Daddy-Daughter Weekend Part 2

Well with some unsettled weather today, my outdoor plans were delayed. So Lilli and I took in another movie (we had a few free passes that really helped). We went to see College Road Trip. It was cute, adorable and heartwarming. We enjoyed it thoroughly.

The movie presented another key daddy-daughter moment. Please let me never be as controlling and over-protective as the Martin Lawrence charachter. It is one thing to love your daughter, but that was just over dominating. I know it was overacted for comedic purposes, but God please, let me love but not control.

Now tomorrow should be interesting, Lilli saw an ad for a Father of the Bride double feature and wants to watch it. Even before I had a daughter, I was blubbering fool watching those two movies. Pass the tissues.

Daddy-Daughter Weekend

If there is one thing that has gotten me through this ordeal, it is the precious gift that God blessed us with in 2002, Lilli. It has been a blessing watching her grow. Her heart to help others is truly genuine, and I can't help but think what a great big sister she could be (which usually doesn't help my frustration factor.) But it is so true. That is why I know God has a sister for her.

This weekend, Kristi has gotten away for a little R&R, and daddy and Lilli get a weekend together. Tonight we had dinner and a movie. As we were waiting for dinner, we were working on the kids games, and she was telling me how she would teach it. Her intelligence and imagination is unbelievable.

Then we went to see the movie Nim's Island. A fabulous story about...you guessed it, a father and his unbelievably imaginative daughter. It was a perfect date.

We Must KEEP the FAITH!

It should not have taken this long. Sure international adoptions have idiosyncrasies, but much of this was avoidable.

The biggest challenge has been the lack of planning from our agency. Our agency began facilitating adoptions in Vietnam again in April 2006. And then immediately began to plan changes. They had three years to plan these changes while Vietnam was closed to US adoptions from 2003-2006. The timing on their changes shows a complete lack of respect for the families and the children.

Yes there have been several US and Vietnam government changes, but most of these have been procedural, and would only have accounted for a week or two of extra time.

This process has reminded us how important it is to keep the faith. You can always count on the government to make things more difficult, and you can definitely not count on our agency. So our faith in God, and His timing, is all we can rely on.

Keep praying. Keep seeking. KEEP THE FAITH!

Got 'em all Beat :-(

Well here we are, we have been in the adoption process for 700 days now. That means we have been in the "gestation" period long enough, that every living mammal on the planet could have had two pregnancies (except the sperm whale, we are 3/4 of the way to another one of those.) Another few week, and we are officially at two years. We continue to be reassured by our agency that they are doing the best they can. We have tried to hold them to task, but there is little we can do. We are stuck. We can't change agencies without a lot of additional expense and time. We can't do anything, but sit and have faith in God.

We take each month at a time. we are not making any decisions this month, but if we get to the end of April without any news, there may be some changes.

Keep praying for us, we are hurting so much .

Surprise! No surprise!

We should have had a referral by the end of February ...2007. We were told that we would have a referral by the end of February 2008.

So here it is, they have had an additional year (and one day), but yet NOTHING!

Are we surprised? No there is no surprise in this adoption. Just agonizing frustration.