A time for everything and everything in it's time

"Hey Nancy, when are you guys going to Ethiopia?"  I hear this several times a day.  Which is awesome.  Because people care enough about us, and our boys, and our process to keep asking and stay interested in our long haul.  But several times a day I have to give the same sad response.  "We don't know yet."   We are still waiting for a court date.  We are quickly coming up on month 5 since receiving our referrals.  

We learned a couple of weeks ago that we do not yet have MOWYA letters on either boy.  (MOWYA is a social sevices-like government agency in Ethiopia that must issue a positive opinion to the court on each adoption case before a court date can be scheduled.)  Talk about disappointed.  This threw me into a several days long deep discouragement.  I'm tired.  I'm tired of waiting.  I feel like I've paid my dues here in the waiting game.   So I wallowed in my self pity and frustration for several days.

But this week has been brighter.  Many friends have noticed my withdrawal and reached out to lend me much needed encouragement and support.  I've been able to connect with several other adoptive moms, both who have their kids, and who are still waiting like me.  (Talk about amazing women, wow.  What an honor to be included in this group.)  And so we press on.

We did get some good news yesterday in the form of an update on our oldest boy.  He had not yet been moved to the foster care home, and was still in the orphanage.  We got word that they should have openings in foster care next week and that they should be able to move him in.  Woohoo!  I have no idea what the care is like in the orphanage.  But I've been told by several different people that our agency's transitional home (foster care) is one of the best ones in the city.  So I'm anxious to get our big boy to a place where I know the standard of care is superb.  (And to have him join his brother!)

Today we saw the travel doc.  Jena panicked at the thought of getting shots and changed her mind about going to Ethiopia at all.  And yet, mean mommy and daddy were unmoved.  She was very relieved to learn once we got there that she only needed one vaccination, and the doctor was going to order an oral vaccine for her.  And with that she's once again fully on board to make the trip.  :)  Wes and I were not so lucky, and we needed two shots in addition to the oral vaccine.  Jena was our photographer and snapped some fun pictures.

 Actually it was no big deal.  We're not really what you'd call needle shy around here.  :)

I'll leave you with this devotional that I read today from Jesus Calling.  It was something I needed to hear.  Maybe you need to hear it too.

Stop Trying to work things out before their times have come.  Accept the limitations of living one day at a time.  When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda.  If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties.  When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in it's time.