So a few weeks ago when we found out about the *wording* misunderstandings in Uganda, I asked you to pray for the families that were currently in Uganda waiting for visas...including one family working to get their precious daughter home that needed medical attention. Well, SHE is HOME!! Amazing!! Watch below...

As I sat here watching the homecoming video...I started to cry. Because I am happy for their family. Oh soooo happy! But also because I can't imagine the relief that mama felt getting off the plane and falling into her husband's arms. The joy she felt re-uniting with her entire family...all in one place. finally. I can't wait for the day we get to walk off the plane with our sweet, Ugandan babe. as one family. I know I will be a wreck. I used to make fun of my mum becuase she would cry often at so many things...but now I am that mama! I can't imagine what I will be like after 6 weeks in Africa...Andy jokes that I better stay hydrated because I will be losing so much liquid through my tears. {so sweet, right?! ha.}

Seriously though, we can't wait for all of you to meet out precious one. You have blessed us abundantly with support, love, encouragement, prayers, notes, calls. Thank you. Thank you for loving us the way that you do! It means the world to us!!

"If a local church is to become a gospel church, it must not only receive the gospel and pass it on, but also embody it in a communty life of mutual love." [John Stott]

Go here to read the latest update from Lifeline Children's Services. It makes my heart happy. A decision has not been made but it seems as the though our attorney remains hopeful and is working tirelessly to represent adoptive families and children. There have been many discussions regarding this issue and we are hopeful that whatever conclusion they come to will be in the best interest of the Ugandan children.

(thank you Lonely Planet/Uganda)

So our home study was Feb. 7 at 11:30am. We get a call at 10:55am from our social workers saying they would be at our house in 5 minutes. 5 MINUTES!?!?! Seriously?? I was still in my pjs-hadn't showered yet and still putting clothes away in our room. Thankfully o-boy was dressed and ready for the day as was my husband. I can't tell you how fast we were running through the house trying to do last minute things. I threw on clothes and a hat. Yes. A hat. Because since the night before, my hair was in a pony tail and a headband. I wasn't about to let them see the mess on my head.

After I got over the shock of them being 30 minutes early (A said they probably do this on purpose:), I greeted them at the door with a smile, welcomed them into my home and proceeded to make lunch for o-boy. I had planned on doing this before they got there:) and since Owen was leaving for a time with my mother-in-law, it had to be done. So all was fine. Andy gave him a tour of the house while she started asking me questions in the kitchen. I didn't realize this until later but he actually looked in our closets. mmm..let's just say, I am just thankful nothing fell on the man.

Then there is our garage...we have rats or mice or some kind of rodent. He wasn't all that excited about it but was very kind and said that we should take care of it. If by taking care of it, he meant leaving a little pack out for the ants to take back to their home so they don't invade ours...and then finding out that the rodent took the poison pack (don't worry, Owen can't get to them! and really it is our last ditch effort. We have tried all things non-toxic. Unfortunately, they don't really do the trick!) back to his home and hasn't been back since...then....well, I guess we have taken care of it...opps...

So she is still asking me questions..all the regular ones like why we want to adopt, what led us to Uganda, what we think of "corporal punishment", what I would change about Andy...She wanted to know Andy's strengths as a dad (not hard to list those!!) and his weaknesses (a little harder to come up with). Not that Andy is perfect (who is??), but he is an amazing dad!! He is so caring, hands-on and really just adores his boy which I LOVE! Anyways, after he was finished with Andy, then they interviewed us together, asked us more questions and had us sign some things for Hague. Then after two hours, they told us we will be great parents (hope so, since we already have 1:) and they were off.

Overall, it was harmless. It did feel like we were old friends just sharing. There were a couple of awkward moments but we were really pleased with how it went. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! We so appreciate them!!

Yesterday, Lifeline posted this. As of now, it is the latest information we have. Even with all of the unknowns, we still feel like God has given us a love for the country of Uganda that is from Him and Him alone. We know that this is completely in God's hands and we are resting in the knowledge that He knows exactly how this is going to play out. We are hopeful...."no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has planned for those who love him.." Isaiah 64:4.

Please do continue to pray for those who are still in country waiting for the news and for visas. Pray for peace and comfort. Good things will come out of this (some already have that I will share later!) and I am sure of it!!

today at 1130a is our home study. for those of you who aren't familiar with this process...a social worker (from a hague accredited agency) will be coming to our home to interview us, get to know us and make sure our home is fit for another child. this is the last step before they can write up our actual report and send it to Lifeline. YES!

nervous? yes. anxious? yes. excited? yes.

can't wait!

ok we just got some word from our agency...we just found out that "Legal Guardianship Immigrant Visa issuance in Uganda is currently on “hold” due to a problem with the wording used for the legal guardianship paperwork in the Ugandan courts." this is not good. our attorney has an appointment tomorrow or today (not sure with the time difference) with the US Embassy to try and see what is going on. there are a lot of rumors circulating the internet now and i would love to hear directly from our attorney (through lifeline:) what exactly this means. i can speculate but would rather wait for the news...

if you are a praying person, would you join us? pray for the attorneys and those at the meeting. that they would come to a conclusion (with the US Embassy) that would care for the children in the best possible way. that the conclusion would honor the country of Uganda and the people who live there.

i do know that we also need to pray for the families that are there now and for those traveling. some families have been there for weeks, some just arrived and for visas to suddenly be put on hold...well it has got to be frustrating. pray for the sweet children too. one girl is super ill and needs medical attention sooner rather than later.

please pray. pray for God to move mightily in the weeks to come. pray for His timing and perfect will.