UPDATES

The I-800 Has Been Filed! ❤️

I’m very happy to share another huge step in this journey: the I-800 petition was officially filed on Friday.

The name probably doesn’t mean much to most people, but this is a very important step. The I-800 is the petition asking the United States to give provisional approval for my boy to immigrate here as an immediate family member.

It is considered provisional because, legally, he is not yet my son. That will not happen until I travel to his country and the adoption is actually completed there. Once that happens, the immigration process can move forward on the basis of that completed adoption.

This is one of the last major government hurdles before I can travel to bring him home.

We also received some encouraging news about the timeline. The current estimated processing time is now 6–8 weeks, rather than the 10–12 weeks we had previously been expecting. That gives me greater hope that, if everything continues to move smoothly, I may be able to bring my boy home before the end of the year.

I am so grateful for everyone who has prayed, encouraged me, shared this journey, and helped financially. Every step forward has reminded me that I have not been walking this road alone.

Please continue to pray with me that, if it is God’s will, the I-800 will be processed on the shorter end of that timeframe, that there will be no unexpected delays, and that all the remaining pieces will come together so I can travel to his country and finally bring my boy home.

We are getting closer. ❤️

One more major hurdle underway — and one more step toward home.

We Got the Referral! ❤️

After about nine weeks of waiting, I’m so happy and grateful to share that we have officially received the referral for my boy!

This is a huge step forward, and I’m incredibly excited to finally be moving into the next stage of the adoption process. Right now, we are waiting for the Spanish documents relating to him to be translated into English. Once those translations are complete, we can move forward with filing the I-800 petition, which is the request for him to be approved to immigrate to the United States as an immediate relative.

That approval is provisional because, legally, he will not become my son until I travel to his home country and complete the adoption there. Even so, this is a major step toward bringing my boy home.

The immigration process can take up to about 12 weeks, but God is not bound by anyone’s timeline. I’m praying that everything moves smoothly and, Lord willing, more quickly than expected so I can travel to his home country and bring him home soon.

I’m also deeply grateful for everyone who has supported us through prayer, encouragement, sharing our story, and financial assistance. As we move forward, estimated adoption and travel expenses have increased by about $8,000, but we were recently blessed to receive a grant from Open Hearts for Orphans, which will help greatly as we continue working toward the remaining costs.

There are still some steps ahead, but today I’m simply thankful — thankful for this referral, thankful for everyone who has walked alongside us, and thankful that we are one very big step closer to bringing my boy home. ❤️

It has been a little while since my last adoption update, but today I have some wonderful news to share!

Today I received my official approval letter from JM’s home country! This means his country has approved me as an adoptive parent, and the process is now moving forward toward the referral for my son.

As I look back over these past few months, I can’t help but see God’s hand at work. On April 30, I received my I-800A approval from USCIS in just 76 days—well ahead of the normal processing time. That approval completed my U.S. dossier, allowing everything to be sent to JM’s country.

From there, the blessings continued. The translation and review of my dossier by our adoption agency’s office normally takes 4–6 weeks, yet it was completed in less than two weeks. Then, after being submitted to his home country, I was told the approval process can take up to 40 business days. Instead, my approval came in less than 10 days.

Even more amazing, my dossier was approved on its very first review without a single question or request for additional information. My adoption agency told me that this is extraordinarily rare.

I don’t share these things to suggest that my journey is more important than anyone else’s. Every adoption story is different. I simply want to pause and thank God for His unmistakable providence and to thank each of you who have prayed, encouraged, supported, and walked beside me through this process.

The next step is waiting for the official referral. I continue to trust that, in God’s perfect timing, He will bring my son home.

Thank you for continuing to pray with me and for me. Your love, encouragement, and support mean more than words can express. ❤️

It’s been a little while since my last adoption update, but I’m excited to finally share some good news!

On April 30, I received my I-800A approval from USCIS — a major milestone and essentially the U.S. government’s official green light to move forward with the adoption process. Even more encouraging, the approval came in just 76 days, for which I am truly thankful to the Lord for His providence and guidance every step of the way.

That approval was the final piece needed for my dossier. I sent the remaining documents to the agency on May 11, and by that Friday everything had already been reviewed and approved.

At this point, the digital dossier is being translated in South America, after which the completed hard copy will be sent there for final processing. Then comes the next big step: waiting for official approval from JM’s home country and, Lord willing, the referral for my son.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragement, support, and for continuing to walk this journey with me. Your kindness truly means more than I can express.

Since our last update, we have received some very encouraging news. The U.S. Department of State has indicated that adoptions will be treated differently during the current immigration visa pause. They are providing guidance to consulates, and we already know of at least one family who has successfully completed their process and brought their child home. This is a tremendous answer to prayer and gives us renewed hope moving forward.

On our end, we have also made meaningful progress. I received the USCIS Form I-797 confirming that our I-800A application has been received and is now being processed. Along with that notice, I was quickly scheduled for my biometrics appointment—just five days after receiving the letter—which is a very positive step.

Another major milestone is that all of the documents we needed from Germany and Latvia have finally arrived. These were some of the most difficult pieces to obtain, so having them in hand is a huge relief. At this point, I am actively assembling the full dossier, with the goal of having everything ready so that once the I-800A approval comes through, it will be the only remaining document needed.

Currently, others going through this stage are seeing processing times of around 90 days. Based on that, I am prayerfully hoping to receive approval by mid-May.

I would deeply appreciate your continued prayers—that each step will go smoothly and without delay.

It has now been eight months since I have seen my boy. He still has no idea that I am pursuing his adoption, so I ask that you please pray especially for his heart—that God would comfort him, protect him, and prepare him for what lies ahead.

I am incredibly grateful for the support that has already been given. Your generosity is truly making this journey possible, and we are moving forward because of it. If you feel led, please consider sharing this page with others who may want to be part of bringing him home. No gift is too small, and every prayer and contribution means more than I can express.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

𝐈’𝐦 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝.

👉 Take action here (2 minutes):

https://adoptioncouncil.org/advocacy/action-center/#/31

Friends, this is not the way I expected to share this, but circumstances have changed. Some of you know that this journey began unexpectedly. This past summer, I hosted an orphaned boy from South America with the intent of advocating for him to find a family. At the time, I had been told that, due to my age under Hague regulations, adoption was not something I should even consider. However, after returning home, he told his social worker that he wanted to be adopted by me (and Chester, my dog).

Since August, I have been working diligently and carefully through every required step. The day before Thanksgiving, I received confirmation that my son’s country had officially accepted my Letter of Intent — essentially the “green light” to move forward with his adoption. Just today, I received my completed home study and am preparing to submit my USCIS paperwork next week. I will continue this process unless and until I am legally prevented from doing so. This is a major milestone, and I am deeply grateful.

Yesterday (January 14), my adoption agency informed me that the U.S. government is planning to indefinitely pause the issuance of immigrant visas from certain countries, including my son’s home country, effective January 21, 2026. If implemented without exceptions, this could halt international adoptions already in progress.

International adoption can be difficult to understand. The simplest way I can explain it is this: imagine someone you love being unable to leave a foreign country through no fault of their own, and being told there is nothing you can do. Most of us would move heaven and earth to change that. For me, that is exactly what this is about. If this pause moves forward without an adoption exception, my son could be left without a forever family. Because of adoption rules, I am not permitted to have contact with him during this process. From his perspective, it could look like I simply stopped trying — when in reality, I am doing everything I can. This is where I am asking for your help.

The National Council For Adoption (NCFA) has prepared respectful, non-partisan letters that can be sent directly to your elected representatives, urging them to support exceptions for international adoptions:

👉 https://adoptioncouncil.org/advocacy/action-center/#/31

It takes only a few minutes, and your voice truly matters.

I believe God is still in this. Faith does not mean silence; it means acting when the door is still open.

Thank you for reading, for praying, and for standing with us.

Grateful for God’s Guidance

Hi friends! I’m so thankful to share a joyful update in our adoption journey. The initial application (API, or “letter of intent”) was approved by the adoption authorities the day before Thanksgiving. This was a major milestone and the point where the process could have ended, so receiving this approval felt like a clear affirmation and a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness and perfect timing.

The home study is also essentially complete, and I’m now waiting on the official certificate so I can move forward with my USCIS application and the next steps God has prepared.

Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and financial support. Every prayer truly matters, and I’m deeply grateful for each of you walking alongside us. Please continue to pray for wisdom, smooth steps ahead, and provision as we move forward together. ❤️

Well friends, this week the journey became very real. I was finally able to send off the first full packet of paperwork to CCAI, the international adoption agency—along with the very first payment. It feels like the first big step from dream to reality.

Next week, I’ll begin working on the initial home study packet. It’s another 30-plus-page document to complete, filled with details and, yes, plenty of repetition. But as many of you know, that’s part of the process. And every page, every form, every step is worth it if it brings us closer to bringing JM home forever.

I’m so deeply grateful for all the ways you’ve encouraged, supported, and prayed for us on this journey. Please continue to lift this process up in prayer, support however you’re able, and share our story with others who might want to walk alongside us.

With gratitude and hope,
Bobby

Hi friends!

I just wanted everyone to know that the initial application has been accepted by the adoption agency! YAY!

Now we are working on the API (Adoptive Project Intention) this is what some refer to as the “Letter of Intent.” As I understand it, this is the document that they will send to the Country to let them know that I am officially petitioning to adopt JM. As with everything, it requires a lot of information and it is very specific.

So keep us in your prayers. One step at a time… one day at a time.

This week, I officially submitted my Adoption Application and paid the $200 fee. The agency is now reviewing my paperwork and will let me know within the next few days what the next steps will be. I’m working again with CCAI (Cherish Children Adoption International)—the same agency I used when I adopted my son from Latvia eleven years ago. They’re experienced, trustworthy, and a joy to work with.

Once I get the green light to move forward, I’ll share the news right away. So dust off those boots and packs… we’re about to hit the trail!

—BB