Almost time

Well. The time has nearly arrived. The last twelve days have flown by.... and, no, we didn't have any problems keeping busy. Pears are canned, peaches (unexpected) are canned, green beans (also unexpected...guess they were in my garden but I thought they wouldn't amount to much) are canned, fence is built, etc., etc., etc. In other words, all I HAVE to get done before noon tomorrow is pack. The packing is started, but then it's been started for a week. Laundry is now done, so I can officially pack the bags and have them waiting to head out.

Tuesday our visas came, which also meant that our passports are back in our hands. That's a relief. Wouldn't have gotten too far without those.

Paperwork is done for when we get home....doctor appointments are made for bloodwork and chest x-rays, psychologist appointment is made, all other paperwork is ready to pick up at the courthouse or ready to be notarized. That is a good feeling. Now....if they just don't change it all in the next week......

Addie and Will are so excited!! They can hardly wait to get on an airplane. Here's to hoping that they are still enjoying it after being on an airplane for 18 hours. Of course, we will have some layovers in there...a nine hour one in Chicago and a four hour one in Seoul.

Yesterday took a little different twist than we were expecting. Our agency found out that our children don't have visas and nearly flipped a lid. They told us that we had to have the visas before we could leave or the children would have to stay home. Hmmm. The agency we got our visas told us that our children wouldn't be able to get visas as they are Russian citizens, and our adoption agency was telling us that we had to have them or the children had to stay home. I called the visa department and they once again told me that they couldn't do that. I called our agency and they told me that we had to have them. I called the visa place and they said...... You get the picture. I finally decided to call the Russian Embassy, tried most of the day, and decided that was a futile effort. Nobody answered the phone. Finally, I talked to several families who have taken their Russian born children with them and they all assured me that our children could simply travel with two passports. Whew. We're going on faith with this one. We informed our agency of what we had found out and they told us we could "try it". Doesn't that sound encouraging?! Really. We feel comfortable with it, though we are taking notarized copies of all our adoption paperwork just to be on the safe side!

Tomorrow at this time, we will be sitting on an airplane, waiting to taxi. Sunday at this time, we will be flying somewhere over the ocean. Monday at this time (in Russia) we will be trying to get through customs in Russia. Tuesday at this time, we should be holding our newest son in our arms..... It all seems a little surreal. Please pray for us. For safe travels, of course. For our children's passports to "work". But most of all for Addie. We suspect that memories will come rushing in on her and we pray that we'll be able to help her work through them without her coming unglued. That's not pretty.

Blessings to you all in the coming week. We'll do our best to keep updates coming, but won't make any promises!!