This was a big week for our adoption. To give you all some background, there’s a bit going on internationally right now that is actually slowing the process of international adoption. Of most of the countries, Ethiopia is actually one of the quicker ones. We’ve been in line since November of last year and started this whole process, formally, in March of last year. It’s now one year later and we’re drawing in on the front of the line. This week there were three referrals for families within our agency (woo hoo!), but as we move closer to the front there’s some things that we’re earnestly praying for to work right and in God’s timing. It’s easy and I want to say ‘my timing’, but as the year progresses this whole picture gets a little fuzzy.

At the time we get a referral, we say yes or no and if we say yes, there’s a court appointment that happens in Ethiopia sometime shortly after where the logistics of having our daughter become ours happens. Roughly 2 months later we would travel. August is usually an insane time at work for me and after getting invited to speak at a conference in August I began to do the math. If we were to travel in August, it’s going to affect my schedule fairly significantly as the month goes on; it’ll be dropping a big whole in a couple of critical things. The other huge variable in this is that Ethiopian Court closes from August to October every year. So, I gave Duni, our contact at AWAA a call on Monday to get a sense of schedule and how flexible it was.

Here’s the thing. As we get further into the summer, timing gets a little dicey. If we get too far into the summer, there is a chance that we may have to sit on a referral until October or November when the court closes. IDEALLY (read: we’re praying for), we would like to get a referral sometime in late May which, ideally, would have us traveling in July.

If you think about it, be praying for us. First, that God who is the king of logistics guides us during these months of waiting and the uncertainty of planning for our summer and fall. Also, ideally, that we wouldn’t have to sit on a referral for any longer that is necessary.

As a student, a predominate lesson that I’ve learned and have innumerably counseled students on is that God is actually sovereign over the rough parts where you can only see three feet in front of your face. As I write this, it’s scary and exciting to be here at this moment, again. I’m thankful for the community that has joined here with us on this journey. Being praying for us, it’s going to be an interesting next few months.

I  picked up Jon Foreman’s new disc ‘Spring’ today and one song just made me think of our daugher (honestly most of the CD fits theme wise for this post):

Jon Foreman “In My Arms”

Here,
My Dear,
This is where
We’ll shake the nightmares free

I dream
to hold you in my arms

Wide Awake
In my arms…

I think I figured it out
We need to be together
Like the shore and the sea

We are not one thing
We’re bound here together
My ocean and me…

Love,
We sleep apart
For the last time
For the last time…

Pray for us!

Photo: Cover of Jon Foreman’s new CD ‘Spring’. Pick it up, I highly recommend it!