Well, We're Expecting Again

But, it's not the same as before. ;)

We've been working for a while on getting all the paperwork authenticated and in order to start the process of becoming authorized to adopt. Yesterday we were finally able to hand all that in. Woohoo!!



It was so surreal...we handed in our papers and then she actually asked us the questions about what ages we preferred, what skin color, what sex, if we were open to sibling groups, etc. I guess I just thought we'd hand in our papers and then it'd be another long time until we answered questions like that. Exciting!!

So, now we will be visited in our home by someone and we'll have an interview with someone. After that, the ball is in the Judge's corner to approve us to adopt. At that point, we are free to adopt. We also take classes (3 classes total...1 class per week for 3 weeks). But, adoption is possible even before the classes as long as we have the Judge's approval. Although, people usually have plenty of time to finish up classes before a child becomes available to them.

The reality is that we leave in 5 1/2 weeks to go to the United States for furlough, so some of this might get done before we leave...or none of it, not sure. But, of course, we don't expect to be actually adopting until after we get back (we get back to Brazil in July). So, this 'pregnancy' will be longer than our previous ones for sure. ;) SO VERY EXCITED though.

Please pray with us that God will just line everything up for us to be matched with just the perfect child(ren) for us...that His perfect will will be done in this. That we would hear clearly and be directed smoothly in all of these dealings. That we would have favor with everyone concerned and that when it does happen, the transition would be peaceful. Pray that God will just begin already to prepare the hearts of those children for us...that they would already have an unexplainable love for us and be drawn to us (if they are already born...or if they're not, that they would just be born with that). Pray for supernatural protection for them...physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Pray for wisdom and discernment for us in all of this.

Thank you so much for supporting us and lifting us up in this important endeavor. We're so excited to walk this out with you all. I'll keep you updated as things happen.

In other news, Joel's 83-year old Grandpa is having open heart surgery today, so please pray along with us for a successful surgery and a quick recovery...and also for Joel's Grandma and the rest of the family. And of course ultimately great health again for Grandpa. Thank you so much!! Love you guys!!