A Leap of Faith...

Seven months ago we began the official paperchase to Womble baby #3. These beautiful BEAUTIFUL photographs represent the fruits of my our labor. Within this huge stack of paper is everything you ever wanted to know about the Wombles (and then some). Birth records, childhood memories, recommendations from friends and family, criminal records (or lack thereof), education, health status, extended family social history (LOL--that was a very long section) etc. etc. etc. You name it...it's in there. The copies in blue are the original documents that will go to China. The rest are copies for both our agency and for us to keep. I wonder how many trees we killed in order to make all of those copies?

{DRUM ROLL PLEASE}

May I present to you the original, notarized, certified, triple authenticated dossier for the Womble family. Each document was scrutinized (too many times to count), labeled, organized in dossier checklist order and tied with two coordinating pink ribbons. If that bow doesn't speak "baby girl" in Mandarin I don't know what will.
There are so many emotions wrapped up within the pages of this dossier. Much like a new pregnancy, this simple stack of paper represents the excitement, anxiety and anticipation that 2009 is sure to bring. International adoption is long and daunting. Waiting for a referral is hard. Waiting after we receive a referral will be even more difficult. From this point forward, the only thing left to do is take each day one day at a time. On so many levels this entire process is a HUGE leap of faith. Today we jumped in head first. Not knowing exactly where we will land, but knowing Who will hold us up until we do. Goodbye Paperchase...thanks to you we are one GIANT step closer to our daughter. At this moment, that feels amazing!

Now faith is being sure of what
we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
-Hebrews 11:1