It's Official...

We're going home!

We were unexpectedly scheduled for an afternoon interview appointment today, and then, even more unexpectedly, our requests for visas were approved!

Things came together today in a way that only God could have orchestrated, and I am just in awe of how He works. What a day!

So, we pick up the visas on Friday, and should be back in the U.S. this weekend! The adventure continues!

What's Left

There's not much left to do now before our return to the U.S. (That feels so strange to write. Can it be true?) We have passports and paperwork and all the loose ends seem to be getting tied up quickly.

Tomorrow morning we have a filing appointment with the Embassy, when I will bring in all of our documents and forms to have them checked by the Adoptions Unit. If it's all in order, they'll schedule us for an interview appointment. That could be tomorrow afternoon (oh, we hope!) or Monday afternoon. (They only schedule interview appointments on Monday and Wednesday afternoons here.)

If that next appointment goes well, they will approve our request for visas for the boys, and we'll be able to pick them up two business days later. Once those are in hand, we can board a plane.

Didn't we just get here? Part of me feels like we should have so much time left, and part of me feels like we've been here a long time - but in a good way. We've gotten into a routine, we've made friends, and this place is feeling very familiar and comfortable. It won't be easy to leave.

This country, these people, they will forever have a part of our hearts.

Below, a few photos of our days recently. Photos take a while to upload, so I might try to add a couple more later. For now:

Zoo

We enjoy visiting the zoo wherever we go, and this trip was no exception.

We went yesterday, about an hour from where we're staying, and had such a wonderful time. There was a baby elephant walking (and running!) around, chimpanzees clapping for more sugar cane, a baby giraffe to feed, and a camel to ride. What fun! 

There are only a few photos without faces that we can share with you now, but here they are:

We hope to be able to share their sweet faces with you in the next day or two - we heard yesterday morning that our court ruling was positive! We should officially have legal guardianship very soon! (Thank You, God!)

And Then There Were Five

We (finally!) got to meet the boys, almost four days ago now - though it seems like just yesterday. We had no idea what to expect, but it went really, really wonderfully. We spent several hours at their foster home, playing football and getting to know their foster mother; it was a really fantastic day. 

We went back the following day, Saturday, for a short visit and to bring them back to our apartment with us. The transition, though difficult, especially for them, has really gone very smoothly. 

We're slowly getting into a daily rhythm and learning life as a family of seven. There have been few tears and much sweetness, and we are grateful to be here, with these five little people.

Our hearts are full. God is so good.

All Settled In

We arrived at our destination late Wednesday night, after about two-and-a-half days of traveling. Our transition has been a pretty smooth one, thanks to kind drivers and apartment staff and wonderful neighbors. (Another adoptive family is staying across the hall, and they stocked our apartment with water, milk, eggs, bread, jelly, coffee, and the like before we arrived. What a thoughtful and unexpected welcome!)

We met a couple other families yesterday, did some grocery shopping, got a SIM card and airtime, and went out to dinner. Today, in a couple of hours, we'll be picked up to go meet the boys. We can't wait!

(The view from our balcony is a really beautiful one. AJ and I watched the sun come up this morning, and it was stunning. Hopefully next time I'll think to take a picture. I can't imagine that this view will ever get old.)

Company!

We got to go to the airport last night to pick up two very special visitors from very far away... And someone was very excited to be waiting for them:

It was bedtime, and he just couldn't stay still while we watched all of the passengers come down the escalators:

We (well, James - I completely missed their faces until they were almost in front of me!) finally saw them come down, and AJ and I went to greet them with hugs and leis. Miss Chloe was not a fan of the flowers, but after flying halfway around the world, who can blame her?

We are so excited that Nikki and Chloe can be here with us, all the way from Sicily, to welcome baby into the world!

And, we're back!

After heading to opposites sides of the earth last month - James to the Philippines and AJ and I to New York - our family is finally back under one roof. We each had a really enjoyable time on our respective vacations (or work trip, as the case may be...), and tried to make the most of the time we had in each place.

In the Philippines, where he went on his first (finally!) overseas assignment for the Navy, James spent a couple of days in Manila, where he got to explore a bit of the area near the hotel.

Flying into Manila International Airport; what a long flight!

Outside of the Ayala Museum in downtown Manila.

The rest of the time he was in Zamboanga, where they couldn't leave the base-within-a-base. Not as much fun, but plenty of time for running and relaxing.

Standing by an old Filipino marine tank on the base.

Military jeepney: These are what the Filipino army uses to transport their troops.

In New York, AJ and I did a ton of visiting with family and friends and managed to fit in a ton of fun along the way.  Our boy was a great traveler, as usual, and has not stopped talking about the people we saw and the things we did since we returned. Here are some quite a few highlights:

AJ asked Papa to catch a frog for him at my cousin Matt & Madison's
post-wedding BBQ, but then was too nervous to touch it.

Cousin Matt helping AJ drive the remote control boat on the pond; how fun!

Back at Mimi and Papa's for a little semi-nude "piango" playing.

This is the kind of outfit all outdoor play in July requires, right?

The gloves are especially useful for throwing dirt around the backyard.

Golf - usually more clothed - was a favorite activity while we were there.

It took lots of spinning in circles to get this boy to smile with his mama on her
birthday, hence the crazy hair we have.

Hugs for Aunt Missy after she came to visit us.

Water park fun with wonderful friends!

And boat fun, too! This is right before he fell asleep in that very same position...

Swimming in Sacandaga Lake with Papa and Mimi.

We made many visits to Aunt Katie's barn; this is one of AJ's favorite places to be!

Riding Rascal; he sat up so nicely, I didn't even need to hold onto him while he rode!

Another day at the barn, hard at work bringing Auntie Rachel a manure bucket.

After a carriage ride with Auntie Alicia.

With my lovely cousin Alicia, who was visiting from Colorado. So glad we got to see her!

At the county fair, saying hi to the goats with his buddy Junior.

Junior is such a good friend!

He had such a blast with Aunt Sammy!

We also got to visit with Nikki and Chloe, who were visiting all the way from Sicily!

Walking in downtown Saratoga, ready to take in all the music during the Hats Off festivities.

Outside the Saratoga courthouse, take #20?

Seesaw fun at Junior and Hailey's birthday party. Love that grin!

Trying to get his party favor to stay open; he couldn't figure out why it kept rolling back up on him!

Stewart's ice cream, courtesy of Mr. Wager!

Watering the flowers while the big kids played in the pool.

Partners in crime; these two are something else together!

Having fun with his beautiful godmother after our brunch at the Ugly Rooster.

Walking to the Mechanicville Library after brunch.

We love these silly boys so much!

So happy to see my handsome godson; he's getting so big!

Waving hi to the jockeys at the Saratoga Racetrack.

Checking out the ducks with Mimi and Papa in Congress Park.

He had so much fun riding the Congress Park carousel with Papa. (Twice!)

Feeding the goats with Aunt Katie on another visit to the barn.

Helping Auntie Rachel groom the pony before riding.

Up on Rascal again, the first pony that Mama rode years and years ago!

Our last day in NY: Happy Birthday, Papa!

Waiting for Daddy at the Honolulu Airport...

Together again! Welcome home, Daddy, we missed you!

That'll be the last big trip for any of us for awhile, and we are so thankful for it. Thanks especially to our wonderful family and friends for making our visit to NY so fantastic!