Fingerprints done!

Today Steve and I drove up to Alexandria, VA and got our fingerprints done as walk-ins....yay!!! I then emailed the National Benefits Center I.S. officer to let the officer assigned to us know that the prints are done and they can expedite the approval. She wrote back and let me know that she has forwarded this information to our officer. Hopefully this shouldn't be too long.

Right now we need prayers that our mortgage lending company will notarize the verification of mortgage letter. I called them yesterday to give it one more shot. I took the advice from many of you followers who commented on my previous blog about this. When I got an agent on the line, I started by explaining the dire circumstances of Julia and Aaron and pleaded for them to be able to help us. Long story short, I was able to get an "executive" on the phone with me. She seemed sympathetic and was emailing instructions along as to what we needed and how it could be done. Their problem is that they do not have a notary. We again offered to send and pay for a mobile notary to go to them. She called me back a little later and inquired about how that could be done. Rocket science....I know, but at least someone sounds interested in trying. I told her that whoever ends up notarizing the document can just go to their bank on a lunch break or something....that it doesn't have to be very complicated. So, we're asking for prayers now that this task gets into the hands of someone willing, able, and competent enough to accomplish this in a timely manner.

Our volunteer helper through Reece's Rainbow has been in contact with someone in Ukraine asking if there is something else we can do. She has replied that this "simply must be done." I know you all have been praying for Julia, Aaron, and our family, but I just thought it would be helpful to let you know specifically what we need prayers for at this moment! At the latest we were hoping to have our dossier ready to send out in mid-January, so it can get to Ukraine, be translated, and submitted by the beginning of February. This is when the SDA office reopens and begins processing dossiers after being closed for several months over the holidays. Aaron turns 6 in February and we have heard that the orphanage he and Julia are in typically transfer to institution in April. And Julia just needs us to get bring her home as soon as possible. Our goal is to get an SDA appt. in March.

Thank you all so much for your support, encouragement, and prayers! Seeing new pictures of Julia makes me even more anxious to get her in my arms. The Winkles have been unable to see Aaron. We sent a gift with them (photo look book) to give to him. They asked the nannies if they would give it to him and they said they would. We so hope they did!