Runaway.

run v. (r-uh-n)

1. to move swiftly on foot so that both feet leave the ground

2. to retreat rapidly

3. to move without hindrance or restraint

4. to go about from place to place

5. to go when in trouble or distress

6. to make a short, quick trip

7. to move freely

We are so grateful we had the opportunity to run away to our "Florida house" for a few days. We desperately needed to catch our breath for a minute and just be. 

Adoption is hard, ya'll.

Obviously, the paperwork is strenuous, the fundraising is stressful, the waiting is desperate-- all true if everything goes smoothly. This hasn't gone smoothly. It has been our hardest adoption journey by far. On paper, we have hit delay after delay after delay after delay with no rhyme or reason. 

We know all the right things to think/say, we know we know we know. But it's maddening. 

In theory, he should already be home. 

What we expected to take about 30 days, we are still waiting on 86 days later. And no one can tell us why and there's nothing we can do about it. 

Our current status is "match reviewed"... the last step, on the cusp of approval. Normally, for NON-expedited adoptions,  it takes just a few days for approval once you reach this step. We've been there for three weeks.

MADDENING. 

Of course, on top of everything else- we don't really know the status of his health. We think he is doing okay right now, but we aren't getting much info and that's really, really tough. 

So, we impulsively ran away to the beach for a minute. And we flew $1 kites and we got sunburned and we lived on sandwiches and cereal and did you know Cale can talk for nine hours strait? And that Brynn knows every word to every song, ever? Still, we held hands and jumped over waves, we saw dolphins and Dierks Bentley, and for just a minute we forgot how hard it all is. 

Please come home soon, sweet boy. Margot the Cargo has one more seat available and it's your's. There are crabs to catch and sandcastles to build and there is a wave out there with your name on it.