So much has happened since our last blog entry the main event that happened was Chris’s father passed away at the end of August from complications from his cancer treatment. If you would like to know the amazing details of God’s loving hands please read our blog we wrote on his behalf. http://mikesmemorial.blogspot.com/
I had never experienced the loss of someone so close to me before and it was (and still is) surreal. During that time it was as if the coin of time was just spinning. Though our feet never felt as if we knew where we were headed, we rested in the fact the Lord was leading us and each step was being placed just where it should be.
Another way time has whizzed by is just in our daily lives…the general noise of the hustle and bustle of each of our days as they pass… school, taekwondo, work, church activities, serving the Lord, grocery shopping, cleaning, and making time for our family to spend together etc. It seems there is never a day when any one of us could say “I am bored” or “gee, I wonder what I should do today.”
Then looking at the coin from another perspective it represents quiet and stillness. We have had days linked together like a chain of silence, us longing to hear a word. From time to time a phone call breaks the silence… our precious adoption worker from WACAP touching base with us to see how we are and to offer us encouragement in the waiting period. We were given two songs of joy over the last couple of weeks in the form of 2 emails. The first was from one of the leaders of the ministry that helps with the organization that cares for our daughter. She was announcing her future trip there and offering families an opportunity to send over little photo books about their family to their child that they are adopting. She also gave us more insight into the process and why it takes oh, so long to finish our daughter’s paperwork. The next was in the form of about 20 pictures of Abby that were taken on a recent trip to Ethiopia! Oh, that was like a fresh breeze blowing in through a window on a spring day. They were just so very beautiful and felt so good to see. Pictures of her playing with friends, close up pictures, and shots a ways back to show her height. She is just so very beautiful. Her eyes are a deep chocolate brown and her skin just looks so soft. I was able to picture us doing things together, playing things and me even braiding her hair. It was the lift my heart needed to help me almost be able to reach out and touch her.
An additional blessing from the first email that was sent out was that all the folks the gal from the Fields of Promise was writing to (of her trip) could see each other’s email addresses. Right away one of the sweet folks, who is also adopting from where our daughter is, sent a note to the group and then it all began… We have been sharing our stories with each other and creating a support group of our own. There are 6 of us families that are adopting from where Abby is. Not only are we able to be support to each other during this waiting time but we are also able to forge relationships with each other of lifelong support for our adopting children. They will also be able to be in contact with their friends from their Ethiopian home! I am so blessed that God gave us this information during this waiting period. Often folks don’t get to know others that are adopting from the same place until they travel together to see their children.
So here we sit with thankful and yearning hearts as we wait for the phone to ring or the next email to come. We are secure knowing that Jesus is in charge of each step and we eagerly watch for what He is doing next.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support.
In Jesus love,
Donna J
