Remember how exciting it was when you were a little kid to run to the mailbox and see if there was anything in there for you. There very rarely was, except of course around your birthday. And, maybe your parents were like mine and let you open the stuff labeled "resident." At only 15 months Emory is already tickled when I ask her if she wants to go with momma to check the mailbox. She doesn't care who the letters are for, she is just pumped she gets to take them out of the box.
When I was in college, the thrill was back again. We would run down to the Hub where our mailboxes were and hope there was something in there. On a really good day, there would be a little slip of paper that said you had a package!
After college, mail was not so fun anymore. Except for the occasional magazine or catalog, most everything was junkmail or BILLS! It's actually a good day when there isn't anything waiting.
Until NOW! Right now, we are in the process of applying with US Immigration to grant us permission to bring a child into the US. From what we understand the average approval time is about 8 weeks. About halfway through that time our social worker told us to expect to get a letter in the mail requesting us to get fingerprinted. We can't move forward until this happens. A few days ago, I was almost giddy as I opened our mailbox to find a letter from US immigration! Then, just a few microseconds later a little disappointed when it wasn't our fingerprinting appointment-instead it was a receipt letting us know that they received our application and money.
Two days later, I was in a hurry to get somewhere but checked the mail on my way out. A letter from Holt-our adoption agency-was waiting! I wasn't expecting anything from them-they almost always email us-was this something good, bad?! Instead another receipt!
All of sudden I am brought back to being a child again. Looking outside for the mailman-hoping he leaves me something! Each day has to bring us closer! Maybe there will be something inside for me today!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Waiting
Wait...I have heard this word so often lately. Of course in our journey as a family this is where we are...waiting. But it seems many people are here as well. We may all be in different seasons of life, but it seems waiting is inevitable. For some it is only a short time, for others it is longer.
In our culture today, we cannot stand to wait. We want everything fast, and usually fast isn't fast enough. We want it faster. We want it now! I think one of the reasons I have such a hard time waiting is because I want control. When I have to wait, I don't have any control in the situation. And patience is a virtue that I do not yet posses. Don't know about you, but I am definitely still a work in progress!
Just this past weekend someone brought to my attention a bible story that I have heard a thousand times before but had casually read over key parts. We have all heard the story of Noah. I think we hear this story so often while we are young we often skip all the waiting. Not only did Noah build this ginormous boat when everyone around him thought he was crazy, but after he did as the Lord told him to loading up his entire family along with 2 of every kind of animal, he had to wait. He is in tight quarters with smelly animals and the Lord makes him wait 7 LONG days before one drop of rain. I bet that was the longest week ever! He probably had a lot of doubt during that time whether this whole flood thing was going to happen or not. And I am sure the towns people really thought he was nuts! Then again after the flood waters stopped-more waiting! Noah-his family-and the animals had to be ready to get off that boat! But the time wasn't right and the Lord made them wait even longer. It was 150 days after the flood waters stopped before God "remembered" Noah.
This is just one of many stories in scripture that the Lord required a time of waiting. Not sure if you are in a time of waiting or not. If you aren't right now, it is almost a guarantee that you have been before and you will be again. I am confident that the Lord uses these times to teach us valuable lessons, but that doesn't change the fact that waiting STINKS!
The following songs have been on my mind all day. If you like any songs that have to do with waiting leave them in the comments section to share!
Everlasting God (Strength will Rise) and We Will Wait
In our culture today, we cannot stand to wait. We want everything fast, and usually fast isn't fast enough. We want it faster. We want it now! I think one of the reasons I have such a hard time waiting is because I want control. When I have to wait, I don't have any control in the situation. And patience is a virtue that I do not yet posses. Don't know about you, but I am definitely still a work in progress!
Just this past weekend someone brought to my attention a bible story that I have heard a thousand times before but had casually read over key parts. We have all heard the story of Noah. I think we hear this story so often while we are young we often skip all the waiting. Not only did Noah build this ginormous boat when everyone around him thought he was crazy, but after he did as the Lord told him to loading up his entire family along with 2 of every kind of animal, he had to wait. He is in tight quarters with smelly animals and the Lord makes him wait 7 LONG days before one drop of rain. I bet that was the longest week ever! He probably had a lot of doubt during that time whether this whole flood thing was going to happen or not. And I am sure the towns people really thought he was nuts! Then again after the flood waters stopped-more waiting! Noah-his family-and the animals had to be ready to get off that boat! But the time wasn't right and the Lord made them wait even longer. It was 150 days after the flood waters stopped before God "remembered" Noah.
This is just one of many stories in scripture that the Lord required a time of waiting. Not sure if you are in a time of waiting or not. If you aren't right now, it is almost a guarantee that you have been before and you will be again. I am confident that the Lord uses these times to teach us valuable lessons, but that doesn't change the fact that waiting STINKS!
The following songs have been on my mind all day. If you like any songs that have to do with waiting leave them in the comments section to share!
Everlasting God (Strength will Rise) and We Will Wait
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Celebrity or Infertility?
We have had lots of different responses in telling people of our adoption plans. Overall people have been fabulous! We have had an overwhelmingly supportive and loving reaction from so many of you online. We really cannot THANK YOU enough for that. We do not have any doubts that this is the path our family is supposed to go down, but it is even more helpful and encouraging when you have wonderful people walking with you and more importantly praying for you along the way!
When we have told some people though we have had...different reactions. The most common being-WHY? Not sure why we didn't expect this, but it was a surprise each time someone said it. I guess in our mind the question is really WHY NOT? As we have thought about this we understand a little more the reason some people react this way. Unfortunately, I think overall in our culture, adoption is accepted more or maybe the better word is expected more from those that are celebrities or those that have struggled with infertility.
In case you didn't know we are not celebrities. Not once have we been mistaken for Brad and Angelina:) So obviously, we must not be able to get pregnant. Thats not our situation either. I have several friends that have struggled with the quiet heartbreaking battle with infertility. I can't imagine how painful that process is. And for many adoption becomes their miracle-not just for them but for their beautiful, innocent child as well.
But should those 2 types of people be the only ones that provide love and shelter for so many helpless children that are orphaned? Please do not be mistaken-I DO NOT think adoption is for everyone nor do I think it is the answer for this global crisis, but with an estimated 143 million orphans in this world-I sure hope it's for more than just celebrities or those struggling to get pregnant.
When we have told some people though we have had...different reactions. The most common being-WHY? Not sure why we didn't expect this, but it was a surprise each time someone said it. I guess in our mind the question is really WHY NOT? As we have thought about this we understand a little more the reason some people react this way. Unfortunately, I think overall in our culture, adoption is accepted more or maybe the better word is expected more from those that are celebrities or those that have struggled with infertility.
In case you didn't know we are not celebrities. Not once have we been mistaken for Brad and Angelina:) So obviously, we must not be able to get pregnant. Thats not our situation either. I have several friends that have struggled with the quiet heartbreaking battle with infertility. I can't imagine how painful that process is. And for many adoption becomes their miracle-not just for them but for their beautiful, innocent child as well.
But should those 2 types of people be the only ones that provide love and shelter for so many helpless children that are orphaned? Please do not be mistaken-I DO NOT think adoption is for everyone nor do I think it is the answer for this global crisis, but with an estimated 143 million orphans in this world-I sure hope it's for more than just celebrities or those struggling to get pregnant.
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