Tuesday, June 30, 2009

2009 Families (and those before) Wait

Nepal has switched government leadership and as a result certain positions are yet to be filled. Because of this change, Nepal adoptions are rurmored to be "on hold" until a new Minister is appointed to the women, family, children agency. I've joined a yahoo email group and I anxiously come home each day looking for good news for these families. Some have been waiting a VERY long time because their paperwork was in-country prior to the program closing down adoptions, which makes one wonder if starting over to be a 2009 family is possible for them...or quicker. The wait seems to be excruciating....tensions are high...and people are saying things to each other that they probably would not normally say. I'm feeling overwelmed with saddness, because nothing can be done for these ladies...other than pray.

I'm not a patient person... I can't imagine what this will be like for our family once our dossier gets complete and mailed to Nepal. But I know this, I will be watching the calendar and marking days until we get the notice of a referral of baby Lauren. Joshua is going up quickly...and we long for them to be close in age....so we likely will request an 18- 24 month...but that won't keep us from calling her "baby Lauren"..... given we still call Joshua "baby doll"... "sugar"...and all other kinds of love names.

He is changing every day....and brings us great joy. I am so thankful that we have him.... it bursts from me. I'm leaving in 9 days for Kenya on a mission trip, so I feeling a lot of anxiety lately about being ready....gathering supplies, doing laundry...and loving Joshua deeply. With all this going on, I've been a bit more reflective and leaning into what God has in store for our family... and I know it is good. God's love is ever present in our lives and His provision is mighty ...as we embark on so many possible changes in the next 2 months.... one being my Kenya trip, the other being possibly buying a foreclosed property and moving... and more. We excitedly await to see if God has all these in mind for us....or if He has other plans.

As for Nepal, we wait alongside these families praying for them.... hoping for encouragement and good news soon. The children of Nepal are beautiful and are needing our care...... and they sit waiting too.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Father's Day 2009

What a great day today....watching Joshua and Brad wash the car - each spraying each other with the hose. The love they share is amazing. As I embark on a mission trip to Kenya in a few weeks, Joshua is drawing closer to mommy... so today, as I watch out the window at Brad and Joshua - I know he will be just fine while I'm gone.

We were commissioned at church today - two teams to Kenya. (small break)... I was just called outside by Brad for Joshua who was "crying"... yea, right... as I entered outside in the garage, I was met with a spray from the hose....by none other than Joshua! Now I'm even more convinced these two will be fine without me for 12 days. ... Anyway, our trip is July 9th and we're very excited. Joshua and Nanna came up to the alter to pray for me during the commissioning -- what a great sight to see him approach the alter at 3 1/2 years old. On the way home out of the blue he asked, "Mommy, why are you going to Kenya." I replied to share the love of Jesus with people around the world. Wow what a great kid. "Do I get to go with?".... "No, my son, not this trip"...."but you do get to go to Grandma and Pappa's"... and for that moment, he was happy and ok with me leaving. Pappa's is a very special place. We pray that Lauren will be home soon to be able to experience many trips to Grandma and Pappa's house.

Gotta go.... I've just been official invited to join outside in a game of "spray".... can't wait :)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

At church today the message was about community - and the people that impact others and those that impact us. In recent years of learning of other communities and hearing about others' mission trips - it's amazing how people in other countries rely so heavily on each other -- yet in America we're raised to be self-sufficient.

I think of baby Lauren - perhaps not yet born but in her mamma's womb - and wonder, is there a community for her? Is someone looking after her? The poverty is so prevalent. Yet it seems like provision comes in many sources for Nepali people. When I see the nannies and care givers I know these women are special people caring for all these orphans.

I also think of the adoption process and how important a community of families is now..and will be even more, when we're down the road a bit in the process. I can tell from reading blogs on Nepal, but also being in other email groups for China prospective parents... community is key to weathering this process. It's refreshing to see families celebrate for each other...even though they continue to wait themselves. This is truly what community is supposed to be... I hope I find those connections...and I hope I encourage others as they have encouraged me.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Hello! This is funny, me blogging (I am old-school...and not a techie at all!)-- well, it's really Brad helping me set up, and I'm typing my thoughts. :)

Entering this journey is surreal, while exciting, yet fearful...did I mention exciting? We are on the list for a 2010 adoption from Nepal. After several years on contemplating China and dealing with the long wait times, and new requirements in China, we've struggled to move forward on that adoption journey. Then earlier this year I found out about Nepal...and have been excited every since. We have already filled out the application at our agency (they will also do the home study), and we're on the 2010 list. We missed the 2009 list ...just barely...but those things we rely heavily on God for...and feel the timing of 2010 is part of His plan.

I am ever grateful for the Nepal adoption blogs I've been able to find -- I'm learning so much from all of you.... so I am so very thankful. I come home each day to pull up the blogs to see if anyone added a post. So... I'm inspired to begin blogging myself...although it's going to be a really long journey for us...since we're not gathering paperwork until fall... although that will be here before we know it. Meanwhile, we'll spend our days with our son Joshua (3 1/2) - who is a treat! He is anxiously awaiting a baby sister - but also has a lot of other things on his mind, like trains, and cars, and movies, and preschool, his friends, the playground, and swimming! It's going to be a great summer and fall.