Fingerprints - ALWAYS an Adventure

Our fingerprints with the US Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) expired this month. Oddly enough, Kevin's expired three days before mine, even though we had them taken on the same day in February of 2007. So we got up at 4:45 this morning to drive up to Naperville for our 8:00 am appointment. (I think with some States you can request a time for your appt. In Illilnois, you take what they give you.)

We were feeling good about not hitting any traffic and were about 10th in line outside the office before they even opened. That good feeling ended when the line started moving, and the couple in front of us handed the processor one appointment letter for the husband and one for the wife. We only had ONE letter. Since we only had one 171H form with both of our fingerprint expiration dates on the same letter, I didn't question that we had only received one letter for our appointment. Yikes. Sure enough when it was our turn, she said we were supposed to each have our own letter. She then put it aside in a tray for the supervisor to reivew, told us to have a seat, and then continued checking everyone else in line in, which was very long at this point. I told Kevin "we just need to pray".

After a few more people, there was someone else in line with an issue. His appointment wasn't scheduled until this Friday, but he was leaving for China on Thursday. They were not very nice to him (in fact I think you need special training to be this rude) and put his letter in the same pile as ours. Hmmm - pray more. After awhile I saw someone take our letter in to the supervisor's office. More waiting. Then the supervisor came out and had a rude argument with the man going to China. Not looking like they are in a good mood - pray harder.

Then the supervisor came out and called our name. She asked where our receipt was. I said we only got the letter. And she asked again where our receipt was. And then I told her I sent a money order, but we were eligible for one free update, so they returned the money order. She then asked why I had brought the 171H. I said to show that both of our fingerprints had expired. But we only got one letter? Yes that is correct. Have a seat. Back into her office. More praying!

While we were waiting they yelled at the China man somemore about NEVER being able to come in BEFORE your appointment date, but you could always reschedule AFTER your appointment date. After an hour, she finally called us again and said the reason I didn't get a letter was because my appointment wasn't until next Friday on August 1st, which is why they hadn't mailed my letter yet. Great - we're here BEFORE my appointment date. I made a comment (VERY nicely!) that it didn't make sense that they made our appointments on separate days. (I guess it related back to our original prints expiring on different days). She said "No it doesn't make sense, but it's not a problem. I printed your sheet so you can get your prints done today." Yeah, no second trip to make! Prayers answered! Exhale slowly ...

Prov 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk upright.

The Power of Words

So this weekend we received our first negative comments about our adoption. We knew they would come, but I must say I still wasn’t prepared with an answer.

• First were the eyes as big as saucers when I said we were planning to adopt a sibling group.


• Second came the question of will they be “dark skinned”? (The girls and I later had fun laughing over sarcastic responses we could have given like “Oh my we hadn’t considered that.” - But those of you who know me, know I would never in reality make such a comment.)


• Third was the unsolicited advice of why we should only adopt children under two years old. (Like children over this age shouldn’t be given a family because they might have emotional scars by no choice or fault of their own.)

I guess I didn’t realize how much these comments would bother me.

And then came the words of encouragement that I posted about yesterday. Words like these spur us to keep on going, even though it’s long and it’s hard. I have really appreciated not just the words, but how they were given and when they were received.

• First, they came just about 24 hours after the negative comments. This timing was not by accident.
  
• Second, they were straight from the word of God.
  
• Third, was how these words were given to us. My friend read the words over me. And then her husband read them over my husband. There is something powerful about having another man of God read scripture as a blessing and encouragement over your husband!


• Fourth – These friends didn’t know where we were specifically in our process. They didn’t know if we needed encouragement or were doing ok. They just heard from the Lord and passed it on to us.

And so I’ve been pondering on the power of the spoken word. It can be a curse or a blessing. How often have I failed to speak encouragement over someone who needs it? Do I only encourage when I sense someone is down and out? How often have I spoken careless words that have left a sting in someone else’s spirit? How often have I tried to encourage someone with my own words, when the Lord’s words would be so much better?

So I encourage first myself and then you – speak blessing and encouragement over those you encounter today. Ask the Lord to give you a word for someone who needs to hear from Him. Your words are more powerful than you know!

Proverbs 12:18 "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

A Word From the Lord

A dear friend of mine gave me a word from the Lord today. As she spoke it to me, tears filled my eyes, as it spoke directly to my soul and confirmed what I have been feeling - that I am strong and He alone is my rock.

Here is the verse I Corinthians 15:58 in several versions:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

And so we keep on, keeping on.

Where Babies Come From

Wednesday night we were going to the airport to see our friends arrive in from China with their newest daughter Zoe. We were explaining to Kaden (not quite 3) that the Sanders got Zoe across the ocean … just like when the Arnolds got Libi … just like when the Millers got Sarah Beth … just like when …. and we named several others, since this was our 7th time to the airport in the past 9 months to see various friends bringing home adopted children from all over the world.

Kaden gave us a puzzled look and said “My sisters come from across the ocean?” We had to laugh when we realized that he thinks all babies come from across the ocean. (What a blessing is that!) Everyone we know that has added to their family in the past year has done so through adoption. Boy is he going to be surprised when he someday finds out where babies really come from. We’ll leave that discussion for another day!

New LIFE

Zo(i)e means LIFE and this has been an exciting week of new life & new beginnings among our friends:


The Sanders got Zoe in China on Sunday. Their blog is here: http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=88504




And the Gibsons got Zoie in Ethiopia today. Their blog is here: http://www.zoiegibson5.com/web/do/site/journal?ID=226929

DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT?!