A blip in time

I cannot believe that last week at this time we were headed home! Only a week, and yet it feels longer. Two weeks from today (God willing-if we hit no glitches) Sam will be making that same trip home with his Daddy. Two weeks, but it feels like forever. In the scheme of things, it's a blip in time. For nearly two years we prayed for Sam, for many months we paper-chased, we lived in his country for almost a month, and now just two more weeks. Why does each day closer become more unbearable to wait? I have done this before. I know in the end it is all worth it- all the waiting, the struggle, the pain of the process. Yet, it never gets easier. It is never okay in a mom's heart to be away from her child, especially on another continent, across an ocean, when she can't even know that he understands she has not left him forever. Yes, it's just a blip in time, but I can't wait for this blip to end....and for the next part of the journey to begin!

There's No Place Like Home!

I kept thinking of Dorothy and her ruby slippers all day Friday as we made the long journey home. I was really wishing for a pair of those magic shoes to get home quick. Ahhhh. Home! It is a joy to be home. Saturday morning we jumped right back into daily life and all of us headed out to the little guys' baseball game and it's been non-stop since. Anybody who knows me, knows I am a homebody(I cried as soon as we landed back in the good ole' USA). I love my role as a mom and chief operating officer of our household. After being away for so long, I have a renewed appreciation for getting to be with those I love, to sleep in my (heavenly!)bed, and drink gallons of tap water (in case you are wondering, I'm totally over wanting to do laundry,cook, or clean!).

However, I am not content. My heart is missing a little boy, MY little boy across the ocean who is waiting to come home. Home is not complete without his presence. As I was tickling and hugging Irina today, my heart ached to hear his adorable laugh when we would give him tickles and kisses (he is super ticklish). I can't wait to squeeze my little guy in my arms and not have to let go. I can't wait to hear his little voice saying "mama" again.

The plan originally was that I would return for the second trip to bring Sam home. During the first trip, Adam and I decided it would be best for him to go back. I am honestly jealous that he will get to do "gotcha day" and be loving on Sam while I am at home waiting, but I also can't imagine leaving the kids at home again after being away for so long. It is really not much longer, but while I wait all I can do is pray earnestly and comfort my aching heart with the thought that VERY soon we will be together as a family ALL of us under the same roof, on the same continent!

We have another son!

Praise the Lord! We had court today, and the Judge granted our petition to adopt Samuel! We are headed home tomorrow for the 10 day wait. I cannot wait to squeeze my kids at home. I cannot even describe how much I have missed them all. At the same time, it is really hard to leave Sam here. The orphanage allowed us to leave our family photo album with him, and to reassure him that we will be back. Please pray for him. No matter what, it will be hard for him to understand where we are and why we aren't visiting everyday. Not much longer and he will be home, but we will be counting down the days....

3 Weeks and Counting....

Well our glitch does not seem to want to work itself out. Each day we are told that hopefully "tomorrow" is the day, but we have hit week 3 and are still waiting to resolve this issue so we can go to court. Prayers would be appreciated! We are missing our kids at home terribly, and we are so anxious to make Sam officially ours and get this boy home! I will try to post some pictures tonight of Mr. Cutie-Patootie! He is such a sweetheart, and the highlight of our day are our visits with him....

Uh Oh, another glitch...

Well, court did not happen yesterday. It was a hard day. I woke up homesick, weary, and sad. I miss my kids at home desperately, I miss my bed, I am even missing doing my kids' laundry and cooking and cleaning my home (Yikes! I must really be homesick!). We were originally scheduled to fly home Sunday, but that obviously will not be happening. We had hoped and planned on court Monday, but we have another paperwork issue that needs to be resolved before that can happen. Please pray with us that the document is corrected, no more glitches, and for successful court either Monday or Tuesday!

In the meantime, the highlight of our day is always our visit with Sam! He is just so sweet and loveable. We got him a bubble gun, which he really seemed to enjoy..

Update!

Okay, so I get the "worst-blogger-of-the-year" award. Sorry. We lost internet for several days, then we hit a glitch in the process, and I was just too weary to post. Our glitch was resolved (thank you, Lord!) and we are now waiting to hear about court (hoping and praying for this Friday....). In the midst of the "process" we are having a blast getting to know Sam! He is just so stinkin' cute and sweet! He has mastered the nerf gun we got him, as well as having a lot of fun blowing bubbles. We have been so blessed to get to spend time with two other adoptive families, as well as meet two other families briefly who were headed home. Alright, well I know you just want to see some pictures anyway, so here you go...

"S" is for smart!

We had another great visit with Sam today! He was really excited to see us, and seemed surprised we were back. We looked through his family photo album and said his siblings' names while looking at each picture. He always gets excited when he gets to the picture of Adam and I, pointing enthusiastically and saying "mama!" and "papa!".






Sammy is Mr. Smartypants! Watch the short video clip of him using the iPad and repeating words in English!