16 Years and Matched

Today, Peter and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. It's been 16 years of adventure, but our biggest one is still to come...

Although there's still more steps and more paperwork to attend to (translating, reviewing, signing, and sending), another step in the process has been achieved as we are officially MATCHED with our 5 kids. The kids still don't know about us, but that should change within the next 2-3 weeks. 

WHAT'S NEXT...besides paperwork? Planning, travel arrangements, setting up housing in Costa Rica, making sure we have everything we need to take with us for the kids (clothes, toiletries, shoes, books, etc.). I've been able to hit up some great sales and score most of the clothing we need for all 5, but there are still some items on the registry (http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/3FMEV8P5KVDOS) that we could use. :) 

WHEN DO YOU TRAVEL?The adoption agency has told us August would be the earliest we would/could travel (as yet, exact date unknown). With 6-8 weeks of in country time, that puts us back in the U.S. towards the end of September/early October, just in time to shock the kid's systems with some cooler weather. :) 

FAQ of the WEEK

"Are you excited?"

Yes... no... maybe? That's a hard one for us to answer. The two of us have been talking/thinking/praying about this adoption since November 2012, so it's been a long time in coming. When people ask, our hesitant response or apparent lack of emotion might make it seem as if Peter and I are a little cold about it, but it's more like we've compartmentalized it so that we can focus on the steps, and not be overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Right now we're just walking through the process - one step at a time.

If you read the original story, then you know this was never our idea - it has always been God's plan. We are taking steps in obedience, but our willingness and excitement have also grown over the last 3.5 years. We're not superhuman, and we still have our moments of freaking out, but then we get new confirmation from God that this is HIS plan, and we move forward. We KNOW - without a shadow of a doubt - that God has called us to this, that He is writing this story, and that He is faithful to give us the grace, wisdom, peace, AND excitement that we need, when we need it. 

#iamthankful