Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
One More Day!
God never lost control of all of this and never stopped being good...
As I write from West Chicago, Wendy is sleeping a few hours before beginning the long journey home at 4am. She arrives tomorrow at 12:30pm with our new son! She left last Thursday the 3rd of February and GOTCHA DAY will be February 10 (My brother-in-law's birthday).
The journey that started at an informational meeting at Christ Church in Oakbrook with a Bethany informational seminar about 2 and 1/2 years ago is in some ways about to come to an end and in another way is just about to truly begin. Our whole family (Which includes our Church family) is SO excited to meet him and have him go through a port of entry officially making him a United States Citizen!
This has been unnerving and unsettling down to the last possible step, yet God has been gracious in giving us a peace that passes understanding guarding our hearts and our minds over the many months of wading through all of this. (of course I did have my first bad headache yesterday in about 5 years).
I'm simply attaching the last two e-mails that Wendy sent over the last 24 hours. We praise God and thank all of you for your prayers and support.
-------------
Well, this afternoon was a bit stressful. Seems like we can't get to the very end without a little bit of drama. Eugene (Oleg's father) came by to pick us up for the Embassy. He walked in and said "We have problems with you (pointing to me) and with you." (pointing to Z- from Indiana) Well my problem was the form with your signature. Embassy said you signed the wrong form (which we figured out by now) and you would have to sign the right form and send it to KZ before they could issue a VISA for Noah.
I said that would take a few days and we would miss our flight. So then I tell him about the fact that we have a scanned copy of your signature on the right form in my email box. We had put it on Z's jump drive to take to Embassy if there was a problem. Eugene didn't know that would be helpful but was willing to try.
Z and I both get on the phone with Embassy. I tell the lady that I have a copy of form with your signature scanned. She says it has to be original and I say it is an original signature. Scanned signatures happen all the time in the business world and are considered original. She says she will do some researching to find out if that will work. I say it has to b/c we have a flight to catch. We have to be on that flight. We are ready to go home.
After 1.5 hours of waiting in lobby and on and off phone with Embassy, the women told Z to come to Embassy tomorrow for appt. and that his issue will probably be fine. I get on the phone and she says, "Are you sure you have a scanned copy of his signature on the correct form. " I say, "yes, I have it in my hands right now!!" (In the meantime i had printed it off in business office). She said "it will probably be OK. Have Eugene bring it in tomorrow morning and come at 3:00 for you appt." i say, "Can we bring it in right now?" She says, "no, no one can help you now." (it was 4pm) "Come in tomorrow and we will have your interview."
So I am hoping and PRAYING it's OK. The worse case scenario would be you would have to send you signature by over night FedEx and we would have to wait for a few days. That would be horrible, but at least it's a fixable problem. Of course more of an expense too.
Eugene told us that another family who was suppose to go to Embassy with us had an FBI fingerprint document that had expired! That is a major problem!!! Not sure what they are going to do.
So, I am feeling OK about it all. Trying not to worry or freak out or bawl. :) Just praying all day that it will be fine and we will be out of here on Thursday am. Pray the same.
I just put Noah to bed. I am going to shower and get there myself. I need my own bed!! Not sleeping well. That's all for tonight. have a great day. I will let you know what happens, of course.
Wendy
(The next day after Embassy Interview)
Thank you friends for thinking of us and praying. I must admit the last 24 hours have been very stressful but WE MADE IT!!!! God provided and we went to the Embassy and received Noah's passport, VISA and official adoption documents. Yippeee!!!
Our flight leaves tomorrow morning at 4 AM. It's a long haul but we are ready. can't wait for you all to meet the newest Sterk! Love, Wendy.
"For the righteous will never be moved. He will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady. He will not be afraid."
Ps. 112:6-8
As I write from West Chicago, Wendy is sleeping a few hours before beginning the long journey home at 4am. She arrives tomorrow at 12:30pm with our new son! She left last Thursday the 3rd of February and GOTCHA DAY will be February 10 (My brother-in-law's birthday).
The journey that started at an informational meeting at Christ Church in Oakbrook with a Bethany informational seminar about 2 and 1/2 years ago is in some ways about to come to an end and in another way is just about to truly begin. Our whole family (Which includes our Church family) is SO excited to meet him and have him go through a port of entry officially making him a United States Citizen!
This has been unnerving and unsettling down to the last possible step, yet God has been gracious in giving us a peace that passes understanding guarding our hearts and our minds over the many months of wading through all of this. (of course I did have my first bad headache yesterday in about 5 years).
I'm simply attaching the last two e-mails that Wendy sent over the last 24 hours. We praise God and thank all of you for your prayers and support.
-------------
Well, this afternoon was a bit stressful. Seems like we can't get to the very end without a little bit of drama. Eugene (Oleg's father) came by to pick us up for the Embassy. He walked in and said "We have problems with you (pointing to me) and with you." (pointing to Z- from Indiana) Well my problem was the form with your signature. Embassy said you signed the wrong form (which we figured out by now) and you would have to sign the right form and send it to KZ before they could issue a VISA for Noah.
I said that would take a few days and we would miss our flight. So then I tell him about the fact that we have a scanned copy of your signature on the right form in my email box. We had put it on Z's jump drive to take to Embassy if there was a problem. Eugene didn't know that would be helpful but was willing to try.
Z and I both get on the phone with Embassy. I tell the lady that I have a copy of form with your signature scanned. She says it has to be original and I say it is an original signature. Scanned signatures happen all the time in the business world and are considered original. She says she will do some researching to find out if that will work. I say it has to b/c we have a flight to catch. We have to be on that flight. We are ready to go home.
After 1.5 hours of waiting in lobby and on and off phone with Embassy, the women told Z to come to Embassy tomorrow for appt. and that his issue will probably be fine. I get on the phone and she says, "Are you sure you have a scanned copy of his signature on the correct form. " I say, "yes, I have it in my hands right now!!" (In the meantime i had printed it off in business office). She said "it will probably be OK. Have Eugene bring it in tomorrow morning and come at 3:00 for you appt." i say, "Can we bring it in right now?" She says, "no, no one can help you now." (it was 4pm) "Come in tomorrow and we will have your interview."
So I am hoping and PRAYING it's OK. The worse case scenario would be you would have to send you signature by over night FedEx and we would have to wait for a few days. That would be horrible, but at least it's a fixable problem. Of course more of an expense too.
Eugene told us that another family who was suppose to go to Embassy with us had an FBI fingerprint document that had expired! That is a major problem!!! Not sure what they are going to do.
So, I am feeling OK about it all. Trying not to worry or freak out or bawl. :) Just praying all day that it will be fine and we will be out of here on Thursday am. Pray the same.
I just put Noah to bed. I am going to shower and get there myself. I need my own bed!! Not sleeping well. That's all for tonight. have a great day. I will let you know what happens, of course.
Wendy
(The next day after Embassy Interview)
Thank you friends for thinking of us and praying. I must admit the last 24 hours have been very stressful but WE MADE IT!!!! God provided and we went to the Embassy and received Noah's passport, VISA and official adoption documents. Yippeee!!!
Our flight leaves tomorrow morning at 4 AM. It's a long haul but we are ready. can't wait for you all to meet the newest Sterk! Love, Wendy.
"For the righteous will never be moved. He will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady. He will not be afraid."
Ps. 112:6-8
Monday, January 31, 2011
He's finally coming HOME!
A few days ago we got confirmation that Noah's passport was ready! We ccn prepare to bring him home. My mom and I will be flying to Kazakhstan this Thursday. We will get into Almaty during the wee hours Saturday morning and will meet our Taraz Coordinator Sunday morning who will hand him over to us! We decided to have him escorted to Almaty to save some time traveling to and from Taraz. Shane will be staying home with our other three children preparing and excitedly anticipating Noah's arrival into our home.
We, of course, are thrilled to be at this point. We are almost there. We almost have Noah home with us where he belongs. As I have said numerous times before, it's been a long journey. Waiting is a hard lesson to learn. I am so thankful our time of waiting is nearly over.
I was touched by something I read last week from a book called The Beautiful Ache by Leigh McLeroy. It seems to sum up our last year quite simply.
In between one place and another, we're vulnerable to the discomfort of our transitory state. If the trip is long or taxing, at odd mile markers our restlessness overrides expectation, or even drifts into despair. When trouble comes we may wonder why we ever embarked at all- or simply stop short of our intended destination, insisting (like the Israelites east of Jordan) that the spot we've settled for is adequate enough, thank you. The best of all journey may be a hard road to a good place; perhaps fully experiencing the hard, unpredictable road helps us to recognize the good place when we arrive.
I especially love that last sentence! For us, our adoption of Noah Timur has been a hard and very unpredictable road but the good place in which we are about to arrive is at our fingertips. And had we not had so many delays and scares and unknowns, we wouldn't have witnessed first hand God's goodness, provisions, and faithfulness.
Thank you for your love, encouragement and prayers. Please continue to pray as we fly out Thursday and take hold of one sweet and beautiful little boy. Pray he won't be afraid. And as we begin our new journey, find a new normal, may God be glorified.
Love,
wendy (for all of us)
We, of course, are thrilled to be at this point. We are almost there. We almost have Noah home with us where he belongs. As I have said numerous times before, it's been a long journey. Waiting is a hard lesson to learn. I am so thankful our time of waiting is nearly over.
I was touched by something I read last week from a book called The Beautiful Ache by Leigh McLeroy. It seems to sum up our last year quite simply.
In between one place and another, we're vulnerable to the discomfort of our transitory state. If the trip is long or taxing, at odd mile markers our restlessness overrides expectation, or even drifts into despair. When trouble comes we may wonder why we ever embarked at all- or simply stop short of our intended destination, insisting (like the Israelites east of Jordan) that the spot we've settled for is adequate enough, thank you. The best of all journey may be a hard road to a good place; perhaps fully experiencing the hard, unpredictable road helps us to recognize the good place when we arrive.
I especially love that last sentence! For us, our adoption of Noah Timur has been a hard and very unpredictable road but the good place in which we are about to arrive is at our fingertips. And had we not had so many delays and scares and unknowns, we wouldn't have witnessed first hand God's goodness, provisions, and faithfulness.
Thank you for your love, encouragement and prayers. Please continue to pray as we fly out Thursday and take hold of one sweet and beautiful little boy. Pray he won't be afraid. And as we begin our new journey, find a new normal, may God be glorified.
Love,
wendy (for all of us)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
one whole year
It was one year ago yesterday (Jan. 11, 2010) that we first laid eyes on little blue eyed Noah Timur AND it was yesterday, Jan. 11, 2011 that we found out we have received the final stamp of approval granting us legal custody of him! One year to the day! We never imagined it would take this long. Never imagined how emotionally exhausting it would be. And never imagined how much love would fill our hearts for this little boy. We made it!! Only by God's grace and his perfect timing! Now we wait for his adoption documents to be prepared which we are told takes 2-3 weeks. We can not wait to return and bring him home. Praise God!
We are also rejoicing with other Taraz families that have been approved over the last couple of weeks as well. There are 3 families left out of 8 who are waiting for approvals. We pray it won't be too long and all 10 Taraz babies will be home with their families!
January 2010
December 2010
We are also rejoicing with other Taraz families that have been approved over the last couple of weeks as well. There are 3 families left out of 8 who are waiting for approvals. We pray it won't be too long and all 10 Taraz babies will be home with their families!
January 2010
December 2010
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