it's fit for a prince & we're moving on

So I've been struggling between extreme laziness and crazy nesting. Is that even possible? I assure you it is. I have scrubbed three tile floors in the last several days. And it hasn't been pretty.

Picture if you will... me, on hands and knees, scouring brush to the floor, saying "get thee behind me dirty grout!

Oh, it was killer. Our kitchen alone took me 8 hours. Don't get me wrong. We mop all the time. I Hate mopping. It's a necessary evil, especially with three kids and a dog. But grout? It only gets the intense scrubbing twice a year. It's so darn hard. I've also cleaned out some closets and made things nice nice around here that were fledging in closed door messiness.

But I have NOT been walking each morning like I told myself I would. Sheesh. I need to go to bed before 1am each night.

Scratch that.

I need to go to SLEEP before 1am each night. I'm always in bed earlier than that.

I'm sure that would go a long way toward my ability to make sense of the notion of awaking early for a brisk walk. Hmmm. Maybe tomorrow. :)

In this busyness around the homestead, I've kept myself really preoccupied. And that's a good thing. I'm still not stressing or dying with each passing day at the thought of Gabe. The Lord is keeping my focus on Him and my heart is calm.

Still, I want my boy.

I want him so badly, it hurts.

But in a good way because we are slowly but surely, getting things ready for his arrival this fall.

Eeeek.

Last Thursday, Jase and I had much needed and highly overdue date night.

Halleluyer.

And after our dinner and movie, we did a little bit of shopping for our sweet Gabe. I will post about it later. Just small things. But they do a world of good for me. And we got a picture text message thingy from Jase's dad with these....a bed fit for a prince.

Y'all. My father in law is the man. He can build anything. He can do just about anything with his hands. Love that. We mentioned to him when they were here last month that we'd like to try and replicate Joel's bed. The boys will share a room once Gabe is settled and I'd like them to be all matchy matchy.

He nailed it. No pun intended. But he just did. Can't wait to get it home next month and paint it navy just like Joel's and get the room ready. I think Joel will lose his mind with excitement. We all will. Fixing the room up is just so fun. The expectation that you are almost there and that the child you long for will live here soon, is just so wonderfully wonderful.

In other Gabe news, I emailed our case worker about a completely different topic this past Monday. She replied and casually mentioned that she was diligently checking the status of our dossier each day to see if China had moved it from "In Translation" to being "In Process". This is a big deal since you will not receive your LOA/LSC from them until it has been through review or "Process". Kinda common sense but you know...each step is a big deal!

So for nearly two months, our dossier has been in translation waiting for completion so that the real powers that be could review it and issue our next document giving us FINAL approval to adopt Gabe and to petition the US Immigration peoples to let us bring him specifically into the country as a US citizen.

I was  happy to hear from our coordinator that she was checking our status often, but sad that we were still in translation after two months. But again, my spirit was calmed by the Lord in that moment and I just went on with my day, knowing that the Lord is sovereign over the plans of man and that I could rest in Him.

But yesterday, my eyes immediately welled up when email this came...

Kam ~ Good news!!! You are “in-process” today! I’m so happy for you. HUGE milestone. 
Hopefully your LSC will come soon in the next few weeks!

Can I get a Woo to the Hoo!?! We made it out of the black hole of translation. The black hole that some families are still in after 80 days. I just don't understand how the process can be so "all over the place" Practically speaking, it must just be the "luck of the draw"{though I know there's no such thing} but you know what I mean...Some dossiers land on Sam's slow boat desk and others on Fred's fast flying one.

 Regardless, we continue to trust that Jesus is holding our boy and leading those who are processing our case. It's only Wednesday and so far, it's been a good week here. Getting tons done and moving along toward Gabe. To God be the glory!