Dates and Waits

Yesterday was somewhat of a special day concerning our adoption.  It was one year ago that we filled out our application for our agency and were on the fast track to filling out paperwork to begin our adoption.

Last week on the 14th of April was our 3 month mark for our 3-6 month investigation by the US Embassy.  We were told that we were one of the first ones to begin the new system of this additional investigation.  We pray every day that the investigation will have no glitches and that it will be complete soon.  Once it's complete and they confirm again that our boys are true orphans, we will be given an embassy appointment.

As you know, we initially planned on traveling to Africa to pick up the boys.  Then in November, there were some threats on the capital city that could have put travel on hold and we were advised not to travel.  It was then that we made the decision to use the escort service that our agency offers.  Last month when some escorts were leaving Africa to bring home some adopted children to their families in the US through our agency, they were stopped in country and not permitted to leave.  They were told that there is a new policy that only adoptive families may exit the country with their children.  Upon investigation, our agency found that this policy is correct and all families must plan on traveling.  As exciting as it is that we will get to travel to Africa and experience the country of our boys for ourselves, leaving our big family behind for a few weeks can be a bit tricky, not to mention having my husband leave his business for that long. 

We trust that this change in plans did not take the Lord by surprise and when we receive the call that we will need to travel, we trust in His timing and the details that go along with this big trip.

So all the blogs of fellow traveling parents that I have ignored up to this point, I am now reading and re-reading so that we can be ready for the trip.  What to pack.  What not to pack.  What to wear.  What to eat.  What not to eat.  Tips and tricks.

And while all of this is going on stateside, our little guys are growing up way too fast.  We got our monthly photos this week with stats.  One of the boys weighs what our little Lydia weighs.  The other little fella is 5 pounds HEAVIER than she is.  They are both about 2 -3 inches shorter than Lydia (who is 4 years old).  They clearly don't have the SHORT genes that the other Fish Sticks have.  :)  Big brother, Caleb, has high hopes for their professional careers in sports, based solely on their color.  I keep preparing him for the fact that they might be musicians instead.  Orchestra or NFL, we just can't wait until they come home.