Monday, March 29, 2010

it's NOT about us...


“… A night of failure sets the stage for a day of fantastic results if you don’t give up;



God uses the long dark night to accomplish some important spiritual changes.


He wants us to have those times when no human answers, no human consolation, no human heroes; no human efforts can change things. He’s bringing you to the end of what you can do; the end of anything you can even think of doing. Because that’s the beginning of the things only God can do. First, He has to get us out of the way.”



(Ron Hutchcraft)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

changes.








We have recently learned there are some impending changes happening in [our] Ethiopian adoption process.











Though it hasn't been made official yet, we are expecting the following changes to affect our adoption process from how we thought it would be;











they are stating that beginning April 9th families will be required to attend their childs court date. This is Ethiopia's effort to ensure a family has met and seen the child before the Embassy date, therefore resolving some of the problem of families deciding at the last minute they do not want the child referred to them. (Hopefully we will get some official instructions from Ethiopia soon)






We have not received our referral (a picture & short description of child(ren) matched to our family. I think it's important to mention again; Bethany does not find children for families, but rather families for children)





So this change most definetly is expected to affect us & our family!











At the beginning of our adoption journey we expected to have a "court date" take place without us and we would travel only once (approx. 6-8 weeks after Court) to bring our child(ren) home-staying in Ethiopia for about 1 week.

**We will now travel at least twice... once for Court and again to bring our child(ren) home.














We're trying to see this in a positive light... getting to see & hold the child(ren) intended to grow up in our family sooner is wonderful...










leaving them once having them in our arms seems beyond words difficult...









it's also hard to phathom how we'll come by the added travel expenses...











But God is in control... He knows ALL things.









For now we will do our best to take one day at a time.
(As you can probably tell, I'm not all that good at this.)









Trusting in God's perfect timing & His plans for us.





PS.As for where we stand in the process...

We've been DTE (dossier to Ethiopia) since the beginning of October. If you read here , you'll know there were many referrals that went out in January... more than a half dozen more went out in February... And we are currently waiting at NUMBER 9 on the forum "waiting list"... So once again, "time will tell" : )














Today we choose to obey & serve & worhip Him while "waiting".











Wednesday, March 10, 2010

zapped.

It's been some time again since we've posted.


I guess, LIFE in general has just been busy.



Nothing out of the ordinary, really.



School.



Work.



Volleyball.




Church.




Winter blues.





**I'm feeling "zapped"... tired. a little grouchy. short. sad. discontent.




Trying desperately to cling to His truths.



Finding my way back to CONTENTMENT.



Wading through my many thoughts-not wanting to get lost in the ways of the world but rather rest in God's unfailing love for me.






It's "nothing" really.





Probably just a case of "Spring Fever"




And this too shall pass.





Thanking my Father in heaven for loving me... despite "me" :)











"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31