Tugs at my heart

So a traveling family just sent me an email to let me know that although they didn't get to meet Estifanos when they were at AHOPE (he was at school) they did take a picture of his bunk bed and taped up around it were the pictures we have sent him - aawwwww. Totally makes me cry to think these kids of ours have a family of thier own and yet they wait and wait for the legal process to get accomplished, and many of the kids in the orphanages with Estifanos and Alemtsehaye wait and wait for a family. We have another picture of Estifanos as he is opening a letter filled with picutres - the look on his face is priceless - totally my favorite picture of him so far - it just pulls at the heart you know to see how precious those letters and pictures are, and how vunerable he is. We have sent letters to Alemtsehaye too and have a few pictures of her, but not as many families travel to her orphanage so unfortunately there are less pictures.

Yesterday Becca found a magic wand and has been trying to turn her brother into a frog or a rock depending on her mood - LOL you can't convice her that it won't work. I tell you this kids cracks me up!! Now if only her magic wand could move the mountian of court dates and travel dates! That would be something.

Dilema

(as an aside we kept Becca up all day yesterday and until 7pm - poor kiddo was soooo tired - but she slept until 7am woohooo)

So our dilema. Alemtsehaye passed court on Oct 23, Estifanos did not - he is rescheduled for Nov 25 and I had been hoping for him to pass sometime last week, but it didn't happen - so it seems like Nov 25 will be the big day. Our agency recently said that no one is going to be traveling in Nov so that means 2 possible embassy dates for Alemtsehaye - Dec 2 or Dec 16. Rightfully so the earlier date will go to families that have waited a terribly long time or who have very sick kids waiting to come home, so that would most likely mean a Dec 16 date for us and will mean 2 weeks in country (since the HIV ban is still in affect until Jan) well you can see the problem. We desperately want her home - but being gone for Christmas isn't really an option, being gone for 2 weeks isn't really an option - we'd have to tag team. And mostly I worry about how Estifanos would feel if we arrived and visited with him and then left with her - now of course we'd be back in a few weeks for him - most likely early/mid Jan but how hurtful would that be? could he really understand? I have had lots of kiddos that age and I can pretty much say that no I don't think he would understand. So then I think well we should just go once he passes - Jan is that much further off, but what if he doesn't pass again??How long should she wait. . . and her health is more fragile than his.
Don't misunderstand - I know that God is in control and they will come home at the appointed hour - but boy oh boy I'd really like that hour to be Dec 2 for both of them (with only a week in country)

Time Change

Who ever invented the time change did not have small children!!! Honestly - I - think - I'm - going - to - lose - my - mind with the waking up at such an awful hour!!!!! Mostly cause Becca wakes up in 3rd gear and wants to get dressed and going right away and seriously at 530 in the morning I'm not in the mood. While Scott was traveling she slept until 8, which was marvelous. Now that he is home she is getting up at 630, except with the time change that means 530 - and the sun isn't even up.

End of the Ban

On Friday the HIV immigration ban ended (well in 60 days) - it is a banner day. Praise God for the ways he goes before us when we don't even know what our needs will be!!

Nesting

Yep - nesting away over here!! In the last few weeks I have completely redone the 3 main bathrooms in our house and am really contemplating painting my kitchen cabinets! It's not like the new kids are going to care - it is more like I have to do something with all the nervous energy I have..... now if we could get travvel dates (and Estifanos through court).

Court news!!! one down one to go!!!

Well just last night we were talking about how we knew this was going to be the hard part - waiting for court, waiting for a date waiting , waiting , waiting.

Then this morning I opened my email to find a big surprise!! Apparently our court date was today and while we were sleeping Alemtsehaye officially became a Grover!!! Estifanos did not. there was a piece missing from his file and they will try again on Nov 25 - eeerrrrggghh. We are really hoping that they will get the paper and slip his case in earlier than that.

So what does that mean in terms of travel??? well we really don't know at this point. It seems like we will be able to get Alemtsehaye home soon (like before Christmas!!!) and hopefully Estifanos too - so join us in praying for favor for Estifanos to pass court soon (like next week!!) and for early travel dates!!

I don't want to forget

Please let me not forget this desperate longing for Estifanos and Alemtsehaye to be home. When we are in the midst of settling in and are sleep deprived, when there are upsets over rules and new foods let me not forget how much I wish they were here right now. When there are tears and visits to the doctor let me not forget how hard I am praying for a court date. Please Lord let me not forget that as much as I love them you love them more - that as much as I think it is more than time for our court date - you are in control, that as much as I have a plan - you have THE PLAN. Please Lord - let me not forget this longing for them to be tucked up in their beds here in our house, safe and sound at last.

And let me never forget the 147 million more who are not safe and sound in anyone's house or anyone's dreams . . .