The Last Couple of Miles...

Today, I'm feeling like I just finished running 20 miles and am headed down the home stretch.  And IT HURTS.  I woke this morning to find an email from my caseworker.  She sent me new pictures of MG that were taken last week.  They broke my heart.  When I first read the subject line I was super excited!!!  New Pictures!!!!  I guess because the ones I got from February, where she looks SO HAPPY, I was imagining that these would be similar.  Instead, I saw a thinner, shyer, version of the face I love.  It didn't help that they recently cut off all of her hair.  She almost looks as if she could be in a concentration camp.  Those photos did something to me.  The anguish of not being able to do ANYTHING to hurry this along, to not be able to go to her IMMEDIATELY, and to know that she has no idea how hard I'm fighting for her, well, it's just plain torture. It's also a huge reality check of the fact that she is growing up in an institution- not a family.  I would give anything, ANYTHING, to be able to take all of these experiences away from her.
     The pictures also revealed more scars that I've never seen before.  Because of the lighting in the other photos I have of her, and because her hair was longer, you couldn't see the scars.  It made me sick to my stomach.  I already have such a hard time processing what she went through but then to see a new reminder of just how horrible it was, made me want to vomit.  I cried three times at school today because I was so upset.  I seriously want to be on a plane like yesterday.
     My friends have been super comforting and praying for me and I really appreciate it because right now? I need all the prayer I can get :(  And more than that, my sweet MG needs tons of prayers.
     If you think about it, will you please pray that I can get my court date ASAP?
Thank you SO MUCH because this mamma is feeling desperate.
   

Great News!

Last night we had a family dinner at my Mom's and we all prayed over my dad. The Lord answered every single prayer!!
He made it through surgery with flying colors!
The surgeon said it couldn't have gone better!
AND, my dad has had ZERO pain!!
He's back to himself, messing with every button and switch he can get his hands on ;)

Thank you SO MUCH for all if your prayers!!! THEY WORKED!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - photography

My best bliend (blog friend) Mer told me about the scavenger hunt sundays.  It's been a nice distraction from the waiting of not getting a court date.  Each week you are assigned things that you are supposed to photograph and then you upload your pics.  It's fun to see everyone's take on the different themes.
Here are mine for this week:

Water drop

This is my bird bath in my front garden

Faithful

My Simon.  Enough said :)

Then and Now

I've been in the blonde "family" since 1997.  It was time for a change :)

fingertips

Love these paws!

Autumn Walk

I live near several parks and they are all bursting with color right now!
I can't wait to bring Munni here!

On Monday morning my dad goes in for his surgery.  Please pray that all would go well!

Happy Sunday!

Dad update...

So far, so good!!!

The stress test went really well last Friday and thankfully, my dad's biggest fear will not come to pass. He was very worried that they would come back and tell him that he also needed a pacemaker.  Instead, he got a clean bill of heart health!  I told him he got the extended warranty :)

He got his dates mixed up so today was not the surgery to put the stent in place.  Instead, he had to get a bunch of pre-surgery blood work done.  NEXT MONDAY is the big day.  First thing in the morning and they think it will last about an hour and a half.  He is in great spirits and I really think he was more nervous about the stress test than the actual surgery.  I told him that I posted it on my blog and many, many people were praying for him.  YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING!!!!!  Thank you!

On the adoption front, I am praying that I will hear about my court date this week.  My attorney in Ind*a should have received my court petition paperwork last Thursday (their Friday) so I'm praying that she will be able to get into the court and file for my court date.  PLEASE, PLEASE pray that I would hear about my court date soon!!

The weather here is absolutely beautiful!  I love, love, love fall- it's my favorite time of the year!  I hope you all get to be outside and soak up some vitamin D!

I'm enjoying the weather with 4 furry family members :)

I want to start a new saying, "Dog days of autumn."  Might not have the same ring to it but there's nothing like a long walk with a puppy dog on a crisp autumn day!

Prayers Please

Here's an update on my dad.  If you think about it, would you please pray for him?  He is getting the chemical stress test tomorrow morning.  It lasts 4 hours and we've heard it's a pretty awful experience.  His surgery to put in the stent is scheduled for Monday morning and should last an hour and a half.  Also, please pray for my mom.  She is worried.

Thank you so much!!!

MAJOR answered prayer!

This morning around 10 my doorbell rang. Who the heck is ringing my doorbell on Saturday morning? I walk up to my door and see the blue uniform walking away and I got *real* excited!
It was a surprise because my caseworker told me she would email me before she FedEx'd it.  I never got an email so I just assumed she hadn't received it yet.


There was a list of instructions inside and the clock was ticking!!  First stop was the bank, to get a bunch of papers notarized.  Thankfully Sarah, who has notarized the majority of my adoption papers, was working so when she saw me running into the bank, she made the educated guess that I needed her services pronto!  It's been fun to share this journey with the people I've needed along the way so for her to be excited for me on this crucial step was awesome!

Next stop was the photo store to get 4 passport photos.  The owner of this shop has also been helping along this journey, so he too was excited.  I also got to ask him about a lens that I've been wanting to buy before I go on the second trip.  He told me he could give me a deal :)


Can you tell I was excited??!!

Next stop, the FedEx store.  I made copies for my records and sent the package on it's way!!!

While waiting, I texted my caseworker to let her know that it was sent and she should receive it by Monday morning.  She told me that I was assigned the attorney I was hoping for!!!  Which is in the court I was hoping for!!

  YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

My agency will receive the packet on Monday morning.  She will scan and email it to the orphanage and the attorney and also send the originals in the mail.  They should receive them by next Friday.  There is a *slight* chance that the attorney can schedule a court date with the scanned copy.  Otherwise, she will have to wait to have the originals in hand.

Best case scenario is that I can get a court date for the end of October.  PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE pray that I can get a date ASAP!

The best part about today was reading all of the legal paperwork stating that I will be her mom.
Throughout the document, she is listed with her legal name.  The majority of the orphans in her country are listed with their first name and then FNU- Family Name Unknown.

But not her.

She is - BABY MUNNI.

STOP.MY.HEART.  Love, love, love that!!!

I cried many happy tears today.  The Lord is SO good- I feel like I keep walking around in a daze because I can't believe that I get to be her mommy!!!!!

Thank you for all of the prayers- THEY ARE WORKING!!!!!

I love voicemail!!

When I got out of school today, there was a voicemail from my caseworker.  She said she really wanted to talk to me today and could I call her back?  Um, right on it!!  First let me explain that she is a very, very busy woman.  She only deals with the families who are nearing the end of their adoption journeys so she's hard to get ahold of.  I had to leave a message and then wait.  and wait.  It always seems so much longer when you know someone has something important to tell you!

She called me back 2 hours later and told me that she received an update.  Apparently, the court affidavit was put in the mail yesterday and is on it's way to the USA!!!  She expects to receive it by Friday, Saturday the latest.  She said that usually they are full of errors but mine only had a really small one that won't affect it.  She will overnight it to me, I will get it notarized and overnight it back to her.  She will then scan and email it to the orphanage and the social worker who is on the ground over there.   She will also put the original in the mail.  There is a *slight* chance that the attorney can file the court date with the scanned version.  The biggest thing I need prayer for is which attorney and which court gets assigned to my case.  There is an easier court and there is a difficult court.  There is an efficient and quick attorney and there is a stubborn, slower attorney.  This could be the difference of me being able to make my first trip in 2-3 weeks after they receive the notarized affidavit or 2 -3 MONTHS.

PLEASE, PLEASE pray that the orphanage director will assign my case to the quick efficient attorney and easier court.

The best case scenario right now is that I will be traveling at the end of October!!!!  Please pray with me that this will come to fruition!