Blessed for the Ride

"Please fasten your seat belt, keep your arms and hands in the car at all times, and hold on tight. Welcome to the international adoption roller coaster - you are in for the ride of your life!"

Anyone that is involved in Ethiopian adoption has heard the news posted today at the Court in Addis Ababa. Adoptive parents must appear at their child/children's court hearing. What this means for us adoptive families is that we are now required to travel twice. Once for the court hearing and then again weeks/months later to bring our children home. And so goes the ups and downs of international adoption. I was quite sad when I first heard the news, but through several conversations with God, a godly husband and a sweet godly friend, I am seeing the upside of this announcement.
First - I feel excited, honored and humbled to even be on this roller coaster ride. I am so glad to be a part of the Ethiopian adoption experience. What if Craig and I had said 'no' to God or what if we hadn't listened to the calling HE placed on our hearts? We wouldn't be experiencing this exhilarating ride at all. Oh what we would have missed out on already!!
Second - we serve a BIG God - a HUGE God - a God so gigantic HE created everything out of nothing and yet HE cares about the details of my life. God was not surprised by this ruling today and HE holds our children in HIS hands until we come get them, whenever that might be.
Third - I refuse to let Satan discourage or disillusion me. The enemy is a joy killer and I say "through the power of Jesus Christ - get behind me" I will continue to have joy and be encouraged!!
Last but NOT least - I am grateful for the opportunity to have my faith tested, strengthened, and deepened in a way that it would not otherwise be. We can only grown spiritually when given trials and problems that require faith and dependence on God's power. "Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Genesis 50:20
"You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives!"

In other news .....
I still rush out to the mailbox as soon as I hear the postal truck because I am waiting waiting waiting for our I-171 fingerprint approval. Any day now, I am just sure of it!!

To keep my occupied in the mean time, we are putting our house on the market this weekend. It seems so simply to type and say those words - not simple to actually make it happen. A little more paint, one more wallpaper border, new carpet and it will officially be in MLS and have a sign in the yard. We are SO grateful to have found a house that is perfect for our family and so we pray our current house sells quickly!! The housing roller coaster has been another ride that we have ridden several times. I am pretty sure it was the kiddie ride getting me ready for the crazy ride I am on now.

Prayer requests:
- quick, quick, quick sell of our house
- arrival of our I-171 soon
- receive word on our children soon
- God's loving hand on our children until we come for them
- peace in our home during this potentially chaotic time