The Desires of our Heart

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:4. I just received an email from our new agency stating that they have received our application and the girls have been removed from the waiting child list and are now officially on hold to be our children!!! They're sending the paperwork to us tomorrow.

Next, we'll have to send in a pile of documents that will be translated and sent to Ethiopia. After they arrive in Ethiopia, our case will be assigned a court date and then we'll travel to pick them up once we pass court. We're estimating sometime in January or February to be home--but who knows-lots of variables.

This is all so surreal. I look at their pictures now with a longing-knowing that they are waiting and don't know that we are coming yet.

Please pray for them as they wait-that they would be safe, healthy and strong. Pray also for the process to go smoothly and that they would not have to wait unnecessarily (they've been waiting since July).

We can't post pictures or even their names until after we have passed court in Ethiopia (they are super cute!).

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY.

Round Two

I sent our application to our new agency this morning. We enclosed a letter stating our desire to adopt two little girls on their waiting child list. Nothing is official yet, but once our application is reviewed and accepted (which shouldn't be a problem) they will be officially referred to us and we will start the process of passing court in Ethiopia and bringing them home. We are praying for God's provision in this matter and trying not to get too excited about everything (which is extremely hard once you've seen their little faces).

We take comfort in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This was one of the scriptures cited in my bible study this morning. It is amazing how God continues to speak to us through His word and reveal his plan.

We don't know how this will all work out, but we know that God can do all things. This may not have been the "plan" that we were on, but Isaiah 55:8-11 states "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, " declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, My thoughts, than your thoughts..... We're relieved to know that we don't have to have it all figured out. God is doing that part and we just have to follow Him.

Proverbs 4:11

So our church service today spoke directly to us-what else would we expect this week. The whole service was about God's calling in your life and stepping out to follow Him. The songs spoke to us. The scripture cited spoke to us, particularly Proverbs 4:11 "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." We continue to pray for wisdom and we're grateful for the clarity and peace that God has brought our family this week!