And they're off!

Our papers were put in the mail today!!! Out of our hands, and the only job now is to wait!!  Isabel was the proud deliverer of the important mail, and God Bless the mail clerk at the Post Office.  I do believe my mailing request was the most complicated of the week.  From here our documents go off to get authenticated, and then off to Ethiopia (they should be heading to Ethiopia in about a week).  We will then be on the waiting list for a referral of a child!! YAY!!! Our agency just started working with a 6th orphanage in Ethiopia and referrals are picking up so, God willing, our wait to see our child's face for the first time won't be TOO long!!!

I will say, that this adoption process has been such a blessing in so many ways.  Not the least of which, is having Isabel be able to experience this adoption.  There is nothing like learning by doing.  We've explained to her her whole life about her journey to us, and her adoption.  How God called us, how excited we were, all the things we did while we waited.... but its one thing to explain, its another thing to experience it.  I don't think its possible to truly understand what is meant behind the words until you live it.  And so many times in this process already, as we were meeting with the social worker, as we travelled to Brian's work time and again to scan documents to send to the agency, as the kids ask over and over "how long until we see our baby?"... She will ask, "Did you do this when you adopted me?".... and the answer is always yes, and we are able to share with her exactly how it was with her adoption.   And seeing this firsthand, is really inspiring me in general, to try to "live" as much of what we want our children to learn as possible.  Put those words into action!!!  And one last time today : YAY!!! OUR PAPERS ARE ON THEIR WAY!!! WE WILL BE ON THE WAITING LIST SOON!!!!