Doing life!

 

We tried to hike to a waterfall! Didn’t realize it was so far and didn’t make it. Was good to get out and walk though!

There were mountain bike trails everywhere. Jo loved this track because it had lots of jumps!

Just because she’s so cute 🥰

It’s been a couple days since Maya officially became ours! And we have been slowly getting into a new routine and just trying to do normal life here as we wait now for paper work. Which goes something like this:

1. We are now waiting for our adoption order to go through. This doesn’t happen til after Court, which we did last Thursday. It was very casual in an office with a stack of papers and inch thick! We legally have signed to have Maya as our daughter but the paperwork needs to go through all the correct hands, etc. this usually takes about 1-2 weeks. So hopefully by the weekend it will be done. 

2. Next we apply for  birth certificate in her new last name. We will have to go to the “service ontario” of South Africa and do this. We won’t ever see the birth certificate but will need the receipt of this for her Canadian citizenship. This can be done in a day or two.

3. This is the big one! Canadian citizenship! This takes about 30 working days to receive back once we courier it to the Canadian embassy in Pretoria. So once we have applied for this the countdown is on. 

4. The last thing we need to fly home with Maya is a temporary Canadian passport. We can apply for this after her citizenship is granted. This usually takes 5-7 days! 

This all leads up to the week before Christmas. We are praying that they want to get all this done before then so we won’t be waiting here over Christmas into the new year. But it could go either way. Trying to prepare for the longest scenario but praying for the quickest outcome.

While these things are happening we’re going to try to explore as much of South Africa as we can while we are here. It’s a beautiful country! 

Some things you could hold up in prayer:

• our bond/ attachment with Maya. She’s quite independent but is learning to trust and lean on us for things. We are learning all about her ways, her triggers and her little personality!

• good sleep for all! She has been sleeping so well!! Praying this continues for all of us!

• clarity for all the paperwork. That it gets done properly and correct so that we won’t have to wait longer than we have to. 

Love,

Phil, Michelle, Josiah & Maya 💞