Our adoption process came to a complete stop a few weeks ago. It turns out that our agency is under investigation, and Illinois DCFS has decided to not process our paperwork in the meantime. This is just one more slow down to our already slow home study process. I know that everything will work out in the end, but in the meantime it is very frustrating. We anxiously waited for Jason's clearances, but it ended up that it didn't even matter because DCFS isn't processing anything from our agency (in IL). I just want to get moving so we can get on a waiting list! We started this process in June, so it's been 5 months already. Once DCFS gives our agency the go-ahead (assuming that they do allow CHI to keep doing adoptions in IL), it will probably be another three months of waiting to get our I-171. It's just so incredibly different than having biological children. We found out we were pregnant and had 9 months (well actually 8 by the time I found out I was pregnant), and then there will be a baby. But this is a whole new ballgame. We don't have any idea when there will be a baby. Sometimes it feels like it will never happen, but I continue to feel strongly that God's plan for our family is international adoption. There's been a lot going on in the Vietnam adoption world lately that's making us wonder if Vietnam will even be open by the time we get to the top of a waiting list. It's all of the unknowns that has made this process so hard. I feel like my faith is really being stretched, and I'm sure I'll look back on this one day and realize how much I grew from this whole experience. It's an incredibly hard process, but I know it will all be worth it in the end!
We had our first taste of authentic Vietnamese food last night. Our friends Giang, Chau, and their sons Binh and Minh came over, and Giang brought all of the food and we cooked together. Another couple from Champaign who are adopting from Vietnam (who we met through our agency) came over as well. Giang made fried chicken, rice, spring rolls, steamed veggies (including bok choy), and a type of tomato soup. Everything was delicious!! My favorite was the spring rolls (pictured above). Elijah had fun using chopsticks and loved trying all of the new foods.
