Math is Not Mama's Forte

Its not as if I didn't already know this, but Math is not my forte. My husband knows this all too well as he's witnessed my "finger math" time and time again throughout our 9+ years of marriage. So it should've come as no surprise when we received a important package in the mail this week from the USCIS thi week. I can't believe it, but apparently in spite of my meticulous organization when it has come to our adoption paperwork I failed to send a check for the correct amount for our I800a application. I shorted the government 20 bucks and that, my friends, is a BIG no-no. All of our application for "suitability to adopt a child from a Hague Convention country" was returned to us with a note that we underpaid and must resubmit everything. Jeesh... I guess this is why Mr. D had a fit with my sub-par math skills in Advanced Math back in high school.

What does this mean?

Well, it means a couple of things. First, we must resubmit our paperwork with the correct amount of money which is too much as it is but God has apparently had a few more things up his sleeve. I better recap where we're at with Carl's job search...

Because Carl lost his job we were already going to have to do an amendment to our application to update his employment situation within the next couple weeks. We were praying for Carl to find a new job FAST because so many things were contingent upon it...most importantly insurance! We have until the 31st to figure out our insurance situation which is coming really, really quickly. The amount of prayers and support and job leads Carl received was humbling and a blessing beyond our imagination. I'm not sure I could ever adequately describe what it feels like to be completely dependent on others for support in every way imaginable. This isn't the first time we've experienced that and my hunch is that it wont be the last if God has his way in our lives :) So the applications went flying out as Carl pursued every single lead that was shared with us, within a couple days the calls for interviews began (PRAISE GOD!!) and by Wednesday the 26th he received his first offer on the spot after his interview. The offer was okay, but the hours would be tough on our family. The benefits were good, but the job wouldn't begin until the very end of November. That would be a long time to go without any work but we were just so excited to hear "You're hired" that we figured the rest would sort itself out. Then a couple hours later Carl received a 2nd offer from a different company. Yep...I gotta believe that is a miracle. Another miracle God handcrafted for our family, and especially for my husband, to show us his mighty power and fulfillment of promises for us. Carl needed a job--In this economy, in this time, and FAST...that's what we prayed and what you prayed with us and he answered our prayers!! The second job offer was better. It had better pay, better hours and was also in the collections area...something that's not for everyone, but something which Carl has found as a niche because of his eagerness to help people get their money troubles straightened out and his kind, patient demeanor. The benefits? Not too bad. The best part? Adoption Benefit!!!!! Wells Fargo also had an adoption benefit for 5000.00 which we would have been eligible for and was actual a part of our decision to pursue adoption in the first place. Obviously, when Carl lost his job...we lost the adoption grant. BUT God had another plan. Carl's new job will also make us eligible to receive a similar adoption benefit. WOW!! It rings quite true to the bible study I'm doing right now, Beth Moore's "The Inheritance". She explained that God's very nature is to give...God will give and will take away, but ALWAYS gives back again. That's who He is!

So... Carl has a job, a good job, with benefits and it begins November 7th. A new beginning...here we go!

As far as our application goes, our I800a application was returned to us on Wednesday, October 26th (the EXACT date Carl was hired at his new job...how's that for God's perfect timing?) this means we may have a chance to correct mom's 20.00 slip-up AND update Carl's new employment status all in one shot. Maybe its not such a bad thing that math isn't mama's forte :)

Our I800a application was returned to us on Wednesday, October 26th.