"The LONG Awaited Call"

On May 15, 2006, as I was driving home from my sister's in Mississippi, my husband called my cell phone and asked if I would be interested in adopting 2 and 3 year old brothers. Of course I start screaming and asking for details. He said that Julie from our adoption agency had called and said that if we were interested, we could TRY to adopt them but because it was a special case, there would only be a chance that it would work out. So after receiving their pictures and medical/psychological reports along with their histories, we decided to fax a letter to Colombia asking to adopt Juan Carlos Rivera Lopez and Andres Giovanny Rivera Lopez. After 6 1/2 grueling weeks, we got the call on June 30 saying we had received the official assignment allowing us to adopt the boys! Pure chaos followed as we began collecting the last bit of paperwork, searching the attic for the right sized clothes (which we had to guess at), and cleaning out a room and a closet! And that is where we are now.......trying frantically to finalize all of the details so we will be able to fly over to Colombia on July 30 (originally we had tried for July 23). We will arrive in Bogota that day, spend the night, and fly on to Medellin on Monday, the 31st, for the "encuentro." The encuentro is where we will meet the boys for the first time and sign a temporary custody agreement. We will then take the boys to the hotel with us and will keep them until the following Tuesday, August 8. On that day will be the "integracion" where we will go before the ICBF (Colombian Institute of Child Welfare) and let them know how things are going with the boys. We will then sign a document accepting full custody and the ball will start rolling with the court process. During that week to two weeks, we will be free to sight see, etc. Richard will be leaving on that Wednesday (aug. 9), after the integracion on Tuesday, to come back to the States to work. My sister will get to Medellin on that following Sunday (aug. 13) after he leaves to spend the remainder of the time with me and fly home with us.

(side notes: We started the adoption process in September of 2003, almost exactly 3 years from when we will be getting our boys!
Richard and I will celebrate our 9 year anniversary in Colombia on August 2. What a memorable anniversary!!)

We give God 100% of the glory for this amazing miracle he is allowing us to be a part of. We know that he will provide us with all we need to fulfill this call. We also know that it may not be an easy call to fulfill. The boys may have a very hard time adjusting to NEW surroundings and "strangers." It may take a long time for them to "attach" to us and to their new brothers and extended family. But we are trusting God on this faith journey.

Here is how you can pray. And we do covet your prayers.
--First and foremost for Reid and Ross as they are taken away from everything they know as "home" and "family". And that they will make the transition smoothly and attach to us quickly.
--For our safe travel to and from Colombia and while we are in Colombia. The city where these boys live is Medellin. It has been said to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world. .
--Richard and Rhett as they adjust to two new brothers (they are SO thrilled).
--for the language barrier. They speak NO English and we speak some Spanish. So it should be interesting.
--For God to be glorified!

We thank God so much for orchestrating this and for choosing to bless us with two new boys. We love to think of how he knew before the world was created that these two boys would be ours.

Here is my travel itinerary (Richard's is the same except he returns on Aug. 9)
Sun 30 JUL LV LITTLE ROCK 11:34A AR ATLANTA 2:10P
Sun 30 JUL LV ATLANTA 4:25P AR BOGOTA 8:15P
RETURN: Fri 25 AUG LV BOGOTA 9:30A AR ATLANTA 3:25P
Fri 25 AUG LV ATLANTA 5:14P AR LITTLE ROCK 5:49P