beyond bummed

the past week has been hard.  our agency caseworker has been out of the office for the past three weeks, two of which she was in the congo getting a handle on the process.  we were told before she left that both of the kids' judgements had been signed by the judge.  we learned yesterday that apparently that was not the case.  the judge had not signed pascal's judgement.  i am beyond bummed, frustrated, and honestly, angry.  apparently the judge has verbally approved him, but hasn't officially signed his paperwork.  unfortunatly, that's a minor  major detail! 

we can't schedule his embassy appointment until we have received that judgment.  bridget's paperwork is ready to go and will get her appointment scheduled shortly after she hits land in the capital, but now our timing is off for them being ready and prepared to come home at the same time.  how off, we don't know.  there is hope that the embassy will allow p's embassy interview at the same time as b's, assuming we have his paperwork by then, putting them back on track.  but there's no guarantee.  that judge needs to sign that stinking paper.  that's it.  how hard can it be??
i have to say, this adoption stuff is not for the faint of heart.  it is flat hard, hard, hard!   it is like riding the scariest of scary roller coasters, and do i dare say, without a seat belt!  we are completely at the mercy of other people, whom we've never met, they are at the mercy of people that are doing work down in-country.  it makes for news like this to be very difficult and challenging to swallow.  the unanswered questions: even harder to swallow. 

the upside of this past weeks news is that the kids are getting moved into the capital to their new 'transition house'.  the house will provide better care, food, and facilities.  but it's not home.  it's not where people are going to love them unconditionally.  it's not where they belong.  they belong home.

please pray with us that they get there safely (the in-country flights in congo don't have the best track record), and for His grace and mercy for us to endure these next several weeks with hope and confidence.