From a snail's pace, to lightening speed

I looked in her dresser tonight, and this time I smiled.  I looked through the clothes, wondering what I'll pack when we pick her up.  I pictured her in an adorable pink sundress and hot pink Crocs.  I started to giggle, wondering which pair of pajamas would be her favorite.  As I sat on her bed, the anticipation and excitement started to swell within me.

It has taken so long.  The roller coaster of emotions.  The tension and crazy arguments and frustrations all because of the adoption process.  The extreme highs, and the very low lows.

The end of those emotions is coming.  A whole new series of emotions is starting.  They will be followed by a new dynamic in our house.  Henry will go from baby to big brother.  Sofia will still be her nurturing little mama self, but she'll realize that little sisters aren't perfect and can be as irritating as little brothers.  We'll have another little one to get to the doctor and dentist.  We'll have to figure out her favorite foods, and get settled in to a new routine.

Our world is going to change.  I'm so ready.

The dossier entered IBESR in July of last year.  11 months later it was finally out.  Two weeks later it was out of Parquet and court.  From a snail's pace, to lightening speed.

Her last name has changed.  She is legally ours.

There are more steps, of course.  This story isn't going to end that easily.  There's something called MOI.  Paperwork will be submitted for her passport.  We have to finish up the I-600 paperwork.  Finally, her visa will be issued.

Then...she comes home.

I dream of the day when she meets her brother and sister, her aunts and uncle and cousins, her grandparents, her church family, all of her new friends, all the people who have prayed for her.

I pray that these last steps happen quickly.  Her family is ready for her.

We're OUT!!

We just got word late last night that our file is out of IBESR.  PTL!!  While it's been a long year, there is finally movement.  At the earliest the little girl will be home in August.  While we understand all too well that things don't move as quickly as they could in Haiti, we're absolutely praying we'll be there in August.  Emotionally still planning for fall.  But praying for August.

God is good.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."  
~ Jeremiah 29:11