It's a Date!

It didn't come across in any special fashion, just a simple email. Court was scheduled for this Friday, April 2nd but since it's Good Friday, the courts are closed. So, court is schedule for April 9th ... it's a date! April 9th!!!! Can I have a megaphone please? I would like to announce w/ the biggest smile possible "WE HAVE A COURT DATE! APRIL 9TH ... pray we are approved!" LOL. We pray the date sticks. It is progress for us. We are moving forward. Could we really be traveling by the end of the month? Could we!! Could we? If we pass court, we'll be the legal parents of Maxwell and Anita, so AWESOME! One step further in our crazy process. Yahoo! Such a great early Birthday present to Maxwell and I!

Time to prepare.

Although we have NO idea when we'll be traveling, we are starting to realize it might be best to start packing for the kiddos. Since I have nothing! And I mean NOTHING, for them ... it might be wise to start thinking like a mom! We need to pack everything down to socks, underwear, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, lotion, vitamins ... we need everything for those two adorable faces.
Their room will be red/pink and true blue/light blue - very original, right? I couldn't help it. I found matching comforters and the colors worked. We haven't decided what decor we'll add in, we may just improvise until they get here and then they can decide. I doubt my sis will let that happen - I'm sure it will be all decked out by the time they sleep in it! We're thinking planes and flowers - bright and fun.
No word on a court date ... no word on Max's passport. Uncle P has it under control. I have faith in that! I simply have learned God has His timing and His hand in it, it's best if I let Him do His work. Although I can't help but think about our little ones day in and day out. How our lives are going to change!!!!

one down, one to go ...

Anita got her passport!! One down, one to go. Maxwell was taken by Uncle P to get his pictures done, so I know Uncle P's working hard to get his as well. This must be where the "mistake" happened. I'm sure we'll know details one day.
As I watch Sarah's journey, I can't but simply ask "How do I plan for ours?" The perfect scenario would have had them in country and gone within a few weeks. They had everything going for them. Now they are going on week four when only a total of four were planned. Do Adam and I opt for the two trips because in the long run this will mean more time with the kids later? I have no idea how to prepare. Such is international adoption. Just when someone thinks they have it figured out, no such luck. Please pray for Sarah, Jay, and the kids - they need to come home! Please pray God will guide Adam and I on how to prepare for our trips to come.

... and waiting ...

As our friends are in Ghana, meeting their children, my heart exudes joy in reading everything they are going through. The road is not always easy for all parties but it's part of the path and each one of us parents gets to embark on it. Sometimes the intial meeting of our children isn't "movie material" and contains tears and many fears, by both parents and children. I hope for the "movie" but reality is, they're scared and so are we! I continue to pray for God to prepare our hearts because it is His love that masters all.
As I have continued my weekly agency check ins, we were fortunate to find out the children's passports had been issued! With Mistakes. LOL. So, they are to be redone. BUT, hey, they got issued and this is a positive in our eyes! As our fourth week in waiting for a court date approaches ... we are doing just that, waiting. Sarah and Jaz have so kindly taken the time to share new pictures of the kiddos and what they can manage to write via email while they're in Ghana. So it has been said, the internet in the Ghana hotel is slooowwww. I cherish every word they send and we are thankful for them to think of us during their busy new family time!
So, we are waiting and I am smiling, knowing our due date is getting closer and closer but what that "date" is, I'll let you guess along with me.

... still waiting ...

I'm not one to post everyday but as of late I've had my fair share of internal emotions. Within the last two weeks I've been anxiously waiting to hear we have received a "court date" in Ghana. BUT, to no avail, we have heard very little. I have nothing to show for my very overdue pregnancy. No swollen ankles. No giant tummy. No back aches. BUT maybe, just maybe, my body knows. My brain knows, so maybe it's telling my body ... get ready and thus, the roller coaster of undecipherable feelings.
Our friends landed in Ghana two nights ago ... they have met their children!!! The long awaited meeting has finally happened and I can honestly say I have choked up tears reading their blog and seeing how excited each of them are. The kids and parents combined. God has prepared their family in an obvious way. A sense of relief was lifted once I knew they had landed and met their kiddos. Strange, but maybe we all share emotions so tightly knowing what each one of us are going through.
I'm not complaining, just sharing! I have more to do before my precious faces arrive! More to do than I can even think of. The time is good ... with a tear welled up, I can honestly say "Mommy simply wants to kiss and hug her children!" This feeling never leaves. I anxiously wait for me to share my love, God's love, with HIS children and the children he has so graciously given us.

Dossier accepted ...awaiting a court date! Woo HOO!

I want to dance the happy dance. I want to shed a tear. We couldn't be happier at the moment. On Monday, February 8th our final funds (sans host and travel fees) were sent to our agency via Lifesong (and with the help of all of you!) Thus, our Dossier has been processed and we are awaiting court. We cannot express how VERY very VERY blessed we are and how awesome our family and friends are. The showering of blessings is amazing and one can only be humbled by His grace. Our path for a family is finally becoming true ... could I really be a mommy in just a few months?!?!? Ahhh! Stuff to do. Children items to buy. Little cheeks to squeeze. Laughter to hear. Games to play. Schooling to attend to. Vacations to be had. Smiles to capture. Tears to share. And a life filled with God's love to give ... we simply look forward to it!

A Success!

Our "Bring them Home FUNd-raising event" was a success!!
On Saturday, January 30th at the Lakeside Community Center from 6:00pm - 10:00pm we had 90-100 family, friends, and co-workers attend our event!!!. Silent auction items were awarded, casino games played, Pat'n'Oscar's dinner eaten ... a fun filled night had by many. I cannot express the joy the event brought to our hearts. The sincere generosity by so many!!! And the love and encouragement felt throughout the night. I'm still giddy when I talk about it. We are so blessed and I look forward to the day Adam and I can convey to Maxwell and Anita what their lives mean and how they were so loved before they were even here!!!