Making Progress

Well, we have finally scheduled our 2nd and 3rd home study appointments for next Friday, November 5th. This will be our individual interviews. I'm very excited. It's been over a month since our last meeting. I never envisioned the home study process taking this long, but this is such a busy time of year for everyone and Darren has been traveling alot so...I know that the extra time it has taken to do this is all for a greater purpose that we don't see yet. How near sighted and impatient we can become!

I was reminded of this fact on Sunday night when one of our pastors was preaching on Habakuk. (I know at first that doesn't sound so life-changing, but it is actually a very emotionally provoking book. I can't believe how much I've missed by not studying it more closely until now.) Anyway, Tom was talking about how we get so wrapped up in our moments that we don't look at the big picture. I think that's a very important thing to keep in mind for any family and especially those of us who are planning to adopt. We know how the process is supposed to work...and sometimes it works out differently. We know what the deadlines are...but sometimes we can't control if we meet them or not. We have plans...and sometimes they get derailed. But success in any area isn't dependent on even the best made plans. I say that even though I am at heart very much a planner. True success is realizing that God's plans never fail because it would be against His very nature for them too.

Because of that I can rest in the knowledge that this adoption is for the glory of God alone and in His timing it will come together....all of it! The home-study, the paperwork, the finances, the travel dates...the smallest details are essentially in His hands. I am just the instrument who is called to be faithful in the execution of it.

I'm excited about this next meeting. My house will be clean again:)

Created to Care Retreat

I'm so excited that my friend KC invited me to the Created to Care Retreat in Georgia this year. The retreat is for adoptive mothers--wherever they are in the process. Some have already adopted years ago, some are like me and they are in the middle of their first one, and some are just thinking about it. Regardless, I think it will be a great weekend to relax, meet some fun ladies, and get fired up about what God has called us to. Retreat dates are February 4, 5, and 6. Check out http://createdtocare.blogspot.com if you think you might be interested at all.

Our Ethiopia Blog

Hello friends,

I've avoided an adoption blog as long as I can. I've said for too long that blogging is time-consuming and I've been scared to do it. I tried one with no purpose in mind and sure enough...I had no desire to ramble about my daily life. However, I realize that this adoption journy is something exciting...not only for us, but for our friends and family who support us with their prayers and someday soon through our fundraising endeavors.

God has been working on hearts for a little while now. Through the excellent teaching of His Word at our church and godly examples of families who display Christ's love and compassion for others...God has brought us to the place where we are ready to adopt. We have one biological child--Josie. She is such a joy to us. She is 9 months old now and we love her to pieces. We are so excited to be adding to our family. We have applied to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia. We are still in the "paper pregnancy" part of things. We have completed one home study meeting and are working on scheduling the rest. Once that is done, we can send in our paperwork and then sit back and wait...and wait some more.

Please pray with us that
(1) we would be faithful in our fundraising endeavors
(2) God would provide the rest of the funding in His time
(3) we would have patience as we wait to meet our daughter

I plan to update this blog weekly and maybe more often if there is enough interest and time. Thank you all for your support!