At this point, we have been cleared completely by the US Government, all billion departments of it, to bring a Non US Citizen into the country as a legally adopted child. It was such an amazing piece of mail to get today! The next step is to have a notary party, and hopefully to be able to send away all our documents Monday or Tuesday of next week to Ethiopia, where we will wait for a match... that is the part that we have no idea on the timing of it all. Looks like it still will be closer to the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011.
Some really great news also came last week, that attached to the National Health Care Bill, which I am not really a fan of for many reasons, on the very last page was a small miracle for our family. On the last page of a 906 page document, was the extension to the Adoption Credit that we had been so faithfully praying to continue. Some of you know, but most of you don't. There is a large Adoption Tax Credit that was set to expire at the end of 2010. With this amazing news, not only was it extended, it was increased by a few hundred dollars!! So thankful for that amazing gift of God providing for our family.
This was even more exciting, as it came on the heals of more news. This news was a little more shocking and not as exciting. With Ethiopia being a third world country, there are bound to be changes in the adoption program as they learn and grow within their own justice system. So in the last several weeks it has come to pass that not only will we have to travel TWICE to Ethiopia, once for the court date and once to pick her up, but BOTH of us will be required to go. So in our planning it went from one round trip ticket to for sure THREE and possibly FOUR! This was a huge shock to our budget and planning, but through it all God gave me such a peace about the change. He kept telling me, "I will provide that for you, don't stress"... and boy did HE!
Here is brief snap shot at what we have been so blessed with in the past few months, which I know was God laying the ground work for the change that was to take place in the financial planning of the adoption.
1. I had a job land in my lap! Not only is it something that I really enjoy doing, but I am blessed with an amazing boss who allows me to work from home most of the time. His generosity surpasses that of a boss, which is why for many years before this we have called him family. I am so blessed by the opportunity to stay with my boys, have a job I love, and provide financially towards the bringing my baby girl home to her momma.
2. My amazing, smart, handsome, hard working, handsome, driven, handsome... ok... ok... Ricky, had his year review at work, let me just say, I could not have been prouder. He could not have done any better since there was no room on the scale for him to get a higher score! I love this man, he lives his life to do God's work, to provide for his family, and to do all of that to best of his ability. I am so blessed to do life with him. So anyway, with that, comes a pay increase!!
3. Let me just say, Ricky also has an amazing boss who loves our family, and has requested from the head boss man, that my love be promoted to an Engineer 3 position!!
4. We have been in the process for over 9 months now to modify our home loan, tonight we got word that we were finally in the last stages of getting a modification and we soon would have a lower house payment with no damage to our credit score. Such a blessing and we are so indebted to Jimmy and the office for all their hard work on this long process. Thank you guys!!
So in short, well actually long, we have mostly good and some shocking news this last little bit.
Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support through out coffee page !!!!
We love you all,
The Huffs *Written tonight by the Momma*
