updated on an annual basis. While it doesn’t seem like progression in the process, it is reassurance that all that paperwork made it overseas and didn’t get lost on an island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

When we send our stacks of paper through the mail, it really does feel like watching our efforts disappear into a black hole. It’s always a relief to here that it all got to where it needed to go. We hope and pray that this year the process goes farther. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring our next child home by Christmas?

Thanks for all the questions about how it’s going! Slow, yes, but we know it’ll be worthwhile in the end.

[August 12, 2023]

Time and Expense – Summer 2023

This summer we caught up on paying for our last home study update. This has now started to push us over our anticipated home study expenses. The next thing to expire is our immigration paperwork this coming spring. We will have to do a full home study update (again) before then to renew the immigration paperwork. Below is a link to our latest chart of expenses, estimated versus actual.

We have been told (and are experiencing) that the waiting is the hardest part. What exactly are we waiting for? The Philippines has all our papers, and we are simply waiting to be notified that we are matched with a child or two. Our assurance today is that someday we will look back and see that the waiting was worth it. Please keep praying for us as we wait to step farther into the adoption process.

[September 1, 2023]

Not Alone

This week we met another couple here in Montana that is also adopting from the Philippines! They stopped by our food trailer at a local fair and saw our adoption cards on the front counter. “We’re adopting from the Philippines too!” they exclaimed. We were able to share experiences, frustrations, and joys about the whole adoption process.

They are about a year farther along than we are, and they have been matched with a child for about a year. Covid had introduced some delays, and Philippines agency changes have caused some uncertainties. It was a real blessing to cross paths with another adoptive family going through the exact same process that we are.

As we begin another home study this year, we are thankful for the peace and assurance God gives us in this journey. Thank you to all our cheerleaders and friends for your support. With all of you, we are not alone. Onward we go!