In a moment it becomes all too real

One moment I'm sitting in my office.  I've just returned from our staff meeting.  As I do each morning in my office I begin to check my email.  Nothing unusual.  Then it's there an email from our social worker with the simple subject line of "GO!"  I love how she chooses her words and phrases in email!  :)  My heart stops and I open the email up.  "Court date is July 3…  please arrive the 2^nd!"  It seems so simple.  One moment I'm prepping for a somewhat normal day in the office.  The next moment I'm spun into a tizzy of . . .

Oh crap!  That's next week!

    Gotta call Kevin!

             Contact the travel agent!

                           Oh crap!  That's next week!

                                         Impromptu dance party in my office!

                                                        Oh crap!  I don't have time to dance!  That's NEXT WEEK!!!

So next week!  We'll be heading to Ethiopia for court, for embassy appointments, for medical appoints, but most importantly for are sweet daughter.  "M^"!!!  We're coming to get you!  Be prepared for some hugs because I may never let you go!

Here's the latest on our journey . . .

I must admit, I'm not a morning person.  Those that know me well can attest to this fact.  However, when I'm anxiously awaiting news about adoption I can zip out of bed and tear downstairs incredibly fast.

Most mornings it ends in disappointment.  No new emails.  No new news to report.

However.

There are days when there is something to report.

Friday I was ecstatic to receive an email from our social worker!  Our MOWA letter has arrived!  I can't say that enough . . . OUR MOWA LETTER HAS ARRIVED! 

You might be asking, what's next then?

Monday there is another court date (not for us, for others involved in the case).  Please keep those individuals in your prayers.  Then on Tuesday we're hoping to hear some news of when we are expected to travel!!!!  Our case is moving very quickly so that could be in a week or so!  WOW!  So much to do and so little time to do it in!  Ah, the adventures of international adoption!

Stay tuned for more updates!

We have a PAIR letter . . . it's getting closer!

Yesterday we received a surprise in the mail.  We received our PAIR letter!  This letter is from the US government giving preliminary approval for us to adopt "M^" and for her to immigrate to the US.  This is a HUGE thing.  This letter was supposed to have taken quite a bit longer to receive.  I know, with all of my heart, that the prayers our friends and family say on our behalf are heard and answered.  The US government is taking the medical expedite request seriously.  Our case is moving faster that we originally expected it to at this point.  Praise God!

Here is where we are now . . . we are waiting on our MOWA letter.  This letter is from the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs in Ethiopia.  The MOWA letter is the Ethiopian government giving us permission to adopt "M^".  This letter is all that is needed for our court date and travel date to be set.  It could arrive any day now.  It could also arrive 2-3 weeks from now.

That brings us to our prayer request for tonight.  Please pray with us that the MOWA letter comes as soon as possible.  I pray for God to work in the government officials hearts.  I pray they will be merciful to our daughter and our family.  I pray they will pen the letter and send it to the proper people as soon as possible.  Amen.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support!

In the meantime . . . Kevin and I still have work to do!  At the top of our list is another fundraiser.  Jessie, our dear friend, who happens to also be one of our former youth group kiddos (but all grown up now!) has painted some beautiful crosses to help us raise funds for "M^"s plane ticket home.  Pictures are below!  Each wooden cross is 16 inches high, 12 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.  We have one of each style available.  We greatly appreciate her sharing her talent and being so generous in helping us with an adoption fundraiser.  If you are interested in purchasing one of these beautifully painted wooden crosses please contact me through my email, amburke2002@gmail.com

#2 Ethiopia, $25 ($5 for shipping)

#3 Praise, SOLD

#8 Worship, $25 ($5 for shipping)

#10 Black and Green, SOLD

Thanks so much to the folks that purchased these beautiful crosses!

A Prayer for tonight and hopefully news in the morning

As I sit at home writing this it is 9 pm.  Half a world away in Ethiopia it is 5 am on Wednesday, June 11th.  Soon people there will be waking up.  Our sweet "M^" will be waking up.  I wonder if she slept well...

"Today" in Ethiopia is the first of our adoption court dates.  This one the adoptive family does not travel for.  However, this hearing will set in motion a chain of events that hopefully leads to us bringing sweet "M^" home to us. 

Please pray for all those involved with the court hearing today.  Please pray that it goes well and the next steps will be swift and easy. 

After this court hearing is completed we will need 2 documents to further our case.  We are waiting on a PAIR letter from the United States government and an MOWA letter from the Ethiopian government.  After those are received we would be scheduled for our court date and travel to Ethiopia.  There is a possibility it could be as soon as early July!

It still seems so far away . . .

yet it could possibly be right around the corner . . .

I need to prepare so many things yet it is hard to count the days and hope.