Well, another month has come and gone. We thought for sure we would be picking up our baby girl now, but instead, we are being held hostage by the 3rd family court judge our case has been with. We have been approved for 5 weeks and not progressed at all! She will not release the certified copies we need to get the birth certificate. I thought bouncing from judge to judge for 12 weeks was bad... NOT!!! I should be getting pictures of Bella this week because my friend is going to the hogar and will send some to me. But, stay tuned, if you miss these, you will get some next month. How do I know this? Because she will NOT be home when she turns 1 year old. To think I was so naive as to believe that when we accepted her referral on Sept. 20 (her birthday and my son's) last year that we would be celebrating it WITH her.
22 comments:
Dear Amanda,
My heart aches for you, I understand what you going through. When we started the adoption process in Russia in 12/04,children were being brought home at 5-7 months. Well, in 1/05 Russian goverment changed the rules and we were NOT grandfathered in. My hopes of sharing my daughters first year were gone. I was so crushed. Our struggle was long and hard and only got to visit Annalise once at 10 months old. We were finally cleared for court and came home when Annalise was 13 months old (missing her 1st birthday). I have to tell you though, as much as I was afraid of missing all the "firsts", that's not what happened. The first time she slept in her crib,I was there, the first time she played with her new toys, I was there, the first time she said MAMA,I was there, the first time she fell and cried for me to pick her up and kiss it and make it all better, I was there. I know now it is hard to focus on anything but the things you are missing, but I promise you, once your angel is home, you will only remember the things you were there for, not the things you missed. I pray that God watches over you and Bella and wraps you tightly in His arms and blesses you with only the grace He can give.
Sorry for the long post.
Love-
Dori
God woke me up early this morning praying for you guys. This was so not the news I was hoping to see when I got up to check in on you. I've already sent out an email to my prayer warrior friends, they've been following this every step of the way too. Just know that we are praying- and this is not an empty statement...I mean it. I don't understand this process-if at all possible, can you tell us exactly what needs to happen for Bella to come home, so that we can pray specifically?
I love you and I'm so sorry this is happening this way for you. Please let me know what we can do.
Love,
Holly
Amanda--I wish I could come over and pray with you and cry with you. I know at this point you just want to know that she is coming home, even if it's after her first birthday. Is there anything we can do? Anyone we can write? or call? We are praying and crying out to the Lord for his mercy and power to be revealed today to bring Bella home. Love you.
Oh honey I am so sorry. I know how hard it is to miss a 1st birthday, I just had to do it this past Sunday. Is there anyway for you to get released this wk and PU before her birthday? sigh.
sending you huge hugs!!!!
Amanda hang on girl, she's coming. Patience is a lesson I have never learned and each time I have had to endure one of its harsh classes, I was rewarded bountifully, not when I wanted it, but when it was in God's plan. Try not to put limits on God's Grace. If it is in His perfect plan to have Bella home tomorrow, she will be. I can't tell you how amazed I am with the courage you and Jeff have shown. You went out on a limb at God's instruction and threw your heart, soul and love into an incredibly hard and emotionally draining quagmire of legal red tape to bring a precious baby girl the life she deserves. I agree with what Dori said, there are way too many firsts you will be there for and those are the ones that are the most precious! I love you, Jeff, Jake and Bella so much and you will never know how your experience has not only touched my life but so many others. God Bless You Amanda!
Love and Prayers, Kim
Oh Amanda! Your post brings tears to my eyes! I'm so sorry that this isn't over yet! Sending huge hugs and many prayers!
Terry
So So sorry! It is a nightmare! Please know that I am praying for you. She WILL come home!
Amanda,
I have been following your story for quite some time now. This is my first time posting anything. We live thousands of miles apart, but you have touched me through your writings. I think of you and your family many times during the day and each time I say a prayer for Bella. Please never give up on your little girl....
Marcie
Amanda,
My heart is breaking for you. If there is anything that I can do, please let me know! I will hold you close in thought and prayer.
Love,
Karen
Amanda,
I am so sorry this has been such a difficult journey for you and your daughter. I will be praying that God will speak to the heart of this last judge so you may have your daughter home soon.
Gail
You sweet girl,
I am SO sorry you are having to endure this wait, and my heart aches for you today. Please know that you and Bella are with me all the time, and you are constantly in my prayers. I wish I was there to give you a big hug and just pray. Please know that I'm here. CALL ME IF YOU NEED TO TALK.
love you.
Amanda,
My heart aches. I pray your sweet spirit is protected from Satan's evil plans, in the name and by the blood of Jesus. I pray that the Lord would grant safe, quick passage for Bella to come home to her family. I cry out to the Lord for healing; for clarity; for supernatural peace. I pray that He would move mountains to bring her home; I pray that He will wrap Bella up tight in His mighty arms...as Her creator, as Her Lord. I know He wants this hell to end for you...He desires days of joy, love and laughter to fill your home. Please, Lord, take this burden from them, and lead them into quieter pastures. Lord, restore their souls. By the blood and grace of Jesus, The Christ, I boldly ask these things, for my sister.
A-call me later...love you.
By the way...we WILL celebrate Bella and Madalyn's first birthdays together in the US...even if it takes awhile.
Love you...K
Romans 4:17 – 18 The Message
Abraham was first NAMED "father" and then BECAME a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing.
(…and calls those things which be not as though they were.) different version
When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do.
*This is what we held onto when Corben was first born and in the hospital for 11 weeks. God told you Bella is coming home. NOTHING will stop that! I knew Corben was going to be home and healthy. I didn’t know when and no one would tell me, but God said it. When Kirk was diagnosed earlier this year God said “You are healed.” I know he is, it does not matter what he/I feel or what anyone says. It is done in God’s eyes.
Bella is home! The world has just not caught up with the TRUTH of that yet!
I am so looking forward to meeting the newest Salemi!
Don't loose heart! We are standing in faith for you!
Love,
Lilly
Amanda,
I am so sorry about this excruciatingly painful wait to bring Bella home. I am praying that God will speak to the heart of the judge and cause her to release the papers.
I will pray for strength, courage, and peace for you and your family.
I feel your pain. Today my son turned one we have has his referral since Oct. It is such a nightmare trying to get though this crazy process. Keeping you in my prayers-Aimee
Thinking of you
Praying for you
May the Lord give you HIS peace and strength during this tough, tough time
I am so sorry that you are going through this nightmare!! I know that it will be over soon. So many people are praying for Bella to come home. Hang in there!
Sharon
Amanda-
I am so sorry - I understand more than I care to, the pain that you are going through. We received Rachel's (and Ali's) referral when Rachel was 4 days old. She came home at 15 months old. I was so crushed and down-hearted. Sadly, I also let my heart get hard... and I became bitter. It took a long time for me to realize that God has a perfect plan - and while it might not BE exactly what I want it to be... it is exactly what I need. I love the old Steven Curtis Chapman song... "His Strength is Perfect, when our strength is gone. He carries us when we can't carry on..." I clung to these words and this song... I can only tell you that like Dori, there are SO MANY FIRSTS that you will experience with Bella when she comes home. And yes, even though I sometimes have those fleeting moments of regret that I never experienced a first birthday with any of our 4 children... I know that God had a plan then - and that He is in control now. I will continue to pray for you and for Miss Bella. She is such a sweet and precious baby. I pray that God will hold you so tight and give some peace to your heart... and to your family. He is our Great Comforter...and I pray an extra measure of that for you now as you endure this difficult journey.
Love,
Jennifer
My heart breaks for you... I will continue to pray for you and Bella! I will pray for your heart as you wait for her to be comfoted and protected. Praying for a fast miracle to bring her home to your arms as soon as heavenly possible! Hugs being sent to you!
Just so sorry, I would do anything for you too. This is just so unfair, so horrendous :( I PRAY you get word soon. Just a nightmare, but you MUST hold on.
huge hugs.
Praying for you daily!
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