Leila Update

My lovely friend, Juanita, is coming all the way from Niger in 2 weeks, and we will get to have her to ourselves for 5 days! I always love to have time with her and her little ones. Yesterday she asked if there was anything I wanted her to bring me from Niger. "Of course!" I told her. "Leila!" 

Well, she won't be bringing Leila with her, but things are moving along. Especially good news for the three families adopting is that Emma's parents are on there way TODAY to go pick her up in Niger. They still don't have a birth certificate for her, so they need major prayer for a miracle there. They will be the first of the three families to get to this point, so they will be going through the embassy stuff, exit interview, etc. They have been very helpful in our journey so far in laying out what to expect and sharing what obstacles they encountered, so that we could hopefully avoid them. 

Here's the latest in our adoption world:

1. Niger is cracking down on adoptions because of people like this. Awful stuff. This means that the U.S. embassy (as well as the Niger courts and government) will be doing a more thorough exit interview and exit preparation/due diligence process (Jonathan and Ashley who are heading over to bring Emma home received an email from the U.S. Embassy explaining this). 
2. Because Leila has one living parent (that has consented to the adoption!), our Nigerien lawyer recommends we move forward with a simple adoption. He believes this will be better received by the judges, and the lawyer representing the state will likely not contest it if it is presented as a simple adoption. The end result is the same - she will be our daughter - but she comes to the U.S. with her African name and no passport. She will come here on a visa, and then when she arrives we take care of the paperwork to make her a U.S. citizen and change her name. We will have to hire an immigration lawyer to help us with this. This change has pushed our court date back, and we are supposed to hear this week what that date will be. 
3. If we can prove that we started the adoption process before July 13, 2013, we will be exempt from the new US law around adoption that went into effect on July 14, 2014. We are gathering evidence for that to send to USCIS. 

So, please pray for a quick court date to be assigned for us and the Woods, for favor over Emma's final journey to get home and favor for all of us and the decisions that others have to make in order to bring these three sweet children home. Our God is able!

God's Word

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." -Psalm 119:11

Y'all, our kids are sponges. Let them soak up the good stuff, the living water, the Truth that can only be found in God's Word. Teach them Scripture, and you yourself will also be changed. God's Word does not return void. 

Summertime!

From many Busch Gardens trips to camping to baby goats being born and beach time with Grandma and Grandpa, the kids have had a full summer. I enjoy a day at home here and there, but a good morning out seems to be good for all of us on most days. We've been blessed with gorgeous weather this summer and the death of our sweet Renee has encouraged all of our local and close friends to be more intentional with loving and seeing one another. Thanks, Nay. We love you.

We've had many trips with the Klug's to Busch Gardens this summer. I love that Kelly and I are aligned in how to do theme parks with 5 under 5. We've got it down now!

Charlotte and me.

Holding Elsa.

Camping with the Senters and Lees. Love these memories!

God is so good to us with these sweet children.

Busch Gardens in style!

Busch Gardens with Addison!

A 5k at home to support Keesha and Brian's friend who died in a boating accident a few years ago.

More goat time with Addison joining us. After some training I can now take care of Addison by myself! This was my first time and all went well. Plus that desire to be a nurse is fulfilled a bit. How cool is that?! 

We attempted potty training for 1 week. Let's just say he's back in diapers, and I am A-ok with it!

Reading. Yep, that's how he always is. Calm and quiet...

Pool time at Staunton River State Park.

While Mary-Michael was in a vacation Bible school all week in July, Momma and Frazier enjoyed library story times, ice cream at McDonalds (how did I not know a cone there was so cheap?!), splashing in the river at West Point, exploring the Mattaponi in Walkerton and lots of playground time.

Colosse Baptist church (a sweet little country church down the road) put on a really awesome VBS that Mary-Michael went to with Addison. We are preparing for her final performance in this picture.

Here's our little star! She actually performed better than she ever did at any of her preschool shows last year. I saw her lips moving and her feet dancing. Woohoo!

All 4 Burrell cousins got together and we are around the family matriarch, our one and only Nana!

This is a picture of Micah (age 7) who proceeded to dress Frazier (age 2) up in one of his outfits complete with a backwards cap. They danced and then explored the outdoors at Aunt Lem and Uncle Buck's new house. 

Cookout and playtime with Addison, Matt and Brandi.

Love these newlyweds, the Suttmillers! So glad we could see them while in northern VA. (In this picture I had just returned from Niger.)

Look at these two! They thoroughly enjoyed their Myrtle Beach trip with Grandma and Grandpa. What a blessing that is!!

All girl. Thank you, Grandma!

More Busch Gardens with the Klug family!

Busch Gardens with Avery (dear Renee's daughter). I went by myself with a 2, 3 and 4 year old. When all 4 of us made it in the car in one piece, I felt like superwoman.

Frazier and Avery braving the glider.

For Geoff's birthday he enjoyed a Flying Squirrels game with Matt, Zach and Hunter, and a few days later we continued celebrating with a cookout at our house. It was a beautiful evening, and the kids were coated in dirt by the end of the evening. This bath is what resulted: Karis, Brooklynn, Mary-Michael and Avery splish-splashing!

Helping Daddy on the farm.

Sweet Lily - we had a chance to watch her so her momma (Lacey) could set up her classroom. Of course, while having 3 children under 5 at home a cow got out, which resulted in the police and animal control coming out. I offered to have a police officer come stay with the kids, so I could corral him back in. They declined. And they told me they couldn't get a leash on him (um...it's a COW). After many phone calls we got in touch with a farmer friend down the road who nudged him back in. Gotta love being a farmer's wife!

Post-Trip Update

1. Lawyer officially has all our documents, and we are now waiting to hear what our court date is. We will not have to be present for the court date. Progress!

2. We have a place for Leila to go once we are her legal parents in Niger but not yet her legal parents in the U.S. This is a huge blessing as it is heartbreaking to think about her living where she is right now. Our friends, Thomas and Erica, have been hosting the son of a couple that run another (and much much better) orphanage in Niamey. Their son has become like family to them, and his parents said they would be happy to have Leila and Emmanuel come and stay at the orphanage with them. We should be able to get them enrolled in a much better school, set up English tutoring and just have peace of mind knowing they are being taken care of by a loving, Christian couple. Great, great news!!

3. I have been in touch with our county schools about Leila, and they have been wonderful thus far and say they are excited to help. I am currently working on some forms they sent me, which once complete will prompt a meeting of us (the parents), the ESL teacher, the principal and the Student/Teacher Assistance Team Coordinator. I've also asked my Godmother, Susie, to join me since she has been in special education for a very long time in Hanover and will be able to help me advocate from both a parent and teacher perspective. 

I am putting together a post about my sweet little ones with me now, as I have definitely been negligent in sharing about them. Let's just say they have had a very fun summer!

Only God

On the plane ride from Paris to Niamey, I drudge sleepily onto the plane with a few hundred others. My friend Cindy asked if anyone that had an aisle seat to please switch with her. She was giving up a window, so I said I'd be glad to do it. I was desperate for some sleep. I made my way to the other side of the packed plane, and as I'm putting my luggage away, I see a young African woman go sit in my coveted window seat. Aw man. I get to row 34 and say "Bonjour, 34A" and point to myself (e.g. My seat) and "34B" and point to her (e.g. your seat). She says Bonjour, blah oui a un... (E.g Hello and something I didn't understand). Pause...ok, it's not worth fighting for. I didn't want to sit next to someone glaring at me for the next 5.5 hours. I took the aisle.

Soon we started chatting in her broken English and my attempt to remember the few French things I'd learned through Rosetta Stone. She asked why I was going to Niger, and I told her to sign adoption paperwork. She didn't fully understood. I got my phone out to show her my background picture of me and Leila in February. She looks at it and she says, "Leila?"  What?! My eyes get big. "Yes, this is Leila. How do you...?" "Samira is her mother (and I knew beforehand this was her birth mother's name)," she says. She pulls out her phone and shows me Samira and tells me Samira has lived with her for most of the past 7 years and is like a sister to her. She is her best friend. The rest went something like this.

Aissa: you are the American?
Me: yes, you know about me?
Aissa: yes, someone came to talk to Samira and she wants Leila to go to America.
Me: she does? She said that??
Aissa: yes. Leila will live with you? In your house?
Me: Of course. Yes! Like my other children. She will be in our family. (I could tell she didn't fully understand adoption)
Aissa: wow. And you promise you will love her? You will be nice?
Me: I promise. I want to take care of her, and I already love her.
Aissa: Ok. Wow.
Me: this is crazy! Me. You. Talking! Craziness.
Aissa: Yes. Wow. Leila said she wants to go to America. She told her mother. Her mother doesn't want her to forget her.
Me: I want Leila to remember her mother. I want a picture of her mother to honor her and when Leila is older I want to bring her back to visit Niger.

Aissa: Really?! Ok, I can get you a picture. (we exchange email addresses)

Throughout our plane trip of on and off napping, I found out Leila did not have any brothers or sisters, Samira is a mere 26, a Muslim and a Catholic (I don't know how that works) and currently is in Cameroon with her French boyfriend. Her parents are both deceased, and she could not keep Leila because she had no money, and she did not live in a place good for children (a brothel, maybe, given what I understand her occupation is?). I gave her a picture of myself and Leila together to give to Samira. She asked me if I wanted a tour of Niamey; she had a really good friend that would do it for free. I politely declined (I was a little nervous, and I had seen Niamey a few times...). 

Honestly, I still can't believe God orchestrated that. I mean, if you have doubts, this is the real deal. Only God could have done this. Put the hopeful mother-to-be next to the best friend of the woman that carried our daughter. It's too crazy to be a coincidence. He is so good. 

The rest of my quick trip was full and blessed. I spent 2 full days with Leila - thank you, Jesus, and thank you LINK staff for making that possible. I got to spoil her outside of the orphanage and take care of her like a momma likes and needs to do. On the first day at the LOC, we played dolls, colored, played foosball and enjoyed playing hide and seek with some others. I was able to let her take a warm shower, which she loved, brush her teeth, lather her in lotion and wash her very dirty clothes (thanks to Erica!). She ate scrambled egg and tried a few nuts. We tried to give her deworming medicine unsuccessfully - she spit it out (it tasted terrible). We enjoyed lunch with the summer youth team I traveled over there with, and I found out she liked pasta and bread with lots of butter. That's my kind of girl. It's wild discovering all these things just now and makes me sad that I've had little to no influence on shaping her life up to this point. I am thankful that I believe in a great God that wrote an amazing redemption story and will guide me in shaping her life now.

After lunch, we enjoyed watching Ratatouille, and she laid in my lap and rested. That melts a momma's heart. We also went swimming at the Rivas pool, which she loved! She jumped right in, and despite chattering teeth she didn't want to get out of the pool. I really got to hear her laugh at the pool and see her have fun like all kids should get to do. So sweet and beautiful. We returned to the LOC for more foosball and hide and seek, where I got to see her get competitive and excited. She seemed so innocent with her excitement for little things and squeals when her hiding place was discovered. After dinner, I rode back with her to the orphanage where she fell asleep in my arms about 5 minutes into ride. When we got to the orphanage, I walked her over to where Pouhin and a group of kids were. She immediately handed all the goodies I had brought for her over to him. They were definitely not for him. Ugh. I pray he gives her back at least the photo album. 

The next day, I was able to see her again! The orphanage is about 20-25 minutes away, there was a team in town and not just anyone can drive in Niger. So, it was really a lot for Rodrigo to go get her and Manou again. It was Sunday, so we went to church (covered but outdoors) with Juanita, Nathan and Kaila. It was a looooong service (very African and typical), and she fell asleep in my lap. after the sermon had gone on for more than an hour, Juanita and I escaped before the kids completely lost it. We enjoyed tunafish sandwiches, chips, watermelon and pineapple (Leila ate it all). I decided my girl needed a nap, so I took her to rest in my room where after a few minutes playing a letter game on my phone she fell asleep. And she slept and slept. I had to wake her up after 3 hours because the mission team arrived at the Rivas house for pizza, ice cream and pool time. She was eager to get in the pool again, ate pizza pretty well and was not interested in the ice cream. We'll have to work on that! Though honestly, I'm thankful she's not interested in sweets - this will protect her teeth, which by the way, look amazing. I have been praying consistently for them since I left in February and saw the decay on her front teeth. Decay no more! I'm serious. God has healed and is healing it. I saw no decay, they were whiter, and though they could use a good cleaning and she's a definite candidate for braces, they looked so much better. Wow. "O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." (Psalm 30:2)

After dinner, it was time to say goodbye. I took the trip to the orphanage, had Rodrigo tell her that I loved her and that I would not be able to see her tomorrow, but that I would be back as soon as I could to bring her home. She said she understood. I cried, but I didn't let her see. 

Amidst these 2 glorious days of visiting, I did get the document signed and meet with the attorney that will represent us in Niger. I saw while signing the documents there was still a missing signature and soon discovered Leila's great-uncle hadn't signed yet. Oh brother. They said, "Today or tomorrow. Don't worry. No problem." This really means, I don't know when it will get done. Thankfully, Rodrigo pushed and they went and found the great-uncle and secured his signature. Geez. I only had a minor panic moment!

A lot of you want to know the timeline from here, and we do, too! No, really, it's a natural, normal question, but because this is not a normal adoption (is there ever such a thing?!), we really don't know. Our dossier (the packet that is now done since I've signed which contains her birth certificate, orphanage information, consent from birth mother, etc.) will go or has gone to the lawyer who will submit it to the court system. He will receive a trial date for the case where the judge will say whether or not we can adopt her. Let's pray he says yes, and then we wait another 2 months to see if anyone wants to challenge it. If no one challenges it after 1 month, the lawyer can ask to end the waiting period earlier, at which point they would then declare us legally her parents in Niger (not the U.S). At this point we could move her out of the orphanage if we have friends or someone recommended that can take her and Manou (we'd like to keep them together). This would be huge and would be a great start to getting her in a better school, set up for English lessons and just taken care of in a way that a momma would be at peace with. Meanwhile, we will submit anything and everything you can imagine to the U.S. who will then need to give us the go ahead to be able to go and bring her back. I am unsure how long this takes as we have seen them request information they initially didn't need, which only extends the process. Whew. 

Ok, this is getting long, so enjoy some pictures!

Leila as a baby! How cool that I have a baby picture from my lovely hostess and friend, Juanita, who has known Leila since she arrived at the orphanage. 

Making rubber band bracelets.

Inside the LOC compound. Sweet, sweet girl.

Holding Kaila. As soon as she heard her cry, Leila jumped up to get her a toy, entertain her and pick her up. She learned those nurturing skills young at the orphanage.

Selfies! This might be my first selfie. 

Dinnertime.

Splish splash!

I see swimming lessons in my future!

My poor attempt at foosball. It was still fun, nonetheless!

The kids playing foosball. Leila did so well with all the other kids, even with the language barrier. She is full of smiles, so friendly and really a joy to be around. 

Love that smile. 

Leila Bound!!

With everything that has happened in the last week and a half, it's hard to believe my trip to Niger is here. The loss of my dear friend, Renee, still weighs heavy on my heart, and I will post more about that special lady when I return. It still doesn't feel real, and my heart breaks for her husband, Zach, and her sweet daughter, Avery. Please continue to lift them up in prayer. 

And please continue to pray for favor over my trip. It will be a quick one. I'll be staying with our missionary friends I so dearly love, Juanita and Rodrigo (and little ones Nathan and Kaila). The plan is for Rodrigo to pick me up at the airport, take me straight to Esther (the notary), sign paperwork, and then head over to the lawyer who will put together our packet for the Nigerien judge to review. I have all our documents with me - home study, power of attorney, passport pictures, pictures of us with Leila and ones of our family here. If I forget anything...well, it will have to wait. No mailing or faxing is reliable. 

They are trying to get Leila out of the orphanage for a day to spend time with me, so I'm armed with play-doh, games, markers, etc. And I brought her some personal hygiene stuff that I hope she'll be able to hold onto and keep for herself along with flip-flops and a necklace I made. I'm tempted to plaster her name on everything, so that it will be less tempting for the other kids to steal. But then, I don't want her to get made fun of either. Seems silly, but that's how it has often worked. Girls can be mean!

Our friends, Erica and Thomas, have made a lot of progress with the new lawyer and even have a court date, which is HUGE. They have paved a path with their adoption that makes me very, very hopeful. 

"The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." ~Psalm 147:11

Papers Signed!!

We are pumped and praising God in this house right now! We are one step closer to our sweet girl coming home! Pouhin signed the unconditional discharge today, which basically relinquishes his rights as Leila's guardian. This is the paper we have been WAITING for what seems like forever for him to sign. So, now it's our turn to sign! We had initially thought Geoff would go over and sign, but since he's already taking some time off, and I already have a visa (from my February trip) and getting one can take a month or so to get especially this time of year (busy travel season), I will be Niger-bound for the second time this year. Woohoo! We were able to line it up pretty well with the kids' Myrtle Beach trip with Grandma and Grandpa, and Nonnie is filling in the gaps. Grandparents are awesome. 

I won't have to travel alone as I'll head over with the Summer Team on July 24th and return with our friends that are over there for 6 weeks (the Woods) on the 29th. This makes my husband happy and will certainly be more fun for me! Wow, I just can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank YOU for praying with us. We aren't there yet, but we are certainly closer.