Fingerprints and Other News!

So, we are one step closer to our I-171H today! We had our fingerprints done at the OKC Immigration office. Bill was really excited by how high-tech the process is - definitely not the inkpad of the old '80's cop shows as we had somehow imagined. Everything is done by computer now, and it is pretty sophisticated. I was just so glad that everything went smoothly, and that we finally got this step checked off of our to-do list. Now, we just sit and wait. Literally. There is really no outstanding paperwork left for us to do. We've finished our required reading, our homework assignments, and even tentatively scheduled our CPR classes. So, now we do something else for awhile, until we have our I-171H in hand or until we receive a referral of our child!

A quick update for those of you who've been praying for us and asking me about my leg. I'm feeling better every day, and I'm definitely walking and moving better! I think we've passed the worst of it, and with a little bit of physical therapy, I'll be ready to do some serious shopping in the Saigon markets! No little broken leg is gonna stand between myself and a good bargain!

Since we've got a little time on our hands now, we are escaping the ridiculous heat of OKC and heading to Colorado for a week. We're planning on spending time with Bill's parents & his brothers and their families in the Denver area. Will's most excited about being spoiled by his grandparents, seeing a Colorado Rockies baseball game, and going to the water park. Bill & I are also going to take a night away in the mountains to celebrate our 14th anniversary!

Bill & I both grew up in Colorado, and we cherish the opportunity to get in a little Rocky Mountain High. Somehow, God just always seems a bit closer when you are in the mountains, and I don't think it has anything to do with the altitude. It's just that when you look around at all the surrounding beauty, it's clear that our God is a good God - a creative, loving, artistic, caring God who gave us such a gift of Himself when He created this world. When He created us. I feel the same peace in my heart when I watch my son sleep at night, when I look up and see millions of stars on a clear night, when I walk on a beach, or when I watch an Oklahoma sunset. I guess it's more about God than geography. I still wonder though where I'm going to find that feeling in Vietnam. Maybe on a boat in Ha Long Bay. Maybe in a cafe with my husband in Saigon. Maybe in the eyes of a little girl asking for candy in a small village. My heart thinks definitely in holding my new little boy. There's just some times in life when you really know that God is good.

For those of you who've already travelled to get your little ones, tell us your personal "God is good" moment in Vietnam. For those of you who are playing the waiting game like us, tell us what you think yours might be. It's different for all of us, because we are all as different as our fingerprints. But it'll be there if we're looking for it, that's for sure. If you are one of our family, friends, or just a visitor passing by that's not in the adoption process, feel free to tell us about one of your own "God is good" moments. It's easy, just click the comment button below this post and follow the instructions. Remember though, that anyone can read what you write, so be prepared to share something you aren't afraid for the world to know!

Broken Legs and Other Craziness!

So, we've had a CRAZY few weeks lately! In the last three weeks, Will & I have made two 350-mile trips to help my brother & sister-in-law take care of their new babies and to help my parents move to a new house. Bill has been travelling so much for work that he has been at home a total of 10 days in the last month. It seemed like we were keeping all the plates spinning pretty well - that is, until I broke my leg last week! No, really, I did! I was helping my parents move to a new house, and I slipped off a 10-inch high stepstool. I stepped down really hard and ended up with a compression fracture on the top of my tibia (the bone in your lower leg).

Now, it seems like the craziest thing in the world to say, but I am SOOOOO GLAD that I only broke my leg! No, our social worker does not need to revisit the psychological evaluation on our homestudy, I promise. Let me tell you why. You see, about 8 years ago, I injured my knee really badly. I had to have a major repair on my knee (and I have the screws to prove it). It took me almost a year to heal and rehab my leg fully. It was actually funny in a crazy kind of way - me, rehabbing like some sort of professional football player!

So, anyways, when I slipped last week and my knee swelled up, I had these horrible thoughts of having to repeat all that work. I had scarier thoughts of hobbling my way through Vietnam, of a very difficult and uncomfortable airplane trip. (Now I know that it isn't really a thrill for anyone to be on a plane that long, but it would be excruciating with a bum leg!)

But, as usual, God protected us from what we couldn't handle. I almost hugged the doctor when he told me that my MRI indicated that my repair was just fine, and I only had a little break. In fact, he didn't even really need to put me in a cast. My leg will heal just fine on its own, and the soreness will eventually go away completely. I'm not running any marathons (now or ever, thank you!) but I'm going to be okay. Thank you, Lord, for not asking any more of us right now. Thanks God that I only broke my leg! :)