Well, we have no visas YET but things are still moving in the right direction for us and we are guessing that we'll be leaving some time the week after next.
In the meantime I am getting ready for Christmas! I am making presents for my family and preparing some things to bring to Kaz for Ava D. Next week I will not be teaching so I am here to make orders if you have any! I made these little dolls for Ava and I just LOVE them! Check out my other blog to see some new things I have posted.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day with your loved ones. Even in this time of extreme stress we have so much to be thankful for!

Moving Forward

Things are finally moving ahead with our case! It should just be a matter of days before we can book those plane tickets. God provided us with a little getway this weekend which we are very excited about. We will use the time to enjoy our last childless vacation and to spiritually and mentally prepare for another trip to Kaz. Keep the prayers coming as we don't have visas in hand yet! We will update soon :-)
It will be serious hat and coat weather when we arrive in Kaz.

No we haven't dropped off the face of the earth. We are still here awaiting visa news. We will update just as soon as we hear anything...well, anything positive :-)

Stuck

Getting Back to Kaz Update:
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. It's been a stressful time for us. We seem to be stuck at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sveta is working hard on getting those visas pushed through. Since our case is so unusual we are encountering problems that aren't typical. Your prayers are important at this time and as soon as we have good news we'll be sure to post it. Ava is well. Can't wait to kiss that little face!

Quick Update.

Now we pretty much hear this every day, but we were told today that our LOI will be all ready tomorrow! Please pray that the LOI can be completed and our visas can be issued! Hopefully we can have good news tomorrow.

Sorry!

We are sorry that we've been so bad about updating. We are still waiting for those visas to arrive. They really should be issued any day now. There is actually a lot going on in our lives right now and we can update you all in time but...we are so excited to see our Ava D. and the Lord is lifting our spirits and preparing us for the trip ahead. Pray that this time next week will be on our way (or at least have our tickets booked :-)

Our visa is just waiting to be shipped to the US and this step seems to be taking way longer than expected. That is the story of our adoption...Longer than expected. But...Luba (Sveta's Mother) is there in Astana and isn't leaving until our visa is shipped. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told her that they have no problems with our visa and WILL send it to the US for the final step. This is good news b/c you just never know what they are going to have problems with. Big thanks to Luba for waiting this one out for us. Our agency told us to plan on leaving a week from Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sure hope so.
Some GREAT news...Once we arrive in Kaz, we don't have to go through any interviews or obtain any signatures!!!!!!!!!!!! We get to go straight to the Orphanage which is wonderful news and saves us at least a week of sitting around and waiting for signatures.
September 17th was Ava's 4th Birthday...Happy Birthday to our little Kaz Princess! Can't wait to see you soon!
Hopefully tomorrow we will report that our visa is on it's way to the US.
Fundraising has been going really well so thank you to everyone who has supported us. I wanted to let everyone know that this is my last week and half to make and ship things so get your orders in if you are interested. We should be getting back with Ava right before Christmas so, if you want to order any Christmas presents, order those now :-)

Another friend or ours was at the concert with Ava and took some darling little pictures. Gaby and her husband are waiting to return home with the 3 boys that they adopted from the baby home! 3 boys! Twin boys and their little brother. Blessings to this family and especially to their 3 year old daughter who has 3 new brothers!