Reviewing...

I called immigration again today. Big surprise, I know! I had previously been told that the cases are worked 'in the order they are received', which couldn't be further from the truth. I have communicated with people who filed after me and have been approved. All the while, my file hadn't even been opened! I asked for a supervisor this time. He was nice. He said he that the officer assigned to my file would open it today and begin reviewing it. He said I should hear something by the first of next week. Please pray it will be approved without any additional paperwork being requested! I will be so glad to get past this step. I have unusually bad luck with immigration! My I600 took over 6 months for approval. (It was approved in one day, it just took 6 months to open my file!) It then took another 5 months for the approval to be forwarded to the National Visa Center, who would forward it to Accra. (At least I hope it got to Accra. I never heard anything from them.) I know the next step will be even more difficult & time consuming. (Visas) But- I'm ready to get started on it! We have held out for so long. I miss my babies!

Powerless...

Well, my I600 is still pending. We are almost to week #7. I always wonder why some are approved so quickly & others aren't. I know they are tired of me calling for the status everyday. But at least I'm nice. What I really want to do is yell & scream until I get my way. I suppose that wouldn't be the adult thing to do though. (Not that that would stop me if I thought it would do any good!) It's so frustrating being powerless!

That's my boy on the left. This is 2009. I copied the picture from the FB page of a friend who met my son long before I did. He's just so adorable! I can't wait to see them again! (Hopefully it'll be before they are old enough for college!)

Good Wishes...

So, the '100 Good Wishes' page has been acting up ALOT lately. We did not lose any of the money that was donated, but it won't allow any new donations. That's why we have the 'Chip In' thing now. The Good Wishes link is still at the bottom of the page, because I'm going to try to keep it updated too whenever it works. (I like it because it lets people leave comments. So, if you leave a comment in chip-in as a 'note to seller', I'll eventually put it on the Good Wishes page too.)




Anyways, we are totally DONE with all international adoption fees (I think)!! All we have left to save is airplane tickets! Then, of course, we'll have to re-adopt them in the US once they get here, but that's another story!

Nothing New...

I called the USCIS again today. My I600 is still pending. It was assigned to an officer close to 3 weeks ago. I hope she will have time to review (and approve) it soon. I filed it 6 weeks ago today. I am SO tired of waiting!



One Small Request...

Last week Joseph called. The other kids were not around. After asking how I was doing several times, he had one small request...



"Do you know the iPhone?".

"Yes Joseph, I know the iPhone."

"When you come, if you bring one to me, I will be very happy."

I'm sure he has no idea exactly how expensive they are. Or he just thinks I'm filthy rich. (Which I am, comparitively.) But he was so sweet. So nervous about asking. In fact, it's the first time I've heard him ask for anything! Even while I was at the orphanage, he never asked me to buy him anything. I wish I could, but doubt I'll come across an iPhone between now & whenever I go back!
 



Today...

Today I miss Ghana. Of course I miss my children. But I also miss the country. I think about Ghana off and on. When it's hot and raining. (I was there during the dry season, but it rained several times none-the-less.) When I'm listening to my Ghanaian music. When I eat chicken and rice.




But today- it was the fumes of a bus. There were 3 buses beside me at the redlight. The fumes were unbearable. The traffic was at a standstill. And it was hot. I couldn't help but think about all the hours the kids & I sat in the car under those same conditions.



And I miss it all- even the unbearable fumes.



Fingerprinted, Again...

Yesterday we had fingerprints taken at the Charlotte Homeland Security office again. We had them done last year, but they had expired. I'm not sure how drastically one's fingerprints can change within a year's time, but I guess ya never know!

We have also been told that our I600 case was assigned to an officer around June 2nd. The officer has confirmed receiving our homestudy update also. So, that should be everything. I'm hoping it'll be approved any day now!