Our New Life Begins: Adoption update...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Adoption update...

So we've been waiting for Leo's visa to be issued. Apparently the norm for visa issuance is somewhere between 24 hrs to 7 days after the visa interview, and once the visa is issued...voila, we supposedly get 'the call' to travel. Well, it's been a month since Leo's visa interview and no word. So I called our Congresswoman's office yesterday for help. Within 24 hrs, they confirmed that Leo's visa had been issued! Good news...frustrating part is that it was issued on July 31st...almost a month ago!

A week, three weeks, a month doesn't seem like a long time to wait...I know. But, every day that goes by feeling like your family isn't complete is...well, it is what it is. Anyway, our agency has contacted ICAB (the governing adoption board in the PI) and perhaps we'll get word on when we can travel tomorrow. Although Leo's visa has been issued, we still have to wait for a formal invitation to travel from ICAB as they are the ones who meet with us to hand over all of Leo's paperwork.

To note, I do have a few distractions (both good and bad) that have been keeping me occupied...

1) Our new dog, Koa, is sick (poor baby!)...and I'm getting ready to get swindled at the vet tomorrow.
2) Had an awesome weekend at the GMD Benefit Concert for International Christian Adoptions!

3) Kicked off the week-long celebration for our church's 25th Anniversary!

4) Maile:o)
5) Oh yeah, work...plus all the regular wife and mommy stuff
6) And of course, the intermittent packing for our unbooked trip...

Ahh yes, and in all of this, I'm realizing that when Leo arrives, life will again be changing so I'm trying to savor these last moments, especially with Marvin and Maile, before we move forward to our new family.

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is my husband. High school sweethearts and saved through Christ together, we've been married for almost 10 years. The comment I get most about Marv is, "He's a really good guy." That he is. He loves the Lord and is a wonderful husband, father, and friend. He's changed throughout the 20 years I've known him and keeps changing...but the love has always remained constant and enduring. In a conversation we had recently about freckles, Marvin looked at me sincerely and said, "Oh...I never noticed you had freckles." It shocked me. After 20 years, I realized how genuine love can really take away your imperfections. How reassuring...

Marvin is a physical therapist, he sings for the worship team at church, is a director for our church's discipleship and evangelism ministry, and is a well-rounded, out-going guy who makes friends easily . Plays basketball regularly, tennis, and golf occassionally. Likes reading, watching 'American Idol' and 'So you think you can Dance', popcorn, outdoors, good conversations, and entertaining Maile.

is my daughter...biological. She's a performer...loves to sing, dance, "act" and is quite dramatic and animated, even in normal conversation which can be pretty amusing. She's a little bossy but friendly and easily corrected. Confident and quite bold at times, she keeps me in check. At six years old, she knows more than I knew when I hit my 30's and has probably done more at six than I ever did at twenty. She's athletic...swims, plays basketball, dances, and is learning tennis with dad. Has a cute, petite physique for her age with such adorable cheek bones and dimples:o)

Maile loves cereal (particularly lucky charms), slumber parties, swimming, Bible stories, dogs, ice cream, being barefoot and all the girly stuff. I thank God for her all the time...she's a gift that keeps on giving, whether she knows it or not.

entered our life through a Philippines hosting program for orphans. At the time, we weren't thinking of adoption...we just wanted to help Filipino orphans. We didn't hesitate to advocate for these children and volunteered to be a host family for the program. We were matched with Mark Anthony, a 9 year old boy, but at the last minute he wasn't able to make the flight to California because of a typhoon. We were asked to host a 12 year-old boy instead...it was Leo.

We fell in love with Leo during his month-long stay with us and realized that he was part of God's plan for our lives. Click here to find out more about our journey.

Leo is sweet and sensitive. Likes singing, dancing, video games and basketball. Loves chicken nuggets. A good-looking kid with an awesome smile. Great with little kids, loves dogs, is very affectionate and likes to give hugs. Leo has been through a lot and much healing will have to take place throughout the course of his life. We pray God continues to prepare us well...

is a chihuahua mutt...maybe mixed with a weiner dog or a jack russell (yikes!), but has the personality of a cute 2 year old toddler...potty-trained:o) His name means "brave and fearless" in Hawaiian...we'll see if he can live up to it. Adopted from the shelter, he was marked as a "stray."

Never knew dogs could get so attached to one particular person. For Koa, that person is me. He tolerates the rest of the family, but I am by far his favorite, which is endearing but not-so-endearing at times (esp for my daughter). Aside from trying to "mark his territory" the day he came home, his transition to our family has been smooth. He's mellow and isn't tearing up the house (like our pup Lily, who massacred our backyard before we gave her up). Playful, affectionate but skiddish around new people, he's cozy and submissive in anyone's arms.