Leaving on a Jet Plane!

All our bags are packed; we’re anxious to go

We are ready to say hello

But we have to wait a bit longer still – four more days

We’ve booked our tickets, checked our long lists

The time is coming when we can meet you

This week is already going much too slow

So sweet girl, we’ll be there soon

We are coming just for you

Please give us a chance to love on you

Cause we’re leavin’ on a jet plane

To pick you up and bring you home

Oh Ana, we love you so

We’ve talked about you for so, so long

So many years you have waited

You can rest; we’ll take care of you

You are now our sweet girl

You’ll never be alone again

Cause we’re leavin' on a jet plane

Life will never be the same

Little Ana, we’ll see you soon

We PASSED court {officially}!

Happy, happy day over here...

I sat down last evening, and checked my e-mail one more time before I left the house for the evening. When I opened my e-mail, it had one of those perfect e-mails in it from our adoption agency director with the subject, "Good News!!!!!"

She said she had just received notification that the judge had SIGNED our written court orders making us the parents of "A" officially.

The orphanage has already applied for her passport (they took "A" with them to apply for the passport, and it was a long day for her to be out), and her passport will be issued within the next 2-3 weeks, and then we will travel.

That's right...

WE ARE GOING TO IND*A SOON TO BE WITH OUR SWEET "A"!!!

THANKS be to GOD!!!

Grant is out of town but will be home tonight, so it will be fun for him to get home so we can start figuring out what all we need to do before we travel. It sounds so fun to pack her clothes, etc., but I guess the wisest thing for us to do is start burying our head in our adoption parenting books again, submerge ourselves in sign language lessons, and pray for our daughter's heart. Her life is about to change dramatically, and we pray that she can have peace and trust in her heart.

*The processing times for the passport can vary, so it could always be sooner or longer for the processing time.

Thank you all so much for many, many faithful prayers, and all the love, care, and support.

Pinch me! Am I dreaming?!

It's HER birthday! ... and I can cry if I want to.

Dear "A",

Happy 6th birthday to you! ...our sweet, sweet and much loved daughter.

We hope you are having a happy day full of love and hugs. Your daddy and I are so sad we are not able to be there to celebrate your birthday with you. You are getting so big, and have turned 4, 5, and now 6 since we started your adoption process. We wish so much that it were different, and know that we are missing out on so much of your life, and learning to know what makes you YOU. Most of all, we want you to know how much you are loved by us, and how precious you are. There is no doubt in our minds that you are super special, and we can't wait to go through life with you.

I went to a Christmas concert {Behold the Lamb of God} by Andrew Peterson last night, and helped out at the Show Hope booth to advocate for the support of orphans. I talked about you to people that stopped by the booth, and would tell them of our journey to bring you home. When I tell people about our adoption process, I tell them that no matter how hard it has been for us, you are so worth every bit of the journey... we would do it all over again for you. Without a doubt. The crazy and very sad thing about this whole journey is we don't know what your journey has been like...like what has happened in your six short years of life-- what do you remember...what emotions do you feel...are you lonely...what makes you happy or sad...?

Daddy and I wonder what you have been up to this past year. We pray you are happy and healthy, and we hope you know that you have a family that loves you. We would be so happy to get a new picture of you. We are praying that someone can send us one because we are sure you have changed a lot over a whole year.

One thing you should know is Grandpa and Grandma bought us a Boba carrier for you, and Daddy and I fully intend to plop you in it when we come to pick you up... I just thought I should mentally prepare you for the ride of your lifetime, and I am really hoping you don't protest about being toted around in that crazy thing because it's pretty important that you learn to trust us, and like to hang out with us.

After the concert last night, I headed to Old Navy because they were open until MIDNIGHT! I decided a little midnight partying for the eve of your birthday was in order...what I really wanted was a doughnut, but I've had too many of those in the past couple of years, so I've been trying to be a good girl and not eat those silly things! Anyway, I made the wise choice (skipped the doughnuts) and just headed straight to Old Navy because I had a coupon and some credit card rewards. I thought it was time to buy you a winter coat, hat, and gloves since I'm pretty sure you are not going to be used to this frigid weather, and well, I guess since I'm your mom, it would be a good idea to maybe make sure you have a coat for freezing weather. I'm believing that we are going to need that winter coat for you soon. I hope it fits! I think you'll like your coat... it is bright pink with a fur trimmed hood.

"A"... you have so many people that can't wait to meet you. Lots of cousins, family, little friends, and big friends that are eager to see who you are, and give you lots of love. These same people pray lots and lots for you. They pray that you come home soon. Daddy and I pray the same, and you are on our hearts all the time.

We love you so much, and are praying we get to see you oh, so very soon!

Daddy and Mommy

p.s. I still have your birthday cake from last year (it was Styrofoam covered with icing) sitting on top of our refrigerator. It doesn't look the best anymore but I'm not getting rid of it until you get to see it too. I'm kind of stubborn like that... you'll see.

I Dreamed a Dream

My dreams took me to our girl last night.

I dreamed that we went to meet her, and I remember holding her hand... and I think she might have even liked me. 

She walked so good while holding my hand, and seemed happy. 

I met her ayah, and her name was "Rosa" (my dream must have thought we were adopting from Guatemala). Rosa and I hugged really hard and we cried. I think I thanked her for taking care of our girl so well. 

I made sure to get a picture session of Rosa and our girl together, but now that I think about it, I think "A" looked more like a blonde haired boy in the picture session. Aren't dreams funny?

Oddly enough, I didn't have many dreams about "A" until recently. I think this is the second one in a week. 

I can't wait to meet her.

I can't wait to thank her precious ayah...thank her and bless her for everything she did for precious "A". 

Thank you all for continuing to pray for sweet "A", and please, please keep praying hard for her paperwork to be processed soon...very soon. Prayers are needed. We have not had any movement in her process for 10 months. 

A Week With Friends

Over this past weekend, I have been grudgingly trekking down my very own Mount Everest.

I had a good reason.

I had spent the week before with some other fellow adoptive moms who have or are in the process of adopting children from Ind*a.

We stayed up way past curfew, ate dozens of cookies, skipped the carrots, and drank a few too many Diet Cokes. I don't even like Diet Coke.

We talked about adoption, adoption, and adoption, and nobody cared.

Because it's important to us.

We also talked about food.

Because we like food too.

Lest anyone think that we only talked about adoption and food, ate cookies, and drank aspartame, I should clarify... We also ate pizza.

I kid, I kid. We had a very well-rounded group of women. I hope to post pictures later.

Many of us had never met before, and by the end of the week, I felt like I had known them all for years.

The kids that were carted along on the weekend did pretty stinkin' good too. They stayed up into the middle of the night with us, and were as happy as clams.

There were two special little girls that graced us with their presence. Lauren and Munni. Lauren came home from Ind*a 6 months ago, and Munni came home just a short month ago. It was really good for my heart to meet these little girls, and to see that ...YES!... Ind*a adoptions actually do happen even though the passing months without any news sometimes makes it feel like it is never going to happen.

Lauren's Mommy's Blog: http://bringinglaurenhome.blogspot.com/

Munni's Mommy's Blog: http://mynepalibaby.blogspot.com/           (pictures of Munni if you scroll down)

These two little girls renewed the love and call of adoption in my spirit. These children are more than just pictures. They are real, precious souls. Now they have real love. They have real families to love them. It was awesome to see the girls with their mommy's, and observe how they craved being loved and nurtured like God designed. Praising God that He made it possible for these much-prayed-for little girls to come home to their families!

I hope everyone is doing well! This week my heart is with two special families who just lost very dear loved ones.  He gives, and takes away. Blessed be His name.

Standing Still in the Spinning

It has been fourteen months now. A whole fourteen months since we started waiting on baby girl to come home.

Wow.

Life just keeps moving on, and doesn't wait.

Life doesn't wait for families to be together... or children to be with their daddies and mommies.

I watch the world spin around me, and see babies being born, and families growing. Newborns growing into babies that are crawling, walking, and talking.

I wonder what I have missed in A's life in the last 14 months?

What does she think is funny?

What makes her smile?

What makes her cry?

Her favorite activity?

Does she want a daddy and mummy?

Is she happy?

Does her ayah(caregiver) get sad when she thinks of A going to a forever family?

We're waiting here for you, baby girl.

We are missing you big time.

XOXO,
Daddy and Mummy

I Married the Man of My Seams

 

The picture speaks for itself. If you need further clarification: Daddy is making Miss A a beanie hat. He only has a couple more rows before he is done. Isn't that sweet? He enjoys it, and is rather unashamed of his new found skill.

Last week we spent the week in Florida with Mr. Fly's parents at their condo. We were very happy to get away, and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine. Florida was unseasonably warm this January, and that was perfectly fine with us.

Mr. Fly took up crocheting one night before we left for Florida via YouTube tutorials. Once we got to Florida, his sister helped him with a few more basics, and he was quickly well on his way. 

Would you care to know the extent of my crochet skills? Okay. I worked on a single very basic chain all week, and could never manage to get any further. I think my "chain" is stuffed somewhere inside a small pocket in my backpack. It really is nothing more than a few knots in a mess of yarn. With that said, I guess I better start making a list of "Honey-knits", since it doesn't yet appear that I am going to be successful in this endeavor.

 If he keeps up this crochet thing, we may end up as the little old people that have mismatched crocheted afghans thrown all over clashing furniture alongside mismatched crocheted pillows.

We may have to get some mothballs to start preserving his work. 

Oh my, maybe I am getting ahead of myself.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!