Finga-prints & BEACH!

We had a great family day last Friday and went down to Jacksonville to have our fingerprints done at U.S. Department of Homeland Security!!

What exactly does this mean & what is it for??

It means the United States is giving us permission to bring an orphan from another country into the US. When we finally receive her referral (aka-know who she is) we will be able to have her name (birth name) listed as the orphan.

The more of this process we get to do as a family the happier it makes this momma! We pray/talk about Lily all of the time and try to include the boys in as much as we can when it comes to what the Lord has done, how we can save in preparation for her, rearranging their rooms to make room for her etc but THIS was as all inclusive as you can get!
Greeting the guard at the door, going thru security, sitting and waiting for our number to be called, the whole 9 yards they got to see! It was great! We couldn't take the camera in, had to have our cell phones off & they even threw my gum away! #worthit

{side note} This particular day we chose to have this done, was "Ceremony Day" and we didn't know it! As we sat on one side of the room we watched the other side of the room fill up with people of all sorts of nationalities & race. They were all becoming US Citizens on this day!! They all wore their best dress and all had the biggest smiles ever! Some brought their families along. Such an exciting day in their lives!!!
I couldn't help but think of the day I became a daughter of the King and celebrated in baptism. What a beautiful reminder of what Christ does for us! He just brings us ALL in. No matter our skin color or nationality!!! Brings tears to my eyes!!

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it!

1 Cor 12:27

We took pb&j and ate it on the way to the beach!! It's been several years since we have all been at the beach together!! We had such a great time and even found a little pink seashell to bring home with us <3

So what's next and HOW MUCH LONGER??!?!?!

We are in the process of gathering our last little bit of paperwork!

Here are a few examples of what this includes:

* Original/certified copies of: Birth Certificates/marriage license/divorce decree
* Reference letters from 3 friends
* Bank Letter
* Medical Examinations
* Letter of Intent to Ethiopia {Basically explaining why we would like to adopt a child from ET.}
* Power of Attorney
*Home Study

This is for our Dossier (doss-c-a) and will go directly to Ethiopia. Once it's translated/approved we will be placed on an official WAITING LIST! Our estimated wait time is 6-12 months. My prayer is that by Christmas we have at least been on the list for a few months!!! Trusting in the Lords timing all the way!!

I can't WAIT to show you a picture of us mailing off this Dossier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May the things of Earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory & grace,

Kim