happy friday to you.

thank you for all the uplifting and kind words the other day.
as soon as i hit "publish," the text messages and emails came in like lightning!
oh how i needed that!
it didn't take long and i was feeling more like myself again.

yesterday was a momentous day.
after work, and on my way to pick up ben from school, i stopped at the post office.
i marched in and mailed of our final copy of the home study to the united states immigration folks.

it seemed so normal, just mailing a letter, but it was so much more than that.
it was a BIG step towards getting our final approval and heading to eastern europe, to davis, for the first time.

i called john to celebrate but he was at work and couldn't talk.
i texted a friend but she must have been busy and didn't respond.
so i sat there, outside of ben's school...alone.
and i prayed.

it wasn't a long prayer, or anything eloquent, but it was a prayer full of gratitude.
so much gratitude.

we made it over a big hurdle.
it's done.
now we turn our focus towards gathering the last of the documents that davis' country requires.
and waiting (again) for fingerprint appointments.

today is a new day.
i took the day off from work.
i am sipping my coffee while ben plays with the ipad.
the older kids are on their way to school.
john is in the shower.
soon the house will be quiet and still.
there's lots to do: the sink is overflowing with dishes, toys on the floor, blankets to be folded, beds to be made, clothes to be washed.
something tells me i may be headed towards an antique shop or two later on.

i think it's going to be a good day.