SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2006 12:34 PM
We had posted this article in an earlier journal entry, but because reading about this wonderful family has become such an inspiration to us, we'll post it again for your enjoyment and remember to pray for them. Can you imagine becoming the parents of 7 children, isn't that just awesome??? :>)
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060608/NEWS08/606080402/1010
www.caringbridge.com/visit/troyralston
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2006 03:04 PM
Yesterday we found out from our adoption Case-Manager that the Immigration office in Detroit is pretty backed up and it is averaging 2 months to complete most adoption approvals forms. Colombia will not finalize the process & give the "Official Match" until they receive the Immigration approval. Needless to say, we were a bit disappointed for we were hoping that the entire process would actually be completed in 2 months, but this may mean it could drag to 4 months!
We were assured that we are still "on schedule", for from the beginning we were told that the whole process would take on average 6 to 8 months, but because we are sooooooooooooooo ready to bring our girls home, any delay makes it seem like we will still have to wait for eternity!!!
Please pray that the Lord will give us peace & patience during this time, WAITING is not something we are both good at! :>(
Much Love,
Sharon & Michael
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TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2006 03:06 PM
Today is Michael's 40th birthday and he asked me not to do anything special for him. Not that he doesn't want his B-day to be celebrated, he just wants to wait to celebrate it in Colombia! By faith, he wants to wait until he receives the greatest gift he could possibly get for his big 40th and that is: "His Children!!!"
Boy oh boy, I can't wait, that will be some birthday celebration huh??? :>)
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THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2006 02:29 PM
Hello there,
We have some great news to share with you: yesterday, we FINALLY received the remaining documentation we were waiting for, in order to have our Dossier completely translated and FedExed to Colombia. We are sooooooooo happy this tedious part is done, for it was soooooooo demanding (medical exams, psychological evaluations, Home-Study, Police & FBI clearances, income verifications, etc., etc., etc.), as Michael often says: "if everyone who has a child had to go through everything adoptive parents have to go through in order to be approved as parents, maybe there wouldn't be so many people having kids and then not really caring for them the way they ought to be treated!"
Now, it's the hardest part of all, when all we had to do is done and it's completely out of our hands. All we can and have to do now is "wait" for the final approval from Colombia and the Immigration (which if all goes well, should only take between 2 to 4 months - the latest) and as soon as we get the word, we are expected to leave within 4 to 6 weeks to pick up the girls (yikes)!!!
To make the waiting "not so hard", we are going to keep busy by starting to prepare their rooms and have already started doing some shopping for clothes, educational stuff, etc. OK, I hope this is a good update for y'all. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease continue to pray for this situation which we are entering completely by faith, we reeeeeeeeeeeeeally mean it when we say: "We covet all your prayers!!!"!
By the way, for all of you who have not yet signed our online journal's guestbook, please do so whenever you have a chance, for we will be printing the whole thing in book form once this process is done and it will be a keep-sake treasure for the girls. Also, during our stay in Colombia, you will be able to check for daily updates and communicate with us directly through the journal.
Much love & gratitude,
Sharon & Michael
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THURSDAY, JULY 06, 2006 12:00 PM
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend & week! Please continue to pray that we receive the last 2 docs we are still waiting for ASAP, so we can finally send the completed dossier to Colombia!
Although we have to be pretty flexible when going through an international adoption (for as the agency keeps reminding us "anything can happen"), please start looking at your calendars & considering/saving the possible date of November 5th, when some of our dear friends are planning to throw a shower for the girls (if by then we know we are "officially approved for the girls." They will be sending invitations in plenty of time with the exact date and more details as it gets closer!
Thank you & love to all,
Sharon & Michael
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TUESDAY, JULY 04, 2006 01:00 AM
Happy 4th of July everyone!!!
We were enjoying some beautiful fire-works and started to think of what an awesome time we will have sharing all the wonderful "All American" experiences with our girls when they come home! Men, all the holidays will certainly be a lot more fun!!!
Hope you are all enjoying the day with loved ones!
Michael & Sharon
Saturday, July 29, 2006
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