It was bound to happen....

I'm sure every adoptive family can tell you about the delays they experienced - it's totally normal. Well, ours was bound to happen too. The judge in the girls city is a very busy man with a lot of job responsibilities and very little staffing, so we have been delayed in the last steps.

Honestly, if he didn't have the power of making us parents I would feel bad for the guy and try to help him out. But, he does have that power so as understanding as I want to be I am instead upset he is so behind on the adoption cases. Originally we thought we could be meeting our girls in a few weeks, now I'm just hoping it's this summer. Ugh!

Some happy news though. My amazing family and friends are giving us an adoption shower tomorrow. It will be great to have a shower we can drink wine at! We have been getting gifts in the mail all week- the postman must think we are crazy hoarders of some sort. I'm super excited to celebrate with everyone and feel overwhelmed by the support and love we have around us. I will share photos of the good times on the next post.

Now, if only the judge would be so loving and supporting of us we could really have a big party tomorrow! I'm sending him good thoughts and prayers that he hurries up already!

La dee dah...

There's not much to report really. The judge heard our case about 5 weeks ago and still hasn't signed off on our adoption. The wait is killer!

Some of those near and dear to me have offered the following suggestions so I don't go totally insane waiting:
* stalk old friends and/or boyfriends online (hmm, they are in the past for a reason, onto the next idea)
* take up a new hobby like sewing (yeah right! Duct tape is how I sew)
* start the girls scrapbooks (good idea, but I want them to be legally ours before starting such a big endeavor)
* Zumba class (yes please...next week)
* plant flowers (will do, but in Colorado we need to wait a wee bit longer)

Their room is done, 50 Shades of Grey is almost completely read and with all these (huh humm) great ideas all I can do is take one day at a time and not think too much about the girls...

Any and all other ideas are welcome :)

Care Packages 3

We sent the girls each another package for May. I'm not sure they have received the others we sent, but I like to hope they are getting them. We put in a photo album for each one with "mom", "dad", and "I love you" translated into both French and Tshiluba. We also put in pictures of ourselves holding a small blanket they will get in the same baggie. Then, when we first meet them, we will be holding replicas of the blankets so there is a connection. A great idea another mom from our agency tried.

I have been feeling really low this week. We were hoping to get the judge's signature by May 1st then travel in early June. Well, as of today we are still waiting for his signature. Every day longer this takes is another day we can't meet our girls. Adoption is so hard because of unexpected waits like this. I don't know how long I can hold my sanity while we wait for the judge.

Here are pics of the latest packages. I sure hope these are the last ones- at least until they go away to college :)

Sara's:

 Nalya's:

I Am Congo

I belong to Raise Hope for the Congo and the Enough Project, two great NGOs raising awareness about the DRC. Yesterday they published this video, and it is awesome!! Watch it to meet the people we are all now connected to through our children, see their homeland through their eyes, and know there is hope for this amazing country....



To see the entire story, visit http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/apps/iamcongo/

New Photos

For the first time, we received photos go the girls together. They are holding hands and it is so awesome! When we first decided to get another girl after we knew of Sara, I was really worried she would be like, "Really? I have to live with her my whole life? Ugh" but, it seems instead Sara is protecting of her little sister and might actually like her, yeah!

Now I know it is possible the photographer told them to hold hands, but since neither of the girls seem upset about it, I am still thinking they might be friends doing it on their own- and they probably don't know they are sisters yet either.

One other thing, Sara is still just happy as can be. I think that child is a joyful soul and she'll bring that wonderful energy of hers into our lives- what a blessing! Nalya, on the other hand, is more like
 "Dude, what are you taking my picture for? I refuse to smile for such things." I can't wait to see her first smile and hear her laugh. That,also, will be a blessing.

Here is just a preview for you; when we are all home safe and sound you will see their beautiful faces as well:

Great News! Yippee!

Oh my gosh, I received amazing news today! We passed court in the Congo and are waiting for the judgement in writing so our final papers can be completed. "They" (not sure who they is exactly, lawyers? Government?) are already working on new birth certificates for the girls. How strange to think that Matt and I will be listed as Sara and Nalya's birth parents. I hope we get copies of their original certificates....anyway, I digress. With this news the agency says I may be able to travel and get them as soon as early June- yippee! We have so much to do! I think we keep thinking there is a lot of time left, but it may only be 8 more weekends! We have to finish their room, get things to take over there, get shots... 8 weekends and I will know these kids of ours....AMAZING!

Easter Packages

     Happy Easter! The Easter Bunny didn't come by our house, but I know he will be next year- so exciting! The girls don't even know what the Easter Bunny is and they probably had just a  normal day...it kills me to think of them on days like this, I so want them here!
     Their second care package should go out this week. I don't know for sure they are getting them, but it makes me feel better thinking they will. We decided to add in our first photo. I figure they will just think these are the nice people sending us gifts since they don't know they are being adopted yet. Once we pass court we have a whole photo album ready for them.

    Here is Sara's second package: two books, an outfit, headbands, a baby doll and animal cookies.

 Here is Nahlya's package: a toy truck, a baby doll, an outfit, headbands, animal cookies and vitamins.

I hope to hear about our court date this week also- I will keep you posted!