Clearance!! We are coming, girls!!

Last night was a night of no sleep.  I was wrestling in prayer for a meeting halfway across the world.


I didn't know if we would find out the results over night, or if we were in for more days of waiting.  But this morning at 5:20AM, the sweetest email was viewed.  FISH Family clearance!!  We are coming girls, we are coming!  


What a Christmas present.  :)


Reading a blog this morning, I came across this quote.  It's everything I've felt wrapped up.  Thanks, Sara from everythingbitterissweet.com


"Adoption is for the hungry. If you want to know more of Jesus and are willing to get a little undone in the meantime, sign up. You can’t pursue a child without being consumed by His pursuit of you."

Scenario 2

A lot of you have been asking, and I haven't updated.  Sorry!

We found out last Friday that the Embassy is requesting another interview that will hopefully happen on Monday the 19th. 

Please pray that they will get the information they need, so that we can be cleared to pick up our girls.

Submitted!!

So, we were submitted to the Embassy today.  I know all of you already know, as I've been shouting it from the rooftops!!  :)  Just a little excited. 

What's next?  One of three scenarios:
1.  We are cleared very quickly with our current file.  This could happen in a week or a month.  :)
2.  The Embassy asks for clarification/more paperwork/interviews.  If this happens, it will likely delay our clearance for 1-2 months.
3.  The Embassy decides they can not clear us, and we are sent to another office to have them review our paperwork.  This is recently common, and delays us more...

Obviously, we are hoping for scenario number 1.  :)

Also have to add...  I joined Pinterest today.  You know, one more time waster, as I wait for emails.  :)  What should appear on the first page I looked at?  A pin for Exodus 14:14, of course!  Lest I forget:

God, you are good, and I'm trying really hard to be still.  :)

Catchup to today - Part 6

What relief we felt when we knew the girls whereabouts were known.  They were to be moved over the weekend.  The weekend was LONG...  Monday came and my phone was silent.  I must have checked it one thousand times!!  I finally got an email around 12p that they had gotten no word from Ethiopia that day.  :(  Unfortunately, our agency is 11 hours behind Ethiopia.  Basically, by the time they come to work in the morning, Ethiopia staff are home for the evening.  It makes for a 24 hour lag...  Which is really frustrating when you're waiting to hear about the safety of your children that have been missing for around 3 weeks!

I admit, I lost my cool.  Our agency wanted to wait until Tuesday.  Not happening!  I called and pretty much demanded they call the staff at home.  I know, I know...  It doesn't really make any difference in the whole scheme of things.  But I had to know!  They were finally able to get someone and let us know that the girls had been "on the way" when they left the office.  At least somewhat comforting.  :)

Tuesday, we got the happy call that they had arrived Monday evening, and seemed to be doing well.  Next steps were more paperwork for the Ethiopia staff and then Embassy submission! 

Thanksgiving came and went.  We were so, so thankful to know that our girls were safe.  We had a wonderful time celebrating with Mark's family here in Iowa.  Then Friday, the kids and I packed up and drove to meet my wonderful sister and kiddos in Kearney, NE.  (the halfway point between her and I).  She had graciously volunteered to take our big dog, Max, for awhile, as we have heard over and over that dogs are terrifying for most Ethiopian kiddos.  I was so grateful to have one less thing on my plate!  We had a great time together.  The kids swam, we ate out, we went to see The Muppets, we gave Parker her bday presents and both she and Jack their Christmas presents.  Then after less than 24 hours, we parted ways.  It was so fun and way too short.

We now are in the next wait for Embassy submission.  We found out Friday that both girls now have passports!  So, we are really hoping to be submitted this next week!  Embassy clearance timing is random, so we will wait and see....  But the time is finally coming soon!

 Can't wait for some more of this...

 And this...

And I even can't wait for this!!  The girl has some spunk.  Love it!  :)