My name is I AM

 I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “MY NAME IS I AM”. He paused. I waited. He continued. “When you live in the past with it’s mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WAS. When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I WILL BE. When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here. My name is I AM.”

I love this verse! We're still waiting for approval from Colombia, but that's ok. We are at rest in our wait knowing that our Maker is at the wheel. The word "rest" has become so beautiful to me. I never want to take for granted the rest I feel in my heart. It is something this poor struggling world is groping for, yet seldom do they realize it. 

Waiting on approval from Colombia....

Now since we have our I-800a notarized, apostilled, and on it's way to Adopolis... we wait some more! No more docs to gather, no more notaries to get done, no more pending apostilles. We simply wait to hear from Colombia. Believe me...this blog will hear when we get any word from Colombia!

I-800A approval back!!! YAY!

  YYYessss! So exciting! Our approval states that we are approved to adopt one or two children from Colombia, SA. The child/children must be under 5 years of age, either gender, and healthy or with minor or correctable conditions. Our approval is different than we had requested, but God sees the big picture. He knows the perfect child/children for us, no matter what. We had requested approval for one child 0-3 yrs or 2 children 0-4 yrs, healthy. However, we are just elated that we finally have our approval back! Now a copy must be notarized, then sent to the state to get apostilled, and to Adopolis and then they will send it to Colombia! And THEN... we wait for our Colombia approval. They are not known to be really speedy with their approvals, but hopefully by summer we are officially approved!
   Oh Jesus, if our Colombian children are born and waiting for us, please hold them when we can't, comfort them. Send someone to love them until we can. Keep them safe and guide us to them. Amen.
   One thing that you as family and friends can help us pray for is that we get children as young as possible. I really want young children and I will pray, however I must trust that also to our Heavenly Father. It is what I want, however, when I think about it... How shallow am I? I just don't want to get toooo uncomfortable. A child over 3 may be a bit harder, may have a bit more baggage. Am I asking,"Keep it easy for us, Father. Don't let life get tooo hard." Again I am reminded... WHAT are we here for? So.. I will still pray for young children, but pray totally trusting that GOD KNOWS BEST.

Waiting...

 Waiting is another word for adoption. :) Waiting for our new I-800a approval and extension. Our psychological addendum and home study addendum are filed at ICBF in Colombia waiting on the I-800a to come. So just waiting on USCIS.. We walk down the coffee isle in Walmart and the only coffee I see is Colombian coffee. I bought some bananas and looked at the sticker and here they were from Colombia! Made my day!
  I'm reading Kisses From Katie. The way we feel about Colombia must be similar to the way Katie feels about Uganda. I have read 2 chapters and I believe it is the most inspiring book I've ever read (besides the Bible:). Truly it is a MUST READ for all. If everyone would know God as Katie knows Him, all the troubles that would simply be gone from this old world. I pray that people may learn to know my God and Katie's God. An excerpt from Kisses From Katie:
  But is is simple in that each and every one of us was ultimately created to do the same thing. It will not look the same. It may take place in a foreign land or it may take place in your backyard, but I believe that we were each created to change the world for someone. To serve someone. To love someone the way Christ first loved us, to spread His light. -Katie Davis
  What are we really here for? May we catch a glimpse of the only reason. To show God's love.

Background check back!

Normally background checks take 3 months to get back and when I found out a couple weeks ago that ours was expired, I groaned. Another huge delay, but do to some pulling of strings agency got it expedited and today after 2 wks we got it back cleared! Progress! Now it is sent to USCIS and hopefully within a month we will have our new approval. Can't wait!

Thank you, God!

Thank you, God! Just when I sigh and breathe a prayer for patience, God removes the mountain! Littlest Angels can get the background check expedited, so it shouldn't take the normal 3 months! I'm thrilled! Little things, little steps make us so thankful.
   YAY! Another phone call from ---------. She talked to John from USCIS and he said we do not even need to wait for the background check to send in to USCIS. We may send everything in now and when we get back the background check, send that in then. That's how adoption is, frustrating one moment; thrilling the next!

...Sigh...

Oh wow...sigh.. USCIS needs current background checks. I don't blame them, but why did --------- not tell us months ago to get them updated? It usually takes 3 months to get them back, which looks like an eternity. Truly ----------  has been so terribly frustrating. She is quitting and it's good, because her heart is not in it anymore. However that will be an added challenge to find a new home study agency. Please, Lord, help us with the mountains...