I have emailed our agency twice for an update but haven't heard back yet. The new Samoan law says that off-island adoptions will not be permitted unless no one on the island can care for the child. In addition, all adoptions will need to be approved by the Attorney General, who does not want non-Samoans adopting the Samoan children. There are some who don't like that she has given herself so much power, but that's how the law stands at this time.

Our situation is a little bit different. Theoretically, since the judge already signed our paperwork, we are just waiting for the US Consulate to issue the boys' visas. However, the person at the consulate is disapproving of the Samoan adoptions in general, and with the changes in Samoa a whole lot of little things would have to go our way for us to bring them home.

I tell myself I shouldn't give up hope, but for the most part, I have.