SeaBrook...Rest sweet rest...

I just arrived with Heather to the island and am looking forward to a weekend of fun in the sun. This means sitting all day at the beach and reading or sleeping. Enough about my rough life and on to the adoption information.

I talked with Carolina Hope on Monday and they sent the last items that I needed to fill out for the Hope Adoption Agency in St. Louis, MO. I still can not believe that we are using an agency from my home state. God is so fun! I had my friend at school notarize everything and I will be sending it out on Monday. This is it everyone!

The next steps are to have a courier take the dossier to a very important place for notarization. (Obviously, I don't remember what it is called or where it is located.) This should take 5-8 days and then it gets sent over to Ethiopia to be translated. The lady said we are looking at a timeline of March for a referral. This would mean travel in May or June. Praying that this all works out for June.

On the car ride down to the island, we talked about how adoption is based on "loss". I heard this in a class that I am taking at my church. I guess I had never thought of it that way. It seems like such a great gift to me that I would have never considered it as a loss. This is certainly a process for me and I am keeping my eyes and ears open.

Thank you God for your timing and sovereignty in my life. Have a great weekend everyone!

Immigration has arrived!

Woah...it has been awhile since I last wrote. Things are busy on my end. School has been going well and I have been fighting a cold virus for about three weeks. Crazy!

I have started training for a half marathon in Dec. at Kiawah. I have struggled with being consistent with running since the cold, but feel like I am turning the corner on that excuse. There always is an excuse. :)

Well...God did it again. I emailed my adoption agency and homestudy last Wednesday to see when my 171-H would potentially be coming back to me. After a few emails, I realized I had the information on a sheet in my 3-ring binder. I have alot of information in that binder. It said late Nov. or Dec. and to not call until Jan. 10, 2009. Sometimes it is just good to know what to expect. Here is where God comes into the story. As I was walking Raps, my dog, I got the mail and there in the back was my immigration paper work! God is so personal to me. He knows our every thought and desire.

I am reminded once again that He provides all of my needs and He knows what I can handle. Often times I ask myself "What are you doing?!" Then He reminds me of the best gift that I can give and also receive all at the same time. A precious life...I am so thankful for His care. Be encourage that God knows where you are at this time in your life and He loves you.

Have a blessed week!