Yes.

You never know the day your life is going to change.  You wake up thinking it's just a normal Saturday and you are going to do normal Saturday things. And life is going to carry on like normal as it always does.  On this particular Saturday, we were slated to attend an annual gathering of many of our adoption friends.  I love this party and love getting to see so many people that I typically only interact with through cyberspace.  This would also be the first time I would see two families that were with me in Africa.  The first time that I finally got to take my own African princess to the party instead of staring enviously at the families around me whose kids were home.

On this particular Saturday my world was going to be flipped upside down.  All the things that I had accepted regarding Harper's past life were shattered.  Instead I found myself hearing some of the most astonishing news I could ever fathom.  Things that are far too personal to be blogging about.  Most of which I really haven't processed fully yet.

Fast Forward 6 weeks.

Six weeks filled with gut wrenching decisions, sleepless nights, jam packed days, tears, questions, piles of paperwork, unfathomable joy, flickers of hope and a sense of wonderment about how life just makes sense sometimes.

So it is with great pleasure that the Long family is announcing that 

we will be expanding one more time.  

Because our family wasn't quite complete, we just didn't know it yet.

Apparently Madeline knew.  About 3 days before this all happened, she spent dinner one night asking us when we would be getting a baby brother.  We chuckled and informed her that our family was wonderful just the way it was.  As she has a strong argumentative streak, she continued to press about why we needed a baby brother.  Silly child....

As it turns out, Harper has a biological brother. Over there of course.  And he is also in need of a forever family.  And like I said, it turns out our family wasn't quite complete yet.  So Long, party of 5 is in the works. 

Honestly, this is going to be hard. 

WAY harder than last time. 

WAY longer than last time.

We weren't thinking about it. Or talking about it.  We were making other plans. Big life plans.  

We weren't ready.  We weren't prepared.  

But when God calls your name, you answer.  You change your plans. You change your heart.  And you say yes.   

STUCK

Over 6 months ago, a particular government office in the home country of our youngest daughter (don't you love the vagueness of all of this?), suspended issuing exit permits for adopted children.  Many families who were told they would still get an exit permit are still waiting.  Families I traveled with.. In July.  It's DEVASTATING to see the number of kids that are being impacted by this.  The number of kids who have been legally adopted but are unable to unite with their forever families.  The number of parents that are unable to effectively parent their children because of this situation.  While I absolutely respect this country, this decision is putting families in a very very sticky situation to the detriment of already delicate children.

Both Ends Burning is an organization dedicated to helping children who are STUCK in sticky political situations in international adoption unite with their forever families.  Both Ends Burning is working probono with the families of this country to resolve the situation.  The sad reality is that the U.S. government and State Department have done little to nothing to resolve this situation, which includes even having a clue about just how many families are impacted by this.  In conjunction with Both Ends Burning, I am working with a small army of families with a vested interest in seeing this resolved.

Please take a few minutes to sign this petition, which will go to your respective representatives.  For $3 you can have a paper copy sent.  Let your reps know that this matters to ALL of us.

http://www.petition2congress.com/14960/please-help-resolve-pending-adoptions-from-democratic-republic-co/

Feel free to share as well.  In 3 hours we have sent over 10,000 letters!