Update on the Waiting

It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted anything about the wait; so I thought I would update everyone on where we are.  Week before last we learned that the CCCWA moved their offices and our agency didn't have any contact with them.  This past week we heard nothing at all.  So we are still waiting.  It seems like a broken record, doesn't it?  Some times it feels like we are in a perpetual waiting mode with no end in sight.  But we don't live by sight. 

We live by faith in God who is faithful and good.  He reminded me of this on Monday, the 5 year anniversary of the day Hannah's paperwork was LID (logged into the system in China) and the 3 year anniversary of God reminding me that Isaiah 40:31 says that those who hope in the Lord will receive strength.  (I hope you are not getting tired of hearing that.  I know it comes up in every post these days, but that is what we have to hold onto right now.)  He reminded me again on Friday, the two year anniversary of the day we got our Letter of Acceptance for Hannah. 

I have to admit that I thought either of those days would have been great times for us to get Andrew's LOA and for God to get glory, but my thoughts are not God's thoughts.  I also have to admit that I was very disappointed it didn't come, that the wait is getting old, and that it is getting harder to have hope that the end will ever come.  While my emotions have been on a roller coaster ride, I have tried to meditate on Isaiah 40:31 and remember what my pastor says about the word hope in this verse.  I means to be twisted together to make strong.  In recent weeks, he has illustrated this by trying to pick up a concrete block with a strong.  Of course the string breaks.  Then, he twisted the string around a steel chain, and used that to pick up the block with little effort.  We are as strong as the One with whom we are twisted.

It doesn't FEEL as though we are any closer. But we don't live by feelings. By faith we BELIEVE we are closer to traveling even though we can't SEE it, and trust that God is still working out the details.

Meanwhile we have been busy doing things to prepare for Andrew (I'm working on a post about that), and keeping a list of things for which we are thankful.  Here are some of them.

• We are thankful that Andrew is being well taken care of by his foster family.
• We are thankful for all of the people who are praying for and encouraging us.  (Thank you for believing us.  I had a young girl ask me today after church if there really is a little boy waiting for us.  I have to admit that I've wondered if people thought this.)
• My friend LeighAnn and her husband David are in China and met their little girl last week.  She is beautiful, and we are so happy for them. 
• My friend Tammy is so happy as she prepares to get married in May (whether we are here or not), and we are very excited for her.
• We finally have a contract on our old house that has been on the market for almost two years and are supposed to close on it on April 30 (whether we are here or not). 
• My knee is almost normal.  I have been released by my surgeon and hope to have my last physical therapy appointment next week.
• Through working with other children at church this past week, God has prompted me o spend my energy preparing a safe haven for Andrew in our home, in our family and in our hearts.  The most important thing he will need when we come home is to feel safe, accepted, and loved.
• God pours His strength into our weakness. 
• The waiting will eventually come to an end and we will meet our son and God will be glorified.
• God did not leave us as orphans, but sent His Son Jesus to give us life and hope, to make a way for us to be adopted into God's family.  (John 14)

The Document has been sent to China!

This is just a quick post to say that the missing document has completed the certification and authentication process and was FedExed to China yesterday.   We can begin looking for the Letter of Acceptance again!   It could come any time, but we have learned that we need to put our expectations in the Lord's hands.  His timing is perfect and we don't know what that timing is.

Repeatedly over these past two and a half weeks, God has brought John 11 to my attention through our pastor's teaching, through friends, and through my reading.  This passage tells the account of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave.  In Mary and Martha's eyes, He was late and could have kept Lazarus from dying, but Jesus purposely delayed going the Bethany when he got their message because He was going to do something special that would not only bless them, but would be a testimony and blessing to many others.  He even says, "it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  We have to confess that God is never late and that we desire for Him to be gloried though our testimony.  Waiting on God and seeking His glory has been a theme of our lives, and I have been praising God for the way He has worked through all of our waiting to give us a testimony that gives Him the praise and glory He deserves. 

Thank you again for all of your prayers.