Last post in the good ol USA!!

Well, all I can say is that today has been a day... It all started with me catching a cold about two days ago so this morning I slept in when I was woken by a call from Natalie at Gladney (Mary was out of the office for the day). Apparently there was a mistake in our home study that was sent to CIS months ago. Since then we caught the mistake but didn't realize that the update should have been sent to CIS. In our home study it said that we are approved to adopt a child 12 months and younger, seeing that Toufiq is 19 months, 15 months at referral (which is what the embassy will honor) its a bit of a problem for getting him his visa. Belay contacted Gladney with this info this morning. So here we are a day before leaving with an issue...you can imagine my state! We contacted our Congressmen who is helping with the issue along with a friend that is getting in touch with a Senator whom I'm hoping will speed things up. So all day we we're faced with the dilemma to still fly out tomorrow or wait until we get paperwork fixed. Those of you in the process know that NOTHING happens overnight when dealing with government offices, and sending things to a foreign embassy. After talking to our travel agent we found out that if we do not go now, we cant go until the very very end of aug. b/c of the flights out of Ethiopia. So we are going as planned but not knowing how long we will all have to be there. If the paperwork doesn't get there in time one of us will have to stay and wait it out. Because of flights its not an option for us both to stay longer. At this point we haven't decided who that person will be, we will cross that bridge when we get there.

Adoption has been such a roller coaster. It truly has its ups and downs and unexpected turns right when you think you've got it all figured out. God has asked me to trust in Him and in His timing trough out this whole process. What a learning experience this has been. I have been amazed and surprised at what I can accomplish and the patience and trust that only God can provide. So what all is going through my mind the night before travel across the country on a journey to hold my son for the first time? At this point all I can think is wow. We are so incredibly blessed. Blessed to have the resources to do this, blessed to have such an amazing circle of family and friends willing to help. Whether, loving our daughter while we're gone or taking care of our pets. Without them we could not do this, thank you. Lastly we are so blessed to have such an amazing, faithful Lord that has lead us on this path and supported us the whole way. What an amazing peace that comes with that.

Please keep us in your prayers. Please pray that our paperwork is fixed in time for us to all travel home together. Please pray for safe travel tomorrow and while we're there and that we are able to truly soak up our son's homeland and cherish each moment.

We will land in Ethiopia the night of Aug. 3rd and will update as much and as often as we can!