Congratulations to Us! (AKA Corn Husker’s Lotion really works!)

Today I opened a letter in the mail from the Department of Homeland Security — US Citizenship and Immigration Services with tears in my eyes. The long awaited I171H form has arrived! If you follow my timeline, you will note that I first began the steps to apply for this special petition on my 36th birthday back in September. Important things in life take time … that is for sure.

USCIS would like to congratulate you on your Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition approval and for completing the first step in the adoption immigration process … It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan(s) as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act … Your advance processing application has been forwarded to the American Consulate/Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

O, joy!!!! Finally, to see some forward motion! It is a beautiful thing! Woohoo!!! When I read “the American Consulate in Almaty, Kazakhstan” I just get very excited … this is getting more and more real. One day, I will actually be in that building 6,376 miles away finalizing papers to bring home our son. (I don’t know where I got 9,000 that I have been using. Now, I actually googled it! Plus, I know because some amazing Kaz mamas are walking 60 miles for a cure for cancer with the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk in Arizona. One of their slogans is — We traveled 6,376 miles to find our children. 60 miles is nothing! Best of luck to you in your training, Kaz moms! I’m rooting for you!)

So, obviously, thanks to the magic of Corn Husker’s Lotion, our fingerprints went through without a hitch this time. We still await the FBI print results as I don’t think I can bare another round of waiting the 4 weeks in between rejected prints — but would, of course, do so again happily because my eye is on the prize. And I do believe G-d really and truly must have higher plans for the timing of all this. It’s out of my hands and I’m just relinquishing! Give up and let go, as one of my favorite singer/songwriters says. (Francis Dunnery, FYI.)

And now, off to bed! I have a sign language lesson to do in the morning at our local school and a playdate in the morning — all before noon — and I am *not* a morning person.

Goodnight!

SK