Oh wow...ADOPTION..

 Well it looks like we will be on our way home in a week! (yay!) I hate that I have not updated the blog throughout our 5 weeks here so far but I'm always torn on what and when to share. Above is a picture of us with our girl!

First off I want to say that as of yesterday we have ALL the funds necessary to finish the adoption!!! We are so so thankful to everyone who has supported us over the past two years in making this a reality!

Second we want to say that, as everyone already knows, international adoption is very expensive. I have had many people ask why we decided to adopt internationally when it is so expensive and we could adopt through the U.S. foster system which is full of kids just as deserving of being adopted (we couldn't agree more). The Lord specifically called us to international adoption and we are SO THANKFUL to our many friends who foster and foster to adopt. We know these are some very real and very difficult needs to fill but we also knew that God had some specific reasons in which he wanted us to adopt internationally. We have gotten to see those reasons come alive right before our eyes as we explored and learned about Costa Rica and what the options are for these kids (specifically 9 years old and older) who age out of the orphanage here. The options, opportunities and support for kids in the system here are very sad, especially for girls. I am thankful that we live in a country that, although there are many issues in the system, still provides some means of support to kids that age out of the system.

                                                   Izzy and a toucan at La Paz.

Next I wanted to share the adoption time line while we have been here:

May 6- Meeting Day
May 19- First appointment at the embassy
May 27- Court Day (Melissa becomes a Hand!)
June 1st- We got the resolution from the court finalizing the adoption
June 3rd- We got her new birth certificate
June 7th- Immigration appointment
June 10th- Passport pick up
June 13th- Final appointment at the embassy to get the visa
June 15th- Go home!

                                                    Meli with a butterfly at La Paz.


Last I want to say that this whole process has been incredibly hard. I usually hear the same from other moms who adopt. Adoption can definitely be romanticized but I am here to tell you that it has been hard, scary, stressful and WORTH IT! These past few weeks I have witnessed my ugly sin rise to the surface and I have felt many times that I just keep falling short and keep "failing the test." I have witnessed my family face being stretched, and tested, making constant sacrifices, messing up, acting selfishly, being hurt, feeling confused, being defeated, and finally conquering sin. There have been tears and laughter and A LOT of prayer (begging) to God for His....well His everything!

There is so much pain in adoption and so much BEAUTY that comes out on the other side of all that pain and this is only the beginning. Thank you friends, so much, for praying for us, for encouraging us and for supporting us. The picture above is a beautiful moment we were able to capture today of our beautiful Meli with her family. She is a precious gift to us from our great and wonderful God!