Tomorrowland
I have a lot of feelings right now. Chad and I both stop in silence every hour or so and sort of test the moment to see if one of us is going to cry. So far, we haven’t. But there are still 24 hours till take-off. I wouldn’t bet against a breakdown just yet.
Of course, all the tears-verging is not out of sadness. Rather, we have joy AND sadness AND anxiety AND terror AND impatience AND relief and every other blip in the spectrum of human emotion. All at once. Silently and deafeningly.
It’s weird.
And that is why I can’t really convey my heart and mind to you in this blog. Yet I felt like I needed to update everyone and say goodbye (for now). Therefore, the best use of this blog space is to enlighten you as to the logistics of our November.
We fly out of Atlanta tomorrow around dinner time. We have a house sitter (yay!), which is a praise and a cool story. She was displaced by hurricane Michael; a mutual friend connected us. We also have some sweet friends giving up their time to drive us to Atlanta. That is also a praise. Our wonderful friends and neighbors who had originally planned to drive us are suffering through a stomach bug. How blessed are we to have so many people who love us!
We will land in Bogotá late tomorrow night. We have a place to stay for the month. Sunday will be a recovery day. Monday is a holiday in Colombia. We will use this time to get familiar with the area and stock the house with groceries and such.
Tuesday is Encuentro Day! a.k.a. Meeting Day! We will travel to the orphanage and spend some time meeting with the workers there. This is our chance to ask any questions about the kids’ lives since they arrived there. While we talk, Andres and Sara will be given the clothes we brought for them. After the meeting is concluded, the caretakers will bring the kids to us.
We will walk out of the orphanage as a family of 6. The kids will stay with us, not to return to the orphanage at all.
The next seven days are bonding days. We are considered their foster parents. It will be like a foreign family vacation.
After the bonding week, a driver will escort us on a two-hour adventure down a bumpy, twisting mountain road to the town of La Mesa. Here we will wait at a hotel until our case is called before a judge. He will sign our adoption decree, and Andres and Sara will officially be Brogans! Fun fact: this will be the turning point that allows us to post their faces on social media. So set your alarms to have your Facebook feed explode that day. 😊
The next week we return to Bogotá. The days will be filled with appointments at doctor offices, embassies, consulates, etc.
If all goes well, we will fly home the week after Thanksgiving. The price of plane tickets and some other logistics will determine if we all fly home together or if we split up, three and three.
I cannot believe tomorrow is happening. And, no, I’m not packed.
Of course, all the tears-verging is not out of sadness. Rather, we have joy AND sadness AND anxiety AND terror AND impatience AND relief and every other blip in the spectrum of human emotion. All at once. Silently and deafeningly.
It’s weird.
And that is why I can’t really convey my heart and mind to you in this blog. Yet I felt like I needed to update everyone and say goodbye (for now). Therefore, the best use of this blog space is to enlighten you as to the logistics of our November.
We fly out of Atlanta tomorrow around dinner time. We have a house sitter (yay!), which is a praise and a cool story. She was displaced by hurricane Michael; a mutual friend connected us. We also have some sweet friends giving up their time to drive us to Atlanta. That is also a praise. Our wonderful friends and neighbors who had originally planned to drive us are suffering through a stomach bug. How blessed are we to have so many people who love us!
We will land in Bogotá late tomorrow night. We have a place to stay for the month. Sunday will be a recovery day. Monday is a holiday in Colombia. We will use this time to get familiar with the area and stock the house with groceries and such.
Tuesday is Encuentro Day! a.k.a. Meeting Day! We will travel to the orphanage and spend some time meeting with the workers there. This is our chance to ask any questions about the kids’ lives since they arrived there. While we talk, Andres and Sara will be given the clothes we brought for them. After the meeting is concluded, the caretakers will bring the kids to us.
We will walk out of the orphanage as a family of 6. The kids will stay with us, not to return to the orphanage at all.
The next seven days are bonding days. We are considered their foster parents. It will be like a foreign family vacation.
After the bonding week, a driver will escort us on a two-hour adventure down a bumpy, twisting mountain road to the town of La Mesa. Here we will wait at a hotel until our case is called before a judge. He will sign our adoption decree, and Andres and Sara will officially be Brogans! Fun fact: this will be the turning point that allows us to post their faces on social media. So set your alarms to have your Facebook feed explode that day. 😊
The next week we return to Bogotá. The days will be filled with appointments at doctor offices, embassies, consulates, etc.
If all goes well, we will fly home the week after Thanksgiving. The price of plane tickets and some other logistics will determine if we all fly home together or if we split up, three and three.
I cannot believe tomorrow is happening. And, no, I’m not packed.
Tears. Can't possibly tell you how hard this is on your old parents. Exciting too though. Will keep all six Brogans in our thoughts and prayers until we are reunited. But pack already!
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