Cole Howard Thurman was born on September 18,2009 at 7:57 pm.
He weighted 6lbs and 14 ozs.
God is so very Good!!!

Already sucking his or her thumb

Dear Friends and Family,

Failed adoption
In June of 2008 it looked like we were facing a failed international adoption, something I never thought would happen when we began this adoption. On September 1, 2008 it was confirmed, as the deadline for referrals from Vietnam came and went without a referral. This was certainly no surprise and entirely what we had been expecting to happen since June.

No where to turn
Between spring and the deadline we looked at many other options, hoping one might be available to us so that we could grow our family. However it seemed that no matter where we looked there were roadblocks after roadblocks both in terms of finances and other resources. In short, after much prayer and investigation we felt there was absolutely nowhere for us to turn except to stay put and wait. Others in our agency were moving on, in fact most were, in one way or another but that was simply not an option for us. While I was incredibly grieved and sad about the situation I felt nothing to do but to wait on God to move. Little by little the grief over the loss began to subside yet it never really went away. I had resigned myself to the fact that we would be parents when God wanted us to be parents but that it may be much further out than what I had hoped for and wanted.

Surprise
In January 2009 we were struck with the surprise that I was pregnant. One think we were overjoyed but actually we were quite scared. We had run into so many roadblocks on this journey to parenthood that we wondered if more heartache was in store for us over the next few weeks or months. We waited week by week knowing that getting past the first trimester was a major hurdle in a successful pregnancy. Finally in the 13th week we learned that we indeed had a viable pregnancy. At that point we were overjoyed! Please continue to pray for our child and us as we wait for his/her arrival into our lives.

Detour
What we thought would be a journey to half way across the world to Vietnam to bring home our first child looks like it will be a much shorter trip over to Greensboro hospital. Thank you for all of your prayers over the years. It mean more than you know. Also, please continue to pray for us and our child as we look to complete the last part of this difficult and often surprising journey.

Ashley

P.S. We will keep this blog and periodically update it because it is an integral part of our journey to our child.

From JCICS

September 8, 2008

Following our update of September 1, 2008, it is Joint Council's
understanding that the Government of Vietnam has issued a formal
diplomatic note to the United States Government naming a high
ranking Vietnamese official as Vietnam's lead negotiator and also
requesting that both governments begin negotiations towards a new
Memorandum of Agreement regarding intercountry adoption.

Joint Council applauds the Government of Vietnam for taking this
very important step and encourages the U.S. Government to respond in
a most positive manner. For more information on the ongoing
diplomacy, please visit the State Department's website.

MOU Expires

Many have asked for an update ont he adoption. Labor Day the MOU expired. Below is from the JCICS concerning the situation in Vietnam and the expiration of the MOU.


Joint Council Update

Program International Relations Initiative

Date September 1, 2008

Regarding Vietnam

Today, September 1, 2008, the current Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
between the United States and Vietnam expires. As a result,
intercountry adoption is effectively suspended until a new MOA is
signed and implemented by both countries. Joint Council sees the
suspension of intercountry adoption as a tragedy for children and for
the families willing to provide a loving family to Vietnamese
orphans.

Joint Council and its Member Organizations remain committed to the
children and families of Vietnam and continue to work closely with
both governments. Completing existing adoption cases and putting a
new MOA in place remain the top priorities.

Joint Council remains confident that a new MOA is achievable
especially in light of recent events. Joint Council's A Child's
Right Campaign, the subsequent letter from Members of the U.S.
Congress to the Department of State, arrests of corrupt practitioners
in Vietnam, a discussion of the Hague Convention by Vietnam's
National Assembly, a joint statement by President Bush and Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the U.S. Department of State's official
request for a lead Vietnamese negotiator and other recent events, all
demonstrate that both parties take this seriously and are interested
in resolving this crisis.

While some confusion remains regarding the processing of existing
adoption cases, it is Joint Council's understanding that if a child
has been referred to a family and that referral has been approved by
the Vietnam Department of Intercountry Adoption (DIA), the adoption
can proceed to completion. It is important that Adoption Service
Providers and potential adoptive parents recognize that a referral
may not continue on to completion unless the referral has been
approved by the DIA. Families should consult with their Adoption
Service Provider in making this determination.

We continue to seek clarity on all aspects of the adoption process in
Vietnam and have suggested that the DIA refrain from returning family
dossiers to their respective adoption service provider at this time.
Unfortunately many questions remain such as when a new MOA is in
place, will existing dossiers be considered valid. When this and
other determinations are made, we will notify you promptly.

Please know that Joint Council remains closely involved and will keep
you notified as significant events occur.

Sincerely,

Tom

TOM DIFILIPO | President & CEO | Joint Council

It is uncertain whether there will be a new MOU signed with Vietnam, which would allow adoptions to continue. Unfortunately, there has been no movement in our agency and the likely hood that we will receive a referral from our agency before September 1, 2008 is very slim.

As a piece of good news, our agency tells us that they are moving into a new country where we will be able to adopt from. The timeline on this is uncertain.

We know and believe that God has led us in the direction of adoption and while it seems that the adoption has been placed on hold for now we believe in God's perfect timing we will complete this adoption. We so appreciate your prayers for us through all of this and ask that you continue to pray with us going forward.

Ashley