This was in our inbox when we arrived home from Dad Vagnoni's funeral today:
Mike and Amy,
I happy to confirm that the embassy received your family’s updated approval today! The current approval they have on file for your family is listed below:
We got it. This is what we have on file as of February 5, 2010 for Vagnoni family: America World Adoption
I-600A expires on 10/28/2010
FP expires on 03/30/2011
approved for 2, Either, 0-6 years.
Congratulations on this exciting news! All paperwork was submitted last Wednesday for your family as scheduled to travel with the group. The embassy did ask us to wait until Monday to confirm your family’s travel as they want to ensure they have sufficient time to process your family’s paperwork. We will be able to confirm travel dates on Monday and feel they will definitely have sufficient time but want to ensure we have their confirmation before officially having you book. You are welcome to put flights on hold and book at your own risk if you’d like.
(We actually stepped out in faith and bought tickets two weeks ago, ever since we received word from USCIS that our case was updated and complete, but shhhh... don't tell anyone!)
2/03/10 - Sorrow and Joy
Mike's Dad went to be with Jesus this morning after entering the hospital last Thursday with bilateral pneumonia (fluid in both lungs). He was a good man who had Jesus in his heart and read the Bible every day.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
One of Mike's fondest memories of his Dad is the times when he would come home from work and get down and wrestle and play with his kids on the floor. And sometimes he would bring home a candy bar for each of his four children.
We are praising God for many things: that Mike's Dad got to see all the pictures of the boys and was so excited for us, that we weren't in Ethiopia traveling this week, that his condition didn't linger for days, that the doctors and nurses and all hospital staff were wonderful, that both of our work places have been beyond compassionate and understanding, that Dad Vagnoni is no longer in any pain, and that God is always good.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
And today was also our time for the paperwork nightmare to come to an end. At approximately 3pm CST, we received a call from Susan in our congresswoman's office - National Visa Center (NVC) had received our paperwork and was scanning it and uploading it into the system. All that happens now is our travel coordinator at America World will email the Embassy in Ethiopia for verification and we are good to go!
What a day!
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
One of Mike's fondest memories of his Dad is the times when he would come home from work and get down and wrestle and play with his kids on the floor. And sometimes he would bring home a candy bar for each of his four children.
We are praising God for many things: that Mike's Dad got to see all the pictures of the boys and was so excited for us, that we weren't in Ethiopia traveling this week, that his condition didn't linger for days, that the doctors and nurses and all hospital staff were wonderful, that both of our work places have been beyond compassionate and understanding, that Dad Vagnoni is no longer in any pain, and that God is always good.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
And today was also our time for the paperwork nightmare to come to an end. At approximately 3pm CST, we received a call from Susan in our congresswoman's office - National Visa Center (NVC) had received our paperwork and was scanning it and uploading it into the system. All that happens now is our travel coordinator at America World will email the Embassy in Ethiopia for verification and we are good to go!
What a day!
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24
2/1/10 - Not Too Much of an Update
Not too much new to say except that we have called the National Visa Center a bunch more times (they still don't have out update), emailed United States and Citizenship and Immigration Services to ask them to resend the information (they will not as they have recently sent it but may "consider" doing it again in a few weeks if NVC still doesn't report having the information), and called the senator and representative's offices for the third time. Our representative's office is contacting USCIS to determine when and in what form the information was actually sent to NVC. They have also asked us not to contact NVC any more - not a problem as long as they get things taken care of!! The representative's office said they will get a hold of us with results!! Praying that will be within the next few days!!
PRAYER: Please pray for God to move this mountain!! Please pray for healing if Mike's Dad who is in the hospital and not doing well. Please pray for us to focus on God and stay strong in His word.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding - Proverbs 3:5
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:28-31
Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength - Nehemiah 8:10
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matthew 7:7-8
PRAYER: Please pray for God to move this mountain!! Please pray for healing if Mike's Dad who is in the hospital and not doing well. Please pray for us to focus on God and stay strong in His word.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding - Proverbs 3:5
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:28-31
Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength - Nehemiah 8:10
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matthew 7:7-8
1/27/10 - The Saga Continues
Mike spent time yesterday morning trying to get through to National Visa Center without any luck. I made it through at about 8:30pm but the computers were down! A very nice woman, who sounded disappointed that she couldn't help me, advised calling back in a few hours. I got through again at about 10:30pm and was told there was not a supervisor available to check if our updated information was on file and no I couldn't be put on hold but to try back in about 10 minutes or tomorrow. Needless to say, I tried back right away as it was taking anywhere from 5-15 minutes to get through. I did get through to a person again at 10:45pm and he said he had no new information for us but maybe the information would arrive tomorrow and to call back and talk to a supervisor then. He was not very compassionate! So Mike tried again this morning and was not able to get through.
So we called the big guns again - senator Dick Durbin's and Representative Melissa Bean's office.
I am so ready for this saga to be done!!! Please pray that we focus on how BIG God is and not how annoying this issue is!
So we called the big guns again - senator Dick Durbin's and Representative Melissa Bean's office.
I am so ready for this saga to be done!!! Please pray that we focus on how BIG God is and not how annoying this issue is!
1/25/10 - The New I-171H Form Arrives
Hallelujah!!!! Hallelujah!!!
An envelope bearing the return address United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) arrived in the mail today and Mike, knowing it was something important, opened it and left the beautiful form on the counter for me to see when I arrived home from work!!
Our new fingerprint expiration date is March 2011 and our approved age range reads from 0-6 years old!
Mike spent 45 minutes on the phone with National Visa Center (NVC) yesterday and was disconnected 3 times in an attempt to verify that they have also received the updated information. He'll try again today. Once we know NVC has the correct information, our agency can email the Embassy in Ethiopia to verify that they have been sent the information from NVC. Sound confusing - that's okay, just know we are ALMOST THERE!!! This form arriving means all the major legwork is complete and approved. All we need is two agencies to verify they have the information and we are done!!!!!!!
PRAISE: Please join us in praising God for this triumph!
PRAYER: That verifying the two agencies (NVC and The Embassy) have the corrected information goes smoothly and quickly!!
An envelope bearing the return address United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) arrived in the mail today and Mike, knowing it was something important, opened it and left the beautiful form on the counter for me to see when I arrived home from work!!
Our new fingerprint expiration date is March 2011 and our approved age range reads from 0-6 years old!
Mike spent 45 minutes on the phone with National Visa Center (NVC) yesterday and was disconnected 3 times in an attempt to verify that they have also received the updated information. He'll try again today. Once we know NVC has the correct information, our agency can email the Embassy in Ethiopia to verify that they have been sent the information from NVC. Sound confusing - that's okay, just know we are ALMOST THERE!!! This form arriving means all the major legwork is complete and approved. All we need is two agencies to verify they have the information and we are done!!!!!!!
PRAISE: Please join us in praising God for this triumph!
PRAYER: That verifying the two agencies (NVC and The Embassy) have the corrected information goes smoothly and quickly!!
01/21/10 - Surprises from My Coworkers
We had our monthly staff meeting tonight at work and as we were beginning the meeting it was announced we were celebrating me and the adoption! Out came two big boxes:
And a cake (and I didn't even notice the guy at Target had spelled the word congratulations wrong until it was pointed out to me - hee! hee!) 
Now whenever I put my babies in the car and strap them in, I will be reminded of all my dear friends at work who have shared this journey with me and cheered me on, many from the beginning!
And a cake (and I didn't even notice the guy at Target had spelled the word congratulations wrong until it was pointed out to me - hee! hee!)For those of you who know me well, you'll know there is rarely times when I am speechless - tonight was one of them. I was totally surprise and totally blessed.
I brought one on the gifts home for Mike to open.
Now whenever I put my babies in the car and strap them in, I will be reminded of all my dear friends at work who have shared this journey with me and cheered me on, many from the beginning!
1/21/10 - Update and HUGE PRAISE
A little after noon today an email arrived from USCIS saying our case had just been completed and we would be receiving a new I-171H form within a few days - PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me back up a day: After receiving no answer from USCIS in response to an email sent by me Tuesday night, Mike called our federal senator and representative as well as local to ask for help. After work, I faxed our Privacy Act Release Forms to both our senator and representative's offices. By 10am this morning there was an email from USCIS stating they had received our requests and specifically wanted to know, in writing (but email form was fine) from both parents (to which I signed both Mike's and my name to the email) what we wanted changed or amended to our original form. I replied we wanted our new fingerprint expiration date and the age increase to 0-6 years old.
I don't know exactly what got things rolling but I know that God's people prayed for us and He moved!! To Him be all glory and honor and praise!
After we receive our form in the mail, we'll phone NVC (National Visa Center) to verify that the information was forwarded to them and then ask our agency to email the Embassy and verify that they have received the information (and on the advice of our Yahoo Group, we ask for written confirmation that the Embassy has the info!).
What a ride!!!!
Let me back up a day: After receiving no answer from USCIS in response to an email sent by me Tuesday night, Mike called our federal senator and representative as well as local to ask for help. After work, I faxed our Privacy Act Release Forms to both our senator and representative's offices. By 10am this morning there was an email from USCIS stating they had received our requests and specifically wanted to know, in writing (but email form was fine) from both parents (to which I signed both Mike's and my name to the email) what we wanted changed or amended to our original form. I replied we wanted our new fingerprint expiration date and the age increase to 0-6 years old.
I don't know exactly what got things rolling but I know that God's people prayed for us and He moved!! To Him be all glory and honor and praise!
After we receive our form in the mail, we'll phone NVC (National Visa Center) to verify that the information was forwarded to them and then ask our agency to email the Embassy and verify that they have received the information (and on the advice of our Yahoo Group, we ask for written confirmation that the Embassy has the info!).
What a ride!!!!
1/19/10 - Update on the Age Range Update
Mike called NVC (National Visa Center) today and spoke with a nice person - yeah! However, they do not have our updated age range and new fingerprint expiration date. So I am sending an email to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) kindly asking them to resend the information. And then - we have our senators and representatives information and we aren't afraid to call them!! Please continue to pray that this issue would be resolved and by Thursday so we can purchase our tickets!!
1/18/10 - Paperwork and Plane Ticket Update
We have tickets on hold!!!!! It is an awesome flight, leaving Saturday afternoon, flying to Washington DC, 4 hour layover, and then a direct flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a 45 minute stop in Rome for refueling (how awesome is God - we wanted to spend am extra day in Italy but that is not to be with no vacation time for Mike but we are still getting to "stop" there!)!!! Same thing on the way back, leaving Ethiopia at 10:15pm Friday night, lay over in Rome for refueling and NOT having to get off the plane with the boys, back to Washington DC arriving Saturday morning, 5 hour lay over, and then arriving home in the afternoon. We are able to hold the tickets until Thursday.
Our agency America World has okayed our flight itinerary!
However, and this is a big but expected however, the Embassy in Ethiopia does not have our updated home study age range. That information needs to be on file before we can travel. It was already on our list to call the National Visa Center (NVC) Tuesday afternoon to see if they had received the updated information or if United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) needs to resend the information (which they have had since the first day or two of December). We have been told that NVC id "notoriously unorganized" (reassuring, huh!?) and to get a supervisor involved in the case. Mike will be making that call Tuesday afternoon, as we know from our Yahoo Group that afternoons seem to be the best time to call. PLEASE PRAY that a compassionate person answered the phone and wants to do everything in his/her power to help us!!!
Our agency America World has okayed our flight itinerary!
However, and this is a big but expected however, the Embassy in Ethiopia does not have our updated home study age range. That information needs to be on file before we can travel. It was already on our list to call the National Visa Center (NVC) Tuesday afternoon to see if they had received the updated information or if United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) needs to resend the information (which they have had since the first day or two of December). We have been told that NVC id "notoriously unorganized" (reassuring, huh!?) and to get a supervisor involved in the case. Mike will be making that call Tuesday afternoon, as we know from our Yahoo Group that afternoons seem to be the best time to call. PLEASE PRAY that a compassionate person answered the phone and wants to do everything in his/her power to help us!!!
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