I was surprised when I received a message from our adoption agency today that they had an updated number for us on our wait list. Colombia recently decided that they were going to start tracking and updating the wait list electronically and were still getting the system up and running, but weren't giving verbal updates in the meantime.
But today our agency got an updated number for us! We are now number 1282! that is almost 100 spots moved in about four and a half months. We are amazed and praying that things continue to progress!
Please pray that we trust God's plan, as it is a daily struggle for me to truly trust so blindly. He has already shown us He has great plans for us, we are just anxious to know them!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Adoption Fundraiser
Heard about this adoption fundraiser that I wanted to pass along! Of course, we would be honored/grateful if you entered on our behalf, but if you know someone else who is adopting, please pass it along to them as well! This really cool company, noonday collection, sells all kinds of awesome stuff that helps benefit women all over the world.
And for a week in February, a portion of their sales is going to go towards an adoptive family!
Here is what you would need to do:
Place an order, for yourself or another family in the process of adopting, the week of Feb 20 through Feb 28. Make sure in the comments section on the checkout page that you put the name of the family adopting. For every order placed on behalf of that family, they will be entered to win the grand prize which is 15% of total sales for that week of February. (check to be sent to adoption agency)
Not only are you helping someone with their adoption but you are also helping woman all over the world feed their families, send their kids to school and just live a better life!
Rules
1. Family must have a completed home study
2. No minimum or maximum entries
3. If your mother, friend, aunt, places an order for you they will contact them and then follow up with the winner.
4. Drawing will be March 1st
5. Make sure you order directly from their site to qualify for this promotion
(http://www.jenniferwickstrom.noondaycollection.com/)
And for a week in February, a portion of their sales is going to go towards an adoptive family!
Here is what you would need to do:
Place an order, for yourself or another family in the process of adopting, the week of Feb 20 through Feb 28. Make sure in the comments section on the checkout page that you put the name of the family adopting. For every order placed on behalf of that family, they will be entered to win the grand prize which is 15% of total sales for that week of February. (check to be sent to adoption agency)
Not only are you helping someone with their adoption but you are also helping woman all over the world feed their families, send their kids to school and just live a better life!
Rules
1. Family must have a completed home study
2. No minimum or maximum entries
3. If your mother, friend, aunt, places an order for you they will contact them and then follow up with the winner.
4. Drawing will be March 1st
5. Make sure you order directly from their site to qualify for this promotion
(http://www.jenniferwickstrom.noondaycollection.com/)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
1,322
We have moved 21 spots on the wait list in about two months.
That does not seem like a lot, but Colombia's adoptions usually slow down a lot during the holidays, so I am looking at it as decent progress (slow, but decent). We are hoping that our progress will pick up since we are supposed to be moving faster than most families due to Los Pisingos closing. (is it weird that I feel guilty about that and awesome at the same time?) We still don't really know what this wait time will look like for sure, so we are just praying it will pass quickly!
On other news: in regards to Los Pisingos, we are hearing that they are in the last stages of "finalizing" their documents needed to be re-licensed. We are still thinking about and hoping to switch back to this adoption house if they re-open soon. A lot of it will depend on if they will even except our case again (adoption houses have recently made changes on ages for referrals- and they have not been able to tell us yet if we will be considered a "new" case and therefor ineligible, or if they will be able to except us since we were with them before).
Our immigration paperwork (submitted on behalf of our child-to-be) will be expiring this spring. So soon we will have to update some things (medical evaluations, home study, etc) in order to request an extension.
So we will keep waiting, updating paperwork, and praying right along side all the other families waiting! :)
That does not seem like a lot, but Colombia's adoptions usually slow down a lot during the holidays, so I am looking at it as decent progress (slow, but decent). We are hoping that our progress will pick up since we are supposed to be moving faster than most families due to Los Pisingos closing. (is it weird that I feel guilty about that and awesome at the same time?) We still don't really know what this wait time will look like for sure, so we are just praying it will pass quickly!
On other news: in regards to Los Pisingos, we are hearing that they are in the last stages of "finalizing" their documents needed to be re-licensed. We are still thinking about and hoping to switch back to this adoption house if they re-open soon. A lot of it will depend on if they will even except our case again (adoption houses have recently made changes on ages for referrals- and they have not been able to tell us yet if we will be considered a "new" case and therefor ineligible, or if they will be able to except us since we were with them before).
Our immigration paperwork (submitted on behalf of our child-to-be) will be expiring this spring. So soon we will have to update some things (medical evaluations, home study, etc) in order to request an extension.
So we will keep waiting, updating paperwork, and praying right along side all the other families waiting! :)
Thursday, November 29, 2012
1,343
That is our number on the list. 1,343 people are ahead of us, waiting for a child in our same age range. What a staggering number to think about! No wonder it takes years to process all these families! So what does this mean and what is next?
Bast case scenario: we are able to transfer back to Los Pisingos within the next few months.(as no matter what: this will give us the shortest wait. And we just love Los Pisingos anyways!)
Next best case scenario: If we have to stick with ICBF/the government wait list route, it sounds like for every two regular ICBF cases that are moved to a region as referrals are processed, they will also move ONE Los Pisingos family as well. From what I can gather, this means that we will move along quicker than people who submitted to ICBF directly, but the wait will still be longer than if we were with Los Pisingos.
Overall, this sounds like pretty good news, but yet still very confusing and a lot of details that we really don't understand or know. We will continue to trust that God will guide us!
Bast case scenario: we are able to transfer back to Los Pisingos within the next few months.(as no matter what: this will give us the shortest wait. And we just love Los Pisingos anyways!)
Next best case scenario: If we have to stick with ICBF/the government wait list route, it sounds like for every two regular ICBF cases that are moved to a region as referrals are processed, they will also move ONE Los Pisingos family as well. From what I can gather, this means that we will move along quicker than people who submitted to ICBF directly, but the wait will still be longer than if we were with Los Pisingos.
Overall, this sounds like pretty good news, but yet still very confusing and a lot of details that we really don't understand or know. We will continue to trust that God will guide us!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
an update is close!
Just heard that a meeting should be taking place this week with the Colombian governement (ICBF) to give an update on where we are on "the list" with them now.
It also sounds like Los Pisingos (the adoption house we were previously working with) is working to get their license back, and hopes to have everything worked out in the next few months? We are praying this is true, and praying that we will be able to move our dossier back to them! Otherwise, we will have to continue with ICBF and pray that thew long wait ahead of us will will pass quickly :)
It also sounds like Los Pisingos (the adoption house we were previously working with) is working to get their license back, and hopes to have everything worked out in the next few months? We are praying this is true, and praying that we will be able to move our dossier back to them! Otherwise, we will have to continue with ICBF and pray that thew long wait ahead of us will will pass quickly :)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
No Update
This is an update to report we have no update :)
We were hoping to get an update this week on where we will begin our new wait with ICBF, but they are behind on getting these "new" families into the system, so it will be a little bit yet before we know.
Otherwise, the last we have heard from our agency is that they are working to see if there are any other adoption houses we could transfer to instead, or if Los Pisingos reopens we will see about transferring back there (we are trying to be positive, but just not sure how quickly/if that will happen). So we continue to hold our breath for where we go next...
On a positive note: two families we know have gotten referrals recently! SO excited for both of them! One of them was able to squeeze a referral through before Los Pisingos closed- what a blessing! They happen to be an extended family member of a family member(kind of?), so it has been really awesome to be able to get to see their story from a closer perspective. Just getting a small idea of what it is like to see that picture for the first time... your heart just breaks!
We were hoping to get an update this week on where we will begin our new wait with ICBF, but they are behind on getting these "new" families into the system, so it will be a little bit yet before we know.
Otherwise, the last we have heard from our agency is that they are working to see if there are any other adoption houses we could transfer to instead, or if Los Pisingos reopens we will see about transferring back there (we are trying to be positive, but just not sure how quickly/if that will happen). So we continue to hold our breath for where we go next...
On a positive note: two families we know have gotten referrals recently! SO excited for both of them! One of them was able to squeeze a referral through before Los Pisingos closed- what a blessing! They happen to be an extended family member of a family member(kind of?), so it has been really awesome to be able to get to see their story from a closer perspective. Just getting a small idea of what it is like to see that picture for the first time... your heart just breaks!
Friday, November 2, 2012
adoption house "closes"
We found out this week that the adoption house our case was at, Los Pisingos, lost its adoption license. ICBF (the government agency in Colombia that oversees all adoptions) pulled the license a few weeks ago.
Since the reason why has not been made 100% clear, I will not comment on that part- but we do know that it is NOT because of mistreatment or misconduct in regards to the children there.
What does this mean for us? At this time, since all other adoption houses are "full" (meaning they will not accept any more waiting families) or are no longer issuing adoptions for children under the age of 5 years old, we have to continue our adoption process under ICBF. The problem with this, is that the wait time is at least double what the wait time is if working with an adoption house (average wait time right now through ICBF is 4 years). The only beneficial thing for us, is that our case is moving along the wait list like everyone else (for now).
We hope to get an update soon on where we actually stand on the wait list - we are hoping that they will take the time we have waited already into consideration. Unlike an adoption house, we should receive a number that will tell us where we are in line.
We do truly hope, however, that Los Pisingos will get their license back! If this does occur, we can request for our case to be transferred back to them. There are many factors and unknowns that still would have to be worked out before this could potentially happen.
For now: we wait to see what happens with Los Pisingos and where our new "wait" beings!
Since the reason why has not been made 100% clear, I will not comment on that part- but we do know that it is NOT because of mistreatment or misconduct in regards to the children there.
What does this mean for us? At this time, since all other adoption houses are "full" (meaning they will not accept any more waiting families) or are no longer issuing adoptions for children under the age of 5 years old, we have to continue our adoption process under ICBF. The problem with this, is that the wait time is at least double what the wait time is if working with an adoption house (average wait time right now through ICBF is 4 years). The only beneficial thing for us, is that our case is moving along the wait list like everyone else (for now).
We hope to get an update soon on where we actually stand on the wait list - we are hoping that they will take the time we have waited already into consideration. Unlike an adoption house, we should receive a number that will tell us where we are in line.
We do truly hope, however, that Los Pisingos will get their license back! If this does occur, we can request for our case to be transferred back to them. There are many factors and unknowns that still would have to be worked out before this could potentially happen.
For now: we wait to see what happens with Los Pisingos and where our new "wait" beings!
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