getting closer...

It seems like every day there’s a new baby belly photo posted from someone on facebook. It’s the only time that women love to document their expanding stomachs and share about their food cravings. Those nine months of intense joy, fear and excitement are a journey we have yet to experience, but our “pregnancy” road has also been crazy and wonderful in a way all its own.

My belly hasn’t bulged, but we feel like we’ve grown in so many ways through this adoption process. Our patience has been tested, our determination challenged and our faith strengthened as we’ve walked through each step. The first application we filled out was on May 10, 2010, so our “pregnancy” has already lasted over 18 months - I’m way overdue. The incredible joy we've experienced hasn't come after seeing an ultrasound but rather after successfully getting a document notarized or completing another form. We’ve felt fear as we were interviewed, and had our house tested to assess our qualifications as parents. Nursery preparation is underway, but the closet is still bare, as we don’t know her age, size or special needs yet. We’ve humbled ourselves as we invited our family and friends to help us raise the nearly $26,000 in funds needed to pay adoption fees. Morning sickness? Not so much. But, sleepless nights wondering if we forgot a signature and might have to re-submit an entire government application, has happened more than once. Our daily prayers are for her health and safety but also that she is feeling loved by the orphanage workers. We pray for her long-lost mother, who must have found herself in extreme circumstances to let go of this beautiful little girl. And we give thanks to God that we will be so blessed to love her, and become her forever family.

Our “pregnancy” has been longer, and filled with more uncertainty and unpredictability than we could have imagined. Our nine months is actually going to be over two years by the time we hold our baby in our arms. But we’ve been told that this joy we are anticipating will be more than worth the wait, and we believe that with all our hearts. We long for that day when we don’t guess at her size, dream about her face and wonder what her name should be. God has our perfect little girl already picked out for us, and we can hardly wait to give birth to our new family.

Please continue praying for the remaining months of our journey, and for our daughter as well. At this stage, we are just waiting to be matched with her, and go through the final stages of our adoption. Please prayerfully consider helping us with the last push for finances - we just need $4,255 to finish paying our fees. Finally, THANK YOU for all of your kindness, prayers and support through this adoption process. We are so incredibly blessed by all of you.