A Timely Gift

A week or so ago we received a package in the mail from our agency. It was while we were waiting for E's lab work to get started. I knew that they typically send gifts to families during their wait, so it wasn't a huge surprise. We opened it and found a beautiful Ethiopian scarf, a bracelet, and a small piece of Ethiopian art.

It was accompanied by a letter reminding us of God's promises and the following verse:

But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day. Habakkuk 2:3

What I didn't realize is how much I needed a gentle reminder that we are still In the midst of God's plan, and as much as we need and want E home now, God has the perfect plan and is busy orchestrating it, even if we can't see it. It still doesn't change my human emotion of wanting E home now, but it was certainly a timely gift with a message of hope attached to it.

We did receive good news on Friday! We received the first 2 of 4 of E's second medicals. Yay! We are now waiting on one test that needs another blood draw, and her chest xrays and doctor's summary report (ok that was 3 things). Her labs are currently with the doctors at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia for review, but we don't anticipate any issues there.

After we get the remaining medicals and approve them, our agency can begin the paperwork process of submitting us to court! The good news there is that the courts and ministry of women's affairs are all caught up on their back log, so we could get a date before the end of the year.... Maybe...! And, we recently found out that if we can get through court in 2011 we may still be eligible for the adoption tax credit (thanks April!). We didn't know that.

In the meantime, we have taken our agency-required travel webinar, and we are heading to an international travel clinic this week to make sure we are up to date on all of our vaccinations.

Please continue to keep all of us and especially E in your prayers. We've heard that she is extremely fond of her one nanny. It breaks my heart that she will be getting moved away from her soon to a brand new place. It's a good move but will be tough on her poor little heart.

Thanks for all of your prayers!!