Another 2+ weeks in Pakistan . . . going on 168 days, 24 weeks, 5.5+ months!Monday (6/13) – After many attempts to obtain information on the status of our case with USCIS, last week we finally contacted Senator Inhofe’s office to help in breaking through the “wall of silence”. Through the Senator’s office we finally found out that the I-600 form (Application to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative), which is the critical application for Gracy’s orphan status approval, was never sent to New Delhi from Islamabad along with the electronic file of documents/investigation dispositions/etc on 5/31/11, when the rest of the electronic file was sent. Without the completed I-600, the case file is considered incomplete & it was ignored. Today, the S.office made an inquiry into the I-600 form’s existence (I submitted the form 4/21/11) with the USE/Dept of State/Islamabad. We now know, the form is currently with USE/Islamabad & the S.office has made an official request for it to be sent to New Delhi asap.
Wednesday (6/15/) – S.office follow up to confirm the receipt of the I-600 at the USCIS office in New Delhi. The S.office also requested an expedited timeline to be given asap on when a final decision of orphan status eligibility will be given.
Thursday (6/16) – New Delhi has given the S.office an estimated timeline of 16 business days to process the I-600 & give a final decision on Gracy’s orphan status eligibility. So we wait . . . until 7/4. But, remember this is only an estimate. :)
Over the next couple of weeks the daily routine is very much the same . . . waiting for a final decision from New Delhi USCIS on Gracy’s orphan status . . . along with the daily chores of child care, surviving the heat & living at the guest house. Yes, the walls are slowing closing in! We don’t do our neighborhood walks like we used to or strolls to the market . . . recent bombings in Islamabad have made it very risky. I keep a very low profile, but the g.house is very safe/secure, so I live in my own little “bubble”. I don’t venture out much by myself . . . & when I do, a g.house staff/guard accompanies me or Karim pre-arranges the entire errand so he knows where I am at all times. However, the caution does make for very slow days, but we are making the best of it.
Gracy is pure Joy & I try to remember that I will not have this kind of uninterrupted, one-on-one time with her again, so . . . I’m trying to enjoy my precious baby girl (she is growing so fast!) & not worry about “the decision”. She is just so cute & her toddler activity is just so precious to watch. I can’t take it in enough. I know it will be gone in a blink of an eye. As far as the “final decision”, it is in God’s hands. He knows the love & devotion I have for this sweet, little girl & I just have to trust that ALL is being taken care of. I have prayed for high-profile guidance & Senator Inhofe’s office has taken our case on with personal attention. We also have other states’ Senators & Congressmen watching/waiting & available to help, if need be. We are doing all that we can . . . guided by wisdom & faith! Please pray this week for divine intervention & guidance by these leaders.
Monday (6/27) – Since we really don’t know when we will be home, I decided that Gracy needed to have some professional photography portraits taken for her “2 year old” milestone. So, we attempted to do it today, after naptime . . . All I can say is . . . Uggghhhh, both Gracy & Mama were wiped out afterwards! Professional photography here in Islamabad is very different than the US. I did find a photography studio, but the photographer was not exactly “child friendly”. Gracy cried almost the entire time we were there. There was no a/c & it was extremely hot in the studio, with only one small fan . . . this baby girl just couldn’t take being told to sit/stand/hold . . . after about 15-20 minutes, she was past the point of tolerating anything an adult wanted her to do, with tears running down her face! Now that I know the photographer expects the parent to do “all the work” to pose the child . . . we will try again, but Mama will come prepared with toys, music & props!
Tuesday (6/28) – We try the photo studio session again . . . hoping Gracy is in a much better mood. We took her when it was much cooler, around 6:30 p.m. She had a good snack & bottle & diaper change before we left. We took the laptop computer to play music since Gracy loves to dance, hoping that would entice her to just “be her sweet little self” to capture that prefect picture. Unfortunately, again . . . Gracy wanted nothing to do with the camera & picture taking . . . the tears . . . oh, the tears!!!! We looked at the digital snaps & chose the best ones. I’m think we may have at least 1-2 good shots out of the many, many that were taken. Regardless, they will be special . . . since they were her 1st professional portraits & they were taken here in Pakistan. Since there is no sitting fee, I may try again in a few days . . . once the “trauma” has worn off! :)
The stray kitty that Gracy & I have adopted is getting stronger every day & is quite the active playmate for Gracy . . . however, there are employees of a UK NGO staying at the guest house for 2-3 weeks. They have also grown to love our little tabby. In fact, once they have their permanent housing approved & ready (in the next week) . . . they have asked if they can take the kitten with them. I know Gracy will miss sweet “Kee-Kee” (Gracy’s name for kitty), but KeeKee is going to a very good home.
Gracy’s New Words . . .
"Amen" – When we say grace & our night-night prayers . . . Gracy “helps” with babble, babble & then a very resounding AMEN at the end. This really is just so cute, one of the cutest so far!
"Wow" – She loves to hear herself & it sounds like she is actually “tasting” the word, saying it over & over & over! She even practices saying it in the mirror. Then she looks at me & says “Wow, Mama!”
I sincerely ask for a “prayer rally” this week. Pray for leadership wisdom & God's perfect plan for our sweet Marina Grace . . . We are diligently praying & hopeful for good news next week.
Take care . . . talk to you soon!
Love & Blessings,
Nancy (Mama) & Gracy
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