Solving the Snaggle

It's not always easy being the first in line for something that's never happened before. Since the US became party to the Hague Convention on International Adoption, all the rules in inter-country adoption have changed. So have all the forms and procedures and expectations of timelines. It feels a lot like ever time we complete on step and get to the next, we're greeted by surprises followed by scurrying around to meet the new requirements. The snaggle with getting our visa fee to US consulate in Rio de Janeiro was no exception, once again, we've been in good hands with AWAA and LIMIAR working out all the details. It was sort of a frantic and convoluted process, but it seems like everything is working itself out.  

We wired the payment to LIMIAR's account on Monday and it's spent the week winding itself down to a former LIMIAR employee in Rio who has an appointment to submit it on Tuesday.  (Americans in Rio celebrate Columbus day too!)  We're told that our agency has been in communication with the consulate in Rio and has requested that they get everything ready for the Acordo (Article 5) document so that it can be submitted as soon as the payment is received.  They've also requested an electronic copy as soon as the document is created so that LIMIAR can give CEJA a heads-up that it's coming.  Hopefully, that will  speed up how soon Lino can go to the court to request an appointment for us.  

Then we travel.

That's right.  There are just 2 steps left in the process:  1.  the consulate sends the Acordo to the CEJA and 2.  Lino gets us a court date which lets us know when we can TRAVEL!

Even though I've been feeling emotionally spent and somewhat numb lately, nothing makes me smile like looking at the smiling pictures of my children and imagining life with them here with us.  Even so, it's hard to get emotionally excited about the impending trip because we don't want to put our faith in man-made timelines and guesses.  We've learned that lesson.  Even though everyone says that it's hard to imagine a scenario that would keep us from being in Brazil before the end of the month...  there are lots of things we can't imagine.  

Sure, there's a lot of waiting and it hurts.  But, as an adoptive mother told me today, "It'll be the best thing you've ever waited for!"