Mmmm….Pumpkin Spice Latte...

What I wouldn't give for a Pumpkin Spice Latte right now…I know, they're apparently terrible for you but it is a gorgeous cool fall day and for once in my life I am not mourning the end of summer because it is going to be a monumental autumn here in the Runyan household. If all goes according to plan we should be traveling to China in early November and in case you haven't looked at your calendar lately that is very soon. This means that we are in the end stages of this adoption. We are really just waiting for our travel date which should come in the next week or so. Samuel's bed is in the basement waiting to be assembled, we know what size clothes and shoes he'll be wearing, we've added another chair to our dining room table (to help prepare the kids) and this is suddenly becoming REALLY REALLY REAL. Our mindset is changing from a family of 4 to a family of 5. I'm not feeling totally prepared but I'm also not feeling totally unprepared and I think that's about as prepared as you can hope to be in a situation so full of unknowns. We are incredibly blessed to have an adoption agency who takes adoption education very seriously and we are doing our homework. Literally. 

I can't believe it has been a year since we started this whole process. Here is the first picture that we ever saw of Samuel.

And here is a picture of Samuel taken last month.

He is growing up! Nowadays Andy & I are trying to be very intentional about spending time with our kiddos doing fun stuff. For a couple of months after bringing Sam home we are going to be hunkered down as a family not going much of anywhere and while this is necessary it will probably also be kind of "boring" for our bio kids after a couple of weeks. The holidays are going to look a bit different this year that's for sure. 
It is an exciting time (understatement of the year) and it is a terrifying time (again…understatement) Why am I even trying to make statements? There are no words to describe this. Most days my mind is going a hundred miles an hour. I'm trying to process it all and trying not to get consumed with the "what ifs." It will not be easy (but nothing worth anything ever is.) I know that God led us to this place. He has led us to Samuel, our son, and the "what ifs" fade away in light of that. 
 We have amazing friends and family supporting us and asking how they can help. I can't really answer that, however, because I don't really have a clue what we're going to need when it comes down to it. I imagine us eating a lot of frozen pizza. I guess if you happen to know other families who have adopted just go ahead and ask them what we're going to need (a pumpkin spice latte might be a good place to start…I'm just saying…)