Hey all! I just want to post an update on what is going on with the adoption in case some of you were wondering, but it isn't much. :) I wish I had a lot to tell, believe me!
The past almost 3 months I have been working tirelessly on just completing paperwork for Gladney, the Ethiopian Dossier (their paperwork), the I600A form for Advanced Process for Orphan Petition, and more. It has been relatively painless, just time-consuming. We are actually not even officially "approved" by our agency, so that would be wonderful if you could pray about that. :) I have also learned that no one is in as much of a hurry as we are to get this ball rolling. We had to wait a month a 1/2 to even get our birth certificates! Sometimes it is frustrating, but we believe God is sovereign and His timing is perfect. We just trust Him with every circumstance, whether it is in our "agenda" or not. Just yesterday, the 13th, I finally mailed a few packets of paperwork, which was a very good feeling. It is so nice to know we are a little closer to finding our sweet girl! :) It is also so much fun to tell people what I am doing and why I need these things. It provides many opportunities to share what God is doing in our lives through this! I love it! We are now waiting for Gladney Approval, our FBI clearance and for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration to process the orphan petition so we can move forward! And PRAISE HIM... He is slowly providing the funds and we are SO grateful for His faithfulness!
Recently Kent and I have been praying about and searching for a Life Verse for each of our children. We are excited about this and are contemplating/praying extensively about each child's verse being so specific for that child... directly from God, to them, with each of their personality's in mind. Of course we don't KNOW our future little girl yet, but we know how God will bring her to us (Lord willin'!). The Lord laid it on our hearts that this will be her Life Verse, to hold near and dear to her heart:
Isaiah 41:9-10
I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isn't it wonderful? God is so good. I am humbled that I am also chosen by God, adopted by Him and welcomed as His child into His family with open, loving, and merciful arms.
Thank you Father, for loving me so much you had your Son die for me, so I could be Yours. Help us during these next few months to hold fast to this promise that you will strengthen us and help us, uphold us with your righteous right hand. I pray our little one is not afraid, but if she is, she will feel your love for her and your presence of peace.
In Your precious Name, Amen
Prayer Requests:
*That we will be "approved" by Gladney soon.
*That the process will go smoothly and we will have NO MAJOR hindrances.
*Patience, strength and endurance
*Her birth mother - that she will come to know Jesus as her Savior, her choices during this difficult time, her circumstances and provision
*Baby girl - her safety, provision, health and people to love on her and nurture her
*The boys - that God will prepare them for her arrival, our absence while traveling and the changes to our growing family
Thank you for walking with us through this incredible time. We do not know what the future holds or how long it will take to finally meet our little girl, but we know God is in control and we trust Him... no matter what this next year may bring. Thank you for praying.
