Embassy Clearance!!!

Whew... what a week it has been! My brother once said after reading this blog that my emotions on here are all over the place. And let me tell you, its not just here on the blog. My emotions truly are all over the place, especially as we have entered this final stage of our adoption. (Doesn't this make you feel some serious sympathy for my husband??) Its a constant struggle between feeling excited about being so close to bringing our son home and yet feeling heart-broken at being so far away from him.

Last Friday, we got a call from our adoption agency that the embassy had opened our case for an investigation, and that they were requiring some additional testimony from our son's birthmother. It seemed that we were randomly chosen since there was no reason or explanation given as to why they needed this additional testimony or why the testimony she had already given in the Ethiopian courts or the testimony she had given to our adoption agency was not sufficient. It all seemed so senseless and cruel, and was the hardest news we had received throughout this entire journey. I was absolutely heart-broken for her to have to endure yet another round of reliving her loss, and I was heart-broken for us that we were being delayed in going to get our son.

We had already purchased tickets to leave for Ethiopia the following morning, but these embassy investigations can take up to 12 weeks to process, and our adoption agency felt it would be too risky to travel at this point. Devastated is about the only word I can find to describe the way it felt to be told that we were not cleared to pick up our son. We had our bags packed, schedules cleared, childcare worked out, and hearts set on finally picking up our son and bringing him home.... it was a total bawling, sobbing, melt-down kind of day.

Our agency worked quickly to arrange travel for our son's birthmother to come to the city, and she was able to testify at the embassy on Wednesday morning. We are eternally grateful for the many sacrifices she has made for her son and in awe of her strength and courage.

Defying all expectations, the embassy cleared our case right on the spot, as soon as she had completed her testimony. We received the call this morning that the embassy had approved us to travel!! We were shocked... elated... overjoyed... thrilled to know that it was finally time to bring our son home FOREVER!!!!

We leave on Sunday, February 27 and will have a March 1 embassy appointment to receive Elias's visa!!! OUR SON IS COMING HOME!!!!!! We leave in just three days to go get our sweet boy!!!!!!

To our dear friends and family who have prayed us through this entire journey... we are incredibly humbled and grateful for your love and support!!