"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter 2013

Happy Easter!!!!

Indianapolis Children's Museum

We spent Friday and Saturday at the ICM. We drove up spent the day, and stayed over night. The kids had a good time, and it was nice to just relax as a family.











Term 3 down..... Home study approved!!!!

Term three almost killed me to say the least..... but what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.....or at least that's how the saying goes. right? Next term starts in 1 week, so I'm not making any promises about keeping the posts coming. Lots and lots of test through term 4. I really enjoy break, it's nice to spend 2 weeks not doing homework, or writing papers. Everything gets pushed back during each 11 week term I go through, I'm not proud of that fact but it is the truth. Once it starts it's a marathon until it stops. If it's not a priority, it just doesn't get done. During my small breaks, I mainly focus on things that really need to get accomplished, try to spend all my time focused on the kids, spend much needed time with my sweet husband, and cry and worry about the one child we have that is not home yet.
   Brings me to the parable Jesus taught us in Matthew, a shepherd will leave 99 sheep to find the 1 that is lost. I guess I'm just a shepherd searching for the one that's missing. The great news is our home study is finally complete, approved, and on it's way back to us. From here it will be sent with the 1-800a application through the USCIS. This next step takes about 3 months to complete, once it's finished we will be ready to send our dossier to China. After it arrives we will officially have our LID (logged in date). This basically completes the main portion of paperwork.
   The referral process is a different story. Every month our agency receives referrals, however we have yet to receive ours. It's very hard waiting, knowing that they are coming in and that this might be the day we have longed for. It takes me back to when Brian and I tired for almost a year to get pregnant. Every month that passed I got more and more discouraged. It's a hard place to be in, a place where you have no choice but to completely trust and believe in God's plan for your family. So as these past few months have come and gone and we still have not received a referral, I keep turning to God. I tell myself that Hadley was just not in the last bunch of files, maybe next time. Then next time comes and I tell myself that again. It is so HARD, and so DISCOURAGING!  Last Monday, we didn't receive a call either. I cried the entire drive home. I got in the car, hooked my seat belt and the tears just flowed. No radio on, just silence....... half way home Brian called I said no words.... just cried. He knew, and responded with "In God's time".
  So here we are today, waiting for next months referrals. However, I know God is working. His making plans for our sweet Hadley. I'm not doubting, I'm just inpatient.