Adoption update...we are MUCH closer!!!

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 

~ James 1:27

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 ~ James 5:16b

This past week has been one of nesting at our home...getting the nursery ready for baby boy Miller, washing some baby clothes, disinfecting pacifiers, re-cleaning car seats, packing bags (we plan on delivering in Peoria, so we feel the need to be "extra" prepared)...and when we get updated Keziah news, it makes us even more excited to add to our family and "double-nest"...our term for preparing to add two children to our family! :)

Last Friday we received an update that our investigations for Keziah in Uganda are finishing up and we will then enter the final stage of paperwork before we travel.  The lawyers overseas will compile all necessary documents (parent death certificates, family consent forms, Keziah's birth certificate, any more medical documents, etc) before they pass it along to the court system in Uganda and we receive our court dates.  

The exciting news?!  

Court dates=travel dates! 

Travel dates to Uganda means each of us: Arlan, Katie, Haven, baby boy all pack our bags for an extended stay in Uganda (probably around 5-6 weeks total) until Keziah is able to travel home with us!  Folks, this means we prayerfully are getting MUCH closer to bringing our 2.5 year old daughter home with us.  Folks, this also means that our timeline has been moved up significantly.  Our expectant wait till we travel (while they finish up the last leg of paperwork) is anytime from one and half months to the more likely three/four months...we are expecting our estimated travel time to be by middle/end of summer.  We also received more pictures of our daughter this past week and it makes it that much more real to see her in her homeland, wearing her little shoes & darling dresses as we wait to meet her, love on her, touch her and bring her home into her forever family. Oh how I wish I could show you her beautiful face!

Can you sense the need to pray for us?!  Please sense YES!!!!
And here is how:

• Pray for the healthy & safe arrival of baby boy Miller as we "patiently" await meeting him.
• Pray that labor would go as naturally & smoothly as possible.  We know the details of timing with baby boy being born & us receiving our court/travel dates are ALL in God's hands and He uses this to build our faith & draw us closer to Him.   
• Pray that our need for final travel costs/expenses would be placed into God's hands as only HE can provide for this quickened time table.
• Pray for our discernment regarding what vaccinations to give our children & the final paperwork portion/details we are responsible for.
• Pray for Keziah's caretakers, investigators, lawyers & judge[s] that her case will come before.
• Pray for transition as we prepare to welcome 2 children into our lives in the next few months & transit one little 4.5 year old to the concept of siblings :)
• Pray that we continue to hold our daughter (& children) loosely as we realize they are a blessing from God, given to us for a time to raise & teach...all for HIS glory!

Thank you.

Thank you in advance for praying and supporting us.  We have felt your love & blessings on this journey thus far and have greatly appreciated you partnering with us to fulfill James 1:27 and James 5:16b.

If you'd like to take a trip back memory lane with our adoption thus far, below are the links:
January 2014 adoption update-click here 
December 2014 referral post-click here
January 2013 post-click here 
August 2012 post-click here 
Beginning of our journey [May 2012]-click here