Remembering Part 2

*an important detail that was shared at the time, but needs to be revisited. Our adoption file, the original documents, had been in the court system in Haiti before the earthquake. We had not heard that we had moved out of Courts, and were unsure where our paperwork was physically at. We received news on the 15th that our paperwork had been delivered from courts to GLA on the day of the earthquake. It was being prepared to go to get attested the next day. We were blessed to be able to physically have our file. This has made a huge difference in not just getting them out, but in getting citizenship.
Back to the 16th, day 4.
We sent our information to JCICS -Joint Council on International Children's Services. They were working with the State Department, USCIS and Department of Human Services. We were being asked for documents indicating we were in Visa stage, but we were no quite there yet. We continued to call Senators, Congressmen, the Clinton Foundation. By the end of this afternoon, I had lost my voice. It forced me to stop for a few hours and rest. I gave myself an afternoon to take a break, and rested my voice. I didn't answer the phone and turned off the computer. It was a much need period of rest.
The next day we continued to ask friends, family, and strangers to call Senators offices. By this point, Senator Wyden's office and Senators Merekley's office were both very supportive and also impressed with the amount of people calling us on our behalf. This day was one of the quieter ones. We were waiting on a decision regarding humanitarian parolee visas. We were waiting on our documents from GLA. We had called and emailed and everyone who needed to work on our behalf, said they would.
The 18th was THE DAY!! Okay, not THE DAY!! But a really good day. That afternoon we received an email from DHS and USCIS asking for documents we could provide. We were hopeful that something was coming together, for sure. That a plan was hatching. We received our documents from GLA later that afternoon. Within 17 minutes I had them downloaded and sent off to USCIS, our official request that our children would be given Humanitarian Parolee Visas, if and when they were issued. At this point there were solid rumors that it could happen, but nothing official. I was hesitant to get my hopes up until I got an official yes. At 6:50pm, we received an official email from The Department of State that there would be humanitarian parolee visa's issued for children from Haiti. We were able to determine that according to the guidelines, our children would qualify! They would be coming home. This day is also my Dad's birthday. I was hoping we'd hear an official word, and waited to call him for his birthday. I was able to tell him, Happy Birthday - they are coming HOME, SOON!!
We went to bed exhilarated that night. I couldn't sleep. I'd wake and think of one more thing we needed to do. One more trip to Target. One more call to make. We had no idea of a time frame, but it sounded like it would literally be a matter of days. We needed to let friends know what we needed help with. We needed to arrange time off work. To pick paint colors. To do laundry. To do..to do...to do....
The next day was spent just getting stuff in order. Completing the to-do list. Making calls and arrangements. It was a day that was vibrant with anticipation. We were giddy with joy and hope. God had shown up and there was no doubt that he'd moved the hearts of government officials, and the Haitian president. He had made months of paperwork, unnecessary. We were dancing in the after affects of an encounter with God.