The greatest experience, the one which shakes a soul with hopes and fears, the results of which are never ending, and incidentally, the one which pays the biggest dividends, is to be found in the adoption of children.
--Anonymous

Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Still No News

Another week has gone by with no news. We're now two weeks away from the deadline. I've had a sick feeling all week and I'm afraid it's going to get worse. I've contacted an agency who does birth mother searches. All they want is $3,000 up front to assemble a team of; a Lawyer, a Social Worker, one or two investigators and a Psychologist. After assembling their team, they will decide on a plan of attack to search. After coming up with the plan, they would inform us of the plan, making sure we understand their intent and then they would begin the search. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't see all of that happening before the August 31st deadline with time left over to search. I respectfully declined the use of their services. We don't need a team of professionals. We just need a responsible Spanish speaking person who is willing to search. I may have a lead for someone to search through the woman who runs the front desk at the Hotel we stay in when we visit. I'll know more about that lead on Monday. Hopefully it will turn out to be something positive and affordable.

Mark is gone this weekend on his motorcycle. He and a friend have gone south to ride through the Smokey's and the surrounding areas. So far he's having a good time, enjoying good weather and he says he has lots of pictures I'll be impressed with when he gets home. I'm waiting for pictures of bears. He and I have taken several trips through the Smokey's and have yet to see a bear. I remember as a kid when we would take family trips down there, we would always see bears. For some reason, as an adult, I have not been so lucky. I hope he continues to have a safe trip and gets home soon. I miss him!

I'm praying the upcoming week brings lots of good news! We're still praying for that miracle.

Friday, August 8, 2008

WOW!!!

And the saga continues...........This week has not been one of our better ones as far as adoption news goes. The CNA has issued a time limit for the completion of birth mother interviews. August 31st is the deadline....only 3 short weeks away. Our birth mother has still not been located. We're just not sure what that means for us. No one is sure what will happen after that date. It could mean the children with missing birth mothers will go into abandonment, but the statement by the CNA says "the cases will be turned over to a competent judge". To me, that's not a very clear statement. Our attorney is assuring us that he will complete our adoption. I guess our question is...............when?

Such an uncertain time! I don't like to put time restrictions in my prayers because then I'm working on my time schedule, not God's, but in this instance, I'm praying for a miracle before August 31st.

Nola, Kinsey, Alex and Melany.
Those are the names of the four little ones that we are particularly aware of whose lives will be affected by what happens in the next three weeks. Please keep them, and all of the little ones in the same situation, in your prayers.
We need God to work in a BIG way!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Today Is Picture Day!!!!!!

Even though my life if full of so many things to be thankful for, the fact remains that one of my children is still living in another country. She is still being cared for by someone other than me and is bonding to someone other than me. Even though I am grateful to Ingrid for caring for our little Nola, I want her home with me........with us. I'm her momma and I should be caring for her. We're her family and we should be tickling that little tummy and kissing those chubby cheeks. I have been really struggling this week with the uncertainty of our adoption situation. Legally she isn't mine. She isn't ours, but in my heart she has been since the day I first heard her name. She is a part of our family that is missing and I want her home.

Today, just like so many times in the past, we received new pictures and again my heart is brightened. Of course, I have to share so you can see how much she's growing and changing too.

What a doll baby! We have received no news about the birth mother being located. Our agency has now had three cases approved without a birth mother interview but our lawyer has not yet been so lucky. Please keep our little one, and all of those waiting to come home, in your prayers. I need to see that light at the end of our tunnel again.

In all of my blog reading lately, I have came across the same scripture reference many different times:

Philippians 4:6&7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. and the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Gordon Mote - Don't Miss the Glory