**** If you did not read my post yesterday-go and read it before this one.
Sorry friends, I really did not mean to keep you all hanging today. I totally laughed at some of your comments. You guys are too funny. Truth is, I wrote and wrote until my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore. The rest just had to wait till today. Sorry. It was kind of fun though 
So, now that I have kept you all in suspense the entire day-I’ll fill you in on where we are with things.
By the time last Friday morning came, I was a mess. I now have such an understanding of what so many families go through when they fall in love with a child-only to find out he/she cannot be theirs. Goodness, I felt like I was losing OUR CHILD.
Our main obstacle is obviously my citizenship. So many times over the last couple of years my dear hubby has tried to convince me to get my US citizenship. Every time I blow him off-it means I have to lose one of my other citizenships (South African or Australian), plus the exam that you have to take is seriously intense. My knowledge of American history is very sad. So, I never pursued it. Of course now I am kicking myself for not looking into it a long time ago.
On Friday I almost gave in to hopelessness. I came so close to feeling overwhelmed to the point of just wanting to give up. So close. Every e-mail I got seemed to hold more bad news-more and more obstacles that stood in our way. Goodness, there just seemed to be one thing after another.
After many hours on the computer and the phone, the Spirit of the living God rose up in my heart. I realized that it IS possible for me to get my citizenship. The Lord had to give me a swift kick in the rear. I found out that the ‘normal’ process could take anywhere from 9-12 months. Oh no-Hailee may not have that long, she is not doing well. She is [barely] living with a severe heart defect that has not been repaired. She NEEDS surgery…or she will die.
Then we found out that there is a way to get my citizenship expedited. It could take just a couple of months from beginning to end. We have to apply to USCIS (Immigration) for my application to be expedited. They grant it based on need. We will apply based on a humanitarian need.
Learning that there IS a way for the Immigration side of things to be sorted out, I finally saw the glimmer of hope that we so needed.
But, we’re not in the clear yet. We’re still waiting to find out if there is a loophole regarding the financial issue. It is the craziest thing to me. We may have found a way around it-but are not 100% sure yet.
Then there is another paperwork issue. The country Hailee is in requires that Anthony and I include an original marriage license in our dossier. One wee problem-we were married in South Africa. There is no way on God’s green earth that I am going to get a copy of our marriage license from South Africa. Even if you live there-dealing with home affairs is no fun at all. A visit to their offices is a nightmare for everyone. No kidding. To try and get it from here-oh my, I can stand on my head and whistle dixie till the cows come home-it’s not gonna happen.
It may be possible to give them a copy of the original marriage license we have in our possession, like we did for our China adoptions. But, this country is seriously strict about their paperwork, so there is no telling what they will say. We’re trusting for favor.
The journey has been filled with highs and lows. It feels like we have faced mountain after mountain since the day we agreed to adopt this sweet little girl. From opposition and sheer disinterest from friends and family, to all the legal stuff, well, it has been a ride.
To get my citizenship is going to cost thousands of dollars extra. It’s going to take time and effort. The extra paperwork to do a “single person with consent” adoption is going to take more time and more effort. But you know what-Hailee is worth it! She is worth every single little bit of effort that we have to put into this adoption.
She is worth it.
Sometimes the journey’s that the Lord sends us on are not without trials. They are not without obstacles that stand in our way. There are times that the Lord has us stand up and FIGHT for the things He has birthed in our hearts. This is one such time for us.
We will not give up on Hailee.
We will not let the enemy have the victory here-another child left to die in an orphanage.
We will not grow weary of the battle.
We will not!
We’re standing up and fighting for Hailee…because she’s worth it!
Some things in this life are just worth fighting for.
Amen Sister!!
We will stand with you and fight (through prayer).
Michelle
You fight sister…I am right there beside you, trenches and all!
Well I am glade I did not get a chance to read your post on Saturday - because I would have been very cross with you, leaving things hanging like that - actually I probably would have gotten on the phone and called you
Anyway, so happy you see a light in all the darkness that seemed to be overshadowing this process. God is in control. I too have been meaning to do my citizenship for several years, maybe I should learn from you and get on with it. LOV
YOU ARE SO STRONG! Praise God you are willing to fight and not give up on your baby! THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE my friend!
You are an inspiration! Standingin prayer with you!
Wow, what a story. Don’t you dare even for a second think about giving up this fight. You have a lot up people out there fighting with you through prayer.
I am praying, praying, praying your citizenship is approved quickly and will stand with you in prayer over all the other issues that seem major to us, but minor to God.
Amen! Some things most definitely are worth fighting for! I will pray for His strength to rise up in you to endure until the end. Because last man standing, you know, wins! Lean on Him!
I am greatly humbled by your strength and your faith! And inspired as well!
Thank you for having a heart like His! Thank you for your love and desire to bring little Hailee home! Thank you for being who you are, how I wish I lived next door!
This is one mountain that will be climbed! Praise God!
You know what Adeye? I used to think that if God called me to something, it would be smooth sailing just because God is the one who said to do it. I have learned otherwise.
In fact, when God calls us to something, I can almost guarantee that the enemy of our souls will put up a fight along the way. The Word tells us that he comes to kill steal and destroy. He doesn’t want us to get our inheritance.
He doesn’t want Hailee to be loved and nurtured and taught about her Savior. Oh it makes me so mad!
I know that when you are walking through a season of mountains and you can’t see past them, it is so very hard to keep upright. I remember walking in a season of such darkness when we had W. living with us. I was torn between what I thought the Lord had asked us to do and what was happening…trying to figure out what went wrong.
It wasn’t until recently that I have discovered that nothing went wrong. It all went precisely the way the Lord knew it would. We did do what He asked. It just turned out so differently than we assumed it would. His plans were not ours and yet He was at work through it all, taking care of W. and preparing her heart for what was to come…the place she would stop at and finally accept help.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Oh if we could just cling to that when the enemy tries to get us to despair.
Our Savior- He can move the mountains. Our God is mighty to save! He is mighty to save! Forever, author of salvation…He rose and conquered the grave…Jesus conquered the grave!!
Oh sweet friend! You are so right…sometimes the things God call us to do come very easily…but not usually. He is an awesome Father who knows what His children are capable of and wants us to put up a good fight to fulfill His calling. I always think of Gladys Aylward who had MANY obstacles and literal mountains to get over. But she did it and serves as a great reminder to all us not-always-so-strong gals, to draw true strength from the ONE source who will never leave us or forsake us. JESUS.
I will be praying for you as you take on that long laundry list of things to do to get your darling daughter. But as you said, she IS worth every bit of it.
you really aren’t up against a brick wall, you just need to go around… I always said with our first 2 adoptions, “We will proceed until we can’t then we have God’s answer” We were not qualified either time and yet both our girls are here at home.
Keep going! God has your back!
Only God can make a way when there is no way!
Lord Jesus, I pray for your perfect will in this child life!
Amen!
Life is always worth fighting fighting for and we will stand with you in prayer!!
Oh, sweet friend, imagine the story you will have to tell Hailee. This precious child was loved so fiercely even before you ever met her! What a fantastic testimony of God!
Keep on, keeping on! We’ll stand and fight with you!
You are right, some things are worth fighting for! Sob. Love you! Don’t let that pesky devil get you down. You can be sure I will be here to give you a loving kick in the backside when you get down again, as I hope you will keep doing for me! Praying for HAILEE!!!
We are praying for you!
-Nicole
http://www.bakerssweets.blogspot.com
Praying our mighty God moves in a mighty way.