We are still here

She looks like she has a secret!  Maybe she knows
the date we will get the call to come get her! 

We are still hanging out waiting for an email from the Embassy.  Please tell me (other parents who are waiting)... do you check your email 10 times during the night to make sure you don't miss the email coming in?  I know we do, but maybe we are just crazy!  We'd hate to be wasting time sleeping when we could be planning our next trip to Ethiopia!  

We haven't heard anything since they requested the phone number last week.  If they were able to get in touch with the individual (and if he provided the information requested), then we could be days away from getting an email to go get our daughter.  


If they were unsuccessful in reaching the individual, we may be looking at being sent to the USCIS office in Nairobi.  Our Case Manager did say that sometimes that can be a blessing in disguise, as typically, the USCIS office in Nairobi approves the case a few days after it arrives.  I suppose that is better than it sitting in the Embassy for a few weeks.  But, with so many cases having the possibility of going to Nairobi, I'm wondering what their case-load and wait will be like.  We are praying we won't have the opportunity to figure that out but at the same time, I'm trying to prepare my heart for that situation.  


I can't say that I am completely in love with our latest circumstance, but I know there is purpose (somewhere!) in it.  


I remember back to  July/August when we were completely distraught because our adoption had been put on hold... and then we were finally back on the referral list...but no referrals were coming in.  We just didn't understand the timing of everything that was happening...

One of our referral pictures of Geneme Elliana

Then, half way around the world, there was a little girl in an orphanage, who was not 'referable' because she was missing paperwork in her file.  So she waited for months, and months, and months until one day she had the final piece of the puzzle for her file.  She could finally be referred to a forever-family.


. . . That was the day we received a surprise call saying, "I want to tell you about a little girl .." and our hearts were forever changed.  

So whenever I'm temped to allow our circumstance to steal my joy, I remember the marvelous things have happened in our family in just a few short years, and how it was all perfectly orchestrated by God.  Even with my self-confessed 'planner' personality, I couldn't have planned a better outcome.  I just need to allow God to continue to plan our course and trust that it is happening exactly according to plan.  (even as it stretches us farther than we thought possible).   

The heart of man plans his way,

    but the Lord establishes his steps.   

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)