One Year Ago

One year ago we were contemplating which direction we should take in this whole adoption journey. Yes we voted to keep Imagine going but we were unsure if we were going to be part of it. We had been checking into local adoptions and had started the process but my heart kept tugging me towards international. To be honest if we had the money we would have dropped Imagine and started up with a different agency that does South Africa or possibly the waiting children from China. But that option was not there. It was only a couple of days before the Dec 17th (I think that's the right date) deadline that we followed our hearts and signed on with Imagine. They told us at that point it would be a year to a year and a half until we received our referral. Well, we are almost at a year and still no referral. It has been an incredibly hard year with a few ups and many downs in this adoption journey. I am so glad we are at this point and have toughed it out. Sometimes each day feels like a week and each week a month, but here we are. We are a year closer - praise the Lord.

Also a year ago my dear mother-in-law whose health has not been great the last few years got very sick. We wondered if this was the beggining of the end and celebrated Christmas like it might be our last. But, she rallied and is still with us in better health than she was this time last year. I would love for her to meet our little one from Ethiopia because she has been so supportive. I know she would have no problem loving this one like all her other grandchildren.

As for referrals, there has been an amazing 12 so far this month and we are all celebrating. There have been many baby referrals and many older children referrals. We are right in the middle of that. You would think there would be a few 3 year olds in this new orphanage. We will hold out and wait for the daughter that God has in store for us.

The following pictures are my families attempts at making a Christmas card. Combine 6 people, a crazy dog and a camera that has a 2 second timer on it and you have the makings of a very stressful 1/2 hour. Try and press a button and run to your place in 2 seconds. Well my daughter rachel managed that and this is what we came up with. LOL

Impatience

I can feel my impatience with the adoption growing again. It's like the waves of sea for me. I'm okay (never great) for days and sometimes weeks and then it builds and builds.Soon I'm going to crash and have a heart to heart talk with God and I will once again realize it's all in His hands and the timing will be perfect. But I am human and I am getting frustrated. I read many adoption blogs from the states and I really do appreciate them but they can also make me sad. I read about  families that adopt a child almost every year. Unheard of in Canada. December it will be two years since our file was sent off. (Yes I know my Lilypie says that it has been longer. I set her from when we started the journey) I know that they have many matched children and families. What, oh what, could take so long. Ya, Ya, I know - paperwork.  Paperwork has become a swear word in my life. Lot's of people have also been asking about it lately and that is a two-edged sword for me. I'm happy that they are still thinking about us and upset that I have no answers. But, if you are reading this please don't stop asking. Most people just assume that we have given up and for some reason that makes me a little mad. Don't worry about me. I am not losing it. I just needed to vent. Most people I know have no idea what this is like. A close freind actually thought I already had a referal.(I'm sure I would have shouted it from the rooftops if we had).They have no idea no matter how much I explain to them. Well, thanks for listening.

Roller Coaster Ride

I have found that in this world of international adoption many feelings can surface in any given day. A lot of those actually have to do with others that are going through this same experience. I have been blessed with new relationships through this adoption. Yes, we just connect via blogs or the Yahoo page, but, nontheless we have formed a bond. We rejoice with each other when there is good news. We cry with each other when there is unexpected sad news. We share our frustrations when there is no news. We pass along valuable information to each other - anything that will make this journey smoother. We hope with each other. Yesterday I heard very exciting news on the Yahoo board and within an hour heard what could be sad news through a blog. To those of you that have had unsettling things happen with their adoption, know that I will be praying for you. To all of you out their who have posted encouragements on my blog, thank you and thank you. It makes me feel less lonely in this world of adoption. I consider you my friends if only for this season because without you I could not get through this. But my greatest friend is my heavenly Father. He is reminding me daily that He loves me and He loves my family and He loves this precious girl waiting for us in Ethiopia. Deuteronomy 10:18 describes God as one who executes justice for the orphan and the widow. We have a mighty God who is on our side.



I'm also thankful for my amazing family. God has filled my cup and it is good.