It's been a while since I've updated this blog, but that is because there hasn't been much to update about. We have entered "the wait" where we've dotted all of our Is and crossed all of our Ts and all we can do is wait.
In the April we submitted the final pieces of our dossier to our placing agency. It was later mailed of to the Dominican Republic for translation and in early June we were informed it was officially submitted to CONANI (the DR's government entity in charge of adoptions). From there, CONANI reviews our dossier before we hear if we are approved. We were originally told this would take 4-6 weeks, but due to political reasons beyond our control we are now told it will be more like 2-3 months.
Well, here we are two and a half months in from officially submitting the dossier and we continue to wait. This is hard for me. I am a doer and like to check things off of a list, but right now there is nothing more for me to check off.
As I wait, life goes on. I don't want to lose sight of the here and now and the many blessings God has given me and my family. But, I also continue to dream. I dream of my future children and what they look like, what their names are, what life will be like when we move to the DR for 4-6 months (or more), what life will be like when we come home as a bigger family, and so much more.
Beyond the approval, we've also been told it could be up to two years before we are match or it would be a few weeks. Somewhere between soon and not so soon, we'll meet our kiddos we've been praying for for so long. I've joked that this is worse than waiting for the cable guy to show up. A dear friend of mine said the other day it's like being pregnant with no due date.
The wait is enough to drive one insane. Trust me, I've gotten close. But then I remember this will all happen in His timing and His plan is so much more prefect than my own. That is what keeps me sane. So, when I'm feeling particularly anxious about the wait I've learned to turn to God to get me through. These are a few of the verses that have helped me in this wait:
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
~Psalm 10:14
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
~Isaiah 46:4
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:6-7
The wait may be hard, but I am so grateful we don't have to go through it on our own...
