I800A

We are no into initial territory and we couldn't be more excited!!  Initials means official documents.  Initials means oodles more paperwork.  Initials means more money.  Bottom-line- Initials means we are getting closer to bringing Asher and Annalise HOME!

Monday we received word that our Homestudy was DONE!  Yay!!  We just needed to wait for our copies to be mailed to us from Michigan.  

Friday, our copies arrived- and Al got them from the mailman!  It was all we needed to submit our I800A- a rather lengthy and pricey document where we ask the US government if we may please adopt from Lithuania.  Al has had the I800A ready to go for several week, we were just waiting for the Homestudy to mail in with it!

Friday afternoon I was at the pool with Adeline and Alden attempting to wear them out.  Al came to the pool with a folder of papers in his hand and a HUGE grin! I just knew what that meant!!  I jumped out of the pool and hurriedly dried off!  We weren't wasting any time- I signed my portion of the I800A right there at the pool and Al took them directly to the UPS store to have them mailed to Texas!!  They should arrive on Tuesday!!

Now we wait.  We wait for an email to tell us that our file has arrived.  Then we wait for an agent to contact us.  Then we wait for an appointment to have our fingerprints taken in Norfolk- which we can go early for!  Please pray that our agent isn't going on vacation, is prompt, and wants to help us get Asher and Annalise home as quickly as possible!

Once we have approval of our I800A- and are mailed our approval- another set of numbers and initials- we can submit our dossier-  where we actually apply to Lithuania for Asher and Annalise! 

We are one step closer!!

Truck Loads of Happy News!

May 15, 2013 we submitted a letter of intent to Lithuania, stating how much we wanted Asher and Annalise.  Yesterday, we heard back; "We are so happy that their documents are almost ready and we are waiting eagerly when the family will be able to submit them to Lithuania."

We can't WAIT to know that you are ours, Asher and Annalise!

As if that wasn't enough good news, hours later, we found out that our Home Study was officially done!  Whooo-hoo!  Once we receive our official copy we can submit our i800a!  This is our first step towards the immigration process!  In a nutshell, it is a form requesting permission to adopt an international child from the US government.  Hopefully this will only take about a month.

Once that is accepted we can send to Lithuania our dossier- the huge document that has just about every breath we have ever taken documented in triplicate form.  But the best part of that is, is THAT is how we can know that Asher and Annalise are OURS.

Prayers are greatly appreciated.  Pray that our HomeStudy doesn't get lost in the mail- we have had multiple experience with mail ending up in the wrong mail box.  Pray that our i800a is assigned to an agent who is organized and not going on vacation any time soon.  Pray that we have peace while we have to wait on others to do their jobs.

Team Work

It's been nothing short of amazing.  Friends have come to us, wanting to help bring Asher and Annalise home!  Here are a few pics of three events we have had- and the funds have been earmarked for their airline tickets home and immunizations that they must have in order to be given an US passport and Visa.  The immunizations are more than a little pricey at the Embassy Clinic, but we will do whatever it takes to get them home!

31- 31 is a company that sells bags of all kinds.  I love their stuff, and was completely honored when a friend offered to give me a portion of the proceeds from a 31 party!  We would be given money to go towards the immunizations AND we would get free products.  How wonderful!?

Friends busy shopping- lots of others shopped on-line, too!

Yummy cake-pops made for the party

Snacks- notice the Lithuanian Flag in peppers!

A few weeks ago we had a MASSIVE yard sale at Goddard.  Mr. Stephen was amazing- he not only allowed us to use the parking lot- but helped from 7am-4pm.  When it started to rain, he allowed us to move all our treasures into the gym.  Mrs. Sarah and Mrs. Theresa helped us starting at 5:15am- what amazing friends!  Many who came to the sale couldn't get over how much "stuff" we had and were excited to not only score some treasures but also to be a part of bringing Asher and Annalise home!

MarMar and PopPop came from NY and were a HUGE help!  They watched the kids and brought them to the sale in the morning.  They helped organize, sell stuff, manned the food and t-shirts.  They were a huge help!

1/2 of the Gym

T-shirts- these came and have been mostly all sold!  We love them- they are soft, pretty and share a sweet message!  These have also been a big part of bringing you home!

What a blessing to have all these people in our lives- who love Asher and Annalise and can't wait to have them in our arms!

Fingerprints

Already we have clearly seen how God has been working to prepare "things" for Asher and Annalise.  Today, I was privileged to actually see a few more of those special fingerprints.

Ever since meeting with the international doctor, we realized how beneficial it would be to have someone who spoke Lithuanian with us, as both Asher and Annalise will be needing some surgery rather quickly after arriving in The States.  Hospitals are scary- hospitals that in a different country are even scarier- and add to that you have no clue what is going on and cannot understand anyone?  That just breaks my heart!  We had a few ideas of how to try and find someone- but that is where God comes in....

I walked into Goddard to drop off Adeline and Alden this morning.  Miss Sarah- the amazing lady who designed the adoption t-shirts and who tirelessly served at the yard sale- she handed me an envelope with money inside.  It was from a nanny of a child who attends Goddard.  She is from Belarus/Lithuania (and we think) speaks Lithuanian!  She heard of our story to adopt Asher and Annalise and wanted to help get two children from her country, here.  How cool is that??  Wouldn't it be neat if she could, and was willing to, interpret for us?  She is a grandma-ish lady I'm told- how comforting is a grandma?!?  The family she nannies for has been given our information- and we hope she is going to contact us!

As I am getting this news, the wife of the Goddard director comes out of her office.  She had an idea for me.  She had just finished reading a book called Izzy's Fire, and one of the book's subjects actually lives here in Richmond.  Why is that neat?  The book is the story of a Lithuanian Jewish family's survival during the holocaust!  That survivor lives here in Richmond and actually runs the Holocaust Museum and I have actually MET him!  Guess where I am taking a week long class in a few weeks- The Holocaust Museum!  What's even crazier- I actually read Izzy's Fire to my class last year- and I even remember, now, looking up on a map where Lithuania is!  Maybe, just maybe, Jay (super old but still amazing), the survivor, will know of other local Lithuanians.  In the book, they mention spending time with family and what a tight-knit community they have here in Richmond.  Wouldn't it be neat if there were some people there who could talk to Asher and Annalise?  Teach me to cook some Lithuanian foods? Share about the culture?  Keep the Lithuanian language alive for Asher and Annalise?  Someone else that Asher and Annalise can share their roots with?

There is one final possibility for Lithuanian language help- there is a large teaching hospital downtown.  There is a multitude of international students studying there- in the fields of medicine and endless other fields as well.  There is a distinct possibility that there is a student there who speaks Lithuanian and who would be willing to help us ease the fears of our two new kiddos.  How cool is that?

The hand of God is clear here- multiple possibilities for Lithuanian contacts, right here in little old Richmond!!

As if this wasn't enough- the fact that we may have access to Lithuanian culture greatly helps increase the chances that a judge will waive the 40 day waiting period.

God is Good- I am honored and humbled that I get to see some of his fingerprints!!

Everyone Needs a Little 31

31 is a great company that sells bags- all kinds of bag- purses, totes, organizing bags, laundry bags- all very cute and stylish!  I love their stuff and have a good bit of it.

Imagine how honored and excited I was when a friend, who sells 31, offered to have a party in Asher and Annalise's honor and that a portion of the proceeds would go toward THEM?!

Not everyone can come to my house, I fully understand that.  But thanks to technology, you CAN still shop and help!


Go to www.mythirtyone.com/191930 (Stephanie Hoppin's page)
Click "Place an Order"Click on "Bringing home the twins"


June 15th I will be opening our home and hosting a party- and I hope lots of people come- simply because having lots of friends over is lots of fun!  Picking out spiffy bags is fun.  Celebrating Asher and Annalise is always fun!

Please shop- pick up a new purse, order a tote for the pool or your groceries, snag a small pouch for organizing your things....  It's going to make you super stylish AND help our twins!

Portraits in the Park

Here is yet another example of how God is working to bring Asher and Annalise "home."  This amazingly talented photographer heard of our story- of needing these two special needs orphans to come "home" and she wanted to help.  We don't know her- but she feels compelled to use her gift to help us bring you home!

I can't wait to see the amazing pics that she captures!  Thank you, Megan, for your generosity!!