"It's Time"

So, last night, January 10, 2013, at 11:27pm my water broke I began to cry. 

I checked my email one last time before going to sleep and immediately elbowed Joel to wake him up... "its time" ... 

We received the email we were waiting for from the us embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

CLEARED CASE

This office is ready to schedule an interview for the I-600 petition filed on behalf of the below applicants.

1.      Case Number   ADD2012650024

Family Name, Child Name   Brandt, Abay Joel

And then reality hit with the next email at 12:59am this morning ...

Good morning

Please be informed that the interview is confirmed on Jan.17,2013 at 01:00pm.

Regards,

Adoption unit

Now it is the mad dash to pack up all the stuff we will need, rush to the hospital airport, and wait.

In 72 hours we will be on a plane ... Then after 23.5 hours of labor travel, we will be in Ethiopia. Ready to hold our son in our arms.

We will have to spend a few days in the hospital guest house before the doctor embassy checks us over one more time and gives us our release papers Silas' US entry visa, so we can come home.

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Thank you all for your prayers for our family as we move along this journey of adoption for the 2nd time to be united to our son. We have been blessed by so many people and will be forever grateful. And I ask for you to continue your prayers for us as we go back to Ethiopia and this time bring home our son and become a family of four. 

• Especially Silas and Kiera with all the changes that are about to happen for both of them.
• Pray that Joel and I are strong enough to guide them through it.
• Pray that God will guide us as we parent.
• Pray for protection and health as we travel.
• Pray for the language barrier.  (Unlike our first adoption, Silas is old enough to understand much of the Ethiopian language and he knows no English). 
• Pray that our family will be able to bond together.

Pray that God would cover this whole thing with his blessing

God Bless you all!

Joel & Mandy

P.S. Stay tuned for updates from Ethiopia (when we can get internet)