9/8/2006 - Adoption Update e-mail

Dear Family and Friends,

Last time I wrote to you, I told you that the branch of the Peru
government that handles adoptions, SNA, had put off their monthly
meeting until this week. I later learned that the reason for the delay
had to do with the fact that Peru, having a new government, had two new
members on the council who had not been confirmed. So, after enduring
another week of waiting, we geared up once again on Monday in
anticipation of some good news. However, Monday went by with no news.
On Tuesday, we did get some news, but it was only to tell us that the
meeting to assign children to their prospective parents would be on
Friday, which is today. Our lawyer in Peru asked us how soon we would
be able to travel if we got the word on Friday. And on Wednesday, she
sent us the acceptance letter via e-mail that we needed to sign and
return, so that she would be able to present it to SNA as soon as the
meeting had concluded. These were all positive signs that we were
getting close.

Today, of course, we greatly anticipated getting the e-mail that told us
Loren, Veronica, and Donna had been assigned to us, and that we were
free to travel. I passed the whole day at work without receiving the
e-mail. However, the lawyer had told us in an earlier e-mail that it
might be Friday evening, so we still held out hope. At 7:00 pm we had
arranged to have a video conference with the girls. We were hoping to
finally be able to answer their ever present question of "When are you
coming?" We had to settle for telling them it would be "pronto",
(soon), which has been our standard answer. They know it's getting
close, and told us they are very excited.

At 8:15 tonight, we received this message from our lawyer:

"Dear Tim & Andrea,

Some minutes ago SNA confirmed to me officially the designation of
Loren, Donna and Veronica for the Brooks family.

[snip]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! "

With great excitement, we rushed into action. Our plan had been to book our
flights for Monday, leaving out of Peru. Well as it turns out, the
flight we had wanted was booked, and so was the backup flight, as well,
as the backup on Tuesday, and Wednesday. So, we started looking for
Chicago and St. Louis flights. After a few hours of scouting around, I
have booked tickets for Monday, September 11th out of St. Louis. We are
on our way!!! We'll be at the orphanage in Trujillo late Tuesday
night. So, after starting this process over 9 months ago, we are
finally going to Peru to bring our girls home. Praise God!

Please pray for us to be safe during our travels, and that our three
boys, Josh, T.J. and Andrew don't go crazy during the many hours of
travel ahead for all of us.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. My next e-mail will be from
Peru. I hope to send along some pictures of our new family as things
progress.

Love,

Tim, Andrea, Josh, T. J. and Andrew