Celebration!!!!

Honey - I'm coming home!!! and the 2 little ones are coming with me! Everything went really well at the Embassy today. The visas will be ready for tomorrow afternoon. The only bad thing is the flights are all booked now for Natalie to come and help so we are looking at delaying the return 1 day to the 23rd. This will make for a very tiring Christmas and Christmas Eve but it will be so worth it!

Thank you all for your prayers, positive re-inforcement, and well wishes. They have all helped. We will be sure to update everyone as to when we will be arriving home. Thank you all and God Bless!

Father Christmas

Sunday - Today we celebrated Christmas at the Orphanage. We had a big party with family and friends of the Orphanage. The house mothers decorated the whole yard with balloons and toys for the kids to play with. They had a Christmas Tree in the corner surrounded with Ball Pit style balls the kids loved throwing around. They found a cheap play slide and swing secondhand at the market as well. Auntie Sylvia brought bubbles for all the kids. Andrew loved having the bubbles fly in his face as he would try to pop them. He looked the happiest I have ever seen him.

We played musical chairs with the adults.I won of course! and I took out 2 chairs along the way. Plastic chairs are not good for musical chairs! The children played next- Cutie Faith won! (With some help of one of the house mothers).

Father Christmas then rode in on a Boda Boda. The kids were so excited. Natalie and I had bought each of the kids a small gift for Christmas so we had the orphanage wrap them up and give them to the children. Each of the boys got a small car and the girls got their own dollies. Father Christmas even had a gift for me - 2 mugs shaped like a Giraffe and a Zebra. After dinner I gave everyone some American Candy we brought in. They absolutely loved it! The saltwater taffy was their favorite! It was a good night.

Monday - Today is judgement day. I meet with the Embassy in about 7 hours. Today I find out if my children are coming home with me or not. Fingers crossed!

A better day

Today was really rough this morning. I woke early and was really feeling sorry for myself. I had a good conversation with Natalie though. I got some extra sleep as I wasn't needed anywhere until about 3:30 this afternoon. This was a good thing. The directors of the Orphanage took me to a Christmas play - African style. It focused on the 3 wise men and how they spread through Africa reporting the birth of Christ. There were about 200 cast members and it was wonderful. We sang hymns such as Angels we have heard on high, and silent night. There were probably 500-600 people in the audience and it was pretty special. It really helped get my mind straight.

I took 2 firsts today in Africa - I rode a Boda Boda (Motorcycle taxi), and I ate Grasshoppers. Neither were as scary as I expected. The Grasshopper was actually pretty good. Very crunchy, kind of like a sunflower seed shell.

Thank you for all the comments and positive thoughts. They have helped. Loves to all.

Homesick as Homesick can be...

Amazing the things I take for granted. What I would give to be laying in my bed next to Natalie right now; to hear Keira running around the house and doing her art projects. It is so sad and lonely being in a place you really don't know, trusting people you barely know, being threatened by people you don't know, and loving people you will get to know.

I went to the Embassy this morning (after waiting 1 1/2 hours for my ride to show up). I was told to come in Monday afternoon for the formal interview. If things go well, Visas will be ready on Wednesday. Good thing right! Not quite - I am scheduled to leave Tuesday night and there is no way I am missing Christmas with my family. I love Faith and T very much but it is different. I will not miss Christmas. Not knowing until Monday doesn't even allow time for flights to be adjusted. If they are able to get Visas done on Tuesday, that would be great. If not - I will fly home and return with Natalie in January to bring the kids home.

We knew it was a long shot just coming out. The fact I missed Wednesday really hurt any chance of getting the kids home for Christmas. Atleast now we will know exactly when the Visas are ready and will, have no problems when we return. I am content with this.

I know not what Gods plan is, but I know that he loves me - and that is enough. Money is Money - we will make more. I am tired of stressing, and crying, and doubting, and getting frustrated, and being apart from family.

My life will change, Andrew will need ALOT of help. He doesn't communicate, or even crawl. It will be a tough transition. Natalie and I are ready for the next stage in our lives to begin. If that doesn't happen until January - it is for a reason.

Please give loves to my girls. Then hug them again for me. Keira has a school performance this evening and I am so sad I will be missing it. Loves to all. T

A productive yet frustrating day

Today has been long and hard. It has been long in the fact that I awoke early to begin making contact with the Embassy around 7:30 am. By 10:00 I was unable to get through and no e-mails were returned. I convinced the Orphanage directors to take me to the Embassy so I may plead with them directly. This worked and I now have a 7:30 am appointment tomorrow morning at the Embassy.

Now the frustrating part - I do not know how much of an "interview" it will actually be. Now it is being termed an "informal meet" to see what we need to do to proceed. I have no clue what to make of this. I have been at the orphanage from 3:00 - 10:00 pm tonight spending time with the kids.

It is at this time where I get especially Homesick though. While I enjoy spending time with my kids - it's not like they are really mine yet. Someone is always watching, eyeing you, judging you etc... I spend most my time imagining I am home with my girls, listening to Keira laugh, watching natalie smile. It makes it really hard being here alone.

Depending on how the Embassy goes tomorrow - I may just go a little crazy!!! Was this trip all for nothing? I guess I will find out tomorrow. Until then it is sweet dreams of my girls...

Another journey - Another Problem

Could this adoption get any crazier??? Detroit was 10 degrees when we landed yesterday. Next plane all set to take off when they can't get the cargo doors to shut because they are frozen!!! 3 hours later we are finally on our way to Amsterdam on a new plane. The problem is I have now missed my connecting flight and can't get another one until tomorrow!!!

I am now stuck at an Amsterdam hotel for the next 18 hours! I have e-mailed the Embassy and they will see what they can do once I do finally arrive. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

And the Ruling is.....

Email received from Lawyer this morning:

"Dear Trent,
We are pleased to inform you that the order for legal guatdianship was made today in your favour for both children. I spoke to the Judge and he regrets the delay. Its his first posting, about one month so far.

Blessings

Dorothy"

We also received a phone call about 2am from the agency representative in Uganda. It was a bad connection but we were able to hear the ruling.

We don't know what is next other than getting the passports and then meeting with the Embassy. The Embassy could be as quick as 2 days or as long as 2 months. We have an e-mail out to them to get an idea of what we are looking at. We are still likely looking at January for travel.

It is still wonderful to hear that we are done with the courts and now are officially guardians of 3. The actual adoption takes place in the states.

Thank you all for your comforting words over the last month. We are blessed with amazing friends and family.

No Children for Christmas - Judge delays again

If you ever think the United States Judicial system is messed up, think again and look at Uganda. The judge has delayed the ruling another week. This basically wipes out any chance of getting the children home for Christmas. No reasoning or excuse was given why - just another delay. We will now have to cancel our Embassy appointment because we cannot apply for passports for the children (which are required for the Embassy) before we have a Guardianship ruling. These take about 2 weeks if you "know the right people." Because of the holidays the Embassy will likely reschedule in January which means we miss the tax credit for 2010 - another huge set back. I have lost all patience with this process. We started this journey over two years ago. I just want to sit back and scream, cry, vent, yell, hit something etc...

This was probably the worst news we could have received today. I wish that these judges would just put the children first for once.

Ruling Day - Another Delay.....

Another Court date and another Delay. The judge has requested that a Probation Officer confirm the status of Andrew of Faith, that they are actually living in the orphanage and that they came to the orphanage in the ways described in our application. The Lawyer seems to think this can be done quickly. We are still awaiting more info back from her. Hopefully another ruling date for next week.

It just gets so frustrating. The judge has had this information for 2 1/2 weeks. Why wait to drag everybody in for a ruling if he knew he wanted this. Why not just call the lawyer and say "I need an affidavit from a probation officer confirming the living conditions."

Thank you all for your prayers and fasting. It means so much to know we have such wonderful friends and family. We will keep you all up to date.

Coming Home

We won't receive our Ruling from the Judge until November 11 so we are heading home. We have been able to work everything out with Airlines, Hotel, orphanage, etc... We don't have to be present for the ruling and we can then have the orphanage reps apply for the childrens passports. We can then fly back and make our appointment with the US Embassy for the childrens visas.

We want to surprise Keira on Friday so please do not say anything to her. Thank you again to everyone for helping out and making her time special while we have been away. We are sorry if you had made plans and won't get to follow through with them.

We leave tomorrow night and return Friday afternoon.

Love to all

Things we are Greatful for:
Trent - pasteurized milk, and pizza delivery (Dibs on Papa Johns Friday Night!)
Natalie - wonderful friends and family, Organized Motor vehicle transportation

Things we have learned:
Trent - Don't try to barter if you are white - no point :(
Natalie - Good people are good no matter their race, religion, ethnicity, or so on...

Finally a Judge!

Apparently the 3rd time is the charm. We finally met with a judge (well we just sat there and looked pretty while our lawyer met with the judge.) Andrews grandmother came in for the hearing and it hopefully made clear any issues wth Andrews relinguishment. We presented cases for both children and then were given a date for the ruling - November 11th!!!

So, now we have decided to return home since we don't have to be back for the ruling or the passport application. We have missed K greatly and we know that the process has happened like this for a reason. We are making arrangements to change our return flight now and not sure when we will return. Likely this weekend. We will then return just after Thanksgiving once we know that the ruling is in our favor and we have received the passports.

Thank you everyone for your support and understanding. None of this could have happened without wonderful friends and family. Love to all.

Another Court heartache

Court has been delayed - again. This system is so extremely frustrating!!! We were originally scheduled to have court on Friday. Court was cancelled and delayed to today. We were never told that they also changed our Judge. The new judge was not in today. Our lawyer left town on saturday and left our cases in charge with her associate. Whatever happened there was no communication between our lawyer and the courts to confirm judge, time and which court.

We showed up as instructed to the High Judge this morning. We were only 1 of many cases to be heard. The judge started off by basically lecturing all about adoption and all of the mistakes the lawyers have made. He was extremely frustrated with potential parents not taking the time to bond with the children prior to adoption (basically refering to the Russian girl that was sent back because she was possessed by demons). He stated that had the mother taken the 3 years to bond with the child first she would have known it would not work out. It is probably better we did not have him hear our case.

We now have a hearing scheduled for tomorrow at noon. Atleast that is what we hve been told. We will reserve judgement until a judge actually talks to us.We are very sad today! We are very homesick and frustrated. We miss Keira so much it hurts. We just want to cry.

Food - Ugandan Style!!!

A very nice and relaxing day today. We stayed in our lodge until about 2:00 and then went to the Zoo. There were not alot of animals but it was very open with very little fencing. Luckily the Lions were tired!!! The Crocodiles were very hungry though and we got to watch them feed. It was awesome!!!

We then went to the beach and enjoyed a lively atmosphere. When they asked if we would like a whole fish - We didn't know they meant a WHOLE FISH. It was extremely tasty though. I am very proud of Natalie for stepping out of her zone.

Tomorrow is court - Hopefully. Be sure to keep checking our pictures on Picasa as we update them daily. Love to all and please send us e-mails or messages about back home. We are very Homesick.

Things we learned today:

Trent - Natalie can suck it up when she has to, (See picture above)

Natalie - What it is like to be in the minority

Things we are grateful for:

Trent - Soda that is bigger than 10 ounces and doesn't need a bottle opener.

Natalie - Paved Roads

An update a day

We are going to do a small update everyday. In these updates we will list one thing we are grateful for (and miss from America) and one thing we have learned. Keira doesn't count on this list - she is always missed DEARLY!!!

Today we spent all day at the orphanage. There was a birthday party for one of the mothers and the kids had such a fun time singing, dancing and eating birthday cake.

One thing we are Grateful for: One for each day we have been here thus far (3 each):
Natalie: Washing Machines, Electricity that stays on, Clean Running Water
Trent: Ice Cubes, Subway Sandwiches, Broadband Internet.

Things we learned today:
Natalie: Cockroaches have wings (and can use them!!!)
Trent: How to make T laugh hysterically (See photo above)

Amsterdam!

Obama signs LRA Disarmament Act!!!

Obama speaks: the President declares his commitment to the LRA Bill

A message from the President…

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2010

Statement by the President on the signing of the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009

Today, I signed into law the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. The legislation crystallizes the commitment of the United States to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the LRA across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of central Africa.

The Lord’s Resistance Army preys on civilians – killing, raping, and mutilating the people of central Africa; stealing and brutalizing their children; and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Its leadership, indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has no agenda and no purpose other than its own survival. It fills its ranks of fighters with the young boys and girls it abducts. By any measure, its actions are an affront to human dignity.

Of the millions affected by the violence, each had an individual story and voice that we must not forget. In northern Uganda, we recall Angelina Atyam’s 14-year old daughter, whom the LRA kidnapped in 1996 and held captive for nearly eight years — one of 139 girls abducted that day from a boarding school. In southern Sudan, we recall John Loboi — a father, a husband, a brother, a local humanitarian assistance worker killed in an ambush while helping others in 2003. Now, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, the people of Dungu and of Obo, too, have their stories of loss and pain.

We mourn those killed. We pray for those abducted to be freed, and for those wounded to heal. We call on the ranks of the LRA to disarm and surrender. We believe that the leadership of the LRA should be brought to justice.

I signed this bill today recognizing that we must all renew our commitments and strengthen our capabilities to protect and assist civilians caught in the LRA’s wake, to receive those that surrender, and to support efforts to bring the LRA leadership to justice. The Bill reiterates U.S. policy and our commitment to work toward a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the conflict in northern Uganda and other affected areas, including northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic. We will do so in partnership with regional governments and multilateral efforts.

I commend the Government of Uganda for its efforts to stabilize the northern part of the country, for actively supporting transitional and development assistance, and for pursuing reintegration programs for those who surrender and escape from the LRA ranks.

I also want the governments of other LRA-affected countries to know that we are aware of the danger the LRA represents, and we will continue to support efforts to protect civilians and to end this terrible chapter in central African history. For over a decade, the United States has worked with others to respond to the LRA crisis. We have supported peace process and reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and regional recovery, protection of civilians and reintegration for former combatants, and have supported regional governments as they worked to provide for their people’s security. Going forward, we will call on our partners as we all renew our efforts.

I congratulate Congress for seizing on this important issue, and I congratulate the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have mobilized to respond to this unique crisis of conscience. We have heard from the advocacy organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, humanitarian actors who lack access, and those who continue to work on this issue in our own government. We have seen your reporting, your websites, your blogs, and your video postcards — you have made the plight of the children visible to us all. Your action represents the very best of American leadership around the world, and we are committed to working with you in pursuit of the future of peace and dignity that the people of who have suffered at the hands of the LRA deserve.

Mothers Day video 2010

For Mothers Day, baby "T" made his Mommy a video. Now on May 16, 2010 (one month later) we are still waiting for a court date. We are ready to leave any day now. We will be sure to update everyone as soon as we hear anything. This has been the hardest month yet. Everyday is spent in anticipation of an e-mail that never comes. The Ugandan Courts just don't move like the US courts. We just have to be ready when we get the call and pray the Judge and Embassy have T's best interest at heart. God bless and thank you all for your prayers and fasting on T's behalf

Another Uganda Update - Finally

One Hurdle Down - 2 to go! After 4 months we finally have T's care order from the Kebale (The town he was born in). The care order confirms that his grandmother has relinguished his rights and he is not able to be supported by her or any other family members. A Probation Officer had to visit the orphanage and make sure it was suitable for T's well being. Kebale is a 6 hour drive from Kambala and this quite an ordeal for them to participate.

We how have 2 major hurdles. Next week our lawyer is going to present our dossier packet to the High court Judge in Kampala. She is requesting a special needs adoption on our behalf. We have to request the judge wave the required 3 year live in country requirement.

After that (and that is a HUGE if), we have to get the US Embassy to grant a VISA to "T" allowing him to come home and become a US Citizen. The US Embassy has stopped all Visas in Uganda based on Guardianship papers. This is why we have to request an official Adoption with the judge.

Only then will "T" finally get to come home and start physical therapy in hopes he will one day get to walk. As you can see in the picture above - he is finally able to sit on his own. "T" will be 14 months on April 12th.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.