Sent!

Look at those eyes.

Most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.

Okay, maybe I'm biased.

But soon...I won't have to look at a photo to look into our boy's eyes.

I'll see him face to face.

We're so close.  

Because our dossier has been

It's hard to believe that since April 1st, we've filled out, notarized, and apostilled over 35 documents - completed our home study - and sent our documents to Carter's country.

And now - all of our hard work is in an airplane, headed to Eastern Europe.

When will we travel?  I don't know.  When will they get the dossier submitted?  I don't know.  When will it land in Eastern Europe?  I don't know.  

All I know, is that we're so, so close.

Words can't even express this feeling - freedom - peace - excitement - it's incredible.  I imagine this is how it feels in the days and weeks before a mommy goes into labor.

Except instead of stretch marks, I have paper cuts.

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This whole process has been one adventure after another, and today was no exception!  I left work at noon, and planned to meet a friend at 1:00 to drive down to Madison.  Everything was great until about 12:30 when we got a call from someone with Reece's Rainbow about one of our documents.  It was the notary sheet of our I-171H - it was notarized before the I-171H was issued!  Well that just won't cut it!  So, we quickly called our best, most favorite notary, Carol, and she said she would do it for us! Then, Jake called the ladies doing the apostilling, and they said they would re-apostille the entire thing (instead of just adding the I-171H like they had planned to do).  So - I made it to our meeting place by 1:07 and we were on our way!

We made it to Madison, and had an inadvertent little walk around the capital :)  No - we weren't lost, just enjoying the scenery :)

Lisa found the office we needed, and everything worked out perfectly!

Picking up those documents was an amazing feeling.  I can't even believe we're DONE.  Incredible.  Surreal.  Crazy.

I was a fruitcake about that white envelope the entire ride home. I kept asking Rachel if they were still sitting there in the back seat.  I thought about buckling them in - but realized I might wrinkle one of them :) We were all paranoid about spilling a soda on them - which is totally illogical, because they were on the other side of the car.  But I just kept thinking that I would bust out laughing with my soda in my hand, and it would fly into the backseat, all over the documents :)  Ha.

They made it home, safe & sound.  They're resting, now (at Fedex) - because tomorrow they have a very, very long trip ahead of them.

Because they're headed to Eastern Europe.

Oh my word.

Pray - please.  That they get there safely, that they would be perfect as they are, that they would be translated and submitted quickly and smoothly....pray!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When is the appropriate time to thank everyone who has given of their time?  Is it now?  Is this when we tell everyone how grateful we are for their sacrifice?

I don't know.

How do you even thank people that have stayed up late into the night pleading with God for our boy?  Or people who whisper his name while they work, or include him in their night time prayers with their kids?

How do you thank people who gave financially, so that Carter could come home?  How do you tell people 'thank you' for giving over $22,000?

How do I thank young girls who love us and our boy so much?  How do I thank those girls who, in their childlike faith, have cried out to God on behalf of Carter?  They've given up time in their valuable summer months to make things for our boy...because they love him so, so much.  How do we thank them?

What about our family?  How can we possibly thank them?  They've put up with us (we've been a bit unbearable the last few months) - and assure us that "it's okay - you're under a lot of stress".  They are so, so good to us.  How can we ever thank them?

And my husband.  I don't even know how to thank him.  He said 'yes' - when his flesh wanted to run the other way.  He said 'yes', over and over again.  When I was starting to think this might not happen now - he said "No - I'm calling someone about a homestudy.  Tomorrow." - and he did.   He was totally obedient to the Lord - and he lead our family through this so beautifully.  How can I thank him for that?

Thank you - thank you - thank you.  If you have whispered a single prayer - given a penny - offered one word of encouragement.  Thank you.

I wish I could do it bigger & better.

Praying that the Lord would bless each of you in an incredible, impossible way.

Because that's the only way I know how to say thank you.

++++++++++++++++++++++

This sounds like the end of our journey - but it's not.  This is just the beginning.  A trip to Eastern Europe is on the horizon....and we need prayer.  The truth is, there are so many things that could go wrong.  Please, continue to lift us up in prayer.  Whisper our names to the Father - please.

Yes - I place huge emphasis on prayer, because God hears us.  I know that he does.  And he loves it when we talk with Him.  He loves it when we share our hearts with Him.

So when you do - would you remember us?

We're so, so grateful.

One Thing I Know For Sure:  "God hears 'amen' wherever you are"