It's a DATE!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Good news!  Good news! 

We just got approved by the US State Department for our case and our Embassy appointment is confirmed for Wednesday, June 22^nd.  This is the absolute LAST STEP of this 18-month marathon we’ve been running.

We’ll be departing this Saturday, June 18^th and returning home on Saturday, June 25^th.  Last week was Kate’s 1^st birthday, so I’m very sad that she wasn’t home for that.  But am VERY excited to have her home before the 4^th of July.  When she lands on American soil in 2 weeks, she’ll be a US Citizen and we couldn’t be more proud!  She’s an orphan immigrating to the United States of America – how cool is that?!?  We bought her the Old Navy Flag T-shirt just like her big brothers and sister, so she’ll actually be able to wear it for the holiday!  Awesome!  More importantly, she is joining the covenant family of God and we are most thankful that He has blessed us with her.

My parents are graciously coming to stay with the kids while we travel and for a few weeks after while we get our sea legs.  My Gram is not doing well (last living grandparent for us both), so we have Uncle Kirk’s family ready to fill in the gap if my parents are called back home to Northwest Arkansas.  Five days after we return home with Kate, Eric will depart for a 10-day work trip.  He’ll be home for 2 weeks and then gone on a second 15-day trip.  We plan to have Aunt Heather and cousins stay with us to get me through that time period (y’all know I don’t cook, right?  Gulp!).  Needless to say, the next 2 months are going to be somewhat of a blur for me and I am SO grateful for the support we’re already receiving.  Everyone is coming together to help us make this happen!

Arriving back home at DFW will be the culmination of all of this for us.  Those double glass doors opening at Terminal D will truly feel like the finish line to a very long and grueling run (even though, ironically, we’ll just be starting out on all new adventures…more races to run!).  I’ve dreamt often of this moment and have cheered others on as they crossed a similar path.  My wish is that Kate will have a big crowd to welcome her (and us!) home.  When looking back on footage, I want her to tangibly see and hear and know how loved and wanted she is (she won’t know it at the time, but for later in life when all those questions come…).  We tried to schedule our return flight to land at a convenient time on Saturday afternoon so that many can come and wish her well.  Please come, if you are able, and if not, know that we will see you very soon with our new baby girl!

Saturday, June 25^th

Coming in from Frankfurt

DFW Airport:  Terminal D

Lufthansa #438

Lands at 2:35 PM (clearing customs and immigration and claiming bags will take AT LEAST ½ hour, if not closer to an hour)

The International Arrival area at Terminal D has some food carts/vendors, tables and chairs, bathrooms, vending machines and another large waiting area with lots of chairs.

We’ll finally be able to post pictures and video the day we pick her up and we’ll have this travel blog active and going as well (assuming the power stays on which is very iffy in the summer months in Ethiopia), if you care to follow along.

Thanks for all the love, support and prayers!

Eric & Laura

Keira

Carter

Connor

….and Kate!