Leila Bound!!

With everything that has happened in the last week and a half, it's hard to believe my trip to Niger is here. The loss of my dear friend, Renee, still weighs heavy on my heart, and I will post more about that special lady when I return. It still doesn't feel real, and my heart breaks for her husband, Zach, and her sweet daughter, Avery. Please continue to lift them up in prayer. 

And please continue to pray for favor over my trip. It will be a quick one. I'll be staying with our missionary friends I so dearly love, Juanita and Rodrigo (and little ones Nathan and Kaila). The plan is for Rodrigo to pick me up at the airport, take me straight to Esther (the notary), sign paperwork, and then head over to the lawyer who will put together our packet for the Nigerien judge to review. I have all our documents with me - home study, power of attorney, passport pictures, pictures of us with Leila and ones of our family here. If I forget anything...well, it will have to wait. No mailing or faxing is reliable. 

They are trying to get Leila out of the orphanage for a day to spend time with me, so I'm armed with play-doh, games, markers, etc. And I brought her some personal hygiene stuff that I hope she'll be able to hold onto and keep for herself along with flip-flops and a necklace I made. I'm tempted to plaster her name on everything, so that it will be less tempting for the other kids to steal. But then, I don't want her to get made fun of either. Seems silly, but that's how it has often worked. Girls can be mean!

Our friends, Erica and Thomas, have made a lot of progress with the new lawyer and even have a court date, which is HUGE. They have paved a path with their adoption that makes me very, very hopeful. 

"The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." ~Psalm 147:11

Papers Signed!!

We are pumped and praising God in this house right now! We are one step closer to our sweet girl coming home! Pouhin signed the unconditional discharge today, which basically relinquishes his rights as Leila's guardian. This is the paper we have been WAITING for what seems like forever for him to sign. So, now it's our turn to sign! We had initially thought Geoff would go over and sign, but since he's already taking some time off, and I already have a visa (from my February trip) and getting one can take a month or so to get especially this time of year (busy travel season), I will be Niger-bound for the second time this year. Woohoo! We were able to line it up pretty well with the kids' Myrtle Beach trip with Grandma and Grandpa, and Nonnie is filling in the gaps. Grandparents are awesome. 

I won't have to travel alone as I'll head over with the Summer Team on July 24th and return with our friends that are over there for 6 weeks (the Woods) on the 29th. This makes my husband happy and will certainly be more fun for me! Wow, I just can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank YOU for praying with us. We aren't there yet, but we are certainly closer.