It's Time

After almost 2 1/2 years of paperwork and waiting, the day is finally in sight.  July 23rd (Lord willing), will forever be a day marked on our calendar and celebrated in our home because it's the day a little boy from South Africa will become part of our family!  This is our scheduled court date, and in the adoption world it's called 'gotcha day' and we are doing everything we can to move towards it!

Jared and I leave sometime the weekend of the 13th to have a week of bonding with our boy before the court date.  We'll then spend some time outside the city of Durban getting a new birth certificate, passport, visa, physical, etc.  I'll return about three weeks later, while Jared and 'Baby South Africa' will return a couple of weeks after that.

We have seen the Lord work is such mighty ways over the past few weeks and are confident that he has led us to this point.  He has also provided miraculously for us as we plan for our extensive travel and adoption fees.  The week we received this court date we received four separate "blessings": from a friend who didn't have any idea how quickly our adoption had speed up, family members generosity and a significant grant that we had applied for months ago.  It has truly been jaw-droppingly amazing and completely humbling to see the Lord work every detail through.  Many of you have asked how to pray for us, and we want you to know we plan on continuing to share how the Lord works all of these details through:

• Our last piece of paperwork from US immigration is still lingering and we need it back and approved by our court date.

• Our precious friend that has been staying with us for a while is going to be transitioning to a different home, and everyone involved needs prayer on this one, as we love her very much and want what is best for her.

• That Baby South Africa will remain healthy and that his caregiver will be able to prepare him well for the transition ahead

• For our family to have precious time together before we are apart for several weeks

• That Ethan and Addison do well with their grandparents as we're gone for such a long time (honestly, they'll probably be having so much fun that they won't miss us, but it helps me feel better about how hard it is going to be for us to leave them if I imagine them being a little sad about it). 

• That the Lord will make a way and build relationships for us to minister to those we come in contact with while we're in South Africa so that His name will be magnified.

You can also pray we have good internet connections so there can be a massive picture dump blog post right after 'gotcha day'  :)

Journeying On,