Flying home

Leaving The Pentagon (our hotel we had stayed at so many days and on the previous trip) was sorta bitter sweet. I was so ready to leave, but as we walked out the gate I thought of Amaya and how these were her last moments in Ghana. I'm sure she doesn't realize what huge moments these are, but I sure thought about them for her.
Her ticket was on "hold" until I could show her passport in order to get the adoption fare ($1763 versus ours at $2085!). When arrived at the counter they told me the itinerary had been canceled probably because we hadn't paid for it yet. After explaining I couldn't do that until we got to Ghana, she agreed to try and help me. I had a slightly panicked moment--I was ready to get this journey home started but I also felt like I was on the "Amazing Race" and that if everything took too long they would find a reason to keep her here. The lady told me I had to go ahead and check in through the lines as there wasn't much time (even tho we still had like 2 hours!) and she would work on it. I'm thinking, "I'm not leaving without her".  I left her my credit card and she eventually met me at another counter and said it was fixed. I'm laughing inside thinking, "I have no idea what you actually just charged my credit card, but I really don't even care at this point as I just want to have our baby on the flight with us". We eventually found our way to an area where they had the US women's world cup soccer final on. Interesting to see alot of the Ghanaians cheering for Japan. We were asked to go through the gate line just as the OT shoot out began....uggh, we would have to find out from someone else, who dared break the rules and enter last, what the US fate would be. Savannah showed Amaya the airplanes through the window and she seemed excited. She continued to smile as we strapped her in but she was obviously very tired and fell asleep within minutes. So nice to be small and able to curl up and sleep for the first 10 hour flight. Sometime soon I started to become sick...achy, chills/hot, slight fever, very uncomfortable, frequenting the bathroom kinda sick. Our plane left at 10:05pm and we arrived in Amsterdam at 6:40am their time. We had a 3 hour lay over and between nodding and a little coloring, I laughed with Amaya telling her how many "abruni" (white) people there were.  Next flight was to Atlanta and it was a 6 hour flight. Again she did great, sleeping a lot or watching some TV. Another lay over in Atlanta and then we had only one more 3 hour flight. Arriving in Atlanta was an amazing moment. It was here we passed through immigration and went to the little office where they reviewed the sealed packet we had been carrying. The guy was very nice and after reviewing everything said that as he stamped her passport she would officially become a US citizen. I got a picture of it and I can honestly tell you that it wasn't until this point I really felt like it was over. That she was ours and that no one could take her away. This day had become one of the worst days of my life (I can't tell you how miserable I was feeling like I had the flu and being confined to sitting in a chair upright all day), but it was also one of the best days of my life! My cousin said it sounded like childbirth. You go through so much pain but the outcome is so worth it. It was a perfect comparison.
One last flight and when we arrived in Co Springs we had a bunch of people waiting for us. My cousin Blair was the first to greet us and take some of the luggage. Around the corner was my friend Tasha from work, along with her entire family! They had made a huge sign and brought flowers. I only wish Amaya would have enjoyed it more. It was 3am our time and she was so obviously tired, wanting really to just go back to sleep on daddy's shoulder. Out to the car we met my mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, sister and niece, and cousin Collin and his family. They were so generous to be there with gifts and hugs. We went back to our house then for cake (welcoming Amaya but also for Savannah's b-day). Amaya eventually woke up a little and by the time everyone was leaving she waved and was saying goodbye. Thanks everyone for making that night so special (even tho I laid mostly on the couch enjoying it!)
So....we left Sunday night at 10:05pm and arrived in Co Springs Monday at 8:00pm (and it's a 6 hour time difference) for a total travel time of 28 hours.

Sat-Sun

We wanted to stay our last night at Big Milly's but the place is so popular they had no room for us. We called around and it's amazing that most any hotel in Accra is at least $100 (unless you really take a risk of what you are getting, which is way too scary in this city). We decided to go back to the Pentagon where our lady friends were there and we could have a last goodbye at Southern Fried Chicken. Savannah wasn't feeling well, but had wanted a purse and we still had gifts to buy so while she stayed in bed, we ventured out. We went to Osu, which is about 7 minutes away, and took one of the our lady friends (Hagar) to help us pick out quality and bargain. I don't mind bargaining so much, but it's difficult to know what a good price is to even start. We loved having her with us and since she is from Osu, she walked us to her house to meet her family and have a coke!
During our stay we met three great people. Jack is from Dallas and he is a little person. He is adopting two boys (one Ghanaian little person) and has been in country since court, which was three months ago! His Visa interview is in a week and a half and he is so ready to go home. It was very interesting talking with him--seems like a reality show should be following them!
The other two guys walked in and asked us if we thought the hotel was good. They were stranded until Wednesday as they were in a village up north and a commuter plane that was supposed to bring them to Accra just never showed up. Therefore, they missed their flight to the US and none are open for a few days. They work with a Christian organization that teaches business, etc., to countries (Global Advance Marketplace). Not knowing where to eat or having any cedis (local money) left since they thought they would be gone, we befriended them. Fascinating to hear about what they do for God's Kingdom and people that so need educated on how to really make it.
On Sunday we had our "good-bye" meal from Hagar. She made rice and some spicy sauce with meat to put on it. Mmmm. Later she went with us to help Savannah pick out a purse. She was feeling better and wanted to go shopping. Daddy didn't so he stayed behind and let Amaya take a nap. One of the guys, Kevin, tagged along and we had great fun listening to him talk to the people on the street. Glenn is so quiet, he is not. The Ghana people do all the typical "hey my friend, I remember you" stuff---anything they think will get them a sale-- and he was like, "dude, you've never seen me before because I've never been here before", and would just outright tell them their marketing tactics were not so good! ha! We were quit entertained.
Later our two friends tagged along to see what Southern Fried Chicken was all about and we had our last meal there.
By now I think Amaya was really doubting she was leaving today. We had been telling her for a couple days that on Sunday we were flying to America. All day we had been telling her we were flying today and now it was like 6:30, dark and so who knows what she was really thinking. Our flight was to leave at 10:05 so we were going to head to the airport soon.

Friday

Today we didn't go anywhere outside of the Big Milly's gate. Was a nice lax day--this is a real vacation! We did our morning breakfast watching the fishing boats come in and Savannah and I decided to get manicures and pedicures from the nail tech/hair specialist at the resort. We couldn't believe how cheap it was there...like $17 for both of us to get them. What we didn't know was that this would be on Africa time (something anyone who has been to Africa or familiar with their ways jokes about all the time...they have no time). I think it took like 4-5 hours for her to do us both. It was a nice time as it's situated right inside the gate where people come and go and many hang out there so we had many conversations with the workers and villagers wondering through. This is where we got the picture of the cute baby we held (he was the son of the head bar tender). Amaya got her nails painted too (for like 50 cents) and during our turns daddy bought her a hand carved xylophone.
Tonight was extraordinary fun for Amaya. We had a buffet line (think Luau) and then a fantastic drumming/dancing show. Amaya just loves music and she was mesmerized from the beginning to the end. It was definitely a time I felt like I was really in Africa (or watching National Geographic!) and thought of so many of you that would enjoy being here with me enjoying this. Even the local fishing people came onto the resort and the kids all sat up front and some even danced. They told me they come every week, even though I'm sure the show is probably pretty much the same often. They don't care. This is what they do. It's their culture. A huge part of it. And I decided at that moment and I have to find a way to keep that in Amaya's life.

Thursday- Savannah's birthday!

Today was Savannah's birthday. We didn't actually go anywhere today though. We are now at Big Milly's Backyard. It was recommended to us by an adoption friend that had stayed here for 2 months straight! It's actually not that far from Accra, but with traffic will take us 2 hours to get back close to the airport. Big Milly's is right on the ocean. It's a little compound...once the security (very nice man that greets everyone) let's you in, you see all these cute little huts/buildings that bring you to a nice tropical place. You don't realize you are surrounded so much by poverty unless you are awake on the drive in--which you will be because the roads are so bad you can only go 2-5 miles an hour to dodge the holes. The restaurant is right off the ocean so we were in amazement when we went for breakfast and had a front row seat to the Ghanaian fisherman bringing in their boats and the activities that surround this. I could write for hours. There is a an upper level in the bar like cabana that we sat at for hours because we could see down the beach a bit too. They young men (and some children), spend hours and hours unraveling the nets to reveal the catch. The restaurant buys their fish but only from the ladies (always a middle man). They are not to approach the boats and offer to buy. So as the steps from the beach to inside the villages grow, so does the price. The women first are making food and selling food (the support for the fisherman I guess), but then you'll see some of them carrying off fish in large bowls on their heads walking into the village. There are many children hanging around and I imagine not going to school.
We really just watched the activities for the entire day! For dinner, we surprised Savannah by "ordering" a cake ahead of time. The cook (we met him and what a wonderful guy from the Volta region up north) made it and after being unsure what kind of cake we would actually get, were surprised that it was pretty good.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

We finished Monday by going to the market. We actually only bought one thing....a drum for Logan. We were a little overwhelmed by all the shop owners approaching us to come into their place. They even were grabbing arms saying, "come, I have beautiful things".  I felt like they kept showing us stuff and didn't give us a minute to just look so we really weren't looking. The coordinator dropped us off at Southern Fried Chicken on the way home for Amaya's fav....chicken...and rice. We then walked back to the hotel. Kinda fun for Savannah to give her a piggy back ride and have her fall asleep on the "ride" home.
Tuesday we set out west....it was an almost 4 hour drive to Cape Coast where Kakum National park is located. There we did the famous walking along the suspended bridges (a set of only 4 in the world). Significantly high off the ground. Amaya walked 2 out of 3 of them by herself. I don't think she all enjoyed it but I was glad she was willing to do it. Savannah just watched the ground on the hike up and back scared to walk on one of the hundreds of lizards. After the park we went to a "monkey sanctuary". It's actually a home of a dutch couple that have taken in many animals as rescue or endangered, etc. I have a few great pics of some rare animals I will upload eventually on facebook. Kinda fun to be so close to some actual monkeys, etc. We landed at a hotel/hostel like place called "Hans Cottage Botel". Not very impressed. Cool birds and crocs laying all around the lake we could touch or see closely, but the service was terrible and talk about a very plain room. Mmm, not loving the no hot water or just a fitted sheet with no blanket thing, etc., etc (call me a spoiled American-I'm okay with that). I've also never been in a bathroom where there was no shower curtain and the water just stood in the toilet/sink area for hours afterwards (intentially). It was, though, nice to relax so much and have really quality time with Amaya. She is talking more each day and Savannah and her are having such a great time together. Tonight Savannah painted her nails red.
Wednesday we made it to the Slave Castles at Cape Coast. Amazing history there. I watched Roots years ago and can't believe I was standing there in such history. Pretty emotional actually being in a dungeon that held 200 men at once for 2-3 months with no light, very little food, and completely unsanitary. Out the door of no return was an amazing site of active working Cape Coast fisherman. Hundred of people and many many boats bringing in fish and unloading the nets. What an awesome site and I think it was then when I really felt like I was in Ghana. We ate at a cute little place close by and then our trek back to the east to a village called, "Kokobrite".  The drive is so amazing because we pass by so many villages. Just like the movies and pictures, the villagers have their food/market stands set up in every one (and many in between as well) with so many women walking around with everything sitting on their heads. The schools are often along the road as well and the kids (all like in uniforms) are out playing "football" and dancing. We ended our day arriving at Big Milly's Backyard. An amazing place I will tell you more about tomorrow. I haven't had internet in a while so after checking email and uploading some pics (it's so slow here), everyone has been long asleep and it's my turn for now.

Forever in our arms

We left Saturday afternoon at 12:30 for the journey to Ghana with Savannah in tow (okay, she was actually a great help with our 6 large suitcases filled with donations and 3 carryones!). The flight ends up being overnight and although I slept a few hours (thanks motrin PM), Glenn and Savannah played angry birds nearly the entire time. So, the IPAD is great since it lasts like 12-14 hours but by the time we got here it was on like 2% battery. We brought an IPOD charger that I assumed was universal but apparently it won't charge the IPAD. Guess we'll be looking for one if there is such a thing here as it will provide some entertainment on the flight home. Just as I was posting a facebook status, it died and I could not get the laptop to log onto internet for some reason.
We arrived and came to the hotel, unloaded very quickly and back out to the van to make the trek to the orphanage. It's rainy season and it was definitely raining. Despite it being a Sunday, the traffic was bad and it took over an hour plus to get there. The coordinator had told us he told "Autie Rose" at the orphange that we would be coming today but Amaya looked quit suprised when she saw us. With 30 kids chanting her name, she looked a little freaked. I can tell she is not one that likes a ton of attention so this may have been too much for a moment. Anyway, within minutes she started to warm up again and had a good time helping Savannah dish out the backpacks, beanie babies, shoes, and other gifts we brought. It became quite chaotic as all the kids kept yelling "madam please" and holding out their hands. Very sweet but we felt we were being mobbed! ha!  We stayed for a bit, took some pics and then headed back to Accra. Amaya fell asleep almost immediately in daddy's arms and slept the entire way. We landed at Southern Fried Chicken for a repeat meal of chicken....and rice. She was soo excited and after being "finished" with her chicken, requested ice cream so her and Savannah split desert.
We all think it's still surreal. We agree this is hitting us more gradual than an all at once sorta thing.
Once back at the room Amaya took her nightly bath, explored some of the things in the room we had brought, and finally crashed at 8pm ish. With the late nap, I knew we'd be in trouble.....up at 5am..."mommy, I hungry". She loves the pediasure I brought and has eaten food already for a week. The ladies this am confirmed she had not had chicken since the last time we were there.
Today we plan to go to the market and get a "cloth, dress" and anything else that might seem appealing.
I had also forgotten my camera cable but realized the laptop will take our memory card so I will be able to upload pics to facebook. Thanks for all your prayers!

VISA Approval!

We received an email from the embassy in the afternoon yesterday (July 7th) that said Amaya had Visa approval and that we could pick it up...........tomorrow, July 8th. Ouch, they really don't like to give notice but who cares!!!!!!!!!at this point!!!!!
So I spent all day researching tickets. I basically had way too many choices. My neighbor works for American Airlines so we had the opportunity to do some stand by to save some dollars. Combining that or using that alone or on and on. Turns out we could get to Accra and back to London pretty safe, but high probability of getting stuck there a bit on the way home. I think by then we will be so anxious to be here that in the end I just bought the tickets outright :(  After many....way too many...hours of researching all the options, we are leaving tomorrow (Saturday). It will take a day to get there so hopefully we will be reunited by Sunday. Savannah is going and soooooo excited. Was kinda mad we didn't leave today but I told her I just have so many tasks. Even though we've been ready, there are always so many last minute things to throw in place! We will be gone now for Savannah's b-day but she is planning on celebrating in Africa so who cares, right? Our return flight is scheduled in on Monday, the 18th at 8:37pm.

some good news

The coordinator went to the Embassy, turned in the documents, and they took her passport. This, I'm told, means approval of the Visa. If they are still investigating, etc., they will not take the passport and say they will let you know. So, YAY!!
The sad news is that they told the coordinator the Visa will take "weeks" to print and they will contact him. Mmmmm, even when my printer is acting up I can usually print something in a few minutes so all I can say is that is the government at its best. In the meantime, my darling continues to sleep on a 1 inch dirty mat with sometimes 1 meal a day. Arrggg. Glad God is getting me through this. I sure hope my next post is in the next couple days rejoicing because we've booked our tickets.

YAY! Documents found!

WELL, THERE IS A GOOD NEWS FOR THE BOARMAN, ALL THE DOCUMENTS WERE FOUND (CONSENTS AND DECLARATION) ORIGINAL. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE EMBASSY ON TUESDAY SINCE MONDAY IS AMERICAN HOLIDAY.

...and the days go on

Received an update from the coordinator over there today and I didn't find it very encouraging. Seems he turned in the same paperwork at the interview that he has for all the other Visa's but the consular wants more. I have asked for him to clarify exactly what paperwork she wants because his first email seemed like it was just consent/decree from the courts but again, he should have known that so if he turned that in then I'm not sure what they want now. I have also emailed the consular 3 times over the past week with no response. The coordinator also said he has "combed" the court and cannot find these documents and so he has requested them from Social Welfare. Hopefully even if they get them they will suffice. If not, I don't know where we stand. I feel like it could be weeks now. It's been one week and really nothing. I am in contact with lots of adoptive moms that have been through the Ghana process. One of them said she had to get a lawyer letter and take it in order to get the courts to "find" her documents. This is where Glenn and I are waiting for God to say, "go". We need prayers for confirmation on whether to keep riding it out for a bit or to just go. We could end up there for weeks and even returning without Amaya if the consular gets all documents but continues to not issue the Visa. A similar thing happened a year ago and families were stuck waiting for weeks-months for approval for no apparent reason.  Please remember to pray for us. I had really thought we would be traveling this week but now I feel like it will take a miracle for that to happen (I do believe in them!). Everytime you're stopped at a light and it turns green--hopefully that will trigger you to remember Amaya in your prayers.

waiting, again

So the update is that the Embassy wants these documents, the coordinator has applied for them with the court and is awaiting their call to come pick them up. He will then take them to the Embassy (no appt needed apparently) and turn in everything and find out when they will issue the Visa. Supposedly this is all they are waiting for.

No visa yet

Sorry for the delay. I'm at work and it's been crazy busy.
We received this info from the coordinator: the embassy wants the original consent and declaration from the court. I have started working on getting the docs from the court.

Really that's all we know at this point. I have tried to email the agency but they don't have much answers.  If it's the court decree, etc that he's talking about we already know they are required and he should have had them with him today. So, I have no idea why he didn't (other families have told me they easily 'get lost'). Besides the passports and medical, I'm not sure what else could be wanted/needed but hopefully we'll get more word on that tomorrow.
So, whether or not he can just hand these in at anytime, how long it takes the courts to get/process these documents, or even if we need yet another visa appointment is beyond my knowledge at this point.
So sad for Amaya. Please pray for a super quick resolution.

Amaya

As we move to less than a week before we know when her visa will be issued, I thought we should officially announce her American name. It will be Amaya Emmanuella Boarman.
In Ghana, the day of the week you are born on is of great significance and you receive a name associated with that day. Many Ghanaians don't know the date/month they were born on, but know the day! Emmanuella's is Saturday and her Saturday name is, Ama. Because we wanted to find something that is close to her actual name, we thought by adding only two letters to Ama, Amaya would be perfect. Pronounced Ah-my-yah.
Many people want to know why we are changing her name. We see naming as part of a welcome-the new/American name represents the fact that she is now part of a new family. When a parent names a child, they're welcoming her; identifying her with them, forever. A name is important to one's identity and in the world of the Bible, God changed people's names; Saul to Paul, Abram to Abraham.
With that being said, I think if Emmanuella wasn't 5 syllables and 10 letters long we might have kept it. Shortening it to something like Emma wasn't an option for us as this is the 2nd most popular name in all America. And, you have to remember that we are a family of 5 trying to all agree! :)

Items needed

We'd love to take donated stuff to Ghana when we go in a few weeks. Here is a list of things we need:
-L-XL suitcase
-gently used or new clothing--sz 12-16 women's, girls 10-14
-sandals and flip flops--sz 5.5, 6, 9.5, 10
-shoulder handbags
-BACKPACKS (the kids at the orphanage need school items but would love bags/backpacks particularly)
-any school items--preferably light items (since we only get 50lbs) and nothing that would melt (crayons....colored pencils are better)

THANKS!

Visa Interview date: June 21st

Our coordinator was able to pick up the "visa packet" the Wed after I600 approval. I have no idea exactly what is in this packet but I'm told it's just more things to fill out and a list of what is needed for the interview day.  Once that packet was picked up, we could begin emailing the Consular Section for an interview date. Originally they said it would be approximately 2 months, then a follow up email said 1 month. Our date is half way between these: 6 1/2 weeks out (I know, I'm a little late getting this posted)== June 21st.
What does this mean? Well, they will continue the orphan investigation and our coordinator will work on her passport. At this date, the coordinator will go in with her and possible any family members and turn in the packet/passport/etc. A brief (5 minutes= $100 I'm told) medical will be done and then they will hopefully approve her Visa! This should be the magical day we know exactly when she can come home. Our appointment is on a Tuesday, they only issue Visas on Fridays. We are praying we will be told the Visa will be ready on June 24th, but for reasons not all known they will sometimes say it will be ready the next Friday or even the next. So, in reality it could still be a couple weeks after that appointment but please pray that it is not!!!
Ideally we would have liked to attend the final interview process, but it's too risky not knowing for sure if her visa will be issued that week or next. Flights are $2200-2500 throughout June/July (I know, ouch) right now so we have to be as conservative as possible.

New pic!

showing her cousin, Prince

I made a family photo book for Emmanuella and sent it over for the agency coordinator to give her. They sent me a picture of her receiving it. I pray this gives her hope that we really are coming back!

Referral Picture

I realized now that we have a decree and I can post pictures that I never did post the first picture we got to see/meet Emmanuella. Too funny that you can't even see her entire face but we fell in love anyway!

I600 approved!

Wow! I would have never imagined we would be approved in less than 2 weeks. It generally takes 6-8 weeks and Emmanuella's birth certificate only got turned in yesterday. What does this mean? Well, it means the US recognizes our adoption! Whoo hoo! Without this forms approval, we could have a decree in Ghana but never be able to bring her across waters. We now wait for a Visa Exit Interview Appointment. Our coordinator will go on Wednesday to pick up the packet that will need completed for that interview and I can start emailing at that time to try and get it (the appt). However, as I learned today ( and as things are ever changing in the international adoption world), it is currently taking 5-8 weeks for the appointments!! Ugh. No one knows why, but the recent families that have tried to get one say 5-6 weeks out. My approval letter today said expect appointments 2 months out. We should know when that is, hopefully, next week. This appointment apparently is around 15 minutes long (why can't I just show up then!!!) and at conclusion they will tell us when the visa will be issued. Visas are only issued on Fridays so could be a day or so after appt or could be the next week. Occasionally they will say the visa will be issued in 2-3 weeks (for no known reason). At this time we are planning on having the coordinator attend the appt since it's an unknown time frame for the exact visa issuance.
During this waiting time they will continue to do the orphan investigation (form I-604) to definitively determine that she is an orphan. We hope their investigation will be concluded by the time our Visa appt comes up so there are no delays.
So....while I assumed that it would take 2-3 months to get her home from when we left, again we just never know. As recently as March, I-600 approvals were taking approx 2 months and then it was taking only 1-2 weeks for an exit appt. Now we are I-600 approved in 2 weeks but they are saying 6-8 weeks for appointment.  So although I was rejoicing this am thinking we had significantly cut the timeframe, I'm not so sure tonight. I can surely rejoice that it didn't take 2 months for approval and THEN 2 months for appt.

update on finances

If you look to the right top of this blog, there is a link to the site on costs. We want to be very forthcoming. Since we are only bringing one child home now, I changed the figures to reflect that.
To date we have accumulated $22,971 in costs. My mom and dad have assisted us tremendously with monetary gifts and loans (thanks!). We continue to need approximately $10,000 more before we bring her home ($3,600 in agency fees and approx $5500-7000? in travel fees), on top of the loans we already have.

To date we have received $3,482 in donations. Thank you all so so much for helping get her here. When you meet her you will know how worth it to contribute to something so life changing. Obviously we still need lots of help so I'm thinking of t-shirts, butter braids, or a dinner/auction?? Anyone have suggestions or time on their hands to help me?

Look for an entry very soon on what you can do to help as we go back. We'd like to take a ton of stuff to donate (it doesn't all have to be new) and I am starting to compile a list.

The long way home

The 10 1/2 hour flight from the Accra to Washington went pretty well. We both actually slept but by now I am beginning to cough (a gift from my new daughter). We then flew from Washington to Chicago and upon arrival discovered our flight to Colorado had been cancelled. They wanted to send us back to Washington but we begged to find any other route. A flight in a couple hours to Houston and then on to CO would get us home by 4:00pm (originally supposed to get in at 11:15am). That flight ended up being delayed so we missed our connection. Another due out in a couple hours. Sitting and waiting. Then, that 5:00pm flight was delayed and delayed and finally we boarded. Mechanical issues that were supposed to take a few minutes and 1 1/2 hours later we had to get back off because the pilot had now "timed out" for federal regulations to be able to fly. A couple hours later we had another pilot and yay, got to board again. After sitting for another 1 1/2 hours--more mechanical issues- with no air! (Houston= 80 degrees and humidity= close to passing out a few times) we finally took off. Landed at 11PM. Considering it was 5am our time, this was about a 33 hour trip.
BUT so glad to be home. I only wish our entire family were here. Already feel like we are missing something in our house.

Monday- last day in Ghana--I600 filed!

Today was a lounging day waking up. To breakfast and more time spent with the people around the hotel. More coloring, jump rope, singing, etc. The ladies made us some traditional Ghanaian lunch! Banku (doughy starch) with some spicy vegetables/meat. You dip the dough to pick up the soup like meal. I thought the dough tasted much like sour dough, uncooked of course. Was pretty good and Emmanuella liked it.

Our appointment at the Embassy to file our I600 was at 2pm. This process is where they do the orphan investigation, etc., and once approved, we can get an "exit interview" appt. and obtain her visa. Usually taking 6-8 weeks to get an I600 approval.  The Embassy went fairly smooth and once in the interview, we basically answered a few brief questions and handed in our packet.  PRAY PRAY PRAY they could complete this quickly.

Back to the hotel we went out for our last Chicken and Rice meal together. The ladies had been telling Emmanuella since yesterday that she would have to return to the orphanage just one more time. Today the coordinator told her as well and said a familiar older boy would come to get her.  I have no idea what all she actually understand, but she says, "no" to this and looks sad. I know she at least knows she has to return there. The part I'm not sure on is if she really believes we will come back. She has seen kids leave with their "abruni (white) mommies and daddies" so I can only hope. We walked back from the meal with daddy carrying her on his back. We kept her awake because we know the taxi will be at least an hours drive and then she can take her nap. As soon as she saw the older boy from the orphanage upon arriving back at the hotel, she knew. She started to cry. This was incredibly hard. We gave the boy a few Cedis (their money) and asked that he keep her family book safe (he had a backpack he stored everything) and show it to her often and whenever she asked. We sent a bag full of things (coloring books, etc) but we know they will likely not be around for long. Hopefully he can at least keep this picture book of us safe. We finally had to walk away. I don't think we've ever done anything so hard.
Our flight left at 11:15pm so we arrived at the airport by 8:00.

Sunday

Sunday- another day of leisure hanging around the hotel. After breakfast and having a nice time with the caregiver ladies (they make our breakfast and clean the rooms) we decided to try swimming. She loves to be around the water, put her legs in it, and even through her new "fish" in it. However, when it came time to get in she was not having any part of it. Actually the first time Glenn brought her in the water, we couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying. It continued for one minute until we brought her out. One more time and then it was obvious she was now crying. I think really not understanding any of this water thing. There is no clog in the bathtub so she has only been using the sprayer to take showers and has not taken an actual bath. Maybe that will help.
We have discovered she needs naps so an afternoon of sleeping and then off to Southern Fried Chicken for our big meal of the day. We invited the only housekeeper left today, Hagar, to go with us. It was very nice and she said it was her first time there. Afterwards she invited us to see the part of town she lives in so we took a cab to Osu, which is pretty close to the ocean. Frankies is a popular restaurant/ice cream place and you can sit out front and watch a busy street. It was a nice ending to the day.....and then, all the sudden as if it were Colorado, the wind and rain came in. We grabbed a cab and it started to rain even harder. As our adventures with cabs go, the wipers didn't work. I have no idea how that man got us home as I couldn't see ANYTHING out the windows.

Saturday- Christ Outreach Orphanage

Today we visited her orphanage. It is in Kasoa, which could take 20 minutes but todays traffic was especially bad and it took at least an hour +. Kasoa is outside of Accra, but sorta still an outskirt of it. Once in town there are just people everywhere. Every street (like Teshie where we visited on Thurs) is just lined as far as you can see wide and also deep of people selling stuff. There is no gap where there isn't a make-shift shop and then you have all the people (mostly women) weaving in an out with stuff on their heads. As we go through traffic your car is approached with anything from doorbells to plungers. I suppose if you're in traffic long enough you could do all your shopping. 
When we arrived Emm did not start crying, but didn't look happy. She was quiet and as her friends approached and wanted to grab her to go play, she pushed them away. We were told later that is "snubbing them" as she is now special with a mommy and daddy. She smiled for a few of the pictures and did relax fairly quickly not clinging to us. This orphanage is not as nice as the other. We didn't see anything anywhere outside except for the benches the adults were sitting on some shoes as the kids took them off to enter each room. It's an open courtyard building and as we entered each room I was so saddened. The kids rooms contained only beds and they were so dirty. Once small piece of foam with a dirty sheet over it. The kitchen looked like something from the 1800's. A few pots and pans but they told me their main cooker had broken and so the girl was "fanning" the fire as she was making palm nuts into a soup. We saw some pigeons inside (they were free to fly away but were probably being coaxed to stay by being fed) that they confirmed replaced chicken. The kids (sorry if I wrote this in a previous post) only get chicken at Christmas and only a small piece. We were shown her school room but there was only one bench in it. Mmm, I have no idea where they store the books, paper, desks or ??? Another room had a chalk board with some very difficult algebra written on it. We think they copied this from something for show for us as I can't imagine any of those kids could do that. I never saw toys. Beyond 3 posters in the sitting room I saw no pictures. Dirt and cement is what that place is made of.
We were dropped off at Southern Fried Chicken once back in town. Chicken and Rice again is all she wanted.

Friday in Ghana

FRIDAY- She awoke at her usual 6:30am. Routine routine. "Mommy take bath", get dressed, brush teeth, take cough medicine, and so forth. She is starting to say "Eat" and "I am huungry". Her large eyes are just adorable as they change expression all the time. Today we pulled out the dress. She put it on so proudly and stood in front of the body size mirror doing a native dance. I had turned on my ipad to find some music and remembered I had the World Cup theme song. As soon as she heard it she started singing along and knew all the words (although it's cute to hear how she pronounces them-I'm sure she doesn't know what they mean). We started talking more with the ladies that do the breakfast cooking and housekeeping. They are so very nice and it's so nice to get a local perspective. We talked alot about American, but also about Ghana. Too much to write but I learned alot. They very much want to come visit. They must have an invitation to do so and I found out that just means a letter to the embassy. I totally will do that for them but I can't imagine how they could ever come up with the money on what they make (approx $100/month for 12 hour days 6 days/week). The cost of living is high as to eat at a place like Southern Fried Chicken (similar to a Kentucky Fried Chicken but a little nicer) would cost them 1/5- 1/4 their monthly salary.
Nearly everyone here speaks English, but their accents can be so heavy it is often difficult for us to understand what they are saying unless you really concentrate. Even newspapers and TV is in English, but then they all also speak their "region" language. There are four regions in Ghana and Emm is from the central. She speaks Twi.
We hung out all morning at the hotel. Coloring, jumping, doing nothing, dancing, singing, whatever....then we decided to venture out to the mall. We didn't know it but it was the wrong time to do so. Friday at 2pm = lots of traffic so a 15 minute ride turned to about a hour. The mall was an adventure. Tons of people around it (some begging everywhere) on one side of the street, but only higher up people actually go into the parking lot and in the building. It was relatively small and each store was very small. The prices were ridiculous (like $18 for a shirt you can buy at walmart for $5) but we had fun eating there. Chicken Abuti (sp?) and rice (again) and then ice cream. We got 5 different flavors but as soon as Emm tried the chocolate she dug for it and demolished it. We saw diversity here as there were people from India, UK and surely a few other countries. The Taxi ride home was once again an adventure in itself. A taxi was blocking one street exit of the mall because he had a cart full of stuff (there is a very small walmart like store attached) and it caused quite a scene. All of the other drivers were so angry, getting out and yelling who knows what. It went on for at least 5-10 minutes and many more drivers would honk and join in. For sure someone would have been shot if this scene was in America!

Thursday in Ghana

We started today by heading to CKO --it's another orphanage that our agency adopts out of in Teshie, a city just west of Accra. It took us about 30 minutes and the route to get there is along the ocean. Places are not all that distantly far, but the traffic is horrible and gets worse as the day goes on. Since Accra is the biggest city in Ghana, it's more commercialized and not as much poverty in view (it's all relatively speaking). As we approached Teshie it reminded my much of Juarez, Mexico in that there are "set up shops" everywhere. Actually, it's constant along the main road but I can't believe how many are situated on every road off the main one. I can seriously see why it's hard to make money because it's seems it's all people have...a shop to try and sell to someone else. Things don't ever look new to me because even if they are, the dust covers them quickly. Anyway, the orphanage kids were outside at their tables having their "last day of school party", as break starts today for one week. The party didn't seem to consist of anything other than singing and clapping. We met Emily, a missionary there for 3 months assisting with the distribution of monies/food from "Feeding the Orphans". We had only been here a few short days but it was so nice to see an American and ask her so many of the questions I've been wondering. I recognized some of the kids that are being adopted by families from facebook. One of the older girls and Emily took us to one of the shops so we could buy the kids some drinks and "biscuits" (or cookies). I thought of my Aunt and Savannah and how much they would love to be there as the kids danced, sang, and played the drums for us. It was truly the first time I felt like I was in Africa. We toured the building and it so saddened my heart to know most of these 46 kids have no prospective parents, let alone eat and sleep in those conditions.
Emmanuella did NOT sleep well the night before. Her cough had gotten worse (even with our medicines) and I know we only slept about a total of one hour with 3 minute increments hearing her cough or having her toss and kick me (not purposefully). The bed is very hard so it's difficult to get comfortable anyway, but we have air conditioning, blankets and hot water (non of which the orphanage has) so no complaining here. Anyway, she fell asleep on the way so I'm not sure if it was the combination of feeling a little yucky, being tired, get awoken, and seeing the orphanage, or if it was just the fact alone that she saw what looked like a place she had been dropped off before. Because she immediately started crying and holding onto Glenn as he carried her. This truly broke my heart. We hadn't seen her cry yet. We had one of the boys translate to her that we were just visiting, but I'm not sure she believed us. As time went on she became a little more comfortable, but never wanted to venture too many feet from us. Oh, it's gonna be so hard on Monday.
After that we went to "The Fern House". It's a crisis pregnancy center that a new Ghanaian adoptive mom friend helps collect sponsorship, etc., for. I had talked to them and they had two babies that have been sick they wanted me to look at. Thankfully I didn't think either of them were that sick but I was able to educate them on dehydration, etc. Basic stuff I totally thought they would know. They asked me to come back when they can be all together so I can do some education. I get the impression these moms stay here for a while after giving birth so postpartum stuff would come in the most handy. I learned a mother will deliver at the local hospital and they will keep the baby there like the US if it is born prematurely. These services are not throughout Ghana. In some of the more remote regions everything is still very tribal and not modernized.
On our way back into Accra we stopped at the courts as our coordinator had received a call that the decree had been released and was ready for pick up. YAY! this can sometimes take many many days or weeks but we need it to file the I600 before we leave the country. Seeing it in hand with our last name attached was truly a blessing.  I was then told I could call and attempt to make an appointment for our I600 (the visa exit paperwork). We had already been emailing them for days and I"m told you have to be incredibly persistent. I got right through (amazing, now this wouldn't happen in America) and the lady told me she only had appointments left on Monday at 2pm. This is exactly what we had wanted as we flight out that evening and they don't do appts on Fridays.
We had brought Emily with us and got dropped off at the most Americanized restaraunt in Accra. Emily had only been there once since arriving a month ago and she was truly drooling over the french fries and nachos. The kids (and she eats only with them) pretty much eat beans, rice, oats, eggs, some fish, some spicy soup and Foutou (a pasty starch). Emmanuella wanted....you guessed it, Chicken. I'm told it's not often the kids get it and if so, very small portions. She thinks it's the ultimate delicacy. She is slowly venturing to trying some other things though, she wouldn't try my chicken enchalads (chicken on the bone is how she recoginizes it) but did have one chip.  We took a taxi back to the hotel and loaded Emily up with some home favorites...chocolate, sour candy, and snack bars. She is such a gift to those kids and really sacrificing herself for the Lord.

Emmanuella loves putting her feet in the pool water. She says "brush teeth mommy" and does a great job at it. Whipped out the jump rope this evening and did it right the first time and second time and on. Scolded daddy for leaving his chocolate wrappers around. Played follow the leader with Cara the French girl, her mom, and I. Asked me, "why daddy go inside?".  Colored more on just her 5th page in her coloring book (very orderly). Continues to count everything. When she says something she has learned or does something correctly (like "mommy see me jump"), she likes for you to say good job or wants a thumbs up.
The last fun thing we did tonight is Skyped with Bryce. She immediately recognized him and did a really good job at talking to him. When another kid came into his camera (he is at the Olympic training center training this week), she pointed and said, "Logan". I didn't have the heart to tell her no. Unfortunately, we don't have a webcam so he could not see her back :(

Day 3 in Ghana- awesome

Today is Wednesday (Mon-day, Tues-day, Wednes-day, ....and on and on sings Emmanuella ALL the time). She knows quite a bit of songs in English.  She loves to count. She hates pizza. She LOVES chicken and rice. She is not afraid of anything so far, but cautious when it counts (swimming pool). She loves to touch you but just now beginning to be okay with a kiss. "Milo" is her favorite drink (like a chocolate milk). Plain bread with no jelly. Takes a few minutes to be happy when she wakes up. Is determined (didn't know how to jump rope but tried and tried until she got it right). Loves to show you when she does something right ("look daddy"). Has rhythm and will dance in her chair when she hears a song she likes.
Yup, she started calling us mommy and daddy within the first hour and continues. She now likes to say she "I love you daddy, I love you mommy" and then wants us to say it back. I can't believe how quickly she is learning. Saying a few phrases in English (color now please, I'm finished mommy, take a bath, come here daddy, etc) but also learning many words....colors, names of her brothers and sisters, and so on. She is very well mannered and I can tell they teach them to pick up after themselves. She always throws her trash away and likes to fold her clothes and keep things neat. We have also seen the attitude, but so far it's cute. Mostly when we try to give her something she doesn't like....when daddy tried to put jam on her bread this morning she wasn't having any part of that. Pushed his hand away and had a very cute sorta rolled eye look. When he tries to color on her page she responds the same. Scolding him but not in a mean way. I like that she knows what she wants, but is not demanding. We have things in the room that I'm sure she wants but she asks first and doesn't seem greedy, if you know what I mean. We have a suitcase full of things that I keep thinking she will just plunge through but she is leaving it alone unless we offer something.
 Today was all day with just her. Although she broke away briefly when there was a french girl here in the courtyard for a bit that had a baby too and although they were each cautious, joined in playing and had a great time. Wow, three way language barrier...can be tough but still so much fun. We ventured out late afternoon and walked to the pharmacy because she has a cough that has gotten much worse since yesterday. I was afraid she wouldn't sleep well tonight without something. I asked if they had anything for a cough and the next thing I knew she had given me two bottles (amoxicillin and mucinex), slapped some directions on the outside for her age and told me 21 Cedis (approx $17). I knew she didn't need antibiotics but what do you do? you pay for it and thank her! Thankfully I have some adult cough medicine that I could cut and crush and add to the liquid (she did not like it but drank it anyway).  It was great to walk the neighborhood and feel like we were in a different country. Most people were friendly, but definitely some outright ignored us. We are told Ghanaians do not like the British or French much and we are in areas many live. We were probably mistaken for them as many would look uninterested but when we said hi (and they realize you are American), they quickly change their facial appearance and very politely said hi back.  After the pharmacy we decided to take a cab to the Southern Fried Chicken place we ate at last night and was reasonable and good. We asked a cab how much and he repeated the place and laughed. He acted like he wasn't sure where it was and I mentioned it wasn't far (we knew it had to be somewhere close from being there before). He told us 3 Cedes (which is how much we paid from the hotel last night) and so we thought okay that was reasonable. Hopped in and within 30 seconds straight down the road we were there! We now think he was laughing thinking we were just lazy Americans!

Travel and Full and Final court decree

For those of you who do facebook, you probably already know. I decided to post there first because it was faster and so many people would see it right away. There are pictures on there too.
Emmanuella is ours, another Boarman.

We flew out Sunday morning and sat at the Washington DC airport for 10 hours before boarding our flight to Ghana at 10:44pm. I used to think I could sleep anyway, anywhere, but now I know that is either not true, or I"m getting too old because my back couldn't handle that plane. Little sleep for Glenn or I. But, we landed safely at 1:00pm and followed the crowd. I think I can finally know what it's like to look different. There were very few Caucasian people on that plane but especially in the airport and from then on. I did feel often that I was being starred at. Such a good experience to know what my daughter will feel at times.
I took a trip to the bathroom and then knew I was not in the US for sure. We went through the customs lines and laughed when the only bag they opened contained only food (macaroni, raumen, etc). The guy was laughing! Coming around the corner I recognized our coordinator from pictures and he escorted us to his car. Can I say hot? After loading our bags, he left for just a few seconds and I took advantage and changed from my sweats to shorts very quickly.  Sweaty, hot, dusty, was our ride and it didn't surprise me as great new friends have warned me about all the luxury we have ahead. Our drive wasn't long to the hotel (kinda like a guest house?) and after dropping the bags, we went and got money and loaded the cell phone a recently adopting mom let me borrow.  We were starving by now so our coordinator took us to a close by sit down restaurant. I got my first complete fish. Complete I say....like good ole days camping. At least I didn't take the coordinators advice and get the goat head.  After our diner, and being bitten about 10 times by bugs already, we walked the short distance to the hotel.  Our coordinator had asked us when we got there if we wanted to see our daughter today. Of course! Because she is two hours away, he had been trying to coordinate a driver to bring her since our arrival. At this point (5:30 our time), it wasn't looking so good but he still said it might happen. Otherwise, we would see her in the AM before court. So we got back and kinda just waited. I got online and we organized the room and showered. I told Glenn at this point it was all so weird. We kept looking out the window not sure if I would lay eyes on our daughter for the first time or not. I told Glenn I felt like I was on that TV show (almost made it?) where people are in a foreign country and are smuggling drugs. The atmosphere and many of the scenes seemed the the same, only we were legal! I think because of all the unknowns, and the true blindness of it all.  The people here are nice but don't explain much. They say, "stand by the tree" but don't really tell you why or how long, etc. It's somewhat entertaining just trying to figure out what is next and we were feeling this way already on the first night. Anyway, we were pretty tired so fell asleep by 8:00....that was a mistake! Awoke at 11:00pm and laid there for at least 2 hours. Finally took a half of benedryl and that got me till morning. I wasn't nervous at all, just not tired.
I was definitely not sure how this would go, I mean, what do you say? if she can't understand you? if you try to hug her will she cry??  These things did go through my mind, but I was so at peace about it all (in my stomach and my mind) but then I kept wondering if there was something wrong with me because I wasn't so anxious. Kinda not about peace because I was so at peace if you know what I mean....
We awoke to the alarm and went down to have breakfast. In the middle of breakfast she arrived. Emmanuella is her given name but we will call her something different, just haven't decided yet. She is 4 1/2. They just came on in and she was smiling right away. She had been pretty coaxed in the car she would be meeting us and she looked pretty relaxed. I gave her a hug and she just kept on smiling. We sat her down and offered her some food. How many people get this moment? I'm sitting here thinking, really, this is my new daughter? and now I don't know what to say? So many thoughts and it's all so surreal it was a little awkward the first couple minutes but she seemed fine. Ate some pineapple and as my annoying self always does, got the camera out and started on the pics. She seemed fine with that too though so yeah! 
She was eating her pineapple and then started to cough (I could tell she had a little cold). She got up to walk outside (manners!!) and I had called her back (because I didn't know why she got up) and she came over and I could see the motions that she was going to throw up. I grabbed the napkin close by and was inaugurated with mucous. I'm sure with the long car ride (she had been up since 4am), not feeling well, and then cold mucous on top, she couldn't keep it in. It bonded me right there though. We left shortly after to drive to court. She opened up immediately and became so playful. She called us mommy and daddy right away. Clapping our hands, playing with my phone, singing, etc. I thought...this girl is not shy, I love it! She loved Glenn immediately too and sat on his lap for a little of the ride.
After driving by the Embassy the previous day, I had different expectations of court. But, when I got there I felt like I was back in one of those roots movies. It's just there on the side of the street (you can see the ocean from it though), not much protection and you walk in and wait. We sat down without being told anything (we just followed and sat) and then sat. We waited probably 2+ hours with never knowing what was next. People would come and go, but I never knew why. There was no judge, and didn't seem to be much going on? Emmanuella entertained herself with our paper and pen for a while. She was copying the newspaper letters and counting up to 100! She loves to count and will count everything.  She does know some English but it's not all sentences. Sometimes we think we don't understand her because she is either talking too quietly, or because of her accent. But sometimes she is just talking in sentences in her language and laughing almost knowing we don't have a clue what she is saying. Most people here have a heavy accent that I really have to focus on. They all seem to speak English though, (even the newspaper the people were reading in the court was in English).  She finally told me she wanted some "tea" so the coordinator got up to go get her some. They were gone seconds when the lawyer (we had briefly been introduced) motioned for us to follow him and we went through a door. It was there that the judge sat. The lawyer panicking called the coordinator to get her back here fast! The judge was very nice though. When Emmanuella arrived with her juice the judge asked her why she hadn't greeted her? and smiled. The lawyer read over the petition and said a few other things and then the judge responded with "yes, full and final decree". YAY!!! the whole process with the judge was a few minutes and then we were done.We were then told to stand by a tree (it's cooler) so we did for a bit. I was glad because it gave us a few minutes to take in the environment. There were women selling eggs (in a basket on their heads), bananas, coconut, etc. There was an old dark blue bus (with the solid sides but a small slit at the top so you can breath) with prisoners parked right in front of us. Daddy gave Em (some nerds). She spit them out--I think because she didn't like the crunchy inside. She closed the box and used it as a musical instrument shaking it back and forth.
The rest of the day we've spent hanging out. I wish I could give you all the details but there are simply too many. It has been so much fun. We have definitely fallen in love and when you meet her you will know why. She is full of personality. She loves to sing, she has amazing rhythm, she smiles all the time, and just acts like she's known us forever. She's not afraid to tell us how she feels (pizza was the wrong food to order for dinner--she doesn't like it apparently). We seriously can't imagine it going any smoother (so far, we know....). I was a little worried how we would entertain her in this small room, but she has entertained us. She has been asleep for a bit now and it's just precious to see her laying there with Glenn (he's pretty tired too).

Court Date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just received an email that we got a court date and it's "fine if the Boarman's come". I was like, "fine?!  what does that mean?!"  Does that mean it's okay if they come or they better come. After asking that questions I recieved a response that said that is Ghanaian for we need to be there! Too funny.  All I know right now is the date is April 12th and we are supposed to stay for 7 days (Monday to Monday?). So now I need to get busy and find tickets! We may only be able to get flights on certain days so I need to check into it all. The biggest timing bummer of all.....Bryce is scheduled to fly out to San Diego for training on Monday so he won't be around to help. Not sure what we're going to do with the rest of the kiddos at home now!

Timeline update

I received an email update from the in country coordinator yesterday: ON THE BOARMAN,IT WILL PROBABLY 2 OR 3 WEEKS FOR COURT.


Once we receive a court decree (please pray that it would be a full and final), it takes a few days and then with decree papers in hand we can apply for our I-600 at the Embassy (hoping we don't need to be in country for any of this but it's a possible). They will then do an orphan investigation that can take 2-3+ months. Once that is done we get a visa exit interview in which we would need to be present for and then with the visa (only administered on Fridays), we can come home.

Referral Accepted!

I left off last time with us waiting for info on the boy. Well, we found out he had a brother, which is potentially not always a big deal as most any-all of these kids have siblings somewhere. Some of them might not be adoptable though for various reasons. Sometimes a mom will relinquish one or two and not the others (much more to that, we can chat sometime if you want more) After waiting some more time, it was confirmed that his brother was actually in the same orphanage and that they would be adopted out together (as it should be). Sorry guys, not feeling lead to three!
We had decided in the meantime that we would officially accept the girl and if God wanted us to have only one he would reveal this (by the boy not working out and no others available). We were getting ready to tell the agency yes (some days went by when we were awaiting the new non-sibling contract) to the girl when they revealed the official news about the boy. However, we were thrown for a loop because they mentioned in the same email that they had new pics of a sibling set but no social/medicals at this point (meaning it isn't an official referral yet). Once again we were left struggling to decipher what God was telling us. As you know, in my last entry I said that if siblings appeared in the meantime maybe we knew we were still supposed to be pursuing them. By now though, we have felt lead to the girl. I looked at her pic a million times and prayed about her. The agency of course can't/won't commit to any time frame on when they might receive the remaining info (Ghana is Ghana and their timing is up to them). So, that means we could have waited a couple days or even a couple months.....only to find out these kids were not medically cleared, too old, etc. I really wanted to see the pic since we waited so long before only to clearly see the girl was way out of our age range. But, the agency didn't want to show pics without all the info (then why the heck even tell me they exist! I mean, aren't there 147 million orphans out there and they are all potential). 
So, what to do? Wait weeks or months and find out a negative? Turn the girl down and have regrets? We certainly didn't want to make her wait all that time to find out we were or were not going to adopt her. I was excited about her, and even excited about one knowing how much easier all this would be to handle both time wise and financially. But, I was grieving for the imagined son I thought for the last year I was going to have. God does work in amazing ways though. Here it took me some time to get used to the idea of two. I fought it but ultimately felt I needed to be obedient to his calling. He's maybe laughing because he knew I could actually only handle one all along and just wanted me to trust him. Now he is blessing me? As always there is more details but you get the basics.
Ultimately, we felt peace with the one. Glenn kept saying that we had made our decision the week before to accept her and let God do the rest and so we should go with that. The more he said it, the more I felt lead that way and we just all came together and agreed.
So.....we officially sent an email on Sunday morning, March 6th, that we accept the girl. We are working on giving her a name so I will explain and keep you updated on that. Once we have passed court and have the decree that lets me tell the world she is ours and I can post pics. She is approximately 4 1/2-5 1/2 yrs old and definitely adorable. I will update you on the time line when I get more details in the next couple of days. For now, we are getting our Visas and waiting on a court date (which can take weeks) and putting together a package that someone can take over to give to her. More on that later too.

potential referrals

Friday, Jan 28th we received an email from Robin (director of agency) with info that there was a boy and girl available, but they are not related. Basic info on the girl--she is supposidly 4 1/2, a picture and medical/social report (although there isn't much contained in this). This makes her officially availabe to accept as a referral.  We received a picture of the boy, and an approximate age of 6. However, his medical/social is not in yet so cannot be "officially referred". This has stirred up a bunch of discussion and emotions/thoughts. We really wanted siblings so that a pair wouldn't have to be broken up. But, Ghana is a country we are finding out that most that are adopting want siblings so they are rarely broken up (Ghana is a country known for siblings so dah, like others who want siblings, were drawn here). So does that mean the kids there that aren't siblings are more in need of families? who knows.We know any child without a mom and/or dad needs one. It would be neat to have the sibling bond, or maybe they would look alike, or etc.  On the other hand, they may still not look alike and we know they won't look like us! ha! Also in Ghana many family members take care of one another and mothers can have children by many different dads so many kids don't actually know who is their true biological sibling versus step, cousin, etc.
I can argue both ways and in the end, the sibling thing is probably a box in my mind of the 'perfect' situation. I am trying to let go of that list and let God. I remind myself that at the beginning of this journey when we had persued Doreen, we had decided to adopt a second and that would have not been a sibling if that situation would have worked out. We are all God's children and certainly will be siblings once adopted into our family.
At this point, we are feeling led to accept these kids if everything comes in ok. If these children are not ours, God will find a way to let us know that. I suppose if siblings were to become available in the meantime that could be our answer?
Here is what is perfect about these kids; they are beautiful, they are a boy and a girl and the boy is likely older (my favorite order), they are ages I think we could best handle (not too young, probably perfect for starting school soon after they arrive), they could be close to the same age. I have prayed about twins. Being a seasoned mom I know how much easier it is to have them close together. We know we will probably never know their birthdates, but they seem to be pretty close in age (from pics and info from those who have seen them). Okay, so you ask who has seen them. Well I don't know anything about the girl, but a family that was in Ghana to get their kids back in November took many pictures while they were there. The boy is in many of these and they remember seeing him- stating he was smiling always and just a happy kid. She thinks he is probably closer to 5. Funny because these countries usually error on the younger side not older.
I admit, I'm getting excited. This could be it! But, I'm cautious as well with my feelings.
So pray for us, that we make the decision that is God's will for us.