Travel Day and Sofia Day

On Friday, April 9, Robert and I woke up to a very quiet house. The kids were with Grammy and Poppy and it was the day we would finally leave to pick up Emmaline. We basically paced all morning, waiting for it to be time to go to the airport. I went out for a quick jog (just to ease my nerves), and we went over our packing list one last time. We headed to the airport way too early, just because we couldn't stand waiting anymore. We were thankful for the extra time since Covid has made everything more difficult in regards to travel. The airport parking was closed, so we had to find a park and ride. And there were several checks to make sure we had the proper paperwork before we were allowed on the airplane. 

The Atlanta airport always provides entertainment. Here were our two funniest moments: 

1. When we were checking in (the first time), the ticket agent looked at Robert and said, "My system says: 'This customer cannot go to Bulgaria.'" Robert looked at me with total panic. I just laughed at him and told the agent, yes, we can. I had all our documentation from the courts and Embassy. I think the agent still wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, because he said "I am not liable if they do not let you in." Gotcha. (Spoiler: They let us in, of course.) 

2. While in line for security, the man in front of us pulled out a TSA Approved card and flashed it at the agent, and tried to walk through the security point. The TSA agent stopped him and said, "YOU are TSA approved, your bag is not" and made him go to the back of the line. Hilarious. (For us, not so much him.) 

We sat on the runway in Atlanta for 45 minutes and all I could do was watch my watch and think 'We are going to miss our flight in Paris.' We only had a 2 hour lay over to begin with, 1 hour in Paris is not enough time to get to another flight. But, God smiled on us, because we hustled through that Paris airport, had an extra security line opened just as we arrived (thank you, Jesus!) We made it to our gate in time to grab a bottle of water and get on the plane. We are so thankful because that was the ONLY flight to Sofia until Monday! 

After about 14 hours of total travel time, we finally arrived in Sofia. Sadly, our luggage did not arrive with us and we are still waiting on it. It is hanging out in Paris until there is another flight to Bulgaria. We hope they remember to put our bags on the next flight! We would love to get some clean clothes, and all the clothes and toys and supplies we brought for Emmaline. 

We were thrilled when we got to our hotel and found out we had received a free upgrade to one of the suites. We have a lot more space to spread out and a little living room where we can play with Emmaline once she is here. 

We spent a very sleepy evening wandering Vitosha street (right outside our hotel), trying to find a few necessary toiletries and dinner. 

After a much needed full night of sleep, we had a quiet Sunday morning in the hotel room reading our Bibles, followed by a busy afternoon of grocery shopping and attempting (but failing) to find a stroller. We enjoyed street pizza and gelato for lunch and took in more of the city. The juxtaposition of the new and the old is interesting here. Modern buildings built next to (or on top of) ancient buildings. New apartments next to crumbling homes. It's been fun getting to know the area around our hotel. If Emmaline is up to it, we hope to see some more of the city and surrounding areas in the weeks to come. 

Tomorrow is the big day! We finally meet Emmaline! We know tomorrow will be difficult for her. Two people she has never met coming to take her away from all she knows. Terrifying. We love her and we are looking forward to getting to know who she is...but we know this beginning bit will be difficult. We pray tonight for her little heart and mind. We pray she will feel loved and safe soon. We pray for our own hearts as we try to meet all her needs. 

Our kids at home are doing well with Grammy and Poppy! We are thankful they are being loved on while we are away. 

My Little Loves Here at Home

 There’s a part of my brain that starts screaming at me to quit in the middle of long runs. That voice asking “why the heck are you doing this?” and screaming “Stop and EAT you crazy lady!” There are articles upon articles written about how to fight off that voice and push through to the end...fuel, water, training, mental games.

Here we are...the week of departure has arrived and the most difficult part emotionally for me is upon me. Leaving these kids who are the loves of my life. That same part of my brain screams “I can’t leave them!” And a crushing sadness at driving away without them engulfs my heart.

There aren’t any articles written about this... and there really aren’t any mental games to make it better...but I have something more...God’s voice speaking truth against the fear...full of perfect peace and all the courage my weak heart needs. He reminds me that sometimes He requires things that are hard. But, in the hard, He is always there with me.

We are THRILLED to be going to meet and bring our last baby HOME in just a few short days. But, the next few days with these six babies at home are full of some hard moments for all of us as we step outside our comfort zone to finish the adoption of our beloved daughter and sister.

Faithful

 “ I will stand at my watch

Emmaline Victoria Zopp

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me,

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come

and will not delay.” -Habakkuk 2:1-3

Last night, I sat with a pile of toddler sized clothes I have saved for years and was overcome by the Lord’s faithfulness. He is faithful. All the time.

He whispered to us that we would have another daughter long ago. Life has taken many twists and turns since then. Programs closed to us. Family moves. Job changes. The journey to our baby girl did not look like what we imagined. But, all along the way, God was there, encouraging us.

Now, finally, here I am sitting with a pile of 2T clothes I’ve saved all these years...knowing He would be faithful. So excited to hold my little girl. Just a few more weeks to wait.

If you’re waiting for Him ... His timing is perfect. Trust in His faithfulness. It will come.

Sometimes not in the time or way we want or expect. But always for His glory and our good.

Immigration Approval

 Immigration approval came today!!

Y'all. God is ... just overwhelming in the way He speaks and moves. As my feet pounded down familiar sidewalk this weekend, Paul's speech to the Athenians ran through my mind like a tape recorder: "...he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything...he himself gives life, breath and all things...he has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings...that they might seek the Lord and find him, though he is not far from each one of us..." This immigration step had me unraveling a little. Weeks and weeks of silence as I worried about my girl. But God...He reminded me during my sidewalk therapy session that He has a plan. As usual, He is not going to let me see the road map, just one step of obedience at a time. But...just like His timing has always been perfect in all things, His timing will also be perfect with Emmaline. He has all of it already worked out. For His Glory. For my good. For her good.

Monday night, my Spirit woke me to pray over our girl and this immigration application. Tuesday early in the morning, the same. In the wee hours of the morning, I sent an email to the United States Immigration office asking if they could check on our application. A few hours later, they responded that they approved us this morning!

Did God need my prayers to move the paperwork? Nope. But He asked me to chat with Him about it and He sure did use this to refine me, as always. So humbling. Somehow, the Creator also cares about the tiniest details.

Thank you for praying with us! One step closer to holding our baby girl!

Virtual Visits

 No better reason for a 3:30 alarm than to meet our newest daughter. We watched Emmaline play and talked with her caregivers. Her nickname is “Fire Girl” because of her strong will and occasional hot temper. I think she will be able to hold her own here! We love her so much. The next step we need is for the US government to get a move on with our immigration application!

We are thankful for these little video visits but they have also made the waiting even more difficult. We can’t wait to have her home!

Emmaline

 My Pa-Pa was a jokester. He told exaggerated stories, participated in many practical jokes, and he loved to tease people. I would like to say it was always out of love but that wouldn't be true. He got a kick out of irritating people. It made him laugh. And sometimes, a good laugh was priority over protecting feelings. 

My grandmother was prim and proper. She valued etiquette and grace. My mother and I called her Miss Manners. She was from the same rural area of Florida as my grandfather but, probably for the reasons stated above, my Pa-Pa was "that Norman boy" to my grandmother's mother. He was a little too country, not enough manners. 

Still, somehow he endeared himself to my grandmother and they were married for over 50 years before she passed away. 

My grandmother's name was Doris Emily. My Pa-Pa called her Emmaline. The story is, the name started as a way to tease her. Pa-Pa called her Emmaline, she argued that nickname "sounded too country. Don't call me that," he laughed, and she was irritated. This continued. 

By the time I was born, Emmaline was a sweet name of endearment. Only Pa-Pa called her Emmaline and I never remember anything but a faint smile on her face when he did. In public and to the world, she was Doris. When he needed something or in formal conversation, she was Doris. But, in the tender moments, she was his Emmaline. 

Both of my grandparents have left this world and gone on to heaven. I miss them everyday. I dream about them often at night. And I can't wait to see them again when my time here is done. 

_____________________________________________________________________

We have decided to name our baby girl Emmaline Victoria. 

Emmaline is a tribute not only to my sweet grandparents, but also to the two women they raised who have been two of my dearest friends my entire life: my mother and my aunt. 

My mother selflessly gave of herself my entire childhood and taught me so much about being a mother, it would be impossible to put it all down on paper. The most important thing, though, was that these tiny humans I am privileged to raise are a gift to be cherished and beloved. Time spent with them is never time wasted. The things of this world that seem so much more important are not important at all, not in comparison to raising my children. She made my childhood beautiful. And, now that I am grown, she is a dear friend to me. 

My aunt-BB was a child herself when I was born and from a very early age, I always looked forward to playing with her. Watching she and my mom interact has always been entertaining. I felt so special when they included me on their adventures...we always ended up in fits of giggles (and often lost). Now, I still enjoy any time we get to spend together. Hours go by as seconds when we are visiting. BB and her family have loved me and my babies well and I am so thankful for the continued relationship we have with all of them. They are a cherished part of our family. 

Victoria comes from our baby girl's Bulgarian name. It is the English equivalent of the name given her in the orphanage. We love that it means "victory". We pray daily for her heart and her well being and look forward to see how the Lord works in her life. 

Emmaline Victoria, we cannot wait to meet you! 

Our New Daughter

 We are absolutely thrilled to finally be matched with our newest daughter. Due to the laws in Bulgaria, we cannot share her face, name, or any identifying information until after we pass court in many months. She is beautiful and already loved so much. The process is still quite long, and we know it will be a difficult wait, but we also know she is worth it! We cannot wait to be her forever family! We love you, sweet girl!

This has been a trying adoption process. There have been many starts and stops. A big move. Big life changes. An agency change. So many delays. After every little detour, the Lord has been faithful to encourage and speak to us. He has made his path known and shown us the way to walk. We are humbled and grateful that He continues to use us and speak to us. And we are so honored and excited to be this baby girl's family.