The adoption process is continuing to move along at a nice steady pace. This Saturday we received our Immigration approval, which was the piece we had been waiting on to complete our dossier. Now our dossier has to be sealed and authenticated by the proper authorities, and then it will be submitted to China and we will receive our Log In Date (LID). We are still approximately 6 months or so from traveling to China, so I am settling in for a good long wait. Of course I am eager to get my new little one in my arms and start loving on him, but we are thankful for the time to pray and prepare our home and our hearts. I am still feeling so much sadness and longing for my babies in R*ssia, and I know that my heart is still aching and grieving, even in the joy of knowing that we are bring home another son. How thankful I am to know that I can trust my Heavenly Father with my heart, and also with my children--all my children, who are scattered around the world.
We are enjoying summertime and a break from school and schedules. Tomorrow will probably bring another day of digging in the sandbox and splashing in the little plastic pool for Freddie and Valerie, while I will be getting my hands dirty in my garden. Dirt is good therapy. And happy dirty children are good for the soul as well!
Please pray for us as we press on in our adoption journey, that we would persevere and run this race well, that in our growing, we would be growing closer to God, that we would be growing more and more into the people that He has created us to be. That our love for Him would increase and our faith in Him would abound. I will be praying for all you dear friends as well.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3)
