another homestudy

Had our first of two homestudies for foster care on Tuesday the 6th. Our licensing agent was wonderful and didn't mind the couple inches of water on the basement floor :) We have a few things to do before our next visit, but praise the Lord nothing major.

paperwork complete

Paperwork complete. Our second set of paperwork- the first set for Ethiopia was a lot of work. So collecting the stuff for foster care was quick and painless.

Training complete. We finished our 16 hours of mandatory PRIDE training. Again, not very painful.

Now we are waiting for our home study to be set up and completed before we can become licensed foster parents. Praying this too will be a painless process :) We know we need a window installed in the basements, so looking forward to some demolition.

foster care

Since we sent in our paperwork to our agency, a few things have changed. The adoption process in Ethiopia has slowed down to ensure that things are being done ethically...this is a hard thing, but also a good thing...to make sure things are done properly and in order, it may take more time. Also one of the orphanages that works with our agency closed. The agency is expecting the wait to be well over 2 years. We have been praying about how to use the time wisely and we are excited to use this time of waiting to be foster parents. We have our second training on Saturday. Then we have to get the house ready...another home study...then more waiting.

it's official

we are on the wait list. Praise the Lord all our paperwork was in proper order.

it's in the mail

Finally sent in our dossier to our agency in St. Louis:) Lord willing, it will arrive at our agency Saturday and should take about 15 days to get on the waiting list with our agency!! We are super excited!!!

sickies

Got some sick girls over here. Poor Emma has shingles and Erin just can't kick a nasty cold. Unfortunately, I think Elli is starting to get the cold too. As much as I hate them being sick- they are super cute.

tears

I really haven't cried or wigged out too much about the adoption slow down in Ethiopia. I know that God has the hearts of kings in his hands, but tonight as midnight began to roll around my heart became super heavy. Now I don't get the "cry face" like some sweet people I know, but I am having a hard time shaking this heavy feeling. I decided to check the time in Ethiopia...midnight here is 8am there...the new procedures are taking place. Families who have had referrals in hand will wait for court dates. Babies will be in orphanages longer. All is not well in God's creation-it hasn't been for a good 6,000 years. There is a problem. The spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places are working hard to get us to not trust our mighty King. We pray for the truth to come out through this process, we pray that the adoptions that are done in a righteous way will continue to move along quickly. We pray that the name of our LORD will be glorified through our adoption and the adoption process in Ethiopia. We pray for HIS will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I don't know for sure that we will bring 2 little Ethiopian boys home. I do know that the Lord has called us to adopt and that he has put Ethiopia on our hearts. I also know that I am learning more and more to walk by faith and not by sight. I am glad we serve such a mighty God.