This Valentine's Day I can't help but to look back at where we were last Valentine's Day. It was so sweet, literally sweet with hundreds of cupcakes lined up in boxes so lovingly prepared by a even sweeter friend. A cupcake fundraiser was one of our first fundraisers we kicked off for our adoption costs for this journey to adopt two little ones from Ethiopia. (take a look here). We were knee deep, no neck deep, in paper work and over our heads with questions of how this was all going to play out. One day at a time and one step at a time we continued to just say 'yes Lord' and left the rest up to Him.
God showed up in ways we couldn't even have planned. It is only by His hand that we have come this far. And now, a year later, we look back and see how amazing this journey has been. We see how many miracles have lined up for us, for the children, and for this process to continue. We are humbled by the kindness, giving, support, prayers, and love from friends, family, and even strangers that have rallied around us.
So where are we today? The paper work has receded from the neck level to just at our big toe, but we are still over our heads with questions of how this will all play out. More than ever we are reminded to live one day at a time, one step at a time and to leave the rest up to Him.
International adoptions, or any adoption for that matter, are not as simple as Loving Parents + Orphaned children = Forever family.
Our eyes have been opened to the orphan crisis and the need for children to be adopted and loved in homes of forever families. (read here). Our eyes have also been opened to the failures of the system that actually prevents thousands of willing families to get to those millions of orphans. And we all wait, stuck in the middle.
Unfortunately....well, it's so much to dive in to, but at the core of it all, we live in a sinful world and tough things can happen to the innocent as a result. In this case, it's the orphaned children. More and more the spotlight has not been shinning on the thousands of ethical and life saving, loving adoptions, but the focus has been on the stories of unethical practices. In order to protect the children, guidelines and procedures are established between both countries, new laws, new paperwork, new investigations, etc. These changes take time and that is understood. The problem is that when one adoption agency or one news special airs of an unethical adoption, that this slows down the entire system across the board. Yes, we want to be safe and hold best practices. Yes, hold investigations to be sure paperwork is legit and children aren't being stripped from their birth families, but no, don't delay the true abandoned, lost, and orphaned children any longer than absolutely necessary. Time is not on their side.
In September law changes were put into place to better protect the children, that created a slow down in referrals. (read about that here). In December Ethiopia was discussing adoption closures. (read about that here) In January referrals were starting to come through. (read about that here). In February arrests were made of an isolated agency's workers in the U.S. being charged with fraudulent adoptions with a specific Ethiopian orphanage. And today our agency, (whom we fully trust and are beyond pleased with their ethical standards and care for the children), gave news that due to the recent events that referral wait times are being extended to up to twelve months.
So one year later where are we now? 365 days more aware, 365 days deeper in prayer, 365 days more amazed by His guidance, 365 days practicing patience, 365 days seeking the Lord, 365 days filled with hope, 365 lifted up in prayer by others, 365 days building relationships, 365 days thinking about the children chosen for us, 365 days closer to the children coming home.
One day at time.
Matthew 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Psalm 37:23 "My steps are ordered by the Lord."
Thank you for joining us in prayer as we continue on this journey. Thank you for being there through the ups and downs. We are grateful for you and glad you visit the blog to keep updated with us!
So where are we today? The paper work has receded from the neck level to just at our big toe, but we are still over our heads with questions of how this will all play out. More than ever we are reminded to live one day at a time, one step at a time and to leave the rest up to Him.
International adoptions, or any adoption for that matter, are not as simple as Loving Parents + Orphaned children = Forever family.
Our eyes have been opened to the orphan crisis and the need for children to be adopted and loved in homes of forever families. (read here). Our eyes have also been opened to the failures of the system that actually prevents thousands of willing families to get to those millions of orphans. And we all wait, stuck in the middle.
Unfortunately....well, it's so much to dive in to, but at the core of it all, we live in a sinful world and tough things can happen to the innocent as a result. In this case, it's the orphaned children. More and more the spotlight has not been shinning on the thousands of ethical and life saving, loving adoptions, but the focus has been on the stories of unethical practices. In order to protect the children, guidelines and procedures are established between both countries, new laws, new paperwork, new investigations, etc. These changes take time and that is understood. The problem is that when one adoption agency or one news special airs of an unethical adoption, that this slows down the entire system across the board. Yes, we want to be safe and hold best practices. Yes, hold investigations to be sure paperwork is legit and children aren't being stripped from their birth families, but no, don't delay the true abandoned, lost, and orphaned children any longer than absolutely necessary. Time is not on their side.
In September law changes were put into place to better protect the children, that created a slow down in referrals. (read about that here). In December Ethiopia was discussing adoption closures. (read about that here) In January referrals were starting to come through. (read about that here). In February arrests were made of an isolated agency's workers in the U.S. being charged with fraudulent adoptions with a specific Ethiopian orphanage. And today our agency, (whom we fully trust and are beyond pleased with their ethical standards and care for the children), gave news that due to the recent events that referral wait times are being extended to up to twelve months.
So one year later where are we now? 365 days more aware, 365 days deeper in prayer, 365 days more amazed by His guidance, 365 days practicing patience, 365 days seeking the Lord, 365 days filled with hope, 365 lifted up in prayer by others, 365 days building relationships, 365 days thinking about the children chosen for us, 365 days closer to the children coming home.
One day at time.
Matthew 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Psalm 37:23 "My steps are ordered by the Lord."
Thank you for joining us in prayer as we continue on this journey. Thank you for being there through the ups and downs. We are grateful for you and glad you visit the blog to keep updated with us!
Happy Valentine's Day!
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