I didn’t realize it’d been a full year since posting to the public-facing side of this page. So, on this day of celebrating my birthday (Michael), I take the time to celebrate the year that has been, and the “birth” of the twins into the Stewart household. We’re just passing the 9-month mark of them …
The Most Popular Question We didn’t begin by saying, “We should adopt from Hungary.” I couldn’t tell you much about the country before we started this process, outside of it being the punchline for bad jokes about being hungry (please… don’t). We just began by saying, “We should adopt” and decided to let the Lord …
Our travel dates are set. We will meet the twins on January 14. We’ll visit with them in a supervised capacity during that first week, after which begins a month of bonding in which we’ll have temporary custody, spending 30 days with the twins in our Hungarian “home.” I am pleased with the peach house …
Today we received our official referral from the country of Hungary. “We hope,” reads the last line of the referral, “the children will find a nice, loving family.” We share that hope, and the eternal hope that all of these moments lead to. Thank you for your enthusiastic and prayerful hope in all of these …
We said YES to a referral. In a sense we said yes twice—because our adoption agency has asked us to consider adopting TWINS. (Even more accurately, that’s 8 yesses, given that our sons have been and are a continual part of the decision-making process—and they have patiently wondered what’s taking so long.) Questions abound, I know: When do they …
Our dossier has been translated. What’s a dossier? A dossier is a collection of documents submitted to the The Ministry of Culture and Innovation in Hungary. It included things such as our a representation letter from our adoption agency, our official request letter to the Ministry, an immigration approval, our home study, and the loads …
There is much to celebrate and much to mourn. We celebrate having received official notification of our completed home study. And we mourn, having received in the same week the news of the passing of my beloved Uncle Cecil (obituary here). But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). …
Final Home Study: Scheduled! Our final home study (#3) is scheduled for next month! Between now and the end of January, we’ll be finishing: remaining paperwork (e.g., proof of post-adoption financial, medical, community, and social resources) medical exams adoption education training Final Home Size: TBD! Part of this final study will include approval for the …
It’s almost here, Christmas. The annual event that takes forever to get here as children, but returns in frighteningly shorter intervals the older we get. I spent one December night with eager children at our Christmas worship service. Elizabeth sang. I told stories with the kids. They laughed. We got a little loud. All of …
Admitted: I’m a bit jaded by ongoing, obscure national days of … whatever. So was the man who started World Adoption Day, but today I smile that he did. (You can watch his story below if you like tales about Shaq, the origin of the smiley, or getting rejected by the UN). Here’s how I’m …