Fingerprinted...again!

Well, we did it. We went to USCIS and got fingerprinted today. We arrived a half an hour early for our appointment and were pleasantly surprised to find the office in Charleston was actually quite nice. The building was small but new and the staff was friendly. Even the officer who wanded us down was nice. As we sat in the waiting area though, my nerves got the best of me. I had forgotten the last time when we had read on the website to use corn huskers lotion for several days in advance. I remembered when a lady was brought out from the fingerprinting area escorted by the fingerprinting agent. The agent was very apologetic as she gave her a bottle of corn huskers with instructions to moisturize several times a day and then come back next week. At that moment Tim turned his hands ove to reveal rough and worn finger surfaces. He had cuts and peeling skin, general man hands. I tried not to go into full blown panic mode. I silently prayed and prayed. I went first. I flew through it with no problem. Then I returned to the waiting room to wait for Tim. He was out in no time flat, way faster than me. I figured there was no way he got done that quick, surely they turned him away. Now what? He was just standing with his back to me in the holding area. He was looking down at the counter. Come on! Was he just disappointed and couldn't face me? At last he turned around, he was filling out his comment card. He wasn't disappointed at all. He was done! The fingerprinting lady came out and broadly smiled at us. I told her I was so worried about Tim's rough hands and she laughed and said his hands were perfect for fingerprinting, mine were harder! So, we are done. Answered prayers again.

Now on to the next phase, waiting for the USCIS to give us clearance to adopt and passing Haitian Social Services. Yes, daunting. I was actually totally overwhelmed the other day when I reached out to a friend. She amazes me every day. She has MS and has beaten all odds. Beyond that though, she loves the Lord. She looked at the picture of our son and in a split second spouted the name Nathanael and we knew at that moment it was to be his name. Anyway, as bad as I felt she told me that she does not focus on Nate being in an orphanage, or missing a meal or being ill. She pictures Nate in the arms of God, encircled and protected until we can go and get him. Just the right phrase at the right moment. She has become my prayer warrior who prays for us at every turn. From each notarized paper to every appointment. I only hope I can do the same for someone else. Thank you Tami!