Thursday, March 24, 2011

four and some change

Well, I have not done a very good job at keeping every one updated. Partially because there hasn't been much worth updating. We have been keeping very busy and the time is starting to fly by. We have been officially waiting over four months now. With all of the changes going on with Ethiopian adoption we are not sure for now what the time frame will look like. Our agency is still saying 7-11 months for a referral so hopefully that is the case. We are so excited to see our little girl.


In the mean time we have been busy with lots of other good things. Apex had a night of worship and graciously allowed us to sell cookies during the evening. We again joined up with the Rogers and the fun began.




We had so many people donate so many cookies. Our house church baked 26 dozen cookies. Dan and his brother and some friends baked 30 dozen. So we had COOKIES! Every one again was so generous. From bringing cookies to donating we were so blessed and thankful. With each fundraiser we get closer to funding the adoption. With each month that passes we get closer to bringing home our little one. :)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

contentment

Today I saw this posted on the intercountry adoption page. It looks like the adoption process could be taking significantly longer than originally thought.  I know the roller coaster of emotions has only begun. We are trying to put our complete trust in the Lord because we know he is sovereign.

For now, I have to learn to be content. At this moment this adoption is putting us in a freeze. You see, for the past 10 years my life has been a whirlwind of constant happenings. I met Dan, I graduated high school, went to college, got engaged, moved into an apartment on my own, got married, moved into an apartment with Dan in Lafayette, he graduated college, we bought a home, we moved to OH, found out we were having a baby, had Isaac, got pregnant really quick, had a miscarriage, got pregnant really quick again, had Asher, made it to a first birthday not pregnant, got pregnant the next month, had Levi, realized we had grown out of our home, saved up a down payment and put our house on the market, God made it clear the down payment for a house was actually for an adoption.

I can tell you that many of these happenings were not in our timing. We knew we were getting married, but we ended up moving that up a year. We bought our house with the intention of living here for 2-3 years and moving into something bigger. We have lived here almost 6 years. We figured we would maybe have one baby in this house. Surprise we had 3 and plan on a fourth here. Our babies have all come quickly. In fact, most of the things in our lives have come quickly. Even if we hadn't planned on them coming so quickly. When we started the adoption paperwork we anticipated 18 months to 2 years until little girl would be home. Now, we are really unsure of any time frame. The significant delays could be months or years. We have no idea. We are stalled. We are stuck.

So now, in this chapter, I believe God is teaching me to be ok where I am. He has spent the last few years showing me that his timing is way better than my own. I wouldn't change any of my boys birthdays. So, I know God has our little girl's birthday in mind too. It may not fit on my plan. She may not be here for the fall pictures like I had hoped. She may not wear the Christmas dress I have already for her. But when she finally does get here we will rejoice all the more. She is so loved already. I can't wait to hold her and have her here. Until then I will wait. I will know God has her safe in his arms. I will anxiously see what God has to teach me in the waiting. And I will work on enjoying the blessings I am surrounded with right now.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Please join us in prayer

Last night we received this email from our agency.

We are writing to ask your family to join us in prayer for the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWA) regarding the number of cases they will be able to process each day. They have made statements that they desire to decrease the number of recommendation letters they write each day. We understand that because of these statements, the Court and MOWA are in the process of meeting to discuss and work out any potential changes or new processes regarding adoptions in Ethiopia. We want to blanket these meetings with prayer and ask you to come along side us in this.   

We are sorry to be sending information to your family so late in the day but we wanted to communicate this request to you before the weekend. We know rumors and concerns can arise from any information being shared in the adoption community and our desire is to continue to primarily provide you with any confirmed information in a timely manner. Please rest assured we will continue to seek information on what is happening in the adoption process in Ethiopia and will share with you any new confirmed information we receive.  

So we will be praying in our home. I know many other families who are also praying with us. We don't know what this means for us right now with the adoption. It may not change anything, but there is a chance it could slow our adoption process down dramatically. 

Also, if you are praying for Ethiopian adoption and MOWA please keep us in prayer. I know with out a shadow of a doubt that God is so much bigger than this. He has it under control. He knew about this before we started thinking about adoption. He has our little girl in his hands. But this side of the situation it is hard. We just want her home. We want her in our arms. I have clothes friends have given us for her that I don't know if she will ever fit in. I can't wait to hold her. The boys are asking more often when their sister is coming home, and I don't know.  Me the human, impatient, control freak wants the answers, and I have to be content that God just has it. So, please pray for me and our family as we attempt to put it all in God's hands and not hold back any worry or fear.  Ultimately God is so good!


" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11