Video

I have no words.  I'm dying here!

https://goo.gl/photos/56h3RuBkjAELTjcp7

We have a passport!!!!

On Monday, we received a call saying to expect 4-6 weeks for Oberson's passport to be printed. I told them I appreciated the information but that we would be praying for it to be faster.  Yesterday, we were told they received Oberson's printed passport!  Thank You Lord!!  

We are now on to the US VISA stage which will allow him to come into the US.  They expect it to take 5-10 weeks.  But with our mighty God who knows!??!

The most common question we are getting right now is if we will be notified ahead of time or just receive a call saying to come to Haiti.  Good question!  The answer would be both.  Haha.  Basically, the Visa stage has three parts.  First (like all departments) they review all of the paperwork.  Then, Oberson must go to the embassy for a medical interview and tests.  Then they print the visa!  We will know when Oberson goes for his interview and tests.  Getting the results back and printing the visa often takes around 10 days.  We will have that much of a 'heads up'.  Whenever they call back to say they have the visa in hand we will book our flight.  

A Passport!

His little picture next to the words Oberson Shearer!

(((Oh.My.Heart!))) Can you hear me screaming now?!

As the kids and I did some devotions this morning we ended up talking about Acts 1:1-11.  It was a chapter our pastor preached on recently and really struck a cord with the kids.  In this chapter we find the last words that Jesus spoke before he ascended to the Father.  While telling the disciples what to do (receive the Holy Spirit and be my witnesses) they begin to ask him additional questions.  His response is: "It is not for you to know" (vs 7). Ashley said this morning that that verse reflects our journey.  It wasn't for us know.  It wasn't for us to predict, plan or have control over.  He had the plan and we were to be obedient. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3 The Lord is Faithful! 

Right now we will rejoice over a passport and pray to be ready for the next step....HOME!!!

Ready for a passport...

Since I have posted a few times on Facebook I have lacked in updating the blog. Sorry!

God has taught me SO much during this journey of waiting and most of it being to truly trust Him!  I can't tell you how many times I have prayed 'in your perfect time Lord' yet my heart was truly screaming for 'my' timing.  Which meant right now!  It took me a long time to trust His timing! I could rationalize my timeframe in a million ways but the truth is that I don't know what is best.  I think I do.  Only He knows how this journey will be used for His Glory!

Everyone has been asking questions so hopefully this answers a few...

What do you need to do yet?

Yesterday we received the news that we were approved by the Minister of Interior and the file was sent for passport printing.  Oberson will receive a Haitian passport (since he is currently a Haitian citizen). Printing can take anywhere from a few days to a month.

(For those that have been following via Facebook, we also received word yesterday that the attorney will be getting the corrected decree while we are in process.  That means it should not slow us down!!) Can I get an AMEN!?

When we receive his passport we will immediately apply for his Visa. As with everything, there are a few steps involved vs just getting it printed.  The file needs to be reviewed by USCIS (United States Citizienship and Immigration Services) and then the consular.  When approved they will schedule a medical exam and visa interview with Oberson (two different appointments).  When test results are received the Visa will be approved and sent for printing.  This step is very uncertain.  Some have completed it all in 4-5 weeks where it has taken others 10 or more weeks.  We will get notification of the visa & medical appointments so that will give us a heads up.  Otherwise when we get the call that we have a visa.....it is time to travel!!!

When do you expect him HOME?

That is the main question!  It is like being pregnant and you have a vague idea but nothing specific.  Haha.  Watching the timelines of other families and speaking with our agency it it most likely he will be home in August.  End of July is possible if everything go on the fast end of things.  If we get caught up somewhere it could be September.  

Are we ready?

Hahah...No!  I don't think there is a way to be fully ready for something that has so many unknowns.  It is kind of like having your first child.  You can buy all the stuff and get everything on the checklist but experiencing it is something else entirely!  Now, to be honest.....this mama is totally (totally) nesting.  I am cleaning every closet, going thru everything in the basement and just all out nesting.  And yes it is driving my family crazy!  We received his sizes so most things have been bought, brought out of storage, washed, folded and put in drawers or hung in his closet. It is SO nice to see things in his closet and drawers! 

I have been collecting items for awhile now that I plan to take with us when we bring him home. Think about packing the things your child will need on a vacation...yet you don't really know your child.  It just makes it more challenging.  I have a wide variety of toys to take (making sure I have some quiet ones for the plane ride also).  Any suggestions from those that have done this or easy to pack toys would be appreciated.  

What will your trip be like to bring him home?

We expect a 4-5 day trip to bring him home.  Like before, we will be staying at the guest house with his orphanage which is just a short drive away.  He will be with us right away but we also anticipate a gradual stepping away.  The first day we may spend time with him in his environment and friends, the second day we may tell everyone goodbye and then have the third day together just the 3 of us before flying home on the fourth day.  I guess you could say that is 'the plan' per our agency.  In reality, some kids don't do well going back and forth between guest home and orphanage, while other children need that slow intro vs being thrust into newness.  Also, there very well may be other families that will be arriving to pick up their children at the same time.  We are already praying for wisdom to interpret what will work best for Oberson and to be open/ready for changes in plans.  Depending on what days we can travel, our dream would be to catch the direct flight from PAP into Atlanta to avoid layovers. 

What can we do to help?  

Pray!  It may not sound like much but there is no greater force than prayers being lifted!  Pray for Oberson as he will be leaving everything he knows and loves and going where everything is new.  Pray that he will have a spirit willing to try new things, accept new people, open to change and learn to love and be loved! Likewise, we all need prayer for patience, understanding, compassion, love and a total covering of the Holy Spirit!  It is only thru Christ that hurts can be healed and time can be restored.  

Most Recent update pics

We sent him a small package.  The card was a talking card as a celebration of him officially becoming  Oberson SHEARER!

Playing with friends.  

Out of Courts.....

Introducing.....Oberson Shearer!!

Yes, Oberson is legally Oberson Shearer and therefore officially our SON!  Whahoo!  

No, we are not leaving tomorrow to bring him home.  

Why? (I'm glad you asked!)

First we need to get a Haitian Passport issued for him.  (That makes sure that we are taking Oberson and not some random kid out of the country). 

Then, we will need to get his Visa (which is what will allow him to cross into the US).  

When we have both of those documents.....we will bring him home!  

Thanks for the prayers and support!!

Easter....

Love this boy! 

We mailed a package a couple of weeks ago and received a bunch of pictures and information about when Oberson received it!  It sounds like he had a blast opening it and enjoying his Easter basket!  They said he tried all the candy!  Haha!  I loved seeing his smiling face!

Then today....we got to Skype again!  AND.....we heard his sweet voice!  We have Skyped twice but he is so overwhelmed that he never speaks or smiles.  Tonight we heard him talking, interacting a bit more and smiling. My heart is full.  You'll see that we had a table full of toys to get his attention. We had cars, motorcycles, Easter eggs, soccer balls, books and a musical dancing bunny.  He tried to touch them all, pointed to our faces, gave us high 5's, told us his favorites and showed us the pictures of us that he was holding.  

(Trying to touch the bunny)

My goodness we need to get this boy HOME!!!!!

Hands...

Little bitty baby hands to the hands of God.  We can use our hands to show love and care and we can see the hands of God at work.  Here is Oberson's little bitty baby hand from when we met in March of 2014.  It was so little and still had that baby pudgy-ness that I could just squeeze!

These are Oberson's hands today!  We received some coloring pages (aka 'homework' to Oberson) along with his handprints today! Here are little boy hands that are long and slim that I have yet to hold.  (Ashley & Travis enjoyed putting their hands up to his for comparison!! )

Oberson is in the hands of great nannies, teachers and caregivers and held in the mighty hands of our Heavenly Father.  So thankful they can hold these little hands while we cannot!! 

In addition to receiving these gems today we also received news that we exited the next step in the process.  That means our file is on to Court which means Oberson will become Oberson Shearer very soon!  Aaaahhhh!!❤️❤️❤️

IBESR Exit...

With February being the month of 'Love' it reminds me of John 13:34 where Jesus said "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  YOU, my sweet friends, sure have shown us some LOVE recently!! We have received the sweetest comments, texts, notes, calls, messages and have had the best conversations.....what an outpouring of love!  Oberson has yet to step one little foot into our home yet he has been firmly planted in the hearts of so many people!  It is amazing!  

As you may know (if you follow us on Facebook), we have finally received our signatures to exit IBESR after waiting 22 months!! One of the best responses was when a friend said she was happy for us even though she had no idea what it meant.  So true!  I thought I would answer some of the questions we have received the most:  

Does this mean he is coming home now? 

Unfortunately, no.  There are more steps in the adoption process before he can come home.  

What needs to happen before he can come home?

Step #12: Parquet (District Attorney approves adoption) 2-4 months

Step #13: Court (Civil court finalizes the adoption and he legally becomes our son and a Shearer!) 1-2 months

Step #14:  Attestation Signature (glorified notarizing of a document) 2-4 weeks

Step #15:  Legalization of documents (legalized by Minister of Justice) 2-4 weeks

Step #16:  Legalization by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MAE) 2-4 weeks

Step #17:  Ministry of the Interior (MOI) (applying for Passport) 3-6 months 

Step #18:  Review of all paperwork to make sure there are no clerical errors

Step #19:  US Medical Visa (including medical exam for Oberson) 1-2 months

Step #20:  USCIS (Immigration) & US Visa (visa pack is submitted, visa interview with Oberson) *Basically this is the US reviewing everything before they will issue the visa.  It takes anywhere from 1-5 months for this (American) step.  As soon as they approve it we travel to bring him home!! 

Step #21:  Travel to Haiti to bring him HOME!!!

When do you expect him home?

The remaining steps are estimated to take from 10-21 months.  We are praying for him home in 2016!  We all think Summer would be a great time so the kids can spend all day together but really pray he is home by his birthday October 21st.  

Are we ready?  

Haha!  For the long process that this is I will probably not be ready the day we bring him home!  I have bought so much stuff that he outgrew before he even came home that I stopped buying things.  We will get an idea of his exact clothing/shoe sizes close to the end and I stock up then with exact items.  For now, we add to his toy box, stuff animals, and clothes every month with little things.  His room, furniture and bed have been ready for a long time.  

How are Ashley & Travis?  

They are troopers and often are more positive than I am.  Honestly, I have been so frustrated with lack of progress in our case that it is very discouraging sometimes.  The kids didn't experience that discouragement and I am ever thankful that God protected their hearts.  Travis doesn't have a single memory of not waiting for a sibling.  He remembers getting our referral but never a time before the adoption started.  They remain excited about seeing him, Ashley wants to hug/touch/cuddle him (not sure if he will like that but we'll see), Travis wants a playmate and they both have a list of things they want to teach him. Hahaha!  We'll be crazy for sure!