#23!!! Last night was such an awesome surprise. We were #32 last month and based on some referrals we heard about during the month, we thought (and were very happy about it!) that we were going to be #27. When we opened the monthly update and saw that we were #23, Avery and I literally started dancing around holding hands. Silly I know, but after so many years of waiting, news about delays and worry, our number brought so much happiness! I am feeling HOPEFUL and excited. Honestly, I am a little scared to feel that way. I have been fearful about being really hopeful about the adoption since I felt that way before and was let down in a really big way. Although I have come a long way in healing from that experience, I still can fall into the rut of being fearful that something is going to happen, and it has been especially hard as we grow closer to getting a referral. Through prayer and family, I am giving thanks for what I have and focusing on positive things. A dear friend of mine reminded me that what you focus on grows. I am focusing on this excitement and God's wonderful blessings!
Some friends have asked WHEN? That is a good question! There looks to be about 10 families in front of us with similar preferences, so it could be as soon as Christmas or January or February....There is no way to predict exactly when the children will have their paperwork ready. One thing I can predict is that our referral day when we can look at the sweet face of our child is going be a joyful surprise!
On one other exciting note, we have sponsored two adorable Ethiopian children, ages 6 and 8, through Children's HopeChest. We hope to meet them when we travel to Ethiopia. Our chapter for "7" in October was money. We were challenged to spend some of our money for Kingdom purposes. Supporting children such as these two is something close to our hearts and beliefs. I wish we lived in a world where children had clean drinking water, enough food to keep them healthy and families to love them and keep them safe. My heart yearns to help these children and this sponorship is just a very small piece of what we can do.
MELISSA
