Documents on the way!

Today we reached my favorite milestone in the adoption process. The part where all the documents have been assembled and are winging their way to Haiti. This was no small feat. Had been visiting family out of town and when I heard the documents were back from the consulate instead of lingering over breakfast we hit the road and got home. I raced in the door, assembled the final docs,then off to Kinko's. Really, making copies sounds simple enough until you consider five copies of each document collated and organized. I was so grateful to Jack, who at fifteen helped me do all of it while his little brother ever so patiently played on the iPad. The whole deal took us almost two hours to finish. Through the flurry of it all, at one point early on I looked up to see another child had approached Zachary. It was odd because there really wasn't anyone else there but us. The child was black and resembled Nate quite a bit. The boys immediately hit it off and began talking and playing. He was only there a few moments when his mom came and they left the store. Later Zachary said,"did you see him? It was Nate all grown up like me." the funny thing was Jack had already said,"see mom? That's what it will be like when Nate is home. I bet they play like that." The copy process was grueling, but somehow that made it much easier, one of God's little messenger to help us through.

When we finished there, it was off to a different place to mail everything DHL. That went off without a hitch and now we sit, officially in the waiting phase. So many unknowns at this point. Will the documents clear social services in the four to five months suggested? Will they get lost? Will the laws change? I decided, well truth be told, prayed a lot and decided, that really none of that is going to change me seeing my little Nate on August 12. Quickly approaching no matter what our documents are doing. I can't wait!

Another blessing today!

And the blessings rolled in again once more. We sent off our USCIS application and it was received ten days ago. Today I got an appointment for fingerprinting on July 6. This is amazing. We had thought it would be not less than 3 weeks before we heard anything, then another 3-4 weeks for an appointment. This proves the one thing we are always told. God can move the mountain. I mean really, no one could have moved the beauracracy any faster! The trick will be to see if we can get our immigration approval before we go in August. That would be crazy. If we don't though, I am still amazed at all the progress we made in the last two days.

Tomorrow we go for a visit with my new great niece. She was born to very young parents in April, and I haven't gotten to meet her yet. She wil be closest to Nate in the family, so it will be fun to spend some time with her when I can't be with Nate. Otherwise, will be ever so impatiently waiting to be fingerprinted...again! LOL!

A stroke of luck!

When people describe the international adoption process as being up and down, they aren't joking. Today, However, was definitely up! I got several emails. One telling me our visit dates should be fine. That was a relief. Then, a very important email. Originally, the plan was as soon as our dossier gets back from the Haitian Consulate it needed to get to Haitian social services. We originally were given two options. One would be to wait until our orphanage director was visiting in the states in a month to send them to her while she was here. The second option was for us to hand carry our documents in August. Either way we are set back more than a month. Our orphanage director emailed today and did not want us to wait. She wants the documents right now. Apparently things are moving along. Maybe we will get a break and get our precious bundle home soon. So, me, being me, I quickly emailed a few of my praying friends and continued to ask for prayers for a speedy process. I am sure they will oblige. Nonetheless, I will be counting the days to see little Nate.

Papers...papers...

Ah yes, we are getting quite friendly with Fedex. Yesterday our documents arrived safe and sound from translation. I spent last night assembling the documents that need to go to the Haitian Consulate and they went winging their way there today. Tyne person I spoke with there last week told me they would be back in a week. So, hopefully this time next week, they will go off to Haiti. In the meantime the beat goes on in the Summers' house. Today, the boys competed in their first day of trampoline and tumbling nationals which just so happen to be located here locally this year. Zachary competed in his first nationals event, tumbling, and got a trophy for third place that is a big as he is! Jack flew through his double mini prelims and tomorrow will compete in the finals. I missed it because I had to work, but my wonderful 17 year old daughter videoed all the action for me. I couldn't help but to think about what this day would be like for Nate. Would he think his oldest brother flying through the air flipping was amazing? Would he like to watch Zachary on the podium? Would he cheer with me? Hopefully, next year we will find out.

When I got home from work, all three kids piled on to Zachary's bed to excitedly tell me about threat as I tucked him in. Katya told me about taking her baby brother to the mall next to the venue to buy him a stuffed angry bird, his favorite game. Jack shared about his trip to Starbucks and Zachary told me about his tumbling. I sat and marveled at how e green of them had functioned today, such a fun time. I thought about how different they all are, but together, they are this amazing unit that I am very proud of. I was able to look at the one corner of the bed that didn't have a kid. Nate's spot. It didn't make me sad though. Listening to the rowdy discussion it made me excited to hear what Nate might say. Yes, we are in for quite a ride!

Amazing 5 year old

Once again I find myself amazed at my five year old. Today, I took my boys to the mall. Jack at the ripe old age of 15 never seems to fit into anything and I find shopping for clothes to be as normal as going to the grocery store. That is another thing I have to do constantly with a 15 year old. Anyway, my youngest really isn't a big fan of being dragged from one trendy teenage store to another. So as we got through it, Zachary's big reward was to go to The Disney Store. We decided today he would pick out a toy for Nate. That way, Tim and I could take something special to Haiti from Zachary. It started out being a way for me to soften the blow of Tim and I going to Haiti for a few days. Zachary hates for me to go to Zumba, let alone be gone all together for a few days. I thought if I had to deliver a toy from him he would see the importance. I had no idea that he would show me how important all of this to him.

I let him lead the way. He carefully walked through the aisles ever searching. When we were looking at the Cars toddler plates and cups a nice salesperson approached Zachary. "Would you like to come make a French flag in honor of Cars 2?". She showed him the colorful flags. He said,"No, I am getting a new brother.". She looked a bit confused and I explained we were adopting a baby from Haiti. Zachary chimed in with,"His name is Nate." The salesperson actually teared up a bit. She then went in back and brought Zachary two Cars puzzles for free. She said one was for him and one was for Nate. In all, it took him quite some time to pick things out. He picked out a Cars plate in the shape of Lightening McQueen, and matching silverware that actually has wheels on the end. He took great pride in explaining how Nate will "vroom his fork" across the table. The funny thing was, it all matched my sippie cups I bought weeks ago. It is amazing to me how much he is like me.

With dinner ware in hand it was time to go and find a toy to go to Haiti. He searched high and low. Nothing seemed to work. I watched him completely understanding his emotion. It was like the day I had hunted high and low not really knowing what I wanted until I found Courdoroy. Then he saw it. A Sheriff car from the movie "Cars". Zachary explained he just knew Nate loved police cars just like him and he was going to love the "Cars" movie too. So, my little pile for Nate is growing. Courdoroy, the beach ball and now, Sheriff. Pretty soon we will have a date, a mere few weeks away. It makes me wonder if my little one has any idea what is coming his way.

Now for the next hurdle...documents need to arrive back from translation, that will be Monday. Then, off to the consulate. That will be another week, then off to Haiti for the enormous wait. Am praying God being God, will see fit to move that mountain. In the meantime, I will look forward to the 36 uninterrupted hours I will have with my little Nate in August.

Finally...news.

Today, I got to spend more time talking with the other mom I recently connected with. It turns out we have more and ore in common. I shared we were studying Proverbs. I hoped the wisdom of Solomon would somehow exude itself in me. One can dream right? It turns out she recently studied Proverbs too. She was working on peace. We both have Bible study groups we belong to also. It really was a blessing to share frustrations of this process with someone who completely understands. So, to my new friend, thank you.

As I relished through this, a email! It is such a good thing my cell phone is always in reach, I don't miss a beat. Today, I heard I can travel after August 7. I have been sifting through travel sites looking at airfare when another email came. It contained every adoptive mother's favorite phrase,"Nate's health is stable.". After months of hospitalizations, diarrhea, anemia, transfusions and downright scariness, he is OK. I must admit, the selfish sideof me is thrilled he is fine. Now we can play when I go see him. The other night on our date Tim and I were challenged to buy each other a gift for under 2.00. We spread out through a pharmacy nd he cme up with a beach ball. He said it was to put in my suitcase so that I could play with Nate when we go. It is such a blessing to know he is healthy enough to play. I have tucked it into the bag with his stuffed corduroy bear and his photo album.

A second blessing today was Zachary. He rode his bike without training wheels for the first time. He was so excited. We cheered him on as he wove all over the street. When he triumphantly came in the house he was only worried about one thing. He wanted to be sure we saved his training wheels. He had to see where I put them. I told him he did fine and wouldn't need them, but he said,"We need to save them for Nate. He is just little." it was funny how his big moment turned into concern for the brother he never met. Even Jack offered his lawn mowing money the other day. Jack wanted to get a wagon so he could pull Nate and Zachary around the neighborhood.Pretty impressive for a 15 year old boy. Sometimes I get so into how I feel about this, that I forget how much his siblings love him already too.

A Good Surprise

Yesterday, I was a bit on edge. Shocking, I know. The thing is international adoption is chock full of uncertainty. The inability to have any real control over anything. Take today for example. At this moment, all of the documents I spent two solid months compiling are sitting in a priority mail envelope hopefully on the coffee table of our translator. I have not heard from him, so of course, I have that worry. Yet another pack of documents is in another priority mail envelope at the USCIS office in Texas. I am hoping that this is soon to be processed, but again, powerless. Then, my biggest worry...when do I get to meet my amazing Nate?

Then, a surprise. I got an email from my coordinator with an attached email from another mom. She is awaiting her adoption too. She got word her baby is sick and is anxious to go. She wanted to know if anyone was going to Haiti soon. She didn't want to go alone. So, we are picking dates in August. My coordinator remarked on how neat it was to see how God brings families together. As the day marched on I realized how true that was. As the other mom and I talked back and forth it turned out we had a lot in common. She is excited to show me Haiti and she hopes I can help her with her baby's medical needs.

It just seems that the more we travel through this process, the more facets come into focus, and for the second time I began to think that my original thought of just a blessing for me, a baby, was so small in God's plan. I was overwhelmed by Nate's mom, now by the job I have been given as medical advisor to a baby that isn't mine. I only hope I can do it justice. I guess I will have to pray on that a bit. But still....am making plans to see Nate!!!!