Court #1 Update

Our case was heard on April 25. We do not have any information about it except that our next hearing is May 12...that means for us in America it is the night of May 11.

 

When we were first matched with our daughter I began asking questions in the India Adoption group I am a part of. It was very discouraging. Here are a few things I read specifically about the state she lives in...

 

 "Lots of problems with court. Judges not very enlightened or in favor of international adoption."

 

"Courts are generally not super favorable of international adoption and may drag their feet or worse, do nothing."

 

 "18 months from referral to home. One year of this spent in court."

 

But we knew she was our daughter and SO worth the wait!!

 

So after 4 snags that held us up along the way we finally had our first court hearing April 25. We were praying for a one and done court process because 1. God can do that if He wanted to and 2. because Britt met with a judge while he was in India 5 1/2 months ago. But our plans are not God's plans, and we are trusting Him and His perfect timing!

 

 

I am so thankful that there is a court website that is updated with our court information (not all India adoption families have that luxury). I am also thankful that the judge came to work and heard our case (it's India, they just don't show up sometimes). From stalking the court website for our area (yes, stalking, haha), on average there seems to be 4-5 (give or take) hearings before a case is passed.

We are still praying that we will pass court by the end of May before the courts close for the month of June because of the heat.

 

 

Another adoptive momma, that adopted her 5 year old from the same orphanage that Mary-Lynn is in, said that her daughter keeps talking about the orphanage, that she has very happy memories of that place! That makes this momma's heart happy, although nothing can replace being a part of a family, having a mommy and daddy and brothers! I can't wait to have my baby girl, my daughter, in my arms and at home with us, her forever family!!

 

 

 

 

 Mary-Lynn's birthday box (with goodies to share with her friends) made it to India and cleared customs! Praying it makes it to her and that we get new pictures!!

 

 

 

Just FYI of what comes next once we do pass court...

 

When we finally pass court and the orphanage has the written orders, they will take Mary-Lynn to get her passport photo done. Once the passport is finished and in the hands of the orphanage, Britt and I will travel to India. Every orphanage is different on what they expect as far as how long we will stay. Some want you there a few days to visit before taking your child. Others have you come the first day, visit a little, and then you leave with your child. We are pretty sure that is how Mary-Lynn's orphanage will be (visit a little and then take her with us). We will then fly into New Delhi where the US Embassy is. We will have 3 or 4 different appointments to go to in New Delhi (TB skin test, citizenship paper work, and exit permits) before we can travel home with her. So altogether we will be in India (in her city and then in New Delhi + travel time) 10-14 days most likely.

 

 

 

Please continue to pray along with us that we get our baby girl home SOON!

 

 

 

Praying for our Court Hearing #1

Our first court hearing is April 25th in India. That means tomorrow night (Monday, April 24) at 9:30 p.m. it will be 8:00 a.m. April 25 in India. Please pray for us tomorrow and as you go to bed tomorrow night!

 

Our specific prayer requests...

-that the judge will be there and hear our case

-the judge will show us mercy and pass us in one hearing

-the written orders will be signed the same day we pass court

 

 

When we wake up on Tuesday morning I can check the court website to see if we passed or if we are given a new court date. But the website may not be updated for a few days. As soon as we know anything we will share with you.

 

We do not know how our court date will go or when we will travel to bring our baby girl home, but our God does!! And we trust Him!

 

 I read this on April 12..."Too many times I've made the mistake of looking at God through the lens of my circumstances. If my circumstances were good and I was good, then God felt good. But I've learned that's a quick route to a disillusioned life. I must look at my circumstances through the lens of God's goodness. God is good even when my circumstances are not. And I can trust Him to eventually bring good from even the worst situations. Hang on dear friend. GOD IS GOOD. AND GOD IS GOOD AT BEING GOD. He's got it all figured out if we'll just hang on to Him."

 

Thank you to all the prayer warriors out there praying for our family!!

 

 

 

 

I hope everyone enjoyed Easter weekend!

 

 Mary-Lynn got an Easter basket too!

 

We mailed a birthday box to Mary-Lynn this week. It can take 3 weeks or so to get there. We are praying it makes it through customs and to the orphanage.

Matthew slept through the picture above, haha!

Outfit for Mary-Lynn and goodies to share with her friends...

 

 

 

HUGE prayer answered finally this past week...

this little girl, my precious niece, who stole my heart on Halloween 2015, was officially adopted!!!

 My sister and brother-in-law are finally done with their adoption process, and it has been a long time coming!! This spunky, sassy, sweet, smiley baby is officially in her forever family for good!! I can't wait to see her and Mary-Lynn together, hopefully really soon!!

 

 

Thank you for your prayers!! Hopefully the court website will update quickly!

 

 



April 12...

We were matched with our daughter on July 15, 2016! (You can read about it HERE) The paperwork we received had her birth date as 12/04/2014 (April 12).

 

So we began praying that we would be with our daughter by her 3rd birthday in April. I even made these prayer cards that we handed out...

 

During our i800 wait we found out that her birth date on one form did not match all the other documents. (You can read about this HERE) So now her birth date is May 14, 2014. We were fine with whichever birthday as long as we were able to keep moving along in the process.

 

 

But I could not help thinking about it all last night because it would have been the start of her 3rd birthday as we were going to sleep. Now we have been hoping and praying that we could be with her by May 14 (Her now 3rd Birthday & Mother's Day). Our first hearing is April 25. We would have to pass court, have written orders, and her passport within 2 weeks to be able to be with her by May 14. Our God could make that happen, but it may not be His will; and it is amazing the peace He has given me about that in the last 2 months! God is good, no matter what happens!

 

I have been keeping a journal since July of our process, things God is showing me, and little notes to Mary-Lynn.

(If you look close you can see where Matthew added his touch to the front of the 2nd journal, haha)

 

I keep coming back in my mind to something I copied into the journal on 7/27/16..."Yes, faith still moves mountains. But sometimes the greater act of faith is not praying for the mountain to move instantly but rather hanging in there while God helps you bit by bit." (Lysa TerKeurst) and "When we walk in difficult places, God sends the strength and nourishment to face what comes our way, not all at once, but day by day." (Women's Devotional Bible)

 

 

Adoption is tough! We have to look to God to help us through bit by bit and day by day.

 

My sister, Ashley, and me!

 

She is my hero! She and her husband have had a LONG wait in their adoption process; first just to have their baby in their arms, and then to have the adoption finalized. But next week it will all be final and I can't wait to share pictures of my beautiful niece with all of you! I can't wait to see her and Mary-Lynn together! I love that they will have each other to talk through all of their feelings about being adopted.

 

 

We had SO much fun at the Air Show this past weekend!

 

Please pray that the judge shows up on April 25, that he passes us in one hearing, and signs the written orders the same day!! Thank you for praying for our daughter!

 

 

 

 

 



We have a court date!!!

On April 25, our orphanage director and advocate will go to court for us and our baby girl!!

 

I have been checking the court site everyday since we got NOC, almost 7 weeks ago. Our internet was messing up this morning. When it came back up I checked the court site. When I saw Britt's name pop up with our address and that our date was only 2 1/2 weeks away, I started crying. I think I scared Caleb and Eli. After I told them that we finally have a court date, Eli said, "I thought you were crying because the internet was not working." Hahaha!! No son, no.

 

We are praying we pass in one court hearing! We would love for all our prayer warriors to pray that along with us!

 

I saw this yesterday on Lysa TerKeurst's Facebook page...

 

"Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself. Prayer opens my spiritual eyes to see things I can’t see on my own. And I’m convinced prayer matters. Prayers are powerful and effective if prayed from the position of a righteous heart.
So, prayer does make a difference — a life-changing, mind-blowing, earth-rattling difference. We don’t need to know how. We don’t need to know when. We just need to kneel confidently and know the tremors of a simple Jesus girl’s prayers extend far wide and far high and far deep.
Letting that absolute truth flow into my soul snuffs out the flickers of hesitation. It bends my stiff knees. And it ignites a fresh, bold and even more wild fire within. Not bold as in bossy and demanding. But bold as in I love my Jesus with all my heart, so why would I offer anything less than an ignited prayer life? So let’s ask. And ask again. Not so that we can cause God to move, rather so that we can position our souls to be able to see our sweet Jesus move in any which way He pleases." - Lysa TerKeurst

 

 

My brother posted this to his Facebook last month...

"So this morning on my drive into New Orleans the fog was exceptionally thick. I couldn't see more than 30 yards in front of me most of the way. I got me thinking about how sometimes in life we are walking through a haze and we can't hardly see the path before us. But just like the headlights on the car lit the road each step of the way, Jesus will light each step of the way for us as we journey through the fog of life. Sometimes we can see way far ahead and other times we can... only see the next step, but in both situations and everything in between we just have to trust in God to lead us safely even when we don't know where He is leading us to. "

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places. - Psalm 43:3
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path - Psalm 119:105

We don't know when we will pass court, when the written orders will be given, how long it will take to get her passport...but our God does!! So we are trusting Him! And when it is all done we will have our daughter in our arms!

A guy that was in our youth group 7 years ago shared this on Instagram...
"Religion isn't going to be there when we are going through these seasons and don't understand why. Religion isn't going to show us the fullness of God through it but rather box Him up and say your not praying hard enough. Only a relationship with God will bring the over abundance of peace, joy, strength to get through, and growth we seek. When you simply trust and know God truly has a plan and He is actually there and always been, it's so freeing and relieving." -From Jesus > Religion (Thanks for sharing Jonathan!)

 Ms. Becky made this cute pillow for Mary-Lynn!!

Rodeo!

 Cousin time!

 My favorite place on earth!

 Caleb enjoying lunch by the pool with a beach view!

Eli and Matthew enjoying the beach!

 Selfie!

Cousins!

MattMatt and Nanny

We celebrated my daddy's birthday!


Please pray along with us that court will go smoothly and quickly!