L.I.F.E

Where do I begin?  Life has been NUTS these past couple of months and I am confident it will stay that way through the holidays!  When I get this far behind on life, all I want to do is crawl into a hole and never come out because the thought of attacking the checklist is way to overwhelming.  But, it's Tuesday night, I am home alone, the house is quite and I have decided to get some things checked OFF the list:)  I am not quite sure where I am headed with this blog post but I thought I would start with the above and then share with you all a little about where we are at in the adoption process so far.

The past couple of months we have been working with a agency in Chicago to complete our home study.  Last week, I was out and about with Ali when Jud called saying that there was some good news awaiting at home.  Ali and I rushed home to find a package filled with a completed home study APPROVED by the state of Illinois!  Hip Hip Hooray!!!  There are three major steps in the process of an International Adoption.  The first of these three steps had been COMPLETED!  Our next step was to send this document, along with numerous others, to the United States Immigrations Services to get approval from them and an "orphan visa" that is needed to continue on in the process.  The Henry's officially sent these documents last week to the USCIS and should hear back within the next couple of weeks.  After approval from the US, we will then have what we need to send our Dossier to Ethiopia!  Now, completing the Dossier is no easy task and we have been working on it for months.  We still have a ways to go and will need many seals and state approvals before sending it out but nonetheless, we are well on our way!  Our hope and prayer is to send our official Dossier to Ethiopia within the month of January.  Once we send that, we will have completed the three major preparations steps and will then enter the waiting process for the referral of our SON!!

Thank you all for your prayers and support thus far!  The paperwork is heavy and can oftentimes feel overwhelming (especially trying to get things done with three Henry kids around:).  We are plugging through though and have felt God's grace and peace.  We are so excited about the future that God has in store for us and would appreciate your continued prayers!  It is crazy to think that before the holidays next year, we could know our Son's name and be preparing to bring him home from Africa!

We love you all and are thankful for you!
The Henry Gang