On March 8th I received two big three ring binders. One was our adoption planner and one was our home study binder. Now I had been sooo excited to receive everything and couldn't wait to get started on it. However, when I opened up the contents and saw all I had to do I will have to say overwhelmed is an understatement for how I felt. In addition to the adoption paperwork, we listed our house that week, and received several pieces of disheartening news regarding the health of some of our family members. How many times that week did I say 1st Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties upon the Lord because he loves and cares for you. !!
In addition to all of that we found out that we will now have to travel to Ethiopia twice!! We told ourselves going into this to prepare to expect the unexpected and this was our first taste of that. Luckily we are in the beginning stages and have time to process that additional cost and experience. I feel for the families who are much further along in the process. Fortunately, two days after I received my planners I had a phone conference with our case manager and she walked me through everything regarding the paperwork process. I felt worlds better after talking to her and now 2 weeks later I can't believe how much I have gotten done! Let me say that although I was completely overwhelmed, never ONCE have I felt burdened. We have never ONCE questioned whether or not we are doing the right thing. So far the whole process has gotten me even more excited and we just keep focusing on the day we will bring our daughter home.
I am thrilled with our agency so far and they have been very helpful to me. In the meantime, as we fill out form after form and prepare our hearts and home, I will cling to Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
