No, Our Almost 1 yr old is not on a mission trip alone... :)

I am learning that I need to be more clear in how I communicate about the adoption. Pre-referral days, I didn't usually mention it to people we were meeting for the first time (happens often for us). When they said, "Oh, you have 3 kids"...I would just leave it at that. Now, there is that 4th little person that causes me physical pain from missing her, and I have not even met her yet! But I feel that I can't just leave it at "Yes, I have 3 kids". Recently, talking to someone I had just met, I was explaining the ages of our kids and mentioned that we have a near 1 year old in Guat. The woman looked confused and we were quick to add that we were adopting her and she was not home yet. "Oh, so she is not on a mission trip there..." was the response! Needless to say, I need a better introduction line.

We are going to visit Ellie at the end of July. She will not be able to come home with us then, the court process in Guat. is taking 6-8months from where we are now. Only if the Lord willed to shrink steps that take months into hours would we be able to get her home then. Our trip is not really even a visit trip, but we will be on a mission trip to the children's home where she is. I think we will get to keep her in our room at night, and I will be working along side of the care givers so I will get to be with her during the day some. Anyway, we will get to meet her, create some great memories with her, and know exactly what her life is like right now.

Pray for our POA (Power of Attorney) to arrive at our agency and for the updated 171 to get to the embassy. We are also waiting on our dossier to be translated. Then, we can get things rolling in Guat!

Praise! I think that Grace went back to the children's home today. Continue to pray for weight gain and wisdom for her doctors and parents.
Update: Grace is not at the home yet, but Lord willing, tomorrow morning.