May 2014 Update

I cannot believe it is May already. We have been in this adoption process for 1 year and 3 months and this month makes 6 months since we have been on the waiting list for a referral. For a long time there was no movement in Ethiopia, referrals were at a stand still. Thankfully, things started rolling again this month. I have to tell you that for a while there, I did not think we could hang on. With the constant hope of movement, but none occurring, we strongly prayed about and considered switching countries as nothing was happening.  But, we felt like we needed to hang on a little longer and then the movement started again. Small movement, just 3 referrals, but movement none the less.

For a few months, I was an emotional wreck and I literally wrestled with God over what we should do. The questions of discernment and wisdom vs faith were hard hitting and I often found myself in tears and crying out to God, wondering why he would bring us this route if this was never going to happen. You gotta go through the valleys sometimes and I feel like emotionally we went through one, but I feel like I grew in that valley.

Thankfully, lately I am much more at peace, even though I wish things were moving a little faster. I know there are so many children waiting in the orphanages and that thought just makes me sad as I know there are families waiting. But, you have to go through the red tape and paperwork has to be done appropriately before these kiddos can be matched. Please just continue to pray for the children.

 I find myself praying for our boy a lot more often and feeling like one day this is really going to be our reality...a family of 6. It is still somewhere off in the distant future, but everyday is one day closer. While we cannot share where we stand on the wait list on social media, I can share privately with friends and family, so send me a message if you would like to know how we are progressing.

As we continue to wait, we are finishing up our paperwork for our 2nd home study (remember we had to do a completely new one). We will have our interview portion on May 19th. We already had our first home visit and it went great. Once we knock out this home study, we REALLY need to get started on applying for some grants. We have been thinking about it for a while now, but it involves a lot of paperwork and with the paperwork we already have, we just have not had a chance to get working on it. But, that is next on our to do list.

I will also be announcing a new fundraiser soon. Nothing big and fancy, just small and simple. Something God kind of laid on my heart and I decided to get crafty with it. Waiting for supplies to come in and then I am getting busy. Hopefully before the end of May I will share it with you all.

Thanks for hanging in this loooooooong journey with us. It's nice to know we are not doing this alone. The support and encouragement from all of you truly helps. Also, I must say, while I know this journey is so long and I am sure seeing what we are going through to complete this adoption has been a discouragement for some, I still stand firm in saying that this will be worth it. Orphan Care needs to happen, believers need to step up and answer the call to defend the fatherless!  If not us, then who?
I love this song below by Matthew West. "God is calling us to do SOMETHING"