Adoption Update

Well, we are just about done our homestudy packet.  Can you believe it??!??  I can not!  Especially when, upon first seeing this ENORMOUS packet of information that we had to fill out and compile, notarize and organize, I nearly had a heart-attack!!  I don't consider myself a very good direction-follower, so I was more than a little overwhelmed when I first saw all of the steps that had to be taken.  But, here we are!  Simply waiting for our physicals to be signed and notarized THIS FRIDAY.  And you know what???  It really wasn't that painful after all. :)

Our next step is to begin working on our dossier.  This is the piece of our adoption that will be translated and sent over to Ethiopia to be evaluated.  The dossier, even more so than the homestudy, is VERY direction-specific.  EVERYTHING must be notarized and must be done EXACTLY as stated.  If there is one thing I've learned throughout this process, it is not to look at the entire picture all at once, as I tend to get easily overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.  Instead, I have found it best to look at one piece at a time and to JUST DO THE NEXT THING. 

Life has been full.  Amidst paperwork, online adoption classes, and running around trying to pull all the pieces together, there are still four littles underfoot.  :)  There are reading lessons and science experiments, diaper changes and three meals a day to cook, laundry to wash and laundry to fold.  Errands.  Housecleaning.  Co-op.  Bible study.  Doctors appointments.  Whew...I'm exhausted just thinking about it all! 

The wonderful news though is that when God calls us to something, He equips! 

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Despite life being full, God has definitely enabled us to get done what we've needed to get done in a timely manner.  Whenever I say, "I can't", God gently reminds me, "No, YOU can't, but I can."  :)

More good news....so far in Ethiopia, not much has changed in the adoption world in regards to the number of cases being processed per day.  If you will recall, about a month back, the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) was talking about reducing the number of international adoption cases per day from 50 to 5.  A reduction of 90%!!!  This, obviously, would INCREASE the wait time by ALOT.  Since then, many child advocacy groups, as well as adoption agencies, have met with MOWA to attempt to come to some sort of agreement.  As of right now, it looks like things are still moving along as they should.  Yay!

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us!  We certainly feel those prayers!  We'll be excited to get through this "paperwork stage" so that we can enter into the "waiting stage".  Continue praying that God would grant us wisdom and peace as we rest in Him. 

Kirsten