I told a friend today that I think I could write a book on adoption someday. But---really, that's silly. Anyone who has walked this road has a chapter in that book already. And anyone who has brought their children HOME already, has every right to publish their own.
This is quite a journey. My dear friend Beth tried to describe this journey when we first sent our application into our agency (exactly three years ago this week), but WOW was she right. She kept telling me to never look at timelines, never expect ANYthing to happen like you think it might, and to hold on tight.
We are almost done. What I mean by that is that we have almost crossed the finish line to OUR homecoming day with our son. In so many ways it still seems like "somebody else's story," or even a fairytale. But, it will soon be our reality. We are waiting on the Ethiopian government to process our case and send it back to the USCIS. Once it's stateside, our government will be issuing us "THE LETTER." I describe this letter as the letter we've been waiting for since day one. Upon receipt of this letter our agency files us for court. That's it!
When will this all happen? When do we "think" we will go on trip one? How much notice will we get before we have to book flights and leave?
Haha---welcome to the journey. No clue- on any of the above.
We have been holding onto hope that we will travel our first trip in February. Of course that is still a possibility... but- you. never. know. And honestly, the more I tell people that, the more I feel fear creep into my heart. Isn't that sad? I think when you wait 9 months at the same spot on a waiting list, with nothing to know and too much to worry about...it just gets emotional.
There are days I am cheerful, positive, pumped, and able to just pick up Grady's picture and smile/pray/think. But there are also many days I'm in the valley and hear everyone's questions around me above the promises I know God has spoken to Ryan and me.
"Why does adoption take so long?"
"Aren't there like 5 million orphans in Ethiopia?"
"Why can't you just go get him if you already know who he is?"
"Wouldn't it have been easier to do adoption a different way?"
And Griffin tells someone today- "No, Grady isn't ever going to come home."
I haven't written on this blog in a year. I think when we hit that plateau and stopped moving on the wait list, we lost our words for how to explain what was up. Now I feel like it's time to bring this back into circulation. I have to say this, and it's with somewhat tight fists- ha! God's timing HAS been perfect in this. I didn't believe that last winter when we were in such a dry season and felt like we were "ready" for him to be here. But looking back, we now know.
We got Grady's picture in our inbox on Aug. 27, 2014 while we were driving to Disney World. Yep, pretty much the most amazing day our family has ever experienced together. And if I could share details about our little guy, or even his picture- I would. But that's against the law until he is legally ours (after court).
So many of you pray faithfully for our family. We love you and we need that. Please pray big with us right now. As the sweet country of Ethiopia (and our family here in toledo, OH) celebrates Ethiopia's Christmas on Wednesday, we also pray that movement can happen and papers can be pushed this next week. Please pray. Pray that these next steps (so few left) just FLY by and that God surprises us.
Thanks for standing alongside us in this journey!
