After 5 months of waiting we have finally heard that our paperwork has been registered in Krasnoyarsk!!! It's been registered since March when it got there, but our adoption agency just got the approval. That's okay-we'll take it!! Referrals generally come 9-12 months (or faster) after registration, so we could have his info by Christmas! That's what I am praying for. What a great gift that would be!! As we have gone through this process we are learning more and more that God's timing is always perfect. We have really learned that it's all about the journey to get there, not just about the end result. We have experienced so much loss in the last few months with family & CHP family, but God has used all of the emotions & experiences to get us ready for Jonathan. He has given us peace that our lives are moving forward & we have joy in the hope of what lies ahead.
We are learning to see hope & progress in the little things. Over the last few months I have again been praying for God to show us SOMETHING...anything that would show His work in this adoption. He has been faithful to show us little things....getting a surprise dresser for free that was needed to get Ben moved into his new room, updated paperwork from our social worker with projected dates of this year for adoption completion, friends adopting from northern China....Mongolia is the only country separating our son & their daughter......the list goes on. Even when we haven't gotten exactly what we were hoping for, we got something. So, now here we are in August 2010, almost 18 months after we submitted our preliminary application & took the biggest, scariest step of faith we have ever taken.
In the meantime, we are starting the process to figure out what's going on with Tara's behavioral issues. Everything is pointing towards ADHD & we'll be having evaluations done next week. We're looking at therapy & possibly meds for her, but we are ready for some answers & help. I know what we are experiencing with her is part of the process to get us ready for Jonathan & has made us better parents. I've realized it's when you throw up your hands & admit you don't have a clue what to do with your child's issues that clarity & progress happen. So, who knows what's in store for us in this adventure of parenthood........
We thank you all for the prayers & support we have received over the last 18 months! It's not over yet, so please keep praying! Next time we update this blog it should be because we have a picture & info on our little boy (sorry we won't be able to post pics of him or personal info until we've finalized everything in Russian court). We're getting closer & closer to the end of this part of the journey. Travel for trip #1 will happen within weeks of getting our referral. So, it looks like Andrew's dream about us being in Siberia, Russia in the snow will be coming true. It makes me cold just to think about it :) It's a good thing Grandma has started knitting!
We have been asked by so many people why we are doing this crazy thing, why we just haven't given up on the waiting, & why we haven't switched to a domestic adoption. The answer is always the same-God created our son in Russia & that's where we are going no matter how long it takes. PERIOD! Life wasn't meant to be easy & we don't learn anything when we coast by without waiting, pain, & fulfilling our purpose. Andrew & I were made to do this. God has been preparing us for this our whole lives & we would do it again in a heartbeat even if we knew exactly what the process was going to be. Perspective is a beautiful thing! So, that is where things are at in this adventure. :)
