Thursday, February 27, 2014

We are coming home!

Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

We are coming home! The above lyrics are by Phillip Phillips in a song called "home." The song we played while driving to drop off the dossier in August, the song was played while we painted the room pink. It played while we were filing more papers, filling packages to be mailed, monogramming birthday gifts. 

I had no clue how unfamiliar the "road" would be..... But how grateful I am that we followed it. 

So, here is how it all went down today.

Today started with us doing what we do best. We waited.

At 12, our taxi came to get us, we drove to the passport office.

12:30 we call and she says it will probably be closer to 2 or 2:15 before we get the passport
12:45 arrive at passport office
1:15 passport worker calls and asks where we are, we are in the lobby she says to give her 10 minutes
1:22 passport is ready. I go in and with an extremely shaky hand, I sign two documents and we grab the passport and leave.
1:25 Elianna jumps and squeals out side the passport office and in my excitement, I try to get in the wrong car
I begin to fill out embassy forms online while in the taxi and continue until I am sitting in the medical office
1:50 we pull up at medical office
2:00 we find out that the USA worker isn't in the office, the first three workers that come by do not know anything about where she is, or when she will be back. 
2:15 still no worker. I begin to panic
2:20 she arrives, takes our passport and receipt from previous payment and closes her door. 
2:33 we get the medical packet
2:42 we are back at our car and headed to embassy, I email embassy and tell them my forms have been filed and we are on the way, they say they are waiting but we need to be there by 3
2:58 we are at the embassy. 
3:00 walking into embassy, the guards aren't sure what we are doing, I say they are expecting us, we are adopting.. They make a call, we are allowed in.
3:44 after three interviews and wait time... I'm finally handed what we need. A brown envelope and our passport with a visa! I check for mistakes, praying I can read with my tear filled eyes and shaky hands. Her name is right, her numbers are right. We have it! I try to hand it back through the window in my nerves, the lady laughs and says "that's yours now." 
3:50 I attempt to contain Elianna as we leave so she doesn't take off histerically running through the embassy... We go take the picture and get in the taxi squealing! 

And that's it. Seems so simple to type up..... Seemed so crazy to go through it. Like it was all a dream. God definitely provided today. And praise Jesus we are going HOME! 

Before most of you go to sleep tonight, we will have already begun our journey! 

We couldn't have done this without the support of many many many people..... Prayers have sustained us. To God be the glory, this is his story.... His picture to have painted.... It hasn't been an easy fairy tale... It won't be any more of a fairy tale in the future. But my heart has changed, my faith has been tested. I am not the same girl that came to this beautiful country.... I still don't understand why the 6-8 week process took us 13 weeks instead.... But God is faithful. And that hasn't changed. 


4 comments:

  1. I am just a prayer partner.. You don't know me. What joy to know you both are almost HOME. I couldn't help but cry a little on this post ...this is HIS story, but one that will honor HIM for years to come...rest in The Lord now...I'm sure your witness has honored HIM.

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  2. Praise the Lord! You don't know me either, but I too have been praying. Though my situation was not nearly as crazy as yours has been, your writing (& timeline) just brought back so many memories! Blessings for a smooth trip home and a joyous reunion state-side with your loved ones! YAY!

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  3. Mazel Tov! Baruch Ha'Shem Yeshua!

    Daniel and Ami Taylor

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  4. I still cherish every difficult, easy, challenging, scary moment of our adoption process....as, I suppose I cherish every difficult, scary, challenging moment of my children's births (both were issue-laden). Every bit of it is part of God's plan; perhaps that is it. And a plan for something so sacred as the creation of family. Sacramental.
    Congratulations!

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