Birth certficate

A huge praise, we received Zuri's birth certificate and was able to e-mail it to the embassy this morning.  We have requested that her case be expedited so we shall see how quickly we get our approval.  Please pray that her passport will be issued very soon so this doesn't slow our next step down which is the visa then travel. 

Thanks for all the support at Ten For Orphans, God has blessed us more than we ever dreamed.

Still waiting

We learned yesterday that the signed birth certificate will be ready on Thursday, praying this is true.  The wait is so very hard, knowing our baby is laying in an orphanage and needing medical attention.  She is in a wonderful home but it is still an orphanage with limited medical supplies and medications that she needs.  They love her dearly but nothing can take the place of a family.  Keep praying.

EERRRRR

So I am wondering how long it takes to sign a birth certificate, obviously more than 3 days because it isn't signed yet.  We are nearing the time when we will need to update our homestudy and all our clearances, we are praying these final steps move at record speed.  Please pray with us that each and every person who touches a piece of paper that says Maame Afua on it that they have a strong desire to expedite.

Last night I went to Walmart and bought a very soft blanket to cuddle her with on the long plane ride home, I think I might just pack her bags this week in antipication that within a few weeks I will be leaving.  We have letters in place from our congressman and pediatrician requesting the I600 and visa be expedited.

Prayers are needed!

Praise

We received word yesterday that Zuri's birth certificate has been issued which is a huge praise, however they are waiting for the signature.  So, how long will one signature take, hours, days, weeks, months, we are praying it is hours.  The next step will be our I600 which we have already filed, the embassy just needed the birth certificate to complete the approval.  Praying for each person that touches her file and feels the nudge to complete and approve it quickly.  Keep praying!

Ten For Orphans

I received the following e-mail from Ten For Orphans, they ask that I would share this on my blog

Dear Friends of TFO,   In case you have not heard, anonymous donors have offered a $850 matching grant for Efua's adoption expenses! This grant opportunity will run until the end of her fundraiser through Ten for Orphans (approximately 7 am EDT on March 1st), but there are less than 4 days remaining! Every dollar donated will be matched up to $850, and the $1,700 that could come from this can pay for a plane ticket to bring Efua home from Ghana. Please don't let Efua or her family miss any part of this blessing!   In case you are not familiar with her story, Efua was found abandoned on the side of the road as a baby. Over 1,000 people overlooked her, but Polly and Kevin Green wanted her.  In actuality, the Greens have already finalized her adoption, but they are waiting on her birth certificate, which is taking some time because of her unique situation and since she is the first orphan to be adopted from her area and the temporary home she is staying at in Ghana. While they are waiting on the paperwork, the Greens are sending money every month to pay for her care, and they still need money for their final trip and expenses to bring her home.    It is our privilege and joy to be a part of Efua's redemption, and we would like to offer you the same blessing and opportunity. Will you please join us? Even a small donation will be doubled, and if you can share this email or our posts on Facebook, it could also help tremendously!  Of the $850 match, $707.61 is still needed. If you can help in any way, large or small, tax deductible donations can be made here: http://www.tenfororphans.org/donate-now     Your micro giving can have a MAXIMUM impact in the life of an orphan!   Thanks so much!         Benjamin and Rebecca Barringer Ten For Orphans ben@tenfororphans.org • tenfororphans.org Powered by BrandMyMail Ten For Orphans Donate Now Project Hopeful Grace Haven                 Follow @tenfororphans URGENT! Only abt 3 1/2 days left in Efua's fundraiser, & there is still $800 needed to meet the $850 matching grant! tenfororphans.org Reply | Retweet | 52 minutes ago $850 matching grant for Efua! Please share! tenfororphans.org Reply | Retweet | 2 days, 18 hours ago Please check out our latest post on our Facebook page regarding confusion over our Donate button: facebook.com/tenfororphan... Reply | Retweet | 3 days, 1 hour ago

  Please consider donating to Zuri's (Efua) adoption, we are so close to bringing her home. Please prayerfully consider even donating 10.00 which would turn into 20.00.

Feel free to share on facebook, blogs, e-mail or by mouth, we greatly appreciate it.

One year ago....

We were surprised with this new picture, she is adorable.
 

This Saturday I will celebrate my birthday, it was one year ago that we committed to adopting Zuri, the day we said yes.  It is hard to believe that here we are one year later and still we wait, the only thing accomplished in the year was our court hearing, we offically became the the parents to Zuri.  That is huge but we long to have her birth certificate so we can move on to our I600 approval.  So, for my birthday wish I want Zuri's birth certificate, come on Cape Coast birth registry give me my birthday present.  Please pray with us that we will get her birth certificate.  I want my baby home!!!

Short video

 

 

My wonderful 9 year old son who is blessed with that cute little extra chromosome deleted almost all my pictures and videos from my trip to Ghana.  I have one video, I am trying to get Zuri to look at the camera so daddy could see his baby.  She is so precious, my heart is breaking waiting for her, we learned today that her birth certificate was not sent with the rest of the back logged certificates.  So, we wait.  Enjoy seeing my sweet baby move about.

Our journey

We are coming upon one year since we said yes to Zuri, we thought certainly she would have been home last summer, then we just knew she would be home by Christmas and we still sit and wait.  We are now waiting on her birth certificate, we are on week 14, just to think all she is missing out on because of paperwork. I am so very thankful she is in a wonderful home with an amazing foster mother who cherishes Zuri.  There are only 27 children in the orphanage, they however prefer to call it a home not an orphanage.  One couple cares for the children, Zuri sleeps in the same room as the foster parents, her needs are met, she receives love but still she is without her mommy and daddy.  She is without the medical attention she so desperately needs, medications, therapies, and nutrition. 

We were told that her birth certificate was to be ready yesterday but we have heard nothing so that tells us it was not ready.  Please pray with us that it can be picked up soon, we know in God's perfect time she will be home but the wait is so difficult.

THAT BABY!!!

I was recently approached by someone asking if we were still getting "that baby", yes they knew her name, yes they knew she was "our" daughter but still called her "that baby".  That baby was made perfect, just the way God intended her to be made, how do we determine perfect, by looks, health, development, or being able to give back to those caring for them.  Zuri is beautiful, will reach the potential God choose for her, and will bring a smile to everyones face that meets her. 

We will parent Zuri with so much love, God called us to be different than most, to parent a child that most will call different, many won't understand but we aren't trying to please others, only God. Welcoming a beautiful little girl that is not just "that baby" but "our baby".

Blown away

 

 

Imagine my surprise when  I received an unexpected e-mail from Ten for Orphans letting me know that Zuri (Efua) would be their chosen Feburary child to raise funds for.  We are so close to bringing her home, this is a total blessing.  When I traveled in December to spend time with Zuri it was very evident that I would not be able to travel alone to bring her home, it would be a two person journey.  We was hoping that I could do it alone due to the cost of two people traveling, but isn't t just like God to have it all under control.  For the entire month of February Ten for Orphans which can be found at www.tenfororphans.org will be featuring our very own Zuri.  They ask that everyone donate just 10.00 which is tax deductable, they put the dollar amount at 10.00 because almost everyone can afford to donate ten dollars.  Please spread the word, to your friends, family, church, adoption circle, facebook, blogs, twitter, anywhere and everywhere.  We thank you for your part in bringing Zuri home.

Maybe next week.....

Zur sleeping soundly in her foster mothers arms, this lady is amazing.

I feel like the story of my life in this waiting game is......maybe next week but it seems next week just never comes.  I did learn why Zuri's birth certificate is taking so long, thankfully it helps knowing that there isn't a problem but just the location of where she is and their process.  I am using this time to begin a list of all specialists that she will visit, buying little things, collecting coupons for diapers and formula hitting the thrift store for bargains, and searching numerous websites for any equipment or toys that will benefit her and her development.  I want to be prepared but I know I will miss many areas in the department of "must haves".  So, the wait continues, hum maybe next week or better yet this week.

Update

On December 8th I had a chance to spend time with Zuri as I traveled to bring our boys home, I spent an entire day just loving on her.  Just to feel her in my arms and kiss her cheeks was priceless.  Her skin is so soft, her eyes beautiful with long lashes, her little personality is that of a fighter.  I can honestly say I was shocked when I seen her, taken back at how tiny her head was, it fits into the palm of my hand.  To see this extremely small head on a normal sized body was rather odd, but my motherly instinct kicked right in, I overlooked what I first noticed and seen a beautiful little girl. When you look at Zuri you see eyes that roll around, sudden stiffness with her entire body, no social smile, no weight bearing, no grasping, and a child who cries often.  But, it doesn't take anytime at all to see all the sweetness she possesses, after relaxing she lays perfectly in your arms, if you are in the light she will catch your eyes and look so deeply right into them, oh I am so in love with her and can't wait for her to meet her daddy and all her siblings. 

I have specific prayer requests, we are waiting on her birth certificate that seems to be taking a very long time to get, please pray it is made available this week.  We have requested an expedited I600 and visa approval, pray this takes place and that no investigation is needed on her case.  We are ready to get her home and to begin the medical care she needs. 

We also have some more big news to share but that will come later.