Almost There....

We FINALLY received final I-600 approval yesterday - praise Jesus!!! Esther's visa exit interview has been scheduled for August 26th:):):):). We are almost there!!! There is a light shining through at the end of this long tunnel. It is completely surreal! After waiting nearly 3 years our baby girl is on the home stretch!!! We don't know when we will get the go ahead to travel but it will likely be 2-4 weeks from today. Just the thought of being only weeks away gives me the chills! When I received this news yesterday I must have gone a bit crazy for a moment because Gavin jumped out of his chair and said "Mommy you scared me - I thought you saw a monster":) When he figured out why I was acting like a crazy lady he too began jumping around the house squealing with delight! This news has been a long time coming for everyone - young and old alike.:)

Update

Esther's birth parent interview took place on July 16th. We still have not heard how that went. We are currently awaiting final I-600 approval. We need to receive this in order to schedule an exit interview and receive the visa. We have been waiting over 3 weeks with no word. We were hoping to bring Esther home this summer but that is not a realistic hope at this point. We're praying hard that September will be the month. We're growing weary, yet still clinging to the promises of God. He is faithful and good and just. He is our Prince of Peace and for that we are forever thankful!

Re-scheduled:(

Esther's I-604 (birth parent) interview, that was supposed to take place tomorrow at 9:30am, has been re-scheduled due to a storm. We're disappointed but are trusting in God's perfect timing. The communication has been a bit confusing (imagine that!) but we think the interview may take place on July 16th instead. We're praying that is the case!

Precious Gifts from God

So close - yet so far away! The final steps seem to drag on the longest. We found out this week that Esther's visa has been applied for and the I-604 (birth parent) interview has been scheduled for July 11th at 9:30am. We are praying that this interview goes smoothly and that we receive final I-600 approval shortly after. We're specifically praying for both Esther's birth mother and Esther as they will attend this interview together. My heart aches for them - there are simply no words. Adoption is hard. Adoption is messy. Adoption is filled with so much pain and loss. While we are filled with hope and joy at the thought of our baby girl joining our family in the near future there is another mother (Esther's birth mother) whose heart is likely heavy as this process comes to a close. I am and will forever be grateful to Esther's first mother - the one that chose to give her life and the one who chose the gift of adoption for her. She has given us the most precious gift anyone on this earth will ever give us. I hope she knows somehow just how much we love her daughter - our daughter. 

As we near the end of our journey my friends decided to throw me a baby shower in honor of sweet Esther. I posted some pics below. It was a lovely evening of celebration and anticipation of Esther's homecoming! They even made cookies in the shape of Haiti - how cool is that?!? Gavin was a very proud big brother:) I sat in the same livingroom of a dear friend, celebrating my daughter, that I sat in four years ago, celebrating my son..... how the years sure do fly by! I feel very blessed with 2 beautiful children - both having come to us in completely different ways - both precious gifts from God:)  

Our Last Goodbye

My mom and I went to visit Esther & Sophiana this past week. It was great to love on my girl once again! She was happy and full of smiles most of the time but also threw her fair share of fits. Once she even plugged her own ears as she rolled around on the floor because she was soooo loud! I think we will have our work cut out for us:) She is still ever so tiny but has grown much taller since the last time we were together – 3ft! The 2T dresses I brought were a little short but the 3T ones were a little too big for her tiny frame. I have a feeling we may be using safety pins quite often when she comes home:) The afternoon before I left Esther asked if she could go to Miami with me. It broke my heart to tell her no (but hopefully so very soon baby)! We were blessed to have a translator this trip. He was able to tell Esther that next time Mommy and Daddy come to Haiti we will be bringing her home with us…. oh how I long for that day! She was happy about that but it didn’t make our goodbye any easier. I can still see the pain etched on her face and hear the screams ringing through my ears. As I listened to her cries echo throughout the orphanage I assured myself that was our last goodbye. Next time I step foot into Haiti I will be leaving with my baby girl in my arms. No more goodbyes – a forever family at last! We’re praying that our visa is applied for soon. There seems to be yet another unexplainable delay… hoping to hear of movement sooner than later. We were hoping she would be home this summer but due to this delay it looks like fall may be more realistic.  We are really praying that she will be home in time to celebrate the holidays together as a family. We would love for all 4 of us to celebrate Thanksgiving, her 4^th birthday and Christmas together – oh how we hope this comes to be! Continuing to trust in God's perfect timing - as hard as that may be some days. Afterall, His plan is always best!

Mimi & the girls:)

She was so proud that Mommy had finally arrived!

Esther and her caregiver 

A lovely painting on the wall in the orphanage

Plugging her ears while screaming and rolling around on the floor - oh my!

Papa's Trip

Papa traveled to Haiti for Sophiana's court date last month. He spent much time hanging out and playing with Esther. She loved him! He said she was very happy and loved to be chased and tickled:) He also said she had grown much taller and is fully potty trained! He taught her how to say some English words. She called me and said "Eatin a peanut butta cracka Mama". Too cute:) I was so grateful that he was able to spend so much time with our baby! 5 more weeks until Mimi and I will be on our way!!!! I'm all packed and ready to go:) 

Sophiana Joseph Knight:)

So it's official.... I have a new sister! Sophiana Joseph Knight:) Dad traveled to court this week. Hoping and praying the rest of their process goes quickly and smoothly. We would LOVE to have both girls home for the holidays:)

We are hoping to have Esther's passport and I-600 approval by the end of the month so that we can move onto the last stage of the process which will be getting her visa so that she can travel to the US. We're praying that both the passport printing and I-600 approval will not cause any delays. We're so ready to welcome our baby girl home!