Ready to Go!

Bal Vikas Reunion, 2008

The day prior to leaving town I'm usually running around like a chicken with its head cut off, but I started packing early, so I have less to do today. It's a great feeling, but I'm not used to it. Instead I'm calmly cleaning the house and doing all the extra little things that need to be done with unusual ease. We'll leave tomorrow at 8:00am and arrive at my sister's in Lombard, Illinois around dinner time. I'm looking so forward to spending long overdue time with her family! The picture above was taken last year at Andrew's orphanage reunion. Apparently, his best friend from Bal Vikas, Ragini (the girl, far right in blue) still plans to marry Andrew. Her mom told me she has plans of holding Andrew's hand at the reunion...very sweet! We'll see the whole gang late Friday afternoon, and both Sky and Andrew are super excited about it.

We received good news yesterday from our agency director regarding court dates. Apparently there are 12 families awaiting court dates and he "expects to recieve some dates this week." We've been waiting over 6 weeks now and we're praying that we are included in this batch of dates. Another family said the director spoke to them as if all 12 families will receive court dates, so we're very optimistic! We'll be checking our e-mail like fanatics while we travel this week- not only for the court date, but for the update and photos of Amelie that are due any day between now and the 27th! Once we get the court date we can start setting tentative travel plans because the American Embassy dates are scheduled 6 weeks out from court.

Oh- and I cannot post today without mentioning that Mama DeZutti held her beautiful son for the first time today. She said her heart is bursting open, that he's beautiful and so healthy! What a holy and perfect moment it is when we first hold our children. Her journey to motherhood was very long, but I've no doubt all the agony of waiting has melted away and is forgotten now. Andrew and Sky have been following her on Facebook with us, and when she landed at the Ethiopian airport they cheered as if it was Christmas day! Congratulations Meg!