Keep waiting

We just received an email from our family coordinator at AWAA.  We figured it was coming, but we got the official word today that wait times have been moved up to 11-18 months. We will be at 8 months this month on the 19th. Looks as though we will keep waiting on our little girl.

The good news is that MOWCYA is officially processing 15 letters a day now. That is up from the 5 a day that was set a few months ago. We are coming up on court closures very soon. Due to the rainy season Ethiopia closes it's courts for about 2 months. This will hopefully give the other offices time to get caught up. We are still hopefully we will receive our referral this year. Starting in January some of our paperwork will need to start being renewed. This is turning into quite the journey.

At the end of the day. God is good. God has perfect timing and He has the perfect little girl for our family.

How many kids do you have?

I get this question a lot. "So, how many kids do you have?" You wouldn't think that my answer would take a whole paragraph to explain. However, in my case it does. I already feel like we are a family of six. I forget I only have 3 children legally.  I should have 4.

Even though our family pictures only show 3 little boys there is this SUPER SPECIAL little girl missing. I know she will be in them eventually, but in some ways it feels like forever. I know once she is here the wait will be just a memory, but while we are in it I'm anxious for it to be over. I am so excited to have her here. I know there will be mountains to climb once she is here. I get that. But we have 4 kids not just 3. I am constantly counting heads and feeling like I am one short. I'm sure this makes no sense, but I just feel like our family is missing some one.

7 months

As usual this is a few days late. As of Sunday we have been waiting 7 months. That is officially the range our agency gave us when we started when we started as the "referral range". Most referrals happen within 7-11 months. However, at this point, with the situation in Ethiopia there is a good chance we will be waiting longer than that.

We are very anxious and excited to meet our baby girl. There is a big empty baby girl shaped hole in our family. God is very much stretching us. He is teaching me not only to wait, but to depend on him while I do so. Today we have a conference call. I'm praying they will have good news for us. We have to stay hopeful.

We are so thankful for your continued prayers. Please pray for the Ethiopian government. Pray that there are significant changes in the process that help more orphans find their forever families. Pray for our baby girl. And please pray for our family as we miss her so.

I'm sitting in my parent's living room in AZ. I had the opportunity to come out to help my mom after her surgery. She is doing very well. Today she is at the doc and they may even be taking out her staples. She still has a little way to go to her full recovery, but she is getting around pretty well for having just had her surgery a little over a week ago. They are pretty sure they got all of the cancer which is great news.

Just wanted to give an updated. Thanks for your prayers.

Prayer Request

While this is not adoption related I have a prayer request. My mom will be going in for surgery today. A few months ago they found some cancer on her kidney. They will be cutting out the majority of that kidney this morning. I know she is nervous. This is a long recovery and a big surgery. I'd love if there were many people who would be willing to pray for her. Her name is Ellen. I know God is so much bigger than cancer. He is our creator and our healer. Thank you ahead of time for joining my family in prayer. This means so much.

6 months

Technically, we were DTE 6 months yesterday, but I am a little late to get to posting. We are seeing very little movement these days. I am trying to prepare myself for a longer wait then we had earlier anticipated. Ethiopia has officially said they are going to 5 letters a day now. However, from what it sounds like there is little consistency. Some days they only do 5 some days they still do a few more. Either way, wait times will probably be longer.

So, while we wait we try and stay busy here. This weekend we are going to take a quick trip. We will be leaving this afternoon to go to see some friends. Tomorrow we will go back to our home town for a retirement party of a family friend. Then we will be jumping up to MI to see my grandma for dinner. Sunday we will be stopping by Fort Wayne on our way home to go to the zoo with some other friends. It should be a crazy and fun weekend.

We are approaching summer and that will come with lots of fun cookouts, swimming, and a little traveling. I will be going out to see my family in AZ in June. My mom is having surgery so I will be going out to spend some time (hopefully) being helpful. Dan's 10 year high school reunion is this summer as well. Also, Dan will be starting a new job next week. We are continuing to homeschool a bit through the summer as well. A lot of things to keep us distracted during this season of waiting.

I would be lying though if I told you that made it easier. It causes the time to go by for sure, but each and everyday we pray for our daughter, Ethiopia, and other families who are waiting to bring their babies home. Each day I miss my little girl I've never met. And each day I think about how much we love her. The boys are constantly asking about her and Africa. I love the way this has opened up their little minds to look outside of their own bubble. God is faithful and he has our little girl in his arms. So for now we keep waiting. 6 months down.

Waiting

This has been one of those weeks when the waiting is hard. I was so hoping to see a rush of referrals, and yet there have been none. I knew we wouldn't be getting "the call", but to move up on the waiting list would have just been a good boost.

I am missing my baby that I haven't even met. I don't want to sound silly. I mean, I have 3 amazing little boys. They bring me joy daily. However, I feel like we are missing one little piece this mother's day. I'm so ready for the chaos that another little one will bring. I am so ready for a picture of her precious face. I'm so anxious to hold her and snuggle her. It makes my heart hurt that she isn't here. It is strange to miss some one so much that may not even be born yet.

The waiting feels a little like a rollercoaster. Some days I am at total peace. I am just waiting, praying, knowing God is in control. I am good at letting him take this. His timing is perfect. Once she comes home this part will seem so far away. I live in those thoughts most of the time, but not this week. This week I am struggling . This week I want to see movement. This week my prayers feel like pleading. This week I am trying to remember that God is bigger than all of this. I know he is. I know God's plan for our family so much bigger than what I see and feel right now.

I will be praying this week that God uses this stage to teach me. I am not good at waiting and maybe God knew that I would need some extra practice. The end will be so worth the wait.