We're Now a Family of Seven!!!!!!!

What a day!  We had a great day despite many twists and turns...we woke up, got ready for the day, made preparations for new life - got the girls' gifts ready, wrote out questions for ICBF and wrote out some simple family guidelines...we ventured out after breakfast to the mall down the way to buy some flowers and exchange money (oops! forgot our passports so they wouldn't convert our money) and then walked back to the hotel, got our cameras and other items ready for our ICBF appointment, and then headed down to lunch.  Lunch was quite creepy (usually very tasty) and I had the total jitters so I didn't eat much.  It didn't help when I was on pins and needles to leave at 1:30 and then at 1:15 was informed that our translator wouldn't arrive until 1:40 for our 2:00 appointment!

Anyways, we got to the appointment on time and our meeting went very smoothly.  After much talking and signing papers, we met Ladi and Joana for the first time!  It was a delightful meeting - not awkward at all.  We took lots of pictures and they left us alone to visit a while.  It was really special.

Since we left ICBF together, it has been very good. Communication at any depth is difficult but we are managing. It was a great day but an overwhelming day for us all - especially Joana and Ladi.  Joana had a bad headache and got very sick from heat and nerves but she is doing much better.

Tomorrow will be more family building time and possibly an outing to the fruit and vegetable market here in Cali.  It is late - I'll try to post more photos tomorrow after we get a little rest.

Praise be to God!  We will continue to trust Him to build this new family.  Thank you for your prayers!