Catching up and still waiting

So, first let me apologize for being to out of touch.  I sat down to write many times, but couldn't get back on - technologically challenged for sure!

Our family has undergone many changes this year.  Jacob and Julianna are now both away at their respective universities.  Elizabeth started high school and Lydia started middle school.  And, of course, learning life with a 2 year old.

                                        

It is an understatement to say that Sammy is very much adored by all his siblings and vica-versa.  We all feel unbelievably blessed.  He brings such joy to each and every day. 

As for our other Ethiopian son...we are still waiting.  We have been granted his official referral which we accepted (of course :) ) and sent the designated paperwork back across the ocean.  We are now waiting to hear that it has been submitted to court. A few weeks after submission we should be issued a court date.  We are hoping that the court date is such that Lydia and Jacob could travel with Julie to ET.  Of course we would love for everyone to go, but the reason for L and J is so that they have a chance to "meet" Ethiopia.  Julianna and Elizabeth were able to accompany Mark on a mission trip to Ethiopia 2 years ago.  Of course they would love to return, but Ethiopian Airlines isn't exactly giving away tickets :).

As for bringing him home...nothing is ever a set time, but probably 2-4 months after court.

This is one thing I have been learning over the past 2 years.  Waiting is hard!!!  It is a different "waiting" then when waiting for a baby to be born - a designated 9 monthish period; or for a wedding date - a Known date and person.  It is waiting with intense anticipation for an undetermined time for someone we have barely even met.  It means checking emails 10 times a day even when there isn't supposed to be any news.  It means wondering when we wake up in the morning, what time is it in Ethiopia and what might he be doing right now. It means learning to trust God that although I want our little one home NOW, God is doing His work in our son over there and in our family here WHILE we wait.  We are constantly called to a faith that says " I can trust you in this even if we have to wait months and months more".  But we also  realize that this  is just a precursor to the even greater faith it takes to raise him and all of our children.  We may have to WAIT for him to feel bonded to us.  We may have to WAIT for him (or any of our children) to fully embrace the LORD as their personal Savior.  It is a reminder to me as a parent that sometimes we have to have faith and we may have to WAIT months or years to see what God is up to in our children's lives.  But He is the author of all of their stories, and He is writing now even as we continue to WAIT.

How you can pray:
**The Lord would be preparing our little one's heart for our family and our hearts for him.
*That he would know God's loving embrace
*timely turn around on the paperwork over there
*God would provide the extra $$$ for J and L air fares
*the court date might fall the Tuesday of Thanksgiving break - then Jacob and Lydia could both travel with me ( this isn't necessary, but it would be sweet :) )