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,

Safari

Let's just say this was a bit outside my comfort zone...but cheap entertainment/experiences for the kids always suck me in (darn groupons).  I'm not exactly an animal person and when you step out of your car, nasty pigs and crazy brave chickens come walking right up to you.  Thankfully, we went with some friends, which made the experience so much better for me and the giggles heard on the ride were very heart filling (warning...picture dump).

 

Journeying On,

Baby Maxwell

Loved welcoming this precious new nephew prince last week

Mr Maxwell William Raby is most certainly a keeper

and his cousins are super excited

(thank you, husband for making this precious video)

Journeying On,

Thankful Thursday

for a poolside princess

for summer days of playing hard together

for good rest...and a sleeping face I could watch all afternoon

for new adventures with friends...more to come on this one:) 

for a chance to hear the words "Mommy, I'm hungry"

Journeying On,

Imaginative Play

There's a children's museum not too far away, and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

We played hard and have been recounting the day's events for days now.

Most of the pictures speak for themselves:)

Journeying On,

Thankful Thursday

for times of cooperative play...embracing each other and finding joy in their 'sibling' relationship.  I wasn't sure this day would come, so I'm very thankful for it

for these smiles that make my heart smile

for matching hair

for moments of flying high (she loves it, even though her face isn't so convincing in this pictures)  :)

for good blood....the closest to normal it's been in about 9 months

Journeying On,