Upcoming Visa Physical/Battle cries

Last week we received an email that Noel is scheduled for her Visa Physical on May 3. After that we should be 2-3 weeks away from travel. We also received an email that our i600(last piece of U.S. paperwork) application was received. In some ways, time is flying, but in others it seems to be creeping along at a snails pace. Please pray for us as we grow closer to bringing our baby home. The enemy would love nothing more than for us, especially me, to be filled with anxiety and doubt the great God who has orchestrated and authored Noel's story. Pray that the details, paperwork, and logistics of the end of this process would go smoothly and that the Lord would continue to overwhelm us with his great care and mercy. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26. We are in battle. On the surface this story is a beautiful fairytale, but in reality, there is an enemy who HATES the fact that this child is being adopted. Though he has no power to thwart God's plans, he prowls around, lurking in the shadows, doing everything he can to plant seeds of doubt, fear, and unbelief. Long ago, the Israelites stood on the banks of the Red Sea with the Egyptians pursuing and the rushing waters lapping at their feet. They cried to Moses desperate for hope. "and Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." The Lord said to Moses. "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to move forward!"(Exodus 14:13-15) Can you imagine how they must have felt? Move forward? but God, there is water, do we swim, will we drown, panic, anxiety, unbelief...and what does God tell them...I will fight for you, you just need to be quiet and move forward. This battle is the Lord's! He has won the fight...pray that we would be silent, move forward and watch Him work out every single detail. Those of you who know me know how much I adore Steven Curtis Chapman. So much of his story God has used in my life. This morning as I type his song, "Long Way Home." comes to mind. "Keep on we're gonna make it, I know we're gonna make it, We're just takin' the long way home." Thanks for listening and following us down this road....Stay tuned!:)

I600a update and Rusty's Passport

Today in the mail we received Rusty's new passport and our updated i600a form. Three cheers for U.S. government agencies of passports and immigration! When we moved, we had to have our home study updated Our dear social worker came to visit us in March . We were in no hurry to get a new immigration form because we thought we had PLENTY of time...until a week ago. Thankfully we were visiting my family over Easter who "just happens" to live near our social worker. So after a Good Friday dash to the bank for a notary, she finished the update quick as lightning. Rusty and I went to her home and picked it up. She took family time on Easter weekend to sit and talk with us for a couple of hours. She calmed many of our fears and offered Godly counsel and wisdom to our overwhelmed hearts. She went "above and beyond" as usual. We love you Carla! We dropped the update in a FedEx box last Saturday. It arrived at the National Benefits Center on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Noel's legals arrived at our house. These documents include Holt Korea's proof of custody and the fingerprint of her birth mom relinquishing parental rights. It was a strange feeling to see that fingerprint. Noel's mother is a brave young lady. We are forever grateful for the precious gift she selflessly gave to our family! The next step with our paper work was to send Noel's legals with the updated I600a back to immigration. I called USCIS on Tuesday to ask how long an update takes to process. The agent told me average time was 75 SEVENTY FIVE days. My heart hit the floor. Oh me of little faith...after I started to breathe agajn, I sent an email to Carla asking, begging her to tell me this couldn't be right?? She promptly responded, after so many miracles, why not pray for another one? It's so easy to forget Who's really in control of all of this..Rusty decided he would call them on Wednesday and try to get a better answer. He was transferred to our specific agent who approved our first I600a and she told him she can get the updates out in 7-10 days. He shared with her why we needed the update so quickly. She replied, "so everything hinges on this update?" We were thrilled. I was talking with my friend Ginger and told her to pray we would get the update soon. As soon as I hung up the phone, Rusty called and said, "Did you get my email?" The USCIS agent called him back, told him she located our paper work approved the update and was sending it out that day! The words OVER and ABUNDANTLY more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) flooded my mind. I immediately called Ginger and told her about the answered prayer. We both praised the Lord for His goodness and for such a quick answer! So today we rejoice with the paper in our hands and everything ready to FedEx back to USCIS for final approval and the official end to the U.S. side of our paper work! God never ever ceases to amaze me. In Laurie's room over her bed is a canvas with this verse: Oh how abundant is Your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19. To God be the Glory!

Unexpected EP!

As you know our journey to be united with Noel has had several unexpected turns - some good, some painful. On March 12th, we received an email from our agency stating that the quota for Emigration Permits (EP's) had been filled for 2012 and that we were not included in that quota. Our "referral" was finalized in January of this year and the cut off date for the EP quota was November 30, 2011. In summary, we weren't going to be able to travel and get our daughter until sometime in 2013.

Rusty was in North Carolina, while Candace and the kids were home upon learning this news. Needless to say, we were devastated thinking that we would not be able to get Noel for several more months, maybe even more than a year. We asked several of you to pray and we prayed and went to bed that Monday night - hearts broken.

The next day we received an email saying that Noel's EP would be included in 2012!!!

So, we praised God and thanked God and figured that we would get to bring her home before Christmas or at the earliest this fall- and all was well. Fast forward to this past Thursday, April 5th. We received an email notifying us that Noel's EP was being submitted on the next day, April 6th! All of a sudden, our little plans of having her home before Christmas were accelerated to having her home before Memorial Day!

As we write this update our minds still haven't wrapped around this news. It makes no sense (humanly) that we should be able to get her this soon. There are other families who have waited longer who still haven't had their EP's submitted and our hearts break for them (pray for these families and their children).

So, instead of having the summer to get things "in order" for Noel's arrival, we are now "nesting" at full throttle as we expect to travel in about 5 weeks. We so appreciate your prayers. Please rejoice with us and continue to pray for these next few weeks that all of our paperwork is finalized without interruptions. Oh, and stay tuned - who knows what our God will do next?!

Latest Picture

This is the latest picture of Noel. It was taken 3/29/12. Noel received her birthday care package. It is very strange to see things that we packed for her here all the way in Korea:)

This is Noel's Story......So far:)

Welcome to our blog! We are happy to have you! Join us as we walk down the road leading to our little girl Noel. The song in this video is "Jesus is alive" by Josh Wilson. It came out this Christmas right after we received our referral. When Rusty heard it for the first time he called me and said, "Her name has to be Noel!."

As of right now we are probably, Lord willing, 5-7 weeks away from travel. It has been an amazing journey. God is good, to Him be the glory!