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.