The count down begins!

We are so excited to announce that we have travel dates!!  We will be traveling to Bulgaria...

May 9 - 16!!

Exactly one month from today, on May 11th, we will drive to Sadie's town and pick her up from her foster mom and take her for her medical appointment.  Our Embassy appointment will be May 14th and we will pick up Sadie's visa on May 15th.  We will fly out EARLY in the morning on May 16th and arrive in Orlando around 5:40pm!

31 days.  31 days until a new life begins.  For us.  For Sadie.  For John, Joseph and Luke.   I want time to slow down, to stop, so that I can enjoy every last moment as a family of five - savoring my boys as they are now.  I want to protect them from the hardships that are likely to arrive along with Sadie.

And then, I want time to speed up, for the days to fly by, so that I can hold my daughter in my arms.  I want to kiss her cheeks, hug her neck, snuggle her and rock her to sleep.  I'm dying for that moment when we walk through the door and introduce her to the boys.  I want to see how they interact with her and she with them.  I want to watch her become more and more comfortable with us, with this house, with her new life.

Yet, I am nervous about those moments when she's grieving her lost life, upset because she can't communicate with these strange new people, is tired but not comfortable enough with us to go to sleep.  I won't know her like I know my boys - I won't know how to comfort her, what makes her calm down, what settles her aching heart.

I am excited, scared, nervous, and so very anxious.  The Lord says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything - through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving - present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6.  So, to pass the days and to calm this anxious heart, we are going to turn to the Lord in prayer.  Each day at dinner, one of us will draw a slip of paper from this basket.

 We will pray through the cards and when they are all gone, it will be time to leave for our trip!  Would you pray with us, as we go through this month?  Pray for Sadie, the biological mom, the foster mom.

Pray for John, Joseph and Luke as they adjust to having a new sister in the mix.  Pray, especially, for Luke.  He'll be sharing a room with Sadie as well as sharing my arms - which he loves to be in.  I think that the adjustment will be the hardest on him.  We need lots of prayer in this area!

Please pray for Grammy and Grandpa as they keep the boys, for safety, for energy and for good rest through the nights.  Please pray for Andrew and me - we need wisdom, patience, and guidance.  This trip is going to be an emotional roller coaster and I know we will need God's hand on us every minute of the trip.

31 days.  So short and, yet, so long.  We're coming, baby girl!  Soon and very soon!