To Write or not to Write.....

I've debated for quite some time whether to post anything about the recent activity (or lack thereof) in our li'l world of adoption lately. I didn't have anything definite to share and I still don't, however there's potential for lots of exciting things in the very near future (by very near future, I mean, if I don't know something by next week, I'm boarding a plane and finding our Thai government social worker myself!). I can speak for all of us adoptive mamas, I think, that I hesitate to share at times, out of not wanting to get other's hopes up, because I've been the "other" several times before. But, in the end, it always has helped me to read through other family's journeys, so I decided I'd let you all in on our little secret.

Around the end of March, maybe first of April, Holt called to let us know that HSF has given our family a tentative date of June 20, 2012 to take custody of Jade, in Thailand, pending our approval from the Thai government. As you're gasping from excitement (which I did too!), let me stick a sock in it... we STILL don't have approval, or at least not that we know of yet! I have never heard of them granting a tentative board date before a family has received approval, and I really don't know why they did, but they did. Anywho, We thought for sure we'd hear something the second week of April about a meeting that took place on April 4 in Thailand, but the social worker handling our case has been MIA. Then we just knew we'd hear news the following week, but NOPE. At this point, it was time for another DSDW meeting on April 18, and we were certain that we'd know the status of our case the week after that meeting, but here we are, over a week past that date and past the close of another work week in Thailand and we're still playing the Limbo game. First we heard the SW and her supervisor were away at a conference, and it must've been a long one (sorry, but seriously). Now, we heard this week that they're back, but she "needed more time to look into our case"... Uhhhh..... Really????? I'm speechless... ok, yeah, no I'm not, I actually have A LOT to say, but I'll spare you. Aaaanyways, what we're praying for is that we will find out next week that we received approval in April and that our Article 16 is already in the mail! If it works out that way, then we will still be able to keep our June 20 date, and we will have our sweet baby Jade home with her forever family by sometime around June 26!!!!!!! Please pray with us that GOOD NEWS comes next week!

 I get a flurry of emotions when I think about the next few weeks, finishing the preparations for Jade... I get nervous about getting it all done; I obviously get excited about having her home; But, then I get sad about the grief she's about to experience; And, I get VERY anxious about the LOOOOOONG trip we are about to endure with a 4 year old going and a 16 month old and 4 year old coming back. God knows about all of that though, and He's got it all worked out for us, so mostly, I'm ready to say "God... Let's do this!" :-)

As I was walking through some shops today (SURPRISE! HA!), I saw a plaque that said...

"Faith is not about what the future holds, but knowing WHO holds the future..."

I've been struggling with that lately, but it's all we have to rely on. Yes, I'm praying for good news fast, and praying we keep our June 20 date, but there's a lot of unknowns. I don't know when that SW is finally going to call back. I don't know if we'll make it for the June 20 date or we'll have to wait another month to get to our baby girl, but I do know that when we get there, it's because HE orchestrated it and I have to believe that it will be perfect because of that. Thanks for reading and please join with us in prayer! 

<3 Jenn

What? I have a blog????

I haven't been blogging lately... partially because we've been busy and partially because I have nothing to tell. I could get on here and play the "whoa is me" card and tell you all how hard this waiting game is, but I doubt you'd wanna read it. So, I save that for my husband and my closest friends that have to love me no matter how much I whine... thanks, guys, you're the best! However, that's kinda what this post is, because I'm having a hard day, so just warning you before you continue on...

A lot has been happening in the Thailand adoption world, but unfortunately, not for us. Families that received referrals 3 months behind us have already received 1st approval and are moving forward with travel dates and we're still.just.waiting.... and yes, to be completely honest, IT SUCKS!!!!! Pardon me if that was offensive, but I could say more, I'm refraining. All we do know is that there is one particular government social worker that has worked for HSF in Thailand that isn't the most efficient (that's putting it VERY politely), and from what I understand, Holt has asked that she not be given any more of their cases, and supposedly she won't be... AFTER she finishes with our's. She "promised" we would be presented and approved for travel at the April 4 meeting, but HSF has not been able to get in touch with her since that meeting, so we know nothing. We had hoped we would know by today, because offices in Thailand are closed for a holiday Thursday and Friday, but I just heard from Holt and we still have no news. They will follow up next week, and so we wait.

Some of you may have heard about the earthquake in Indonesia, which has caused tsunami warnings to go out to all countries along the Indian Ocean. Obviously, I don't want to see destruction on anyone, regardless of the connection I have to them, but my baby girl is there. I know that my God has no limits and I know that He's protecting her just as much while she's in Thailand as He will when she's home, but my heart is still heavy. I want her in my arms, where I can see her with my own eyes and know she's safe. This is where FAITH comes in... We don't really know what it means to have faith and to trust in our Heavenly Father's provision until we find ourselves in situations like this where we are completely and utterly helpless, but it's when are weak that His strength is made perfect. I'm praying this scripture over my life today...

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9