We have a date!!!

Yes, it is finally true. We have an appointment date at the SDA in Ukraine to adopt our 2 children. It's May 21st!!!! Although it is a little later than expected we are thrilled to just have something secured! The good thing is that Rob has done so well at work that he has won a trip to Cancun in early May (way to go hon!) so we will now get to go on that trip together. Sorry Crystal, another opportunity may present itself in the future. Crystal, Rob's daughter, was going to go with him if he were home during our 10 day wait period if our appointment had been in April when we had expected it to be.
It is fantastic timing as we will be launching an orphan ministry at our church (very overwhelming at this point) this Sunday. We will get to share our good news then. We were very concerned for quite some time and thought that we were never going to get a date. That's what we get for doubting God's timing yet again. We had been told everything from "your invitation letter has been lost", "you have an appointment but we don't know when it is", "you have a registration number but it hasn't been released", "no more news, maybe a week from Tuesday we will hear more", so needless to say we were getting very worried and frustrated. Others around us were all getting dates and here we sat; still waiting on some news, ANY news.
Well we finally got the word today so we will be calling ASAP to confirm our appointment and start making preparations for the trip. Of course, we have been preparing for this for over a year but it's hard to really start preparing until you have something secure to work with.
We have entered the world of the "crossover" van. Notice I didn't say "mini"van. We prefer to think of our new vehicle as a low riding SUV with sliding doors. It looks a lot like one of the fish in our aquarium (Bala Shark). We have also fenced in our yard and are getting ready to have the house trim repainted and power washed. In addition, we have remodeled the game room with some additional seating and storage. We are feeling rather poor monetarily but are so rich in spirit that it compensates well. At least we are telling ourselves that for the moment.
Everytime I walk by the room where the children will be, I try to picture what it will be like when there are actually little people in those beds. It even makes me teary eyed now just thinking about it. In due time, in due time.
The Lord's timing is always perfect. We will be here for the trip to Cancun for Rob's work (May 3-6) and for Mayra's 21st birthday (May 10th) and will be able to get the kids from school (May 12) all in time to get to Ukraine for our May 21st appointment, celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary on the 26th and Laura's 29th (ha ha) birthday on the 29th. Mom/June/Gram/Babuska (Laura's mother) will be joining Laura (me) for the ten day wait which might be around her birthday (June 5). We are also hoping (I know what all of you are thinking, no way, but we can still hope) to be back for Crystal's 21st birthday as well (June 22). Even though Mothers Day(May 13) will come and go again this year without the children, I know the next ones will be filled with additional joy.
For those of you who have been praying with and for us, don't stop now! The journey is just beginning and I'm sure we will need lots of prayer along the way.