Loving the Mail But Hating the Small Print

Today I woke up early went for my first run in a few months (due to an injury). It felt great to run! On my way home I realized I forgot to check the mailbox yesterday. So, I ran to the mailbox and there it was our approval of our I-600A! Yay! It FINALLY arrived!
But after reading the entire page, I realized that they were sending our papers to Kenya instead of the Democratic Republic of Congo! Seriously, how could that mistake have been made!?! Kenya and DRC neither look nor sound anything alike! So, we are hoping to catch our paperwork before it is sent there. This could possibly postpone the process by weeks! I am so frustrated! We are also waiting to fill out our I-600, because we believe they might send us a new approval and form with the corrected paperwork. So, I am praying to stop our paperwork and get it sent to Kinshasa soon! I really need to hold my babies.

More Pictures!

We LOVE new pictures! But before I share them, I must ask for prayers for Chad. He has a fever and is very weak. He most likely has malaria or as my kids say the "mosquito thing".

Feeling very helpless here, I've decided to use this blog to share some info on malaria.

• Malaria caused by a parasite (plasmodium) that is spread from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitos. If not treated promptly, malaria can be fatal.
• Symptoms of malaria are high fever, chills, headache, vomiting, flu like symptoms, and can lead lead to coma or death.
• About 3.3 billion people (half the world's population) is at risk for malaria. Every year about 250 million people are infected and one million people die. The poorest are most vulnerable.
• One in five childhood deaths in Africa are due to malaria. It is estimated that an African child has an average of 1 to 5 episodes of malaria fever each year. EVERY 30 SECONDS A CHILD DIES FROM MALARIA IN AFRICA.
• Early diagnosis and treatment can shorten the duration of the infection and prevent further complications and deaths. Although, treatment and prevention is fairly cheap compared to American standards, it cannot be afforded by many that are at most risk.
• Long-lasting insecticidal nets can provide protection for high risk groups. Indoor residential spraying is most effective. But again, this all costs money.

Again, you can help by urging Congress to help end malaria deaths by clicking here. You can also donate a mosquito net to a child who is at great risk by clicking here.

Okay, now for the pictures sent to us by the wonderful Suzanne! Suzanne brought supplies to Mama Josphine today. She took these priceless pictures. She also has assured us after meeting Mama Josephine and her loving family that we can sleep well tonight because our boys are in very loving arms! Lots of them to be exact! Thanks again so much to her and Mama Josephine and her family for taking care of our precious boys! Merci Mama Josephine mai et de la famille et que Dieu vous benisse tous!

Baby Ian

Chad sleeping soundly in Mama Josephine's arms.

Mama Josephine and Pastor Loma's family.

The boys are getting lots of attention from the whole gang!Chad and Ian with Family.

What Big Eyes Beautiful Eyes Ian does Have!

Mama Josephine holding Chad and her daughter holding Ian.

I am getting so anxious to have these boys in our arms. But I am so thankful that they are in a loving home! We are still waiting for the US approval of our I-600A (approval for us to adopt internationally). Then they have to approve our I-600 (approval to adopt Chad and Ian)! Our Kinshasa paperwork is going smoothly. Possibly, in as little as 30 days the boys can be legally ours! Now if we can just get things over here moving!

Pastor Loma such a Blessing!

This week we had planned a trip to Ohio to visit Kings Island Amusement park with the kids. To our suprise, we recieved information that Pastor Loma (shown in yellow shirt)was going to be in Ohio too, all the way from the Democratic Republic of Congo! He is here learning about technology through the United Methodist Church. His host family was so wonderful and welcomed us into their home. Luckily, Isaac (shown above) who came from the Ivory Coast in Africa, was also being hosted by them and was an excellent interpreter between our English and Pastor Loma's French.

We had a wonderful time talking with them. We showed him recent pictures of the children he had helped in the process of their adoption into the United States and how to access their blogs on his new computer. He shared what little he knew about our boys.

He is such a loving man living his life as God wants him to. I am so relieved to know my babies will be with him and his family! Such a Blessing! He also agreed to take a large bag full of formula and baby supplies back to his home. They have also opened their home to another 2 month old baby girl, who will hopefully be adopted by the Solberg's soon. I am so grateful that they are willing to open their homes and hearts to these children. Let's all pray for them they will have their hands full.

We received news that his wife was able to pick up Chad and Ian from the orphanage yesterday! So, glad they will be loved and cared for by this wonderful family! I cannot say THANK YOU enough to them! I almost broke down while I was shopping for the supplies. I so wanted to send something wonderful to his wife for taking care of my babies. But with a weight limit to deal with I had to choose formula that was needed. I did send a few small things. But it saddened my heart greatly that I only had one bag to fill.

Again, thank you, thank you, Pastor Loma and family!

Please help stop the violence in the DRC

Well, one of my goals with this blog was to educate people about the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even though, it is much more fun to post cute pictures of all my babies, this information I feel needs to be shared! I recently came in contact with a mother in the early process of adopting from the DRC. She has started a blog The Terry’s for a lot of the same reasons I have started Our Storibook. She recently shared information on the following topic and I want to pass it a long.
The conflict in eastern Congo (the deadliest since World War II ) is fueled significantly by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals. Many American’s do not know that the DRC is one of the only places in the world that has the minerals tantalum and tungsten, both are needed to manufacture all of the gadgets that we just can't live without. This includes cell phones, computers, iPods, digital cameras, etc. A major source of fighting in the DRC is over who controls the mines of these valuable minerals.

Many rebel controlling groups stand to make about $144 million off of these minerals. Where as the average Congolese person makes only $300 a year (yes, a year not a month). These armed rebel groups are willing to do just about anything to have control. This includes innocent people being killed, women being raped, and children being macheted.

These same minerals then make their way to the US where companies use them to make our electronics. So indirectly, our technological conveniences are fueling the largest humanitarian crisis of the last 60 years.
So how can we help half way around the world? I am asking you to take a minute to email major electronics producers and ask them to use conflict free minerals. A pre-written letter to these companies is available by clicking HERE. All you have to do is put in your email address and the rest is taken care of.
You can also support new legislation. The Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009 calls on the United States to support efforts to help ensure that the mineral trade stops contributing to human rights violations, including killings of unarmed civilians and sexual violence, while at the same time developing mechanisms to allow the Congolese people to benefit from these resources. And it would require US companies to adhere to much stricter rules on the disclosure of the origins of any of the three key conflict minerals for this region.
So, I am also asking you to click HERE to urge your Senators to cosponsor the Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009. Again, all you have to is put your email address and the rest is taken care of.

I know I am asking a lot today, but it only takes a few minutes! Thank you all for you support! I do believe we can change things together!

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”--Mother Theresa

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God Is SO Good!

Yesterday, we received news that Pastor Loma and his wife have asked to foster both Ian and Chad! This is such wonderful news! Now we know our children will get the food and love they need. I'm not implying that the "mama" at the orphanage wasn't loving. I'm just so relieved that they are in a home in a family. This will help them bond more with each other too. This couple also was foster parents to baby Haven (who is so adorable). You can see him and his beautiful sister at Amazing Grace and Safe Haven.
Please continue your prayers for the families in WY.

God, Hear Our Many Prayers

This has been a very emotional week for our community. Our long time babysitter (the best)Allison along with her boyfriend Jared and both of their families were vacationing in WY. Jared slipped on a rock and fell into a river and has not been seen since. Today is a BIG day for the families and rescue team. I am asking that everyone pray today for all of the families and rescue teams between 7:30 am and 2:00 pm. This is when they are going to try to divert the water, so the divers can go in to try to find and release Jared from the water. We love you Allison. May God continue to comfort you all.