Adoption Update: Rushing to Meet a Deadline

Mrs. Beaver:

Inside the Kremlin walls--Moscow, November 2010

Between my surgery and the birth of our first grandchild, we haven't posted any news about our adoption effort for some time. However, the blog silence doesn't mean we've slowed down or backed off from our pursuit of the "Fab Four," as we're fond of calling them. Faith at work in our hearts tells us God has a plan for rescuing the four siblings from their status as orphans, and the family He has targeted is us! A legal transfer--called adoption--just needs to happen to make it possible for them to come join our tribe.

As I write this, Mr. Beaver is hard at work proofing a rough draft of our home study forwarded to us yesterday by our social worker, Janette. Those of you familiar with the labyrinth that adoption inherently is know this is an exciting development. We're now oh-so close to a completed home study!

This week we learned that there is urgency for completing the first critical stage of paperwork for the adoption by July 23. Our agency contact here in the U.S. will go on vacation soon, and was gracious enough to give us notice that we need to get our documents to her so she can forward them to Russia and keep the process moving in her absence.

Thus, we're scurrying! Mr. Beaver and I are exceedingly eager to travel to Russia to spend time with our three boys and little girl on the required "first trip." (We'll later return to Russia to go to court and bring the kiddos HOME.)

Last night I posted a general plea for our readers to be praying for the orphaned children of our world. If you'd be willing to turn some of those prayers to the liberating of three adorable brothers and their remarkably darling little sister (yes--I'm already terribly biased!), we'd be grateful. Here are some specific requests:

• that our fingerprint crime-check results would return from the FBI early this week. Normally, the results come back in about 6 weeks, but an unnoticed mistake on the cards has caused a significant delay. Already about 12 weeks have passed. The homestudy can't be considered finished until the fingerprint results return so this is a biggie right now.
• that we would be able to finish the paper chase before our U.S. worker goes on vacation. Adoptions are notorious for the surprises that pop up, so we need to target finishing even earlier than July 23. Please pray for protection from the unexpected and efficiency in our efforts to tie up any loose ends.
• that we will be allowed to travel to see the children SOON. We're beseeching the Lord for late August or early September. Its an audacious request; there's no human way everything could come togther this soon. But He is the Lord God Almighty. We've watched Him do stunning things in our four prior adoptions, and we eagerly await the chance to sing His praises for what He does this time.

Well, Mr. Beaver has finished proofing the 11-page home study draft and has asked me to be a "second set of eyes." Each seemingly baby step takes us closer to being able to bring those kids home to their waiting family. Glory be to God!