Helm's Deep

"Saruman's arm will have to grow long indeed if he thinks he will reach us in here!"

Begging the pardon of those of you who have not read Lord of the Rings, the reference is to the fortress built by Theoden, king of Rohan, to where he flees with his people for safety. It was built out of solid rock, with miles of towering walls around it. It had never been breached by any enemy in any war.

Today we went to the American embassy.

As we crossed the street to get in the line waiting outside, I felt as if I should have a bright orange jumpsuit, handcuffs and a chain connecting my feet. It was a fortress. Three sprawling concrete buildings with small windows that do not open. A security check just to step into onto the grass area in front, another line, through an iron door (after answering the armed officer's questions), another security check (there goes Lia's water, wipies and Desitin. Hope nothing happens...) to the last bullet proof window in the room.

My twichy feeling actually started last night as I was filling out the forms for today. I was getting glimpses of all my dealings with immigration since I came to the US, my visas, my marriage, my green card. I printed out extra copies because there is no room for error - I'll get rejected, I'll compromise Lia's visa, we'll have to stay longer (insert other freak-out thoughts). The system is as secure as the building - it can't be breached.

But there is One whose arm is mighty indeed.

The officer in charge of adoptions was out until Tuesday. Another woman came up to the window who had never done adoptions. Our lawyer had to explain that generally we just drop off the documents and wait for permission to take the child to the doctor. The doctor has to fax the medical forms back to embassy (more waiting), and we are called again (in a few days) for the final interview. She looked our stuff over, asked a few questions and gave us immediate permission to get an appointment for Lia. We were overjoyed.

THAT was not the blessing.

The blessing was that in a place that looks and feels like a fortress, a well meaning officer made an error. Our lawyer got a call later on, saying that we should not have been given that permission immediately, and we need to return tomorrow (with both girls, because grandparents are gone), and do it again. They will open that window tomorrow, just for our case.

If a more experienced officer had met us initially, we would have just been told to wait until Tuesday before we could even begin the process. Thanks to the newbie, we will go in tomorrow and be the only ones in that section.

THAT was the blessing.

So tomorrow at 9 am we will try again, with a less than compassionate officer, or so we are told by our lawyer who has worked with her before. It's Ok. I have gotten compassion from the One above her. The orange jumpsuit and chain feeling won't be there. The Lord has gone before us. It has been already been breached.

I'm more worried about no water or wipies for Lia...

By the way... Cecilia has her Peruvian passport, which means our dealings with the Peruvian government are over! I must say, overall things went very smoothly. Let's hope and pray we can say the same of our own government throughout the next week!