We Got the Call!

We are going to Albania!!

I got the call this morning at 6:24am and I'm convinced I scared my social worker with my groggy responses. The poor guy said his name three times then through in some self defense "you told me to call anytime!" HAHA.  Yes, I did indeed. I just failed to tell you what a mess I am when woken out of a dead sleep.   

He gave me the full story and it took me a few minutes to capture it all..."Wait. Did you say we need to be IN the country in just 11 days??"  

He laughed---"actually the judge would start the proceedings tomorrow but didn't think that was a reasonable request!" 

In the end, we compromised...we get on a plane NEXT SATURDAY.  EKKKKKKKKKKK. 

I hung up the phone. Call my mother. Texted my BFF. Then reached to call our friends across country that are generously sending their 16 year old daughter with us.

Me: *male voice answers* Um, hi. Is Tonya there?

Male voice: Nooooo. There is no Tonya here. This is Pastor Ken.

Me: Ken? Who's Ken?  PASTOR Ken? As in Ken & Sarah the Lutheran pastors in Stanley, WI??

Ken: Yesss.....who is this??

Me: Oh my gosh, Ken!  It's Isaac's mom from the Bamboo Project! I had ZERO intention of calling you, but you can be the first to know--we got our travel call! So, uh...how are the wife and kids?

Ken: *lots of laughter* Well, congratulations! They are good! Just finished breakfast. 

Oh my goodness!  So very thankful for gracious adoption friends who totally get the frantic hours of getting "the travel call".   (Also...what are the chances of two phone numbers of two families who have never met and are nine states apart from each other being so close together that I can botch them that easily?? Didn't even know I had Ken's number!)

The day was a chaotic mess, making travel arrangements, calling the school and work and credit cards, all while trying to work at the same time. I had to smile thinking back at the day I got Isaac's call--I forgot to shave one leg and it bugged me ALL day long.  Thankfully, I got both legs shaved today, but no breakfast...unlike Pastor Ken's kids. :)

So, in just 8 sleeps we'll be on a plane across the world and in 10 days the beautiful child of God below will meet her momma and little brother and Gramma for the first time. What a day that will be!

Lots of updates and prayer requests in the coming days, until then please be praying for my girl's heart and physical health. She is moving moved from the orphanage she has been in for many years to one that is closer to the judge assigned to our case. This will be a new environment away from her friends and caregivers. May peace AND JOY flood her precious heart & mind <3 

SEVEN DAYS and counting!