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It is July, so the countdown is officially on until we can hold these little dimpled hands! This is what we need to accomplish in less than a month!
1. Pass our first court date on Thursday, July 8! This is next week. We pray the birth family can be present as well as all of our paperwork.
2. Book plane tickets to Ethiopia. We need to leave around July 28 or so. Yikes! That is soon! Oh, I am so glad! :)
3. Celebrate Sydney's and Raegan's birthdays!
4. Finish teaching three online classes. I should be done July 22--just in time!
5. Pack and get everything ready to be out of the country!
As you can see, July is going to be FULL. Please pray that we thrive in the busyness!
Grandma B lived in Denver, so it was always a huge treat to go see her. She went to live with Jesus five years ago. It is easy for me to remember how much time has gone by because I was pregnant with Raegan. Unfortunately, since I was due any time, I was unable to go to Grandma's funeral.
I always remember the treats in Grandma's lazy susan corner cabinet. I remember her collection of Denver Bronco gear. I remember the smell as we would walk into her house. I remember her very pink bathroom. I remember the fun dress-up clothes in her closet. I remember how she would always give us something of hers. I remember eating yummy breakfast treats in her breakfast nook. I remember getting to watch cartoons at her house--and this was a treat for us! I remember getting to spend my birthday at her house many times. Really, there are a lot of details I remember about going to Grandma B's house; however, the best part about remembering Grandma B is remembering how delighted she was to see us. I still remember her hugs, and I can't wait to see her again some day in heaven.
In the meantime, I am so glad that mom wanted to plant a bush in her honor. This will be a fun way to pass on some of these stories to my kiddos about their Great Grandma B.
I wonder why they are jumping for joy!
We are officially in the first batch of families who will travel twice to Ethiopia. Our first court date (which we will not attend) is July 8. This is when the birth family will testify and documents will be reviewed by the judge. This is the "regular" court date which has always happened. Then, we will travel at the end of July in order to get there for a second court date on August 3! We will first spend time with Isaiah; then we will go to court and testify that we want him to be our son. Wow. I cannot wait for that moment.
The tough part of all of this is that we will then have to leave Isaiah there for a few weeks (4-8 weeks) until we can get an embassy date. At that point, we will return to Ethiopia in order to get Isaiah, go to our embassy date, and come home!
Yeah! I can hardly stop shaking! I am so excited that we actually have a date. I am so thankful for everyone who has been praying with us. Thank you!!! God has really kept us full of His peace these past few weeks as we've waited. Please continue to pray that we pass our first court date in July.
Hooray for now! We had to toast to the good news!
Our case worker just called, asking if we were available and willing to travel before August 6. YES!!!!! So, we are officially on a list of willing parents. She said it is very possible we could get a court date before courts close!!! Oh, please keep praying that we can squeeze in. I was praying this morning that God would multiply court dates for families waiting, just like he multiplied the loaves and the fish. I just want every family in our position to get through court before the recess. Oh, I pray!
Many of our evenings have been spent at the baseball diamond.
Check out this great hit!
Today, our case worker e-mailed to let me know that our papers have been submitted to the courts! We will now wait for that long-awaited court date. In the past, it seems like these dates were given out fairly quickly; however, since the procedures have changed and families have to appear in court, we aren't sure how long we will have to wait. Keep in mind that courts will close in early August, so we are praying we can squeeze in. We just have no way of knowing when we will hear. But, it is definitely a relief to know that we are at this point.
It is July, so the countdown is officially on until we can hold these little dimpled hands! This is what we need to accomplish in less than a month! 
