Wednesday, November 23, 2011

the ups and downs of adoption

to say that this adoption journey has been a bit of a roller coaster would be a bit of an understatement.  but I would be a fool if I didn't take that opportunity to give thanks for many things along the way...
...getting on the front end of adoptions in Honduras
...having the application fee waived 1 year ago when we began this journey
...quickly moving through the mountain of paperwork and homestudy to complete our dossier
...finding out about additional paperwork in time before completing our dossier
...God's financial provision through many of you to bring this baby girl home
...success in a flower making home business raising a good chunk of our funds
...approval for a $2500 matching grant

our newest news is this: we found out Monday that we were approved for the Show Hope grant for $5000...so much more than we anticipated.  This brings us within $3000 of our total needed funds for our adoption.  God moved a pretty big mountain this week and we are so thankful!

We also received some disappointing news this week.  IHNFA had been communicating with our agency that they would be providing referrals by the end of the year for the first group of families (us included). We found out today that the IHNFA is again on strike, which means there will be a delay in the fulfillment of those referrals. 
                                                   Three more months. 
                                                         It seems like an eternity. 
                                                              The anticipation is killing us. 
 We are choosing to continue to trust in God's sovereign hand.  It is now looking like it will be april before we experience the sweet joy of holding our baby girl.  I am believing that He is holding her for these months that I am not.  I believe that she is leaning her head into His shoulder as she falls asleep tonite...and every night.  I believe that His hand is on her and on us and will bring us together in His perfect time.  Today, I am thankful.  Choosing to be thankful for this process and the love it is growing in me for our baby girl.  Mama loves you, sweet girl.  Mama loves you.

4 comments:

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV84

    Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

    Your words and God's Word have blessed me this Thanksgiving! Praying your baby girl and our little ones are home soon!

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...orando por tu hijita...praying for your little girl!!!

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  2. Hello, I've been following your blog for a while now. We are also Christian and adopting a boy with special needs from Honduras. We heard about him 13 months ago and started the process to adopt him (our file was ready for a different country). It took about a year for them to give us a first trip date. We are now waiting for them to call us for a second time to finally bring him home... Things have been a lot slower than expected, we were told just 6 months after they approved us but we are still waiting. Things don't always go as we expect them but we take comfort in knowing God has a plan for our family.

    Maude from Quebec, Canada

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  3. crying a few tears for you today dear. just when it seems too great to bear, know that something incredible is brewing. the wait is neccisary. painful, but neccisary. we had 6 months added to our wait because we moved in the middle of our process. i later learned that our delay allowed us to be logged in with China one day before a new list was released...emery was in that list. those 6 months were a very dark time in my life. but looking back, i can hardly believe that way God orchestrated everything.
    i'm praying for your sweet little one. for someone to be holding her right now. she is such a treasure! what a blessing she will be to so many!!

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  4. Just curious...the grant cycle you applied for the Show Hope grant, how long was it between the time that you applied (and the grant cycle ended) and were notified of their decision?

    The email that confirmed they received our info said a minimum of 90 days after we would be notified...did it take that long for you guys to hear back on the decision? Thank you for your help!

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