The Notebook

I have no words to convey the excitement and relief it is to finally have this notebook, packed with our life's most important documents enclosed, on it's way to Washington D.C. to be stamped yet again by the State Department and Rwandan Embassy officials.  For the last 6 weeks my whole existence has revolved around making this notebook complete. When I thought I was done, we discovered 3 documents were missing.  I was so incredibly grateful to have the chance to send the notebook complete, but dismayed to think I had to hold on to it for one more week.  


In the meantime, I decided to spice the notebook up a bit.  I discovered this one at Target and could not help myself.  In life I'd say I gravitate towards the bold in theory but make my final decisions on the practical of gray, black, tan and mundane.  So as important as this folder is, I've decided on bold.  


This has been a crazy week full of phone calls trying to determine if our forms would be ready by the goal send off date of Friday.  There were stressful conversations and in fact several who did say, "No.  You'll have to wait until Monday".  But miraculously and thankfully it all came together.  We have quite a few people to kiss up and send flowers to, but it all got done.  Then to add to the drama I had several hang ups at the Secretary of State's office.  And the final nerve wracking moment came when I left the SOS's office at 4:45 hoping to make it to the Post Office before it closed.  I whipped into the parking lot at 4:55 with a whole 5 minutes to spare!  And in the moment I surprisingly had the presence of mind to ask the guy in line to take a picture of me with the beloved notebook.  I have to admit, as I left the Post Office, I may have shed a tiny little tear as I almost lept into my car.  


One step closer to our baby girl!!!!


Now we get to WAIT!  Hopefully the notebook arrives in DC on Monday and is completed with all of the necessary stamps by Thursdayish.  And off it goes to RWANDA!  Is that really possible?  Someone please pinch me!


Truly, these are moments to celebrate and I plan to do so accordingly with my friends on this journey with me!!


Journey Part II - the waiting begins...