A Day of Miracles

You can probably tell from my last few posts how completely stressed out I have been, but I'm sure my words could not even begin to convey how worried I have been. But after many sleepless nights and a lot of ulcer-causing days, I am thrilled to report I have had a day of miracles!

I had rescheduled our infopass appointment with USCIS for today, and fortunately, our homestudy update arrived in yesterday's mail (and it came with a little miracle too. Our social worker reduced her fee to just $30 to do this for us)!

I decided to fast and pray today that everything would go well. Then I set out on the 60-mile journey with Amy in the backseat.

Miracle 1: Despite crazy traffic, we arrived safely in plenty of time for the appointment.

Problem: As I sat waiting to be called, I saw a sign that said no personal checks would be accepted. I had triple-checked the instructions for the form I had to file, and it said I could use a personal check. But this field office won't accept them. What was I going to do? I had no cash on me, and I was 60 miles from the small credit union where I have my main account.

Just then I got called back for my appointment, and I explained my problem. They sent me out to solve it. I'll spare you the details of my first failed ideas, but they included trying a debit card that I'd never used before. It might have worked if I could have remembered my PIN.

Miracle 2: I remembered that a second credit union I belong to from the tiny town where I grew up had opened a branch somewhere in the city.
But how would I find it?

Miracle 3: I, who never uses a cell phone , actually had a cell phone on me today. I called my parents, and...

Miracle 4: They were home.
If I'd called 3 minutes later, I would have missed them. They were able to find out the address and call me back within 5 minutes. The branch was 80 blocks from where I was.

Miracle 5: I had sufficient funds in my account to get a money order!
The staff was very helpful. I rushed back to USCIS. Forty-five minutes had passed since my original appointment time, but I only had to wait a few moments to be helped.

Miracle 6: The clerk took my application back to the adoption officer, who processed it while I waited! Wow! Now we have our amended I-171H in hand.

Miracle 7: Even with my delays, I arrived home just as the kindergarten bus was dropping Laura off in front of our house.

What a day. I am so relieved I feel like I am walking in clouds. There are still some hurdles to cross, but we've made it over this biggest one. We'll have Alex in less than 2 weeks. We still haven't gotten those updated photos I was hoping for. How much has he changed since January? Will I recognize him.