Gratitude

Gratitude – letting others know you see how they’ve helped you. This is what we are teaching our kids this month at church. Sometimes I think I get more out of the lessons than the kids.

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV

Hmmm.. in all circumstances . . . How many of us really praise God when we are in the midst of a storm, even if it is His will for us? We are quick to say thank you when things are going well, but not too many of us say 'geee, thanks,' when things aren't going as planned.  I know I’m guilty of that. I’m trying to be better and know that He has the master plan and can see things we cannot. I tried to think of that this week as we were waiting and waiting for one test result, which was holding up our court submission. This one test has tied us up for 8 weeks.


I had come to the conclusion that if God wants our test results to be stuck in a machine that is broken down, then that is what He wants. The test is run, the results are done, but the machine is unable to spit the results out. [seriously, I don't make this stuff up!]   But, there must be a reason for it. Maybe He wanted to see if we would take E without knowing the final results of this test? Maybe He needed to delay our travel to avoid a situation that He knows is going to happen (like my husband’s 9/11 “non-coincidence”). Maybe He needs E to stay at the orphanage a few more weeks …. Whatever it is, He knows and we do not.

BUT, Gratitude is exactly what came to mind Thursday, when we were able to approve Baby E’s 2nd medicals!!  Finally!  This happened all by God’s grace, I’m sure of that!!

We were permitted to approve her 2nd medicals ‘as is’ without this ONE required test. It was our decision if we wanted to wait for the test results or approve her 2nd medicals without it. You know what we decided! So, we were able to give our consent to have our case prepared for court submission on Thursday. This, I am certain, is not an Agency standard, but an exception which was based on Baby E’s age and the age requirement of this ONE required test. {Plus I’m sure that the fact that we waited 4 weeks for the reagent to come in, and then 4 additional weeks for the results of this test, had some influence on their decision}. On Friday, we received an email that the lab machine was repaired and we had the test results anyway! Yipee… so now we are back on track.

The process of getting the documents translated and authenticated over in Ethiopia to go to court can take a couple of weeks. Not sure how ‘a couple of weeks’ is translated in Ethiopian time, but at least we are moving again. After we are officially submitted to court, it looks like it takes a few more weeks to hear back with a court date, unless there is a problem with one of our documents. We are praying that everything is in order for our little girl and that we can get a speedy court date. I’m still praying that we can get a court date by the end of the year, but I know it may not be possible. I'm also praying that we can travel with other families in our Agency whose children's test results were stuck in the same machine!  We should all be back on track now. 

My goal is to continue to show gratitude in all circumstances. I know this is just one of MANY hills and valleys that we are yet to go through in this adoption process. Still, I feel like we are coming down the home stretch, sort of.  Of course, this can change quickly with the next detour or road block we come to, but today, I am certainly full of gratitude for a God that cares, and a God that can move mountains and make exceptions to bring His children home.

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18

Still Waiting

Nope. Nothing again this week. Apparently there is an issue at the lab. Uggh. There are so many roads my mind can go down right now, but I’m trying to remain calm. I'll be honest. It's not easy. I'm so afraid that her original sample is no longer useable so they will have to draw it again, which could take a few more weeks. Or what if they run out of the reagent again ... See here I go again. It's a constant battle for me to stay out of panic mode. That's not cool. I have keep my mind on things that I know as truth:

Philippians 4:6-7. Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

 8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Please pray that these issues get resolved. We need ONE test result to be entered onto her medical report in order to approve her medicals and be submitted for court. ONE. Everything else is complete. My heart hurts for our little girl who has spent most of her life waiting… and stuck in a process that she had no control over.

We are almost 2 years in the adoption process. Granted, we were pregnant and had a baby in there too, but it just seems like we have been waiting for this little girl forever.  This summer, I was hesitant to plan anything for November or December, thinking we would be traveling. Now, November is almost here, and we are nowhere close to traveling. Booh. This is to be expected in an international adoption, I know, but knowing it and living in it are 2 different things.   I still know, however, that waiting is part of God's plan for us.  I don't fully understand it, but I know the waiting is continuing to draw us closer to Him.  That's not a coincidence.  It's part of the plan. 

But, it’s still hard… knowing her face…and knowing a little about her personality. She’s there and we are here. It just stinks.

Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.

They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.

It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms.

But once you do, everything changes.

Radical by David Platt

Even Baby Faith is being changed and molded in this process. Here she is giving ‘kiss-kiss’ to Sissy.  She loves looking at Baby E 's pictures.

Waiting . . .

Still no news on the referral end of our adoption. There haven’t been any new referrals for weeks. It's a little frustrating, but we are handling it fairly well.  I think the toughest part is planning and not knowing when we will get a referral and when we might travel, etc.  I know it's part of the process and part of our being obedient, but that's been one of the toughest things for us. (not to mention that there's a little girl on the other side of the world waiting for a family!!!)
There is hope though! Three representatives from our Agency are currently over in Ethiopia right now helping to sort out some of the problems and complete paperwork for children who have not yet been referred. (which could include our "E").  The main delay, it seems, is a shift in focus on reviews and the placement of children from the orphanages that have recently closed. They are trying to determine the status of these children, which has resulted in the delay of new referrals. Please keep these children in your prayers -- they've been ripped out of one orphanage and put into another.  Some have already been referred to families -- so it has to be a confusing situation over there. 

We typically get emails every Thursday from our Case Manager. I wait, very patiently, for those emails to come every week just for a glimmer of hope that things are picking up. I know I could call our Case Manager or email her for a status update, but I really want her to concentrate on moving things along for those who are in process, not tend to a whiny parent to is tired of waiting :)   I do wonder, however, if they know how I hang on every word of those updates? Our last email said that one representative remains encouraged and hopeful that things will get moving again “soon.” Yay!.. but ummm, what exactly does ‘soon’ mean?  Webster describes it as “within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.; before long; within the near future.” (Great, that doesn’t really help me).

I guess to us, soon means in God’s timing. I must admit, it’s getting harder and harder to wait and I feel like I’m getting older and older (ha ha)… but I know that after everything is final and when we look back, we will see God’s perfect timing in our referral, our trips, and finally bringing E home. It’s hard for us to understand now, but it will all make perfect sense some day.

For those of you who know me, you know I am not very good at plucking the perfect scripture out of the Bible – but yet I always seem to find them. God always has a way of bringing them to me. It’s no coincidence that I was looking at something else (in reference to 9/11) and found this scripture. It spoke volumes of encouragement to me.

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!


But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.  1 Corinthians 13:12-13 ( Msg)

Then, that same day, as I drove in my car, another revelation through a song (God likes to speak to me in the car – usually through a song!).

John Waller – Yes

Ask, it shall be given to you
Seek, and you will find
Knock and the door will open
and that's a promise

He said He'll finish the work He started in you
Your needs He will supply
He'll never leave you
nor forsake you
and that's a promise

It's a guarantee
it's a beautiful thing
He delights to keep His word

God says YES to His promises
Take Him at His word
Yea, you can believe it
God says YES
to a child-like faith
when we claim
everything He died to give
God says YES

 I'll keep you all posted IF we hear anything this week. 

Update

No news is good news.. right?  Well, not necessarily.  Spoke with our Case Manager yesterday and referrals are at a complete standstill.  There are plenty of children waiting, and plenty of adoptive parents waiting...it's the paperwork that's holding things up.  A representative from our Agency is heading over to Ethiopia next week to see if she can figure out what's going on.  Please pray for her safe travels and that she can get to the bottom of why the paperwork is moving so slow.  Please also pray for the precious babies that are growing up in an orphanage because of 'paperwork problems.'  At this point, we know our "E" is in an orphanage waiting ... God has a plan for all of these children.  I just hope it includes some of them coming to forever families in the U.S.  

Also, they have recently closed 14 orphanages in Ethiopia (none of them were affiliated with our Agency).  It does, however, effect some of the orphanages our Agency works with because the displaced children have been moved to other orphanages.  So, now the nannies and staff are overwhelmed with children . . .all while the paperwork has stopped.  These little babies (some of whom have already been matched with families) continue to wait. 

On a happy note, we did received word that all of our paperwork is ready and waiting at the Embassy in Ethiopia.  Now all we need is a referral! 

Regarding our referral, our Case Manager seems to think Baby E may be an infant vs. a toddler.  She said there have been many infants admitted to the orphanages lately.  She said if we get our referral soon we may go to court at the end of October/November.  If the referral comes later, it would be November/December for our first trip. 

In Angie's perfect world :)   I would LOVE to get a referral soon, travel in October and then in December to have E home for Christmas.  I know, silly me, but a girl can dream, right? 

Seriously though, please join us in praying for the waiting families and waiting children -- that we all can get matched up and get things moving, get submitted to court, etc.   We, (I mean HE) can do this!! 

We have been re-activated!

Yay!  We have been reactivated... meaning we are now up for a referral!  We saw the phone come up with an area code that began with "8" yesterday, and Brad said it must have been a sales call... THEN I remembered that CWA area code begins with 8!  I said "It's a North Carolina number... Answer it!!!!"  We both dove for the phone!  HA! 

Oh how my heart is happy.  We have a phone call today with our case manager to find out more and what to expect.  I think there are a few familes still ahead of us, but we are close to the top for a referral, since our paperwork was submitted in January of 2010.  We did get an email yesterday saying that referrals are S-L-O-W... so I'm not sure that means time-wise.  But honestly, after being in this process for almost 2 years, I think I will be able to wait a few more weeks for a referral.  Praying that it's not a few MONTHS. 

But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

 

Our Case is going before the "Board"

Now that we've completed our 72-question Support System Plan and turned it into our Case Manager, our case will now go before our agency's "Board" for consideration of when we can become "active" again.  The norm is 6 months after a baby is born.  Faithlynn will be 24 weeks (a.k.a. - 6 months) next week, or officially 6-months via a calendar on August 10th.  Our case should be going to the board within the next 2 weeks.  Keep us in your prayers as we are hoping to become active again by August 10th.  

I'm not exactly sure what the "Board" does, except maybe just review our case, maybe look at some of our answers and makes sure that we are ready to move ahead with another little one.  Our Case Manager said this is just normal procedure when a person is on-hold and becomes active again. 

After we are on the active list again, next will be our referral.  Last time we spoke to our Case Manager, he said we'd go to the top of the list for Referrals, since our original dossier date in country is February of 2010.  So, as soon as a little girl comes up that matches our information or age request ... that will be our little "E".  We have no idea how long that could take.  Maybe days... weeks or months... praying it's sooner than later!  We are getting so excited! 

We just got back from the beach and it was really hard to look out into the ocean knowing that there's a little girl, across that ocean, waiting for us!

Soon!

And, in all of my 30+ years going to the beach, I have never witnessed a rainbow on the beach. This year we did!  I was actually a double-rainbow...but you can't really see that in this pic.  It was awesome!



God's Promise



I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

John 14:18

One Year Ago

One year ago, we went for our USCIS fingerprints and had been on the “official” wait list for 5 whole days. We were so excited and things were moving so fast. We fully expected to have our little one from Ethiopia by Christmas of 2010.
Fast forward one year. Wow. If you would have told us last year that in January of 2011 we’d be awaiting the arrival of a baby (not from Ethiopia but from my tummy), I would have thought you were crazy! Never, Never, Never in a million years would I have thought this was possible. Never would I have thought we’d be getting a nursery ready for 2 babies (one from my tummy and one from Ethiopia). If you would have told me 5 years ago that we would have 4 children, I would have laughed at you! You know when you go for a job interview and they ask you what your goals are and where you think you’ll be in 5 years…??? Well, I never saw any of this coming. I would have said you had the wrong chick! Ha!

I can’t explain the changes that have taken place in our life over the last 5 years, and specifically, the last 18 months. Well, yes I can. It’s all God’s doing. A good friend always tells me that if you can logically explain things, then it wasn’t a God thing. So many things in our life today are God things. Honestly, it’s pretty neat to look at our life over the last 5 years and see how God has stepped in and taken over the reins (mostly because we got out of His way and allowed it). I honestly do not know where we’d be today if our path didn’t drastically change a few years ago. (well, yes I do.. let’s just say, broken home, broken marriage, broken-hearted kids and lots of heartache… which is why we are so passionate about marriages too.. but that’s a different blog and different story)

Everything still seems surreal. Waiting has been hard, especially knowing that we have at least another 6 months until we can get a referral for Baby E. Waiting for Baby Faith has been hard too. Oddly hard. I don’t remember being so anxious and impatient when our boys were born, but I think we were in a different spot. We were busy.. trying to make a name and life for ourselves and just getting by. Things are different now. Priorities are different; we are older and wiser; we don’t really care what people think anymore and we are ready to slow down and embrace this little girl. One good thing is with Baby Faith, I know where she is (in my tummy), I can feel her move, see her move and know she is nearby. I can talk to her and she can hear me and she’s part of my daily world, and, I have a ‘general’ idea when she will arrive.

I can’t imagine how hard it is going to be after we know Baby E’s face, but have to wait to meet her and then wait to bring her home. She won’t be a part (physically) of our everyday world. We won’t be able to tell what she’s doing, how she’s doing, won’t be able to talk to her and she won’t be able to hear us. It’s going to be very hard, and I empathize with everyone out there currently waiting for your child(ren) to come home!

So again, as much as I’d like to have it all figured out and have a perfect plan and explanation for everything that’s coming in our future, I revert back to 2 verses in Proverbs (since I love Proverbs):

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Can’t argue with that!

11 Months Waiting

December 22nd marked 11 months waiting for us.  Wow a lot has happened in 11 months. 

Webster's defines "Waiting" as:  to stay in place in expectation of; to remain inactive . . .

I must be doing something else then. I don’t feel like I’m inactive or in a place of expectation. I feel like every day that goes by is one less day of waiting instead of one more day of waiting… if that makes sense. We’ve also been crazy busy with pregnancy stuff, constant appointments and preparing for Baby Faith, but I have not one day felt inactive in our adoption process.  We have never felt like Baby E is not going to come.  Baby E is still very much a part of our family. The boys talk about her constantly. We refer to Faith and E as “the girls” and it’s so funny to hear us say that after it just been us and ‘the boys’ for so many years. The girls’ room is quickly becoming a paradise of pink, posies, butterflies and dainty little things. We continue to collect things for E, as we are purchasing things for Faith. Oh what a happy day when these 2 girls finally meet… and how wonderful that God chose them to be sisters. We are beyond thrilled!  I recently saw this quote, and I think I’m going to get it for their room as I think this has such a unique meaning for these 2 little girls:

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.

I must admit, however, that in a world of instant gratification, I’d love to snap my fingers and have both of the girls here right now. But, Faith’s not quite ready to enter the world yet, and E is not yet ready for our family yet. I fully believe that God’s already chosen her for our family, but have no idea if she's already born, still in her mommy's tummy, or what her circumstance is.  But, trusting God is the only thing I can do.  I think the transition from having 2 children to 4 will be good to happen in stages as well, and God is fully aware of that. Plus, as a mommy who now has 2 pretty self-sufficient boys, going back to the infant stage and sleepless nights is going to be a slight challenge. God knew that as well and He has it all perfectly under control. (I hope I do when we have these 2 little girls)

So, as we wait, and have many things to keep us busy, the reality is, it’s still not our timing so we will see what God has in the plan for 2011. We are desperately hoping to have E home by next Christmas, but we know all the twists and turns international adoption can take, so we will continue to wait and hope. Once Faith arrives (in less than 4 weeks, hopefully!!), we will be back in adoption-mode full force getting our home study amended and re-doing most of our dossier documents. Hopefully, we should be back on the list and receive our referral in August or September.

In the meantime, I’ll lean on the one scripture that keeps me focused:

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.


Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;


but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;


they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.    Isaiah 40:29-31

9 Months Waiting & Update

Wow.. time flies, but how I wish E was home with us. Last year I was SURE she’d be home for this Christmas. Now I pray that she’s home by next Christmas.

Referral/”the List”

The “Referral Clocks” for our agency are moving, but not very fast for girls right now. They are still referring little girls to couples who submitted their dossiers in September of 2009… so they are about 13 (almost 14) months out for referrals. Since we are on HOLD status, we won’t get our referral until probably August next year, when Faith is 6 months old, but at the rate things are going, our delay won’t be too much more than if we were still on “the list.”

Court Hearings/Embassy Appointments

Our Agency has reported that the time from court to embassy appointments are now between 4 – 6 weeks. Last year is was 8-12 weeks, so things are moving in the right direction. They also reported that they are now scheduling both court appointments on the same day (biological family and adoptive family); one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This should speed things up as well as sometimes these hearings were days or weeks apart. 

Acacia Village

Other awesome news is that CWA has finally opened Acacia Village, which will house up to 250 orphaned children who are waiting to go home with their forever family. CWA reports that they love their new space and there are plans for expansion that will allow CWA families and missionaries to stay there as well. Christian World Foundation is still taking donations for this awesome project. Check out this link if you want to learn more http://www.acaciavillage.org/

What’s Next?

We have touched base with our home study provider who will have to do our Home Study Update once Faith is born. We will then need to apply for an extension to the USCIS for our paperwork and fingerprints (they will expire before we complete our adoption process). We are hoping they grant us this extension. Otherwise, we will have to resubmit all of our paperwork and fingerprints to the tune of $890.00.

When will you have E home?

Our hope is that we could get our referral in August or September and then perhaps travel at least once by the end of the year. To complete our adoption by the end of next year would be such a blessing, especially since the Adoption Tax Credit expires at the end of 2011.

The Courts will most likely be closed next year for the rainy season (usually from August until October) when we get our referral, so we will have to wait for a court hearing date until after the courts reopen. But, if we would get our referral, then have our court date by late October… there could certainly be a chance to have E home by Christmas next year. How cool would that be?

But, if I’ve said it once, I’m sure I’ve said it a million times—I’m not in control of the timing of things. So we will continue to wait patiently for our little angel.

Thanks again for all of your support and prayers during our detour!

"Love is never tired of waiting." 1 Corinthians 13:4

8 Months Waiting

Tomorrow marks 8 months waiting for our precious E.  Even though we know our wait is going to be much longer, I'm still counting the months.  One month gone means one month closer to getting her, right?    It's still bittersweet for us... as we are ramping up and getting things together for Faith, it also makes us sad that E isn't here yet.  But, as we are buying one crib set for Faith, we are also buying one for E.  I want E to have her very own too... I don't want E to think that we have forgotten about her.  I think about her all the time.  As Faith is starting to push and nudge me in my belly and let me know her opinion of things, I also wonder if E's been conceived yet, and if she's making herself known to her momma too.  Since the girls are going to share a room at first, I'm torn if I should use the giraffe theme that we started for E now, or wait until E is close to coming home.  But, that would mean we'd have to redecorate in a year.. not sure I want to do that either.  So I think for now, we are going to blend them in but still save a few things for when E comes home. 

Faith will know from the beginning that her baby sister (or big sister) will be joining our family soon.   It will be handy to have two girls so that toys and clothing can be shared, as well as friendship and hearts!  I'm sure God had all of this planned out from the beginning.

Because we have to wait until Baby Faith is 6 months old until we can become 'active' in the adoption again... we are looking at ELEVEN... yes 11 long months of more waiting before we are matched with E.  Then it could be another 4 - 6 months until we bring her home.  But, I plan on counting each one of them down.  One down means one closer.

We are hoping that E is home for Faith's 1st Birthday Party in February 2012.  But, it would be really nice to have her home by the end of next year... especially since our adoption tax credit will expire on December 31, 2011.  But, tax credit or not, she will be worth the wait and worth every penny spent!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Baby E!

It's 2003!!!   Huh?

September 11th is the New Year in Ethiopia. Enkutatash is the word for the Ethiopian new year in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, while it is called Ri'se Awde Amet (Head Anniversary) in Ge'ez, the term preferred by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Of course I have no idea how to pronounce that!  They still retain the Julian calendar, in which the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each, and a 13th month of 5 days (6 days in leap year). The Ethiopian calendar is 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar from January to September and 7 years behind between September 11 and January 8. So it is now 2003 in Ethiopia! Confusing, huh? I wonder how that affects the paperwork as it goes back and forth from Ethiopia to the U.S.?

I tried to remember what I was doing 7 years ago in 2003. At the time, we were living in West Virginia, and our boys were 7 and 4. Wow! That was the year we went to Disney. Here’s a picture of the boys on the famous Tea Cups... too cute!

~Colton & Dylan - Disney 2003~

As the New Year begins in Ethiopia and as our year is coming into its last quarter, I wonder if Baby E has been conceived yet or if she’s been born yet? It’s still going to be about 11 months until we will know her face and story, which seems so far away. It makes me sad, but I also know that E will have a brother or sister around the same age as her to play and grow with when she comes home…. As well as 2 big brothers to look after the both of them! (I'm still hoping my belly-baby and E are close in age... maybe even having the same birth month!). 

Life continues to takes twists and turns for our family, but it is all by design. I just wish I had the blueprint! Our path that we began almost a year ago has detoured slightly, and although it’s frustrating to a ‘planner’ like me, I am still learning that everything happens for a reason, and that God’s timing is always perfect, even if it doesn’t match our own understanding.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV

Clock Stalker

Ha!  Thought that graphic was funny, but actually, the Referral Clock has moved to August!  What does that mean, you ask?  Well, 2 weeks ago it was on June -- now it's on August!  It looks like more little girls are becoming available for adoption!

For those of you who don’t understand what the “Referral Clock” is… it’s a time line from our Agency of where they are with giving out referrals. It gives waiting families an idea of where they stand.  Right now they are matching little girls up with families that submitted their Dossier in August of 2009.  So, that means an approximate match time of 10 months +/- . . which would put us somewhere in the November-range for a referral.  But, this can all change depending on how many girls are available for adoption, how many families submitted dossiers in certain months, whose paperwork is ready, etc… But, maybe with a lot of prayer the clock will continue to chug ahead for all families -- no matter if they are waiting for a boy, girl or siblings.  (I know of a family that has been waiting quite some time at #1 for siblings -- praying for you April that you meet your kiddos soon)!  We know the children are there and available, it’s just a matter of who has their paperwork and birth certificates ready to go. (as you will see from an older post – getting paperwork ready for these little kiddos – in towns that do not speak the same language – is quite a daunting task.) I have to believe that all the changes are for the better and for the good of the biological families, the agency and the adopting families. My heart breaks, however, for these little ones who are in orphanages in the meantime, waiting for the legal stuff to clear, so that they can finally be loved by a family.


Plus, with the unknowns of the new travel and court processes, it's anyone's best guess on how that could delay (or perhaps speed up?) the process. 


I must admit though… I’m a clock stalker -- I check that darn clock every day… just in case.  I hope and pray it keeps chugging along so these kiddos can get home in the arms of their forever families.
Could you keep all of the families and children in your prayers? 

5 months waiting

Well, another month has flown by, but not for a moment have we not thought about having “E” home with us. We talk about it all the time as a family. We know that each day that passes is one more day closer to her.

Baseball season is over so now that our busy-ness is over, we can slow down, rest and wait. (at least until the fall sports start). We just returned from a little escape to the beach. We literally left from our last ball game to travel to the beach. Wow… what a little sunshine, fresh air and rest can do for the soul.  Amazing!


So, for the summer, we plan on hanging out with the boys, enjoying them, enjoying our families, and just slowing down and enjoying the ride. . . all while knowing who is in the drivers seat :)

4 MONTHS & SOME DISCIPLINE

Happy 4 months waiting (tomorrow). We've been so busy preparing for our sale that the last month has flown by. We have sweet moments that we dream about when "E" will be home with us, and then honestly, I personally have moments when I think, "Oh my goodness, what are we going to do when "E" comes home!" We have been so overwhelmed by the busy-monster lately. Some things are out of our control, but others are because we need to set better boundaries.


God has his hand on us... prompting us to slow down. He's allowed a few melt downs, missed appointments, and such, but we get it now. God (our Father) is disciplining us (his children) to help us mature and prepare us for what's ahead. (similar to how we are trying to teach our boys). He's not 'punishing us' out of meanness, but out of Love. He knows what's coming down the road for us, and He's softly preparing us to make better choices and make better use of our time, efforts and energy. He wants us to relax, prepare, and slow down (which will make the waiting harder). But, that is part of the process and part of our stretching... learning to say NO...creating boundaries. Knowing that WE can't do ANYTHING, but with God, all things are possible. He gives us strength when we are weak; He gives us rest when we are weary; He gives us hope when we think things are hopeless. People tend to run from hardship, difficulty and pain (and there is no guarantee that God will "fix" things the way we WANT him to), but-- God wants us to fully embrace it, and rely upon him and see his love, mercy, grace and glory in it all!

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible

Random Wednesday Thought

Just wanted to share that God speaks to us in ways we sometimes do not recognize. In the last 4 days, this scripture has popped up three different times.

(1) it was on a framed print at a Bed and Breakfast I visited for a bridal shower;

(2) it came up in Sunday’s sermon;

(3) it came up on a random blog that I visited.

"Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:30-31

Think God is trying to tell me something? What subtle signs has God been giving you lately?

Three Months Waiting

Three Months Waiting.  Not much to report.  Referrals are appearing to take about 12 months now, but that could change at any time for the better or for the worse.  In May, they will begin the new court hearing process.  (two court cases -- first one for any bio parent(s) or family members...once that is held and approved, a second hearing will be scheduled in which the adoptive parents will attend.)  Not sure how much that may delay things.  Elections in Ethiopia are also delaying things. In fact, the State Dept. is advising not to travel to Ethiopia until after the elections are over in June.   Also, the courts typically close for some time over the summer (sometimes from July - Oct), so I'm sure that will affect things as well. 

In a world full of deadlines, dates, goals, and planning, it's easy to get frustrated . . . {sigh}.... but God's timing is always perfect.   He has the blueprint for our life, can see the unseen to us, so He knows what is best for us and our family. (just wish I had a sneak-peak of it sometimes).  All-in-all, another month has flown by.   

"Love is never tired of waiting."

Waiting

Waiting ... for those of you who have asked, based on our Agency's new Referral Waiting Clocks, it appears as though we may be waiting about 8 more months for a referral. (October-November range).  That could change... for the better or for the worse.  Plus with the new travel, court and embassy changes, we can expect another 4 - 8 month wait after referral until Baby E is home. 

Funny thing is, we are ok with that.  What??? That doesn't even make sense to me, but I guess it goes back to the whole trust and peace aspect of trusting God in this journey.  He is the one who first placed this on our hearts, so He is the one who will help us grow and learn patience and peace through all of this.  I must admit, I wince and pout (if truth be known) every time I see a change coming that's going to mess with MY plan, but guess what... it's not MY plan :) 

I still continue to hope and pray that the changes going on in Ethiopia will be for the better, not just for us, but for other families who are just beginning the process, or who are deciding whether or not Ethiopia is the right country for them.  The children are precious and I would hate to see families shy away from Ethiopia because of some of the bad press and changes.  Adoption is always risky and unpredictable.. that's not new news, but there is always that hope that things won't affect you.  When things to happen, you have to do what you can and let God do what you can't (I stole that from Joyce Meyer).   So for now, we'll be happy to wait.