Huge Prayer Request

I've mentioned before about the uncertainty that surrounds international adoptions, in particular the present Vietnam program. It's complicated, but I'll try to explain. Over the next few months the US & Vietnam will need to renew the agreement they have that allows Americans to adopt children from Vietnam. The current agreement, which was signed in 2005, states that the agreement must be renewed by March 1, 2008 in order for no interuptions to occur. So, this is the magic date! There is much speculation amongst those in the adoption community as to whether or not this will take place. I have had to stop reading the adoption listservs & simply trust that God is in control! A meeting was held a couple of weeks ago between US officials & adoption agency representatives, the overall feeling was positive & everyone was in agreement that adoptions from Vietnam must continue for the sake of the children there who need homes. Please pray that the necessary actions will be taken on the part of the Vietnamese government, so that the agreement can be renewed soon! We know that God cares for all of the children in the world & we must trust Him.

Woohoo!

We just got a call from Kate, our casemanager with All God's Children. Today our dossier was registered with the IAD in Vietnam. Currently, the wait time from registration at the IAD is 12-14 months. However, as I've mentioned previously, the adoption program with Vietnam is not very stable so this is subject to change drastically without any notice. Although this seems like a long wait, we are trusting that God is holding our daughter in His hands, & know that His timing for uniting us is perfect.

My Attitude

My attitude when I posted last was not great! I had just read about some issues that exist within the Vietnam adoption program. Over the past few days God keeps speaking to me & saying that He who began a good work...promises to complete what He has begun. Yes, He promises to complete the work He is doing in each of our lives & I believe that He is also going to complete our adoption journey. Although there are always uncertainties in anything we do, I must continue to trust Him!

A Whole New Feeling this Christmas

This Christmas seems so different! We've spent so much time over the past 6 months thinking about all the children in the world who go through each day without a forever family. All they want for Christmas is a family & we're trying to come up with a list for our boys of what they "need". We don't need anything! We have so much!!!! Wow what a different perspective than what the world is always telling us! All season long, I've struggled with this & then the director for the Vietnam program for our agency sent us the link to Stephen Curtis Chapman's new Christmas song, "All I Really Want". I thought...this is it...this song paints a beautiful picture of what I've been feeling! Being a part of this adoption experience has truly changes our lives already! With all the uncertainties that come along with an international adoption, there are many moments that I'm not even sure we will end up getting EG home. However, I know that God is working in our lives no matter what & that each & every step...no matter what the outcome...is a part of His plan! I'm so thankful for what we have learned so far, but I do pray that we will be able to bring our daughter home! Grab your kleenex & click on the link below to listen to this sweet song!
http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/radio/allireallywantframe.htm

Exciting News!

We just got a call from our casemanager who had wonderful news! She received our Authenticated Dossier back from the Vietnamese Consulate & is ready to ship it to Vietnam! Next it will be translated & registered with Vietnam's International Adoption Department (IAD). We should get word that it's registered in 2-3 weeks! Woohoo!

Giving Thanks

It's the week of Thanksgiving! At church today, as the children's choir led us in singing, "Blessed Be Your Name", I began to think of ways God has worked in my life to bring glory to Himself & to work things according to His will. Even when he seemed to "take away" He was still in control & working. When we experienced the loss of our 1st child & the subsequent loss of L's twin, it was so hard to remember that God was working things according to His purpose. I tried to be thankful, but it was so hard. If only I could have had a glimpse of what He was planning by not giving us our little girl. All along, he was planning to have us on this amazing journey of adoption. When we are facing stuggles & heart ache, we aren't always able to see what God is doing. We have to have faith & be thankful because we know He does have an awesome plan in the works!