It has been less than a year since we said "yes" to God's call to adopt and started our application process. Life will not - can not - ever be the same. We are probably 2-3 weeks from travel at this point. Our day is filled with a) trying to act normal and do school and clean house and maintain laundry like everything is fine, b) juggling forms and travel plans and priorities while never knowing what's next exactly, c) laughing and crying and bouncing from one emotional extreme to the next as we enjoy counting down the days and try to get as much done on our to-do list as we can.
We were blessed to be able to buy a new car (new to us!). "Big Bertha" is a 15-passenger 2017 Ford Transit van; big enough for everyone plus a few more!
We have been working on home renovations as well. Our garage is enclosed now. The dining room is expanded and a new bedroom is framed in. The large area allows for a nice school room as well and will let the "office/school room" in the center of the house be converted to a playroom/toy area.
We are shopping for options on AirBnB and other sites for locations in Brazil to rent for a month plus. The help from our Adoption Service Provider and a life-time friend of Erica's in the travel industry has been so, so valuable.
The girl's bedroom is all done and ready for a 4th sister. Two bunk beds, four dressers, and purple, purple everywhere! The girls love it and I think M will be delighted to join them in there.
The boy's room is next. Jalapeno Jelly Green and Royal Navy are the color scheme. Dinosaurs are the theme. I'm excited to see what Erica comes up with in there!
And we are very, very excited to be working on a fundraiser with Both Hands. Our family and a core team have sent out sponsorship request letters and donations can be made at https://bothhands.org/blaschke-604. We will be spending next Saturday, October 12, working on that project. The gifts and contributions made continue to overwhelm and humble me. Your generosity has been a true blessing this past year and has really been vital in making this adoption possible. We could not do it without you!
I don't know how much more update-wise I will be able to share before we leave. Please be in prayer for our trip. Once we get to Brazil, we will have a meeting day with the kids, probably a day or two after we land. The kids will get to come home with us either that day or the following day and they will be in our custody and care from that point on. The first 3-4 weeks are a bonding period. We will have weekly visits with the kid's social worker/psychologist during that time. Once the bonding period is over and approved we will have an adoption hearing and officially be the adoptive parents of L, M, L, and R! From there we will travel to the U.S. Embassy in Rio and complete U.S. Immigration medical exams and required paperwork. That process will take 1-2 weeks. So ... by early December we should be back home and able to share photos and more information.
Meanwhile, your prayers are coveted. We will be in communication as much as we possibly can during this time. Thank you so, so much for your ongoing support and prayer. We are eternally grateful for this network of friends and family that God has brought to us through this time.
We were blessed to be able to buy a new car (new to us!). "Big Bertha" is a 15-passenger 2017 Ford Transit van; big enough for everyone plus a few more!We have been working on home renovations as well. Our garage is enclosed now. The dining room is expanded and a new bedroom is framed in. The large area allows for a nice school room as well and will let the "office/school room" in the center of the house be converted to a playroom/toy area.
We are shopping for options on AirBnB and other sites for locations in Brazil to rent for a month plus. The help from our Adoption Service Provider and a life-time friend of Erica's in the travel industry has been so, so valuable.
The girl's bedroom is all done and ready for a 4th sister. Two bunk beds, four dressers, and purple, purple everywhere! The girls love it and I think M will be delighted to join them in there.
The boy's room is next. Jalapeno Jelly Green and Royal Navy are the color scheme. Dinosaurs are the theme. I'm excited to see what Erica comes up with in there!
And we are very, very excited to be working on a fundraiser with Both Hands. Our family and a core team have sent out sponsorship request letters and donations can be made at https://bothhands.org/blaschke-604. We will be spending next Saturday, October 12, working on that project. The gifts and contributions made continue to overwhelm and humble me. Your generosity has been a true blessing this past year and has really been vital in making this adoption possible. We could not do it without you!
I don't know how much more update-wise I will be able to share before we leave. Please be in prayer for our trip. Once we get to Brazil, we will have a meeting day with the kids, probably a day or two after we land. The kids will get to come home with us either that day or the following day and they will be in our custody and care from that point on. The first 3-4 weeks are a bonding period. We will have weekly visits with the kid's social worker/psychologist during that time. Once the bonding period is over and approved we will have an adoption hearing and officially be the adoptive parents of L, M, L, and R! From there we will travel to the U.S. Embassy in Rio and complete U.S. Immigration medical exams and required paperwork. That process will take 1-2 weeks. So ... by early December we should be back home and able to share photos and more information.
Meanwhile, your prayers are coveted. We will be in communication as much as we possibly can during this time. Thank you so, so much for your ongoing support and prayer. We are eternally grateful for this network of friends and family that God has brought to us through this time.
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