Oh Happy Day...Our Paperwork is Done!!

Well, we didn't have to wait very long for our official letter from Immigration, we got it yesterday!!!!  We are both so excited and a little in shock that it came so fast :)  We went out to celebrate the completion of this BIG step towards our adoption.  At this point, minus two photos that we can get at Walgreens today, we are ready to send our dossier to Holt who then reads over it and forwards everything to Ethiopia.  Awwwww, what a big sigh of relief to have the paperwork done!!  At this time, Holt is still saying that it will be about 9-12 months until our baby comes home, so we are definitely still going to need your prayers for patience, to keep us busy, and for our baby's safety over the next coming months.  I know this wait is going to be hard, but we have to get to this point to move closer to meeting our baby. 

With our official letter

Celebrating at Blue Agave

Last night at supper, Matt and I were talking over our adoption journey and how surreal it is to be at this point.  After we had tried for a year unsuccessfully and then learned that we couldn't have our own children, I never thought we'd get here.  I didn't think I/we had the emotional ability to get to this spot.  I am telling you that I never expected to be appreciative of everything we've gone through...but I am :)  I am so thankful for the journey God has put us on and for the little child waiting in Ethiopia for us!  I am so thankful for the characteristics God is carving in me to be the best mom I can be.  It's amazing to think that God ordained this and that Matt and I are apart of something far bigger than just us.  Baby we love you and we are now a step closer to getting to hold you in our arms!!  Hugs and kisses from mom and dad!!

We've Been Fingerprinted

We had our appointment with Immigration Tuesday morning (July 19th) for fingerprinting.  We were in and out in no time!!  Hopefully we'll hear from they with the final go ahead in a week or two, but we have no idea how long our wait will be.  The pictures above are of Matt and I with our stamped paperwork from Immigration.

Busy, Busy

So a few friends -I won't name names- have gotten on me for not posting lately :).   I do apologize, we have been busy.  I'll do my best to try and summarize the last month.
First off, we have an appointment with Immigration on Tuesday the 19th.  We'll get our fingerprints done that day and then we'll wait for them to give us the official go ahead.  Matt and I plan to make a day of it and finish up the last letter we need as well as get everything notarized.  That way we'll be ready to send off our dossier as soon as we receive the okay from immigration.

For Memorial weekend we headed to Table Rock Lake with my family.  We had so much fun!!  The lake was flooded so we weren't able to ski or play on the water, but we did get on the lake to snoop around and also got plenty of float time.  We also all went to a Lynard Skynard and ZZ Top concert.  It was a blast and the people watching was awesome ;)  Let's just say a lot of older folks living out their glory days!!  Too funny!  Table Rock is a home away from home for us.  I spent many summers on this lake growing up and can't wait for my children to do the same.

Matt and I decided to try our green thumbs at a garden this year.  We've had a lot of fun checking it every day and seeing what we have growing.  Who would have ever thought I'd enjoy spending hours in a garden.  Next year we like to at least double it.

We spent a weekend in KC with my brother and Matt's family.  We took in two Cubs/Royals games and spent a lot of time by the pool.  I could do that every weekend!!

Fourth of July is often spent at home with our neighbors.  We are so blessed by our neighbors and the friendships that have formed there.  The neighbor kids put on quite a firework show for us and for now, we just get to sit back and enjoy it.  I'm sure our time for buying the fireworks will come when our kids get older.

Lots more trips and fun things coming up on the calendar for us.  Our goal is to keep ourselves busy and knock a few items off our bucket list before our baby comes home.  So there's the run down.  I hope this gets me out of the dog house with some of you ;)  Thanks for thinking of us and offering your encouragement.  I think we both are surprised at the peace we feel and the patience we have (at least most of the time).  This is definitely not by our power.

megan