The Scoop

Firstly, if you are reading this, then that means you were able to log in. Great!

Secondly, AN UPDATE!
Wow. Eight million things have happened since I last posted about our passports. Frantic does not even describe our pace. Almost every night we have just fallen into bed out of pure exhaustion. It's been crazy. We've cancelled parties and dinners with friends. Even mundane tasks like grocery shopping or returning a book to the library so we don't end up buying a book with late fees have fallen by the wayside.

Crazy item #1- We found out that although our home study does not really expire until April, Congo requires a home study that is less than a year old, so guess what, we needed to (in one weeks time), to update our home study (which means a social worker visits our house), have it approved by the state, get a copy and make sure we bring it to the Congo. (If you are adopting from the Congo and reading this, be sure you confirm this yourself....the facts are always fuzzy and ever-changing about this kind of thing).

Crazy item #2- We found out that one set of our fingerprints expires January 10, 2013. Because we have no idea if we will be home by then, we have to update our fingerprints. Which means getting a new biometrics appointment (they are usually scheduled WEEKS out) and then just showing up early, (praying to God for mercy and begging the USCIS officers for the same), and then praying that our new fingerprints are ready before I leave for the Congo in January.

Crazy item #3- We booked our embassy appointments and a flight to Africa for Andy before we had a letter of invitation, which you need for a VISA. Bad idea. So I literally spent the whole of yesterday getting a letter of invitation, finding the fastest mail service, getting copies of everything we needed, getting money orders and eventually putting Andy's visa application in the mail. Lord willing, it will be back in our hands on Saturday. If not, then we will see how huge of a mistake booking our flights and embassy appointments was....Please pray that we get his visa and passport back on Saturday, because he leaves Sunday.

Crazy item #4- HE LEAVES SUNDAY!! My husband is traveling across the world to file our documents and meet our children! His whole trip is less than a week long and he will come home without our children. Then, in January after all of the paperwork is complete, I will travel to Congo with Andy's sister Betsy to actually pick up the kids and bring them home.

All of this may not sound like much, but trust me, it has been insane! At this point all we can do is pray everything works out. In our human capacity, we have done everything we can possibly do and now: GOD! God is so good and he seriously has blown our minds a hundred times during this journey; I'm sure the miracles will continue.

Keep praying and we'll keep you updated!