A Picture is Worth...

This week has been filled with long "to do" lists. Coordinating the kid's schedules while we're traveling, getting the house "ready" for our live-in sitters, completing yet another round of paper work to get notarized for our Embassy Appointment, filling prescriptions for us and Judah, finishing up the 14 "required" gifts we need to bring with us, deciding what to pack; what not to pack, coordinating with the bank to get US currency dated 2004 or newer (strange, but at this point we don't ask questions), guessing on what size clothing & shoes to bring with (it's hard shopping for a child you've never seen before!), putting finishing touches on Judah's bedroom ... and the list goes on, and on, and on...

and then ... we get this new picture...

and I am reminded once again that this temporary "crazyiness" is soooo worth it ...

Time Ticks On...

There are 16 days left before we hop on a plane and pick up Judah. We are busy packing, getting the kid's schedule's arranged, finalizing paper work, finishing up gifts we need to bring, and lots of other "adoption related" stuff. In the midst of all that, summer is upon us in Michigan!

When we began this adoption process a wise friend told me ... "don't cancel your life" ... "continue to do the stuff you enjoy". While the adoption is forefront on all of our minds, we've been having a great summer, too. We've been swimming, boating, spending time with friends, having picnics, celebrating birthdays, eating delicious Michigan strawberries (while saving a few for jam!), the kid's have been involved in lots of sports ... swimming, baseball (All Star Game tonight!), cheerleading, ... and we've been enjoying these last few weeks as a family of four. All that being said ... we're ready for Judah to join in all the fun!

We have a son!

Sometime early this morning Felmeta Judah Hoekstra legally became our son. He's been ours in our hearts for quite awhile now, but as of today it's all official. We are rejoicing and giving thanks to God!

Hopeful...

We just received an update from our agency that of all the "additionally requested documents" have been prepared and delivered to the court in Ethiopia. Everything is "in order" for our court date on Wednesday. We are hopeful...