The wait continues...

Yesterday I got a call from Sue (our caseworker). She was wanting to clarify what age of child we are looking to adopt. Our paperwork says 0-18 months but she knows that's what we are required to write for our homestudy. But when they know someone is wanting an infant they will pass over them on the list and wait for a younger child. So to make a long story short. That's what they are doing with us. If they have a child over a year old they will pass over us on the list.
So that means that now we know we will be referred a child between 0-12 months. :) We are still #4 on the list and the 3 people in front of us on the waitlist are also waiting for 0-12 months. So if they get a child 12+ months it will go to someone behind us on the waitlist. The office is going to be closed until January 2nd. So no more referrals will be given this year. I just wanted to keep you all updated. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

#4 #4 #4

WE'RE NUMBER 4!!!!!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I decided to call because I'd been discouraged again about the adoption and I was pretty sure we'd moved up one spot. And then she told me we were #4. I can't believe it! We moved up 6 spots in 2 weeks!!! I've been laughing and jumping up and down over and over. I am so happy!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Chevy's Night

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Chevy's tonight! We feel so extremely blessed! We have the most amazing friends and family! Hebrews 10:24 says "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." That is what you guys have done for us. Every encouraging note, every dollar donated, every prayer! It encourages us deeply and reminds us that God is working. God has called us as believers to care for orphans and widows. And each of you is answering that call as you help us answer our call to adopt. Thank you for blessing us!

#10

I called today and we are officially number 10 on the waitlist. That means the next time we move, we'll be in the single digits!!! #10... doesn't that just sound so close! And she said that it seems to be moving a little faster lately. Praise the LORD! So Sam did the math and averaged it out, if we stay moving at the same pace we'd get our refferral on March 5th. Which is exactly the projected "due date" we gave ourselves in the beginning. Exactly 6 months from when our dossier was received in Ethiopia.
And if I haven't said enough, I CANT WAIT TO SEE MY BABY!!!!

One Year

It has been exactly one year since we started this journey of adoption. Last year on November 19th we sent our application for the CWA Ethiopia program. What a journey! I remember being so excited and yet overwhelmed by the paperwork and the fees to come. Actually I had no idea how much paper work I had coming my way! And yet here we are with every paper signed and all fees paid (other than travel costs)....and we're waiting!
This journey has been amazing. God has taught me lesson after lesson. And I have been blessed more than I could ever express. At the beginning of this process I had so many fears that people were not going to understand or be supportive of our decision to adopt. Boy was I wrong! I have never felt more supported in my life. I couldn't thank you guys enough for the love you have poured out on us. God has used you more than you know.
Though sometimes I feel impatient with all the waiting, I know in my heart that God's timing is perfect. His hand has been in this from the beginning and He knows exactly what He's doing! So I will trust Him. Next year at this time I hope to update my blog with my little one sitting on my lap. :)

Moving on up!

I called the agency this week. And we are now #12 on the waitlist. I am very encouraged. Although we only moved one spot. It means another baby found a family and there was progress! God has continued to blow me away with the generosity of those around us. We have made quite a bit of what we need to travel.
So, that's all my updates for now.

A little discouraged

Today I have been a little discouraged. I talked to my case worker and found out that I am #13 on the waitlist which is good because it means I've moved up. But I also found out that the #1 person on the waitlist has been waiting 8 months. Which means it could take 8 months for our referral. Which is a really REALLY long time! I just feel a little overwhelmed at that thought. I want to stay positive and upbeat but sometimes I dont know what to do with the emotions I feel. The anxiousness and longing in my heart seems unbearable sometimes. Another woman who is adopting reminded me that sometimes these feelings are good because it keeps us fighting for our child. It challenged me to keep fighting for my child in prayer. It's the one thing I can do for her right now.
So with that said, please keep me in your prayers. Pray that I wouldn't give in to discouragement, but that I would learn to go to the Lord and pray. My daughter needs someone to fight for her and I want to step up. After all that the Lord has done to part the seas and make this adoption possible, why should satan steal my joy. Instead I want to praise God for all He has done.