Three Weeks!!!!!

Well, I'm at work and in between meetings, so a short post in large font with lots of exclamation points will have to do :)

I got my travel dates!!!!!


We'll leave on August 10th. 


Arrive August 11th. 


GOTCHA DAY AUGUST 13th!!!!!!!!!


Sam, I'm on my way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.
 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
    Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
Exult in his holy name;
    rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

It's A Girl!

The e-mail titled, "It's a Girl!" finally came at 5:11 am.

Toni writes:

Congratulations on your new daughter Samantha Love Knuth, my dear Grace! 

The judge granted the adoption this morning and now you are officially her mom :) There was no glitch and everything went on fast and smooth - just the way I like it! The prosecutor was very nice too. 

The court decree will become final in seven calendar days starting tomorrow and then it takes about 4-5 business days to obtain the paper written signed court decree and submit the new birth certificate. That's when I will be able to schedule your pick up trip. 

For now - just celebrate away and give a big shout so that I can hear it all over the Atlantic Ocean :)

So I'm shouting here! And hopefully, somewhere in her spirit, Sam knows what's happening too, and she's giving a shout as well.

I'd say we're both pretty excited! :)

He name is now, officially, Samantha Love Knuth. 


And I am now officially her mommy :)  


I couldn't be any happier. Hopefully the next month will speed by so I can go and get her!


Thank you all so, so, so, so much for patiently enduring in prayer with me. I love the way God works. This process has been long and hard, but He has shown Himself faithful over and over again for all the world to see. And because of Samantha, He will receive SO much glory! And as a result, I pray that many people will seek Him and trust in Him. HE IS GOOD!!!


Love to all of you. 

The Next Big Step

A friend sent me an e-mail a couple days ago to tell me she was reading through her journal from last summer. She was able to find an entry written on the day I told her I was going to adopt.

Can you guess the date of that journal entry?

July 9th.

One year exactly from the date of Sam's court date. (How cool is that?)

For one full year I've been taking steps toward Sam. Some steps have been comfortable and gradual. Others have been uphill, with no sight of what might lie ahead. My faith has been stretched in every way, but looking back, I can honestly say that I never walked even one step alone. God has been good and faithful in everything, and so patient in teaching me, guiding me, rebuking me, and comforting me. And He has been faithful to comfort, sustain and love Sam. He is faithful because that is His character, and He can be nothing else.

So I continue to pray to our faithful God, and would invite you to pray with me, that He would see Sam through this next big step.

Our court date is THIS MONDAY, JULY 9TH at 9am Bulgaria time, 1:00 AM here in the States. Will you pray with me over this request sent to me by my loving attorney? She has asked us to pray this for the court hearing:

"There's a document missing and instead of the usual grounds for registration for international adoption, Sam was registered as an "exception". The judge didn't seem to make a problem out of it and I think I can defend it, but you never know what kind of prosecutor you'll get for the case (there's always one in adoption cases). They are appointed right before the court hearing and I can't touch bases with this "unknown" person. Please, pray that everything goes as planned on Monday and that there will be no glitches or problems during the court hearing. No new requests and no unforeseen troubles."

God is obviously intimately involved in this adoption, so let us pray and not doubt that God will answer this request according to His good and perfect will. Because we know He will!

You all are the most amazing prayer warriors. I couldn't ask to be surrounded by more loving, godly people than all of you. Thank you for a year full of fervent prayers and loving support.

Love to all of you.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever!

Victory!!!

For those of you who may not have facebook, I just realized I'd better share the good news here, too...

WE GOT A COURT DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My attorney e-mailed early this morning and said, 


"I just got a call from the court! Your court hearing is scheduled for July 09, at 09:00 am Bulgaria time! The judge is beyond wonderful and she requested nothing in addition! I am almost sure it will all be victoriously finished next Monday :)!"


Every single prayer request was answered with a resounding YES! Every. Single. One. 


She's coming home very soon, folks!!!!!


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRAYING! I am so incredibly thankful to everyone for praying so faithfully, and for believing when I did not. 


July 9th, at 9:00am Bulgaria Time, Samantha Love will be my daughter. 


Thank you, Jesus!!!!


Keep praying for God's protection over Sam, me, and this process. He is hearing us!!


Love to all of you.