The BIG Call

As most of you know, we got the BIG CALL Monday! I was actually on lunch so it was perfect timing. I saw our agency was calling but honestly thought it was something about a grant we received because they had just called me Friday about it. My squeals couldn't be contained when they said "this is the call you've been waiting on." My co-workers all knew what had happened… they could hear me! I couldn't even understand our agency after that and it took me 3 times to realize they were asking me if I had a piece of paper to start writing dates. She said we needed to be there Monday, July 7th! Wow! That means we have less than a week!! It gets better because she said our court date is July 29th! That's Reese's birthday!! What a 2nd birthday she is going to have... turning 2 and officially having a mama and daddy!!

So I've been running around like crazy, barely being able to focus on my work. There is a lot to do before Sunday morning gets here. I'm even having trouble eating. I mean, I've played in hundreds of basketball games and I'm not sure if my nerves have ever been this shot.

Luckily, my cousin is house sitting! I think he will enjoy having a house to himself with a frig stocked with Gatorade and pizza. We are lucky on the timing because he doesn't have any sports for a month and so he can be there day and night to take care of my chickens and ducks! (Yes, they need morning and night attention... I've grown quite fond of them) Will comes home before me so then he will be able to pick up the routine! I have to admit it makes me quite emotional when I think of leaving my dogs, too... (sigh)...

Today was my last day at work until this is all complete and we are settled back home. I fought back tears through a few patients.  I grow so close to them and so many have been going through this adoption with me. Their excitement means so much to me. And I have the absolute best co-workers in the world. My boss is a mad man who is about to see all my patients on top of his just so I can leave. There aren't many people that selfless... I'm truly blessed. Will is as well. He has an awesome group of customers and great guys working for him who are going to keep things running smooth.

I need to wrap this post up since I should be packing. Here is how it works though for everyone that is interested:

July 7- we arrive in Poland

We should be going July 8 to see Reese and it is up to the orphanage's director if we have to visit her a few days or if we get her right away... let's pray for the 2nd but also that it's a smooth transition for her

As soon as we have Reese, we are pretty much free to do as we wish staying within a certain city. This is the bonding period. We will have a social worker visit us and observe how it is going. We are blessed that we were introduced to some missionaries that are in the same city through the circle of adoption and they have found a place for us to stay. This is going to save us lots of money and it's very helpful to have people there to show us the ropes.

July 29- we head to Warsaw for court. This is the big day!! This is the court hearing that grants us Reese's "official parents." This is "Adoption Day." After this, we can post pictures!! Just get ready for your social media to explode... I will be that mom!!

Will is returning home after this but Reese and I have to stay. Reese has to remain in country for 21 days after the adoption day for visa, birth certificate, etc. to be processed. The plan is to get my sister over to Poland for a few days to fly home with us. We will just have to see how it works but it looks like I'll be gone at least 6-7 weeks.

I will keep the blog updated the best I can!

Whew!! I can't believe I'm about to be a mama! J

The 6 Month Mark...

6 months ago I was walking into a store in Pigeon Forge on the annual family trip we take with Will’s family. My phone rang and I looked to see our agency was calling. I guess my mother-in-law saw the look on my face as I dropped the shoes I was looking at and walked out the door. In less than 5 minutes I was crying and trying to get a hold of Will… it was THE CALL! We had a little girl in Poland in need of a family. Needless to say, my shopping ended that day and Will quickly came and picked me up. We couldn’t get to the computer fast enough to pull up the email with Reese’s referral information and pictures. 5 months ago today, I was leaving a little girl behind in Poland that stole our hearts from the 1^st pictures we saw.  It’s been a crazy half year since that. When I get my hands on our little girl, I never want to let go again.

So let me catch you up on some stuff… first, Reese’s orphanage director resigned back in March. We found this out through the grapevine. We knew a new director had been appointed and honestly figured this wouldn’t back us up too much. Well it has. Everything had to go to court again since there was a new director and therefore a new guardian over the kids. Then we got the horrible news that the old director passed away on May 2^nd. We are unsure what happened but feel the most logical explanation is she was terminally ill and that is the reason she resigned in March. Her name was Bernadetta and we had the pleasure of meeting her on our 1^st trip. She didn’t speak English but words weren’t needed to see how much she loved Reese and how Reese loved her. We received pictures after a surgery Reese had to have where Bernadetta went to visit her in the hospital to hold and love on her when no one else would and since we couldn’t. For the love she showed our daughter, we will always be thankful for. Reese will always know about Bernadetta and the angel she is who is now watching over her in heaven.

Despite the sad phone call we received, God didn’t leave us feeling discouraged. This is going to get lengthy but hang in there… you have to read this!! So a few weeks ago, a lady contacted my sister wanting to give a donation to our adoption. (we haven’t had a fundraiser or donation in quite some time and need $10,000 to travel on our last trip) On the 4^th, I actually talked to this person and we decided to meet on the 9^th. Then on Wednesday the 7^th, I got a phone call from Show Hope (a grant agency that we applied to). I was working so they left a message that they had a question about our application. This was at 10:30 am… I put my phone in my pocket just in case they called back. I NEVER have my phone on me at work. Soon after this, I got a text from my sister that yet another person she knows through her horse business contacted her wanting to give a donation. Then at 1:30, I got a phone call. I figured it was Show Hope but I saw it was our agency and quickly answered. They received more paperwork for us to sign! It was a court petition of some sort that we didn’t know we would need but the good news is that it finally came. I was a little worried because I knew our notary (ha! I like how I say “our notary”) wouldn’t be a church that night and Will wouldn’t be off in time to meet me at the bank. My patient at the time asked me what happened and I told her. She quickly said that she could notarize everything and even offered for us to come to her house to do it after Will was off work. How cool is that? God planned for her to be in the clinic at that time! But wait, it gets better… so while I’m finishing up with this patient, Lindsey must have been emailing me because I got this at lunch. Listen to what she says…

“There is something going on behind the scenes that you don't know about. God is moving, especially with these financial provisions. I think you'll hear something soon and I bet you will travel in June. He's putting things in to place, and in my experience He doesn't do things ahead of time, He waits until the last minute so we know it is Him. I LOVE THIS!”

I, of course, called her to tell her that paperwork came in today which she didn’t even know about before she sent that email. Crazy, huh? Well, the day continues to get better because at 3:30 that day Show Hope called back! They explained that last year they partnered with the Tim Tebow foundation who is now supporting 4 adoptions with medical needs a month. It just so happens that his foundation reviewed our application and gave us an $8000.00 grant! $8000 people!! Did you read where I said we needed $10,000 to have our travel paid for? OH MY GOODNESS! And let me quickly tell you that from the couple people who wanted to donate we ended up with $9000.00 in 2 DAYS and we don’t even know (we know of, but don't really know) these people who gave this to us! There is absolutely no explanation for this other than the Lord. I love Him and not just because He is preparing us to travel financially but because He made things happen this past week to show me that He hasn’t forgotten about me and Will, Reese, or this adoption. He allowed me to feel His presence... something I have needed lately.

A friend posted the following verse on Facebook while all this was going on... it sums everything up perfectly!

“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”

Habakkuk 1:5

Love that Hurts

I never knew that I could love someone so much it hurts. I mean truly and painfully hurt.  Sure when you’re growing up you go through those moments that you think are the worst in your life and wonder if you will ever get past them. Then you meet the man of your dreams and realize what love is all about.  But even after that when you lay eyes on your child and your heart fills so full that it could burst…yet 3 days later you’re walking out a door with no idea when you will be back and your heart is breaking into a million pieces… that is the moment… that’s when love began to truly hurt for me.  It’s the moment I stare at a picture and can barely breathe. It’s the moment I watch a short video of her daddy playing with her that the tears come.  It’s the moments I hurry back to my office at work to check my phone to realize no one has called with information and I wonder if I can bear another hour at work before I can make it to my car to plead with God for tomorrow to be the day.

 I tell God that I can’t do it all to know that He will make sure I can. He wakes me every morning with a gentle reminder that He loves her more…more than I can ever dream… a love that was willing to give up his Son as I plead for Him to give me my daughter.  I know this Love and lately these days I have been more and more thankful for it.

We currently have no additional information. We have no travel dates. We have no timeline. But we do have a Father that began writing this story long before I even knew it was ours. I’m not sure if it makes it “easier” in this earthly body of mine but it does give me hope… hope that each night I lay my head on my pillow that I have survived yet another day and because of that I am one day closer to holding her.

“Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and take heart

And wait for the Lord."

-Psalm 27:14

We're Approved!!

WHOOOO HOOOO! We got our approval from USCIS on Wednesday! This is awesome news because I've been developing an ulcer since Friday (not really) but I have been overly worried (a horrible habit that I have) because on Friday I received a phone call from a lovely lady named Brenda. She is an officer working for USCIS and unfortunately our agency forgot to sign some very, very important paperwork so she couldn't process our request to return to pick Reese up. Somehow I didn't bust into a million tears but I think she could hear the fear of being set back further in my voice. Let me tell you that the Lord had His hand all over this because this kind woman told me that if I could get a signed copy scanned and emailed to her then she would try to push my file through!! I immediately called my agency and had them do this. I was definitely thanking God for Brenda and asking God to bless her for her kindness to us. On Monday, I emailed Brenda and told her thanks again for everything and today we received our approval!! This is huge because had she not been so kind, we could be waiting for a couple more weeks. Thank you, Brenda!

So it came in the mail on Wednesday. My MeeMaw and sister were watching the mailbox like a hawk. As soon as it got there, Linds took a picture and emailed it to me. I was then able to forward it on to our agency who was going to send it to our in country representative. We now wait for her to get the official paper and take it to the judge to request a court date. Then, we get travel dates!!

Please pray specifically for our travel dates. I know I ask for prayer over and over and over and hope you see that these prayers are heard and answered. At times even to the specific day!! We are praying for travel by the end of March. My PTO at work maxes out then and I stop accruing.

Thanks for staying connected with us and following us through this journey!!

The Current Picture

I'm much worse at this blogging thing than I thought I would be... It's been WAAAYYY too long since I've posted. To be honest, I have a couple posts that I've written but just never felt 100% about posting them.

So let me update you all on what's been going on!!

First, let me tell you about our dessert auction/spaghetti supper we had at Bethel in January. No other word but “AMAZING” comes to mind. We teamed up with the Lytle’s who are adopting from the Congo and had a great night! You see, these crazy and hilarious people that attend Bethel ( J ) helped us raise $1942.00 with the Lytes!!! In ONE night! This is nuts! Once again, “thank you” just doesn’t seem enough. I just can’t wait for Reese to get home to meet her church family!!

Then, my sister threw me an awesome baby shower the weekend after! I think I have been through all the stuff at least a dozen times. We got the cutest stuff and now I’m itching to get her room done and clothes hung up. J The best part of this shower was seeing so many family and friends that I haven’t seen in a long time! I even had 2 friends drive 4 hours for it! That’s what it’s all about…. It humbles me so much thinking that these people love my little girl so much already that they are willing to sacrifice time and energy praying and encouraging us!

Things get even better!! We got a phone call on Friday, Jan 31st that our paperwork had arrived and was being mailed to us! It came last Monday (Feb 3rd) and at 9:10 pm I was dropping it back off with a couple other forms to FedEx this time sending it to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). So now we wait. We must receive clearance from the US which is taking at least 1 month to process. Once we get that, we scan it and email it to our agency who forwards it on to our in country represenative and wait on travel dates! Still a lot of waiting but this is a HUGE step.

I honestly don't think it is possible to explain how much I miss my little girl. I mean, I even think I'm crazy when I think about how much I love this little girl that I've only spent 3 days with... Please pray that this last stretch moves smoothly and quickly for us. And please pray for God to start preparing Reese for the huge transition ahead of her.
 

 

One of my favorite pics from the 1st trip (edited of course because of rules)!

I can't wait to get kisses all the time from her!!

"I will not leave you as orphans..."

I can vividly see her face as we rounded the door, standing there in her crib. She was so excited. Someone was coming to get her out of that lonely bed that she spends so much time in. She even had that look like, “Hey, I think I’ve seen y’all before.” Today couldn’t have been a more perfect day with her. She was so happy… smiled and giggled twice as much… and wanted to be held a lot today.  I couldn’t squeeze her more or kiss her cheeks enough before they took her out of our arms.  

No one should ever have to leave their child behind. Just like no child should ever have to be a number, an 8^th crib in one crowded room and the 4^th room in an orphanage, or a baby who cries but barely makes a noise because sometimes there are just too many others to care for at that moment and so your cries might not be heard.

Looking at this picture, I see her holding tight to her Daddy’s shirt and I feel God whispering for me to cling to Him. I am reminded of His promises… “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18).  I pray now that she knows this promise is for her as well.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made…

Lord, I praise you because my daughter is fearfully and wonderfully made;She is beautiful, full of energy, with big eyes that send any fear or uncertainty far from here. Your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.

How in the world am I going to be able to describe this day… it’s impossible. I mean, how crazy do I sound when I tell you that we were already in love with a child we had never met…  and now, “in love” doesn’t even seem to fit the way we feel about her. Seeing her come through those doors is something I will never forget…

She is amazing. She has so much energy and is into everything! I love it… she will give her cousin, Hollynn, a run for her money. J I guess I don’t know what to compare our 1^st meeting to but I can’t imagine it could have gone any better. She was a little copy-cat and mimicked everything we did! She loves to have her neck tickled and kisses herself in the mirror. I so wish I could post pictures! That can’t come until 2^nd trip.

I’m usually good at this writing stuff, but I honestly feel at a loss for words… All I can do is praise God and thank Him… "She didn't have to be perfect, because she was perfectly loved"... but I can't think of anything that could make her more perfect!