Not too many days [hours] go by before we catch each other letting out long, painful sighs.  They come after glancing at our cell phones to check the time and seeing Bruk’s big ‘ole eyes staring back, or when we purposefully open the folder on our computer titled, “Bruk”, and click through the photos for as long as we can stand it.  It hurts to see him in two dimensions since we know him in three.  It’s scary how much it hurts sometimes.  The thing is, the pain is mingled with a sweet and overwhelming satisfying assurance that the journey is almost done.  [Ok, we know that our parenting journey is only beginning but when you have been anticipating something like this for so long, it’s good to recognize and celebrate the milestones.  This one marks the end of a gut wrenching separation from our son]. Cassie has always been the packer.  So tonight [one week away from the day we might get the “green light” from the US embassy] she has pulled out one of our little suitcases to pack a bag just for Bruk.  We have some ideas of what to bring, but most of this we are just gonna have to make up as we go.  We don’t know how he will do on a plane.  We don’t know if he will sleep or just cry.  We don’t know if anyone has ever been able to successfully change a child’s diaper on those ridiculously small tables in the airplane lavatories.  BUT we are going to get him and we are going soon!

Cassie adds:

Until then, we are looking forward to our Saturday morning “check up”! We get to Skype with Bruk every saturday. I guess its kinda like when pregnant women go to get the heartbeat checked. It’s so fun to see his little face (sometimes a little blurrier than others) and make sure he’s doing good.

Speaking of Saturdays… This past weekend, some good friends threw me an amazing shower while the guys went out for man breakfast! It was absolutely beautiful and really cool to be surrounded by people who love Bruk already. They want to care for him and his needs even before they meet him. Here is a picture of all the women Skyping with Bruk Boy! It was pretty hysterical to see 20 women crowded around a tiny computer screen to catch a glimpse of our boy. What  a loved dude and a special day!

 

 

It won’t be much longer till we are tucking our little boy in and kissing him goodnight.  We got an email from the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia last week and if things go as planned we could be traveling to pick up Bruk by the second week of September.  That’s less than a month!

So in preparation for his homecoming we are trying to make his room a little more… fun.  We may not have sheets on the bed or books on the shelf yet but at least we have some color!

 

Yesterday we were submitted to the U.S. Embassy for approval! This is a huge step in our process. It all seems a bit much, but its for good reason that these steps are taken. This starts the final phase of our adoption and we couldn’t be any more thrilled.The U.S. Embassy is going to look through Bruks file and make sure that he fits the requirements and that he is able to travel and be legally adoptable by U.S. standards. This process is to help cut down on the corruption that has been taking place in Ethiopia in regards to adoption. We want Bruk home so bad, but for now we sit tight and rest thankful that there is protection for orphaned children.

This weekend we are in Seattle for a wedding and to see some family. I still can’t believe that we are out of town right now!… Yet, we are both so excited to see some good friends get married in an an awesome city! Drew will be taking some video (as usually) and I am going to help with the girls hair. Its so fun to be a part of the action on wedding days. We’ll be staying with my cousin Hannah who is super prego. We cant wait to celebrate her and their little one on the way! Hannah and Jesse have a sweet love thats contagious. So we’re looking forward to catching some of thier “love germs” while we’re here. We’re looking forward to this trip as a refreshment to our marriage and a time to celebrate with others. 

So thankful for new beginnings today!

Cass

speaking of new beginnings… here are the newest pictures of Bruk!