March should prove to be informative

Good Morning everyone! Anyone ready for Spring to arrive??! Ok, family and friends in Florida & Georgia can stop laughing. We've had what feels like a longer than usual winter and I'm ready for some HOT SUN!!! :) Hence our upcoming trip to FL!!!

Well, I know it's been a few weeks without an update but I just haven't had much to report b/c we haven't heard much. We did get a glimmer of info that will help put things into perspective regarding the MOU and where that could lead us. Below I have cut and pasted information that was released from Children's Hope International to families in their Vietnam program. It's a great explanation of where we (and everyone else adopting from Vietnam) are right now.

Key note of the US State Department warning:

The 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), required by Vietnamese law to authorize adoptions between the United States and Vietnam, expires on September 1, 2008. The US State department is warning families just now applying to agencies for the Vietnam program. Due to the timing of the process, a family now applying will not receive a referral or submit their completed adoption paperwork to Vietnam prior to the MOU expiring in September. If there is a short moratorium (in English this means shut down, all of this adoption lingo gets confusing), during which the two countries come to a new agreement if necessary, the impact could be minimal to our families and another agreement may be signed soon thereafter. Hanoi Quarterly US Embassy Meeting: Thuy, our main representative in Vietnam, attended the quarterly US embassy meeting in Hanoi for all adoption agencies. The new I-600 procedures were discussed for agencies whose families had not yet traveled under the new I-600 (immigration form for internationally adopted children). A group of US officials will travel to Vietnam in March to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vietnam government. In March, written letters may be exchanged between the two governments to resign the MOU which expires this year. If the written letters are not exchanged in March, then the MOU will expire on September 1, 2008, and agencies will no longer be allowed to submit new dossiers after this time. Therefore, more details concerning the MOU will be coming soon. (I bolded this section in black b/c this tells us in a nutshell that if they (the U.S. and Vietnam) don't get things resolved this month adoptions will cease come September 1) For us that would mean our process is halted (whether it be temporarily or permanently)

The above info tells us that we will know where we are, one way or another during the month of March. We are not concerned or nervous about the pending decision because we have all of our faith in the path the Lord has lead us down. We have discussed that maybe He has lead us down this path to detour us on another route, we just don't know but we are faithful and certain that NO MATTER WHAT, we are in the right place right now. We are praying about this and asking everyone to please join us in prayer. As always, the toughest part of this process is the waiting. We know this will all turn out the way it's suppose to, but we really struggle DAILY with the WAIT (patience in this process is certainly not my strong suit) So, we ask for prayers of patience! :)

On a much lighter note, I'm still SHOPPING!!!! (haha) I have a picture of the latest lil peanut outfit for you all to see (above). This one is honor of my hubby....Duckies!!! (And if you promise not to say anything.....Shhhh, I even got a pair of camo overalls- hehe)

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!! I think I just saw the SUN peak out from the clouds!!! Looks like it might brighten up enough to be a horsey riding weekend!!!!

Hugs, love and kisses!!!!

Rob & B