Just when we think all is ok......

OK, so last week we said we had answered prayers. After reading this, one may not think prayers were answered, but we have faith that God is answering our prayers, it just may not always be in the way we think.

We received an update Monday that cancelled out our good news last week. We chose to wait a few days to pass this on, as we had hoped to get better news. The JCSIS (Joint Council on International Children's Services) and NCFA (National Council for Adoption) put out an official statement that if a family has used an agency on the "black list" the region will not receive a clearance letter to finalize an adoption. This overrides the news we received last week that our region would not delay us based on our home study provider since our case was registered prior to the release of the "black list."

I have been in frequent contact with our home study agency. They are trying very hard to have their name removed. The owner has made multiple trips to the Russian Consulate in Houston, and refiled all necessary paperwork. All this paperwork has been sent on to the MOE in Russia, however, there is no guarantee as to when the MOE will review it or update the list. This fact is what leaves us in limbo.

Our Social Worker is working with another more local adoption placement service to be able to redo our home study under their name. This agency provides a great service to our area's children. Hopefully they will find in their hearts to be able to extend a helping hand to us. There are many logistics to this that has to be worked out. Many "T's" have to be crossed and "I's" have to be dotted in order for this to work for us and for the other agency.

As you can see, we continue to need prayer. We appreciate each of you reading along on this roller coaster ride to bring our precious baby home. Someone said to me yesterday that it didn't seem that we have let this get us down. It does hurt and is discouraging, but we chose to have faith in God and to not be defeated by this challenge. With God on our side we know that we will bring our baby home.