Aprobados! Approved!

No puedo creerlo...hard to believe this day is really here. Let me paint a picture for you.

My friend Jade and I were hard at work campaigning this morning, knocking on doors and taking people to vote. We had just left a house on Lapsley when I heard my BlackBerry singing for me. Jade had stopped to talk to a friend who was driving by, and I glanced at my BB. First I saw the name Argerie--our social worker. Then I read the caption: "Good news!" I didn't even open the email before bursting into tears. If there were words to describe what I felt in my heart that moment, I'd gladly capture them for anyone reading this blog. But since I can't seem to find the words, I'll be content to tell you that in one single moment, I experienced a joy I wanted to share with the world. I can't even begin to imagine how it will feel when we receive a call or an email saying they've found our kids....it'll be a magnified version of today!

So back to my moment in the street. I still hadn't actually opened the email. Instead, I tried to explain to Jade what had happened and somehow--between happy tears--told her that Costa Rica had approved us. She gave me this huge hug and said some encouraging words, then hugged me again. We were both smiling like little girls...still standing in the middle of the street. :) It was a priceless moment, and I'm so thankful I got to experience it with a sister who had walked this road with me. She remembers when Costa Rica declined us several months back. She was there to remind me about God's faithfulness during the many months without news. She knows the story of how Costa Rica thought I was manic-depressant and lying about my medication (the long story I will blog about someday soon).

We then read the email together ...so sweet to see the words "You're approved!" in print. Then she took me home so I could tell Barak. On the way, I called Lj. Lj thought I was calling about something related to the campaign, so I decided to wait and tell her in person. A few minutes later, we saw her and JJ, and this part of the story is worth have Laura tell you. All I remember is Jade pulling up next to them, and although I was trying so hard to come up with something witty to say, all I managed to do was burst into tears. Lj figured it out right away and didn't stop hugging me. She told JJ, "You're going to have cousins!" Then the four of us went to my house to fill in B. Since he was on a conference call, we decided to wait. Like we weren't obvious! Picture the four of us smiling giddily and just waiting in his office. It was great to have that time with Laura and Jade. We read the whole document from Costa Rica and enjoyed every detail, and every few minutes JJ would talk about having cousins. It was so sweet. B talked on the phone for a while, but we finally got to celebrate together.

This is what I know: When God speaks a promise, it is exactly that--a promise. He spoke to us about adopting and later opened door after door to adopt from Costa Rica. Although there have been trials and set backs along the way, we have held on by faith, knowing that these are his kids he is bringing to us. Although we expected today to come, I don't think we expected to feel such an overwhelming appreciation for who he is...to feel the depth of joy that comes when God gives you the exact desire of your heart.

Update!

Can you believe it--two blogs in one day? :) I must be making up for lost time. We just heard from our social worker in Costa Rica, and although PANI (the adoption agency) did meet on the 16th, they didn't make it to our case. If all goes well, they will meet this Thursday and hopefully we'll have a decision by late next week.

It's crazy that they've had our application since August. Supposedly they only take 3-4 months to approve... We're learning that in the adoption world, "supposedly" doesn't carry a lot of weight. What DOES matter more than we ever dreamed it would is the tiny word yes. Yes, our documents arrived safely. Yes, our home study was approved. Yes, we'd love to be connected to other adopting families. And one day: Yes, Costa Rica approved us. YES, they have found our children. One day. We will be ready.

Where to start?

Good morning! Have you ever intended to begin something, but you find yourself so far behind that you don't actually start? That's me. But I woke up with a new determination to at least create a blog dedicated to the journey we're on to complete our family. Almost exactly two years ago Barak and I decided to adopt--and it has certainly been a journey ever since.

Backtrack to my childhood. My sister was adopted the day she was born, so adoption has always been an integral part of my life and, ever since I was older, a desire of my heart. I'm not sure I ever really believed, however, that I would have the incredible blessing of adopting, too. And we're actually adopting from a country that has been closed to America but just recently opened its doors: Costa Rica. I traveled there the first time at age 20 and have since returned a dozen times, several times to teach, other times to study, and always because I love the people.

Before this summer is over, I hope to post a few stories that share the miracles God has provided along the way. In the meantime, here's the quick overview for our current progress: Our immigation papers expire in September. But since we're not even approved from Costa Rica yet, we are in the process of filing an extension. We submitted our application to Costa Rica last August and have since had to submit more papers (long story). We're hoping to hear back from them soon.

A note to our children: Queridos hijos, sigo pensando mucho en ustedes. No importa q' no se casi nada de quienes son. Lo q' se con todo mi corazon es q' Dios tiene un plan para nuestra familia y q' ustedes dos son parte del plan. Ya me ha dado tanto amor para ustedes y rezo por ustedes mucho. Cuidense. Mami