“I feel like I’ve been split open and stuffed with sunshine.”
―Tahereh Mafi
Remember when I said I felt like this could be *the* week?
Welllllllll…IT WAS! 😀
We are officially out of IBESR, which means we are OFFICIALLY matched with our son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next up, our paperwork goes to Parquet Court, and then they’ll start working on Sweet P’s (last) name change. Which reminds me- his first name will stay the same, his birth last name will become his middle name, and how FUN to know that he’ll be a Palmer within the next handful of months!
*sigh*
I’m beaming over here tonight. 🙂
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Three things, before I sign off to celebrate:
1. Some days it’s reeeeally hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to our adoption timeline. But ya know what? There are also lots of days like today. Days that feel like a GIGANTIC exhale. Days I suddenly feel flexible again…loose enough to lean waaaay back so that I can re-see the whole miraculous thing with fresh eyes…so that I can re-understand that this whole HUGE thing is really one HUGE Gift.
I mean, really.
That God would draw me close…little-ol’ scaredy-cat, weirdo, flawed, messy ME. That He would call me to an island THIRTEEN HUNDRED miles away, so that I could be loved by THIS sparkly, precious son:
Totally overwhelming, y’all. So humbling. I need to be more intentional about staying loose (without updates) so that I can remember to lean back on the Big Picture more often.
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2. WAR ROOM. Go see it. Like, yesterday. I can hardly wait to watch it again.
3. Some of the sweet teachers from Three Angels School graciously spent some of their summer break instructing the kiddos at the Angel House orphanage about letters, numbers, songs, etc.
So grateful they post videos on their Facebook page so we can feel split open and stuffed with sunshine, too!
Oh such glorious news! You’ve come such a long way, with such grace, it won’t be much longer now! Your Nashville friend that you’ve never met! Susan
What a sunny day indeed!!! Praying for God’s blessings for all of you.
WOW so happy for all three of you! You are both going to be great parents! how cool when God hooks us up with the right people he really takes care of us. take care sincerely k. sunday
I have been checking all evening..I just could feel this…
Thank God …for his grace and guidance. So very happy for all of you.
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU! I prayed for you this week… having adopted three I know how important each step forward is. Here’s to a quick few months for when your boy comes home.
Delighted for you all. I don’t even ‘know’ you in person but I hold my breath every time there’s an adoption update on your blog. How mental this online world is!
I’m soooooooo excited, I can’t imagine how it is for you!
X hugs from Scotland
My heart burst for you too!! I can just see this lil man in your beautiful home you’ve created for him and walking around, singing and dancing!! So much love!~Kim
I am so so happy for y’all!!!! Can’t wait to see a whole picture of y’all with Sweet P!
This brought tears to my eyes this morning. So happy for ALL of you!!!
I am so so happy for all 3 of you, that is such amizing news. I was adopted when I was just 6 weeks old (i’m 43 now) and I can tell you now your bond with your son will be such an amizingly strong one. Can’t wait to read the post when you say he is coming home with you. Lots of love to you all xxxx
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so EXCITED for you and for him!!!!!!! I bet you are literally radiating happiness today!!! Congratulations! I can’t wait for your little Sweet P to come home!
That’s great news! So happy for the process to be moving forward!
I just love reading these posts! I’m beaming too! Praying that everything goes smoothly and that you and your darling Sweet P will be together soon!
Soooo happy for the Palmers!!
Hallelujah! Such exciting news!
I was beaming with you when I read your great news. Soon Layla, soon!
Congratulations!!! Very happy for you and your husband.
I am so excited for you and cannot wait to see a picture of you all together in your Home Sweet Home Alabama.
yay, yay, YAY!!!!! what a wonderful day!
CONGRATS to you all! We are all so happy for you – you are already a great mom (and creator yourself) and now you have the joy of sharing that with us as well…
SOOOO HAPPY to read this GREAT NEWS!!! I can’t stop crying! Love and ((virtual hugs)) from the Ozark Mtns where I’ve been following your blog since the early days. You’ve inspired me in so many ways, and it has been a pleasure to pray for you and your family on this journey. I can’t wait to see a picture of his whole face! lol! Much joy!!!
Wonderful, wonderful news! Long time coming, & now to see ‘Sweet P’ @ the end of your long tunnel is now filled with light & love. God bless?
I was hoping this was today’s news!! So very, very happy for you three. What a wonderful mother you already are : )
Oh! Happy Day! Such exciting news and we all wish you fast days!!
Layla. I loved hearing your words today. They were like a balm on my hearts. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I’m over the moon happy for you!!! Can’t wait to be able to see his sweet face all the time?
Lisa:)
Such sweet a sweet blessing and great news for the “Sweet P Family! Prayers that all goes smoothly.
Congratulations!! Wonderful news!
I can see your beaming glow here in Tampa! Very exciting news, thank you for sharing it with us!
PRAISE GOD!!! I have followed your beautiful story in its entirety; have prayed for you, cried with you, and today I rejoice with you. May God Richly Bless all 3 of the Palmers. Thank you for letting us inside your journey.
My heart is so full after seeing this! So very happy for your family & looking forward to that sweet little boy coming HOME! Thank you so much for sharing your journey. It means more than you know!
Praise!! Celebrating with you today from TN! I just found your blog and am so excited to follow along in your journey; this post also brought me a lot of comfort and hope – my husband and I are on the road of adoption too and this morning was one of those mornings “the waiting time” just felt extra hard and my heart feels heavy. Thank you for sharing reminders of His important truths.
Jumping-up-and-down excited for all of you!!!
Yay!!! I am so happy for you!! Praise God for this huge blessing! Today, I rejoice with you for this great gift. I know you are anxious to bring your Sweet P home. Praying for you.
God is so good! Glorious news comes just when it is needed. Offering prayers of thanksgiving for all 3 of you. May the next step of your journey be filled with peace!
My heart swells for you. Watching that video made me wonder which sweet face belongs to your little ray of sunshine! I continue to pray for the 3 of you:))
I am all the way in California and the first thing I do each morning is check your blog for your adoption update. This is such great news! I can’t wait for you to bring your son home! You are almost there.
And you’re not just waiting for him, he’s waiting for you too! 🙂
Happy tears in Nashville. I’m so excited for you guys!!
Congratulations!! So happy for you, Palmers! Thank you also for sharing the video. So sweet, and I love that I want to squeeze the ladies teaching just as much as I want to squeeze the kids. They’re ALL so precious!
I’m absolutely thrilled for all of you, but I’m also saddened a bit by the amount of time and red tape it takes to adopt. Sweet P is missing out on so many experiences and the ability to get settled in with his new family while he waits for the slow wheels to turn. Did I really read it right the other day that it takes about a year from this point before he comes home?
Oh, don’t be sad, Shawnda! Today is for CELEBRATING a HUGE blessing! 😀 #FrownFreeZone
It does stink that this process takes so long. BUT. The longer God works on me, the more I am convinced, his story is playing out *exactly* as it’s supposed to. God is with Sweet P, and we trust he is having the *exact* experiences God planned for him to have. I miss him SO MUCH, but it also makes me feel so emotional when I think about all the ways God is moving in and through him right now!! 😀 We may never know how many lives he has touched during these first four years. We may never know all the beautiful souls that poured into him during this time. We may never know why his story was so different from our own, or why we were to become his parents at age 4 instead of age newborn. God is in control, the process is moving, and our boy is sparkly and precious. We knew from the start this would be a 3-4 year adventure, so we’re going to keep trying our *best* to keep focused on the Wonder…not the rest of the wait. XO
This is the best news!! I am thrilled for you! How precious the video was to watch! Oh, those smiling faces. How blessed beyond measure your Sweet P will be to have you as parents!! 🙂
Praise the Lord for you and your son. I know it will be a wonderful life for him and a joy for you and your husband. I am very happy for you. Congratulations and best wishes for the future.
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. I’m praying that the rest of the process goes quickly and smoothly. Happy weekend!!
Such good news! You’re another step closer! So excited for your family 🙂
So very happy for you …the end is in sight..Hallelujah!
And thank you for spilling over with gratefulness too..today is hard, waiting on such
a hard road, which seems never ending but one day..
maybe even today…I will lean waaayyy back to see His beautiful big picture for us.
We are all so thrilled Sweet P is coming home!
yeah! yeah! yeah! so happy for your family
YaY, what good news to start the weekend! Sweet P will be home before you know it!!! 🙂
Chill bumps!!!! Every time i see a video or picture from the orphanage, I try to figure out which sweet face belongs to your Sweet Pea! So over the top happy for Kevin & you!
Joy, joy, joy!!! His timing is always perfect : )