Greetings -
Often times during this journey you feel alone and frustrated. If you have not gone through an international adoption it is hard to understand the emotional roller coaster that you spend pretty much every day on! Well apparently my roller coaster ride last week was the straw that broke the camels back for the AMAZING yahoo group I am a part of with this adoption! So one of the fabulous mom's planned an evening of prayer for June 20th (Father's Day) from 8pm - 10pm central time. Now I was not really sure what was going to happen but I knew for those two hours I could pray for all the families living this roller coaster because someone would be praying for us. I had NO idea the number of families our story touched and that they would pray for us but I want to share with you some of the amazing words they lifted up last night for sweet sweet Tariku!
Lord, I lift up the Hammons family to you. I pray that the DNA test result that was requested by the new employee at the Embassy would be performed so quickly that the people who witness the turn around could only say that you and you alone were involved in the process. Father, please give Courtney and her husband patience and a peace that passes all understanding. Father, give them energy and endurance. Help them to remain focused on you and you alone during this time.
In your name, I pray.
Amen.
I pray for the families who have passed court and are waiting on Embassy clearance. Father, I pray that the clearance would come quickly so that these precious children can be united with their forever families. I pray that as the families wait to be united that they would use this time to prepare. Prepare their hearts, their homes, and whatever else they may need to do. Father, I pray that clearance would come this week for these families. I pray that the next Embassy appointment would be full and that these children will be united with their families. I pray that these families cling to you as the minutes turn into hours and the hours into days as they wait to get the phone call that clearance was given, that the investigation has been completed.
Father, I pray for the Hammons, the Elders, the Hemmingsens, the Booys, the Johnsons, the Pattesons, the Slonigers, the Sprengers, and the Tracys. I pray that they would each receive calls this week that they are cleared to travel for the next Embassy date.
Father, I pray that the correct I171-H form gets to Ethiopia tomorrow for the Booys. I know that you are involved in every detail and I pray that you would work this detail out and when you do Father, I pray that you would receive all honor and glory.
Father, thank you for giving us prayer to communicate with you. We love you and give you all praise and honor.
Amen.
Dear God, We especially lift up the Hammons family, their son, and his birth mother. We pray that you would be with T and his birth mom as they do the DNA test. We ask you to get the results back in record time. We ask for patience for Courtney and her husband as they wait for this process to be complete. Just fill them with strength, courage, and anticipation as they await the news that they can go get their little boy.
Amazing what this world of international adoption is. Families around the globe came together over the internet and in their homes to pray for this roller coaster of an experience!
To each family on this journey with us - know that you are in OUR prayers everyday. Thank you for lifting us up yesterday!
Wishing you a Magical Day ~
Courtney
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Update Before The Weekend - THANK GOD!!
Greetings -
Just spent the last hour on the phone with the Dept of State and our INCREDIBLE adoption agency. Here is where we are at - Tariku's birth mother has been located and is with the investigators on her way to Adidas (the capital) for the DNA testing! The plan is to bring Tariku and his mom to the lab on Monday (Sun night for us!!) The Dept of State is trying to get the results turned around quicker and has sent that info to the embassy. So now we wait!! Monday cannot come soon enough! Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Now we just pray that we can get the results quicker than 40+ days!!
Wishing you a Magical Day ~
Courtney
Just spent the last hour on the phone with the Dept of State and our INCREDIBLE adoption agency. Here is where we are at - Tariku's birth mother has been located and is with the investigators on her way to Adidas (the capital) for the DNA testing! The plan is to bring Tariku and his mom to the lab on Monday (Sun night for us!!) The Dept of State is trying to get the results turned around quicker and has sent that info to the embassy. So now we wait!! Monday cannot come soon enough! Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Now we just pray that we can get the results quicker than 40+ days!!
Wishing you a Magical Day ~
Courtney
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Devastating News to us
Greetings -
I was so hoping that as we entered week 12 since passing court (today to be exact!!) that I would be telling you we would be heading out to Africa but alas that is not the case at all. I received a call from our agency this morning explaining that the I-604 investigation was over (PRAISE GOD!)There is someone new at the embassy and although there was nothing out of the ordinary or fishy they have decided a DNA test is in order. So in order for there to be a DNA test a few things need to happen. First we need to locate the birth mother again, Next she needs to agree to the DNA test and come to the capital of Addidas for it. If for some reason she would not agree than we need to get a court order for her to comply. Finally the DNA needs to be sent off to a embassy approved lab (where currently the turn around is 40 days for results) and once all of that is complete than we may go and get our sweet boy. Kenneth and I are beside ourselves at this point and cannot really put into words how we feel. We do know that this is in the Lords hands and we are asking for prayer and guidance. I am awaiting a call from the agency as I type this to answer some questions like can we go visit him, and I will be sure to share with you all what we learn. Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers!
Wishing you a magical day~
Courtney
I was so hoping that as we entered week 12 since passing court (today to be exact!!) that I would be telling you we would be heading out to Africa but alas that is not the case at all. I received a call from our agency this morning explaining that the I-604 investigation was over (PRAISE GOD!)There is someone new at the embassy and although there was nothing out of the ordinary or fishy they have decided a DNA test is in order. So in order for there to be a DNA test a few things need to happen. First we need to locate the birth mother again, Next she needs to agree to the DNA test and come to the capital of Addidas for it. If for some reason she would not agree than we need to get a court order for her to comply. Finally the DNA needs to be sent off to a embassy approved lab (where currently the turn around is 40 days for results) and once all of that is complete than we may go and get our sweet boy. Kenneth and I are beside ourselves at this point and cannot really put into words how we feel. We do know that this is in the Lords hands and we are asking for prayer and guidance. I am awaiting a call from the agency as I type this to answer some questions like can we go visit him, and I will be sure to share with you all what we learn. Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers!
Wishing you a magical day~
Courtney
Thursday, June 10, 2010
11 Weeks Waiting - His time
Greetings -
I have been away from the blog world for awhile! You see today we are closing in on the end of the 11th week since we passed court. Since we passed court I have celebrated my first mother's day, seen a flood destroy and rebuild a community. I have relocated many many many of my events due to the flood, I have seen my parents celebrate 40 years of marriage, I have met my newest niece Kayla for the first time. I have seen in pictures my sweet sweet Tariku loose his first two teeth and I have heard from our adoption agency that he has recovered from chicken pox and pink eye. Wow alot sure has happened in 11 weeks and yet my heart aches for my sweet boy. Summer is here now and I yearn to take him to the pool and the park, to play with family and learn about life on the lake. But I am comforted by the fact that GOD has the plan and the timing. You see every time I thought he should be here GOD showed me that it was not his time. And so we wait for his time..........
I have been away from the blog world for awhile! You see today we are closing in on the end of the 11th week since we passed court. Since we passed court I have celebrated my first mother's day, seen a flood destroy and rebuild a community. I have relocated many many many of my events due to the flood, I have seen my parents celebrate 40 years of marriage, I have met my newest niece Kayla for the first time. I have seen in pictures my sweet sweet Tariku loose his first two teeth and I have heard from our adoption agency that he has recovered from chicken pox and pink eye. Wow alot sure has happened in 11 weeks and yet my heart aches for my sweet boy. Summer is here now and I yearn to take him to the pool and the park, to play with family and learn about life on the lake. But I am comforted by the fact that GOD has the plan and the timing. You see every time I thought he should be here GOD showed me that it was not his time. And so we wait for his time..........
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
April Update
Greetings -
Hard to believe that April has come and gone but alas it has! The computer lines in Africa are not always the best and so it was not until yesterday that we got our April update! So without further ado here is what they are saying about our sweet boy and 2 new pictures!
Apparently Tariku takes after his momma! The nannies say he was most moody this past month! I say it is because he is done waiting for us to come and just wants to come home!! He has also learned sign language to talk to a friend at the transitional home and wants to make sure we knew that he wants to continue his sign language when he comes home! He still weighs 40lbs and is still 42 inches tall! He did loose his first front tooth this month and his hair is growing quickly! Enjoy the pictures!!!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Hard to believe that April has come and gone but alas it has! The computer lines in Africa are not always the best and so it was not until yesterday that we got our April update! So without further ado here is what they are saying about our sweet boy and 2 new pictures!
Apparently Tariku takes after his momma! The nannies say he was most moody this past month! I say it is because he is done waiting for us to come and just wants to come home!! He has also learned sign language to talk to a friend at the transitional home and wants to make sure we knew that he wants to continue his sign language when he comes home! He still weighs 40lbs and is still 42 inches tall! He did loose his first front tooth this month and his hair is growing quickly! Enjoy the pictures!!!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Friday, May 7, 2010
Music City Under Water
Greetings -
I wanted to take moment and let you all know that Kenneth and I are safe and dry. We have been very fortunate in the entire flooding situation here in Nashville. We are asking for your continued prayers as most of you know Kenneth works for Opryland and there was alot of damage to the hotel. Kenneth is still working and we are most thankful for that! We will be sure to keep you posted as things change - we also ask for some continued prayers that our I-171H comes soon! We are still waiting to hear on travel dates and the next possible time to travel will be May 22nd!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
I wanted to take moment and let you all know that Kenneth and I are safe and dry. We have been very fortunate in the entire flooding situation here in Nashville. We are asking for your continued prayers as most of you know Kenneth works for Opryland and there was alot of damage to the hotel. Kenneth is still working and we are most thankful for that! We will be sure to keep you posted as things change - we also ask for some continued prayers that our I-171H comes soon! We are still waiting to hear on travel dates and the next possible time to travel will be May 22nd!
Wishing you a Magical Day~
Courtney
Friday, April 30, 2010
What a week waiting!
Greetings -
So last week I went to the doctor to have a csyt looked at! The doctor took one look and said it had to come out!!!! So monday morning Kenneth and I headed to the Vanderbilt Bone and Joint Clinic in Franklin to have the surgery! Little did I realize when I woke up I would have a cast to my elbow!!!!!!! Sorry for the lack of posts this week but me and the cast are still learning to get along. On thursday I made a trip to homeland security in Memphis to look into what is taking FOREVER with our I 171H form. I am happy to report that this will all be cleared up on Monday or Tuesday and than we will just wait for the call to travel. We are super excited for the 5 families that will travel over Mother's Day!!! And in other news we did receive Tariku's birth certificate in email this week! So very very cool to see us listed as his parents! Soon my sweet boy soon you will be with us!
Wishing you a magical day~
Courtney
So last week I went to the doctor to have a csyt looked at! The doctor took one look and said it had to come out!!!! So monday morning Kenneth and I headed to the Vanderbilt Bone and Joint Clinic in Franklin to have the surgery! Little did I realize when I woke up I would have a cast to my elbow!!!!!!! Sorry for the lack of posts this week but me and the cast are still learning to get along. On thursday I made a trip to homeland security in Memphis to look into what is taking FOREVER with our I 171H form. I am happy to report that this will all be cleared up on Monday or Tuesday and than we will just wait for the call to travel. We are super excited for the 5 families that will travel over Mother's Day!!! And in other news we did receive Tariku's birth certificate in email this week! So very very cool to see us listed as his parents! Soon my sweet boy soon you will be with us!
Wishing you a magical day~
Courtney
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