Continuing to Prepare...

I can't believe how fast the first 3 months of this year have gone. We have been so busy with school, swim, and basketball. And in a few weeks softball starts! Whewwww ...we stay on the go. It has been a while since I have given an adoption update and several people have been asking so I wanted to let our prayer partners know that we are still waiting. Again, I like to think of it as a preparation period, rather than a waiting period. We know God is using this time to prepare our family and to prepare all of our children to be united.

Since "my word" for the year is Prepare...I have been doing things that I think might help me to be better prepared to mother children whose needs differ from what I am used to. This has included a lot of reading. I realize that when my parenting skills are called into action that I may forget everything that I have read, but nevertheless I am storing away the knowledge and experience of those who have gone before me in the adoption world. It feels so enlightening to read, listen and watch(I like documentaries) stories of both success and failure of adoption. To hear the struggles that people are willing to share, in hopes of helping a family in the future, is humbling. I am thankful that some many people are willing to allow God to use their stories to encourage and inspire.

During this time of preparation I have been reminded that I have so much to be thankful for.

• We have an amazing agency that I am becoming more and more thankful for. To know that our agency is lifting us up in prayer on a regular basis and that they are genuinely working in the best interest of every child that they have contact with is such a blessing. When we started this process I thought all agencies worked that way, however, through the stories of multiple families I am learning that not all agencies are so Christ centered.  
• I am thankful that God has created such a special place in the hearts of Molly and Linc for their Haitian siblings. They have no tangible evidence of their siblings, yet they pray for them as if they know them. 
• I am thankful that our children have such a great dad! He is sitting on go and if they called us today he would be ready to drop everything and get on a plane and go meet our kiddos and love on them. And at the same time, he has such a peace and calmness about the wait. 

Please pray with us, that we continue well in our preparation for what God has for our family. Also, pray with us that the individuals handling our paperwork move with efficiency and diligence in order to help us be united as a family sooner than later.

Abandoned to Christ's Call,

Amy