I'm Grounding Myself!!

O.K. This will be my last post for a while, because I am officially grounding myself from the internet until something signifigant happens. I have LOVED reading about the Leland's on their blog (there is a link to the left) who are in Ukraine right now, getting to know their son and daughter. I have gotten to the point where I am always checking my E-mail waiting on news and I'm tired of doing it! We did get word that Ukraine is expected to meet their quota on the number of dossiers they will accept for 2007 by October 31st. Our dossier is number 9 of 9 that Lifeline has in country right now waiting to submit. So-- Our's probably is not going to be submitted in 2007. (They can only submit a few at a time, and only on Monday afternoons). Ukraine will begin accepting new dossiers in January 2008. Don't worry, though- I am not really bummed out about it! It means we will hopefully get to travel in the Spring (which means no 24 degree weather to deal with) or in the Summer (which means no school to deal with). Todd is not so thrilled with the thought because of work, but God's got this thing under control. I am trusting Him.

Lifeline Family Reunion

The family went to Birmingham for the weekend to attend an annual Lifeline Family Reunion. It was a really neat day! There were so many children there from Ukraine. (I would post a picture, but as my luck goes, my camera reader on the computer is not working right now.) We got to meet Jacob, whose has just came home a few weeks ago. If you haven't read the Sims' story, be sure and click on the link below one day when you've got some time and read about them. They seemed to have horrible luck from day 1 with their adoption, but in the end they are home with little Jacob and he is GREAT!!! Emma followed him around everywhere he went. It was really sweet the way she was taking care of him. She didn't even mind too much that he bit the snot out of her- more than once!! We met two different families that had adopted a sibling group of three children. I sat by one of the families at lunch and talked to Alex (who is now 9) and Alena (who is now 6). They were adopted, along with their little brother, about two years ago. They had a book their Mom had made with pictures of them in the orphanage. It was a great way to share their story. What struck me the most about them was how different they looked now, compared to two years earlier. They were GREAT kids!! It was really encouraging to see all of the kids that are HOME from Ukraine. I have to admit that I am somewhat nervous about the length of time the trip to Ukraine is taking. When we started this, it was 3-5 weeks and it seems like now it is going to be at least 8 weeks. I just have to keep trusting God that He is in control of this adoption. Maybe He has a reason for us to stay in Ukraine that long. Maybe He is going to change the length of time in country before we go. Maybe it will all fall to pieces, just so He can be there to comfort me and reveal His glory to our family and those around us. Please pray that our assurance is not shaken. Please pray that Todd and I will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are exactly where we should be! It's a little ironic, Lifeline has asked me to speak at a meeting in Florence in October about how much we have trusted God throughout this adoption, and here lately- I can feel doubt all around me. I do NOT doubt that we are to add to our family through adoption, but should we be going to Ukraine to do that??? My new favorite verse is this:

He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. (Colossians somewhere)

He is before all things, that is where my trust must be. My trust cannot be in a particular circumstance, country, child, etc. I cannot trust that my family will travel to Ukraine and come home with a perfect child. I have to trust that God will bring His perfect child to our family, in His perfect timing, and that He is capable of keeping my heart in perfect peace until that happens.