New Understanding

Years ago before having children, I was a high school math teacher.  As a part of my job, I spent a lot of time talking with parents about their children. I listened empathetically to whatever challenges they were facing with their children and would offer my two cents as it pertained to their son or daughter's math/school struggles. I really thought I understood. Now that I have my own school aged children, I realize I was clueless. Even though I listened attentively, I didn't really get what they were facing as a parent without being a parent.

The same is true for our adoption experience. I didn't really know how hard it would be to wait for an adopted child to come home until I was the one waiting for my adopted daughter to come home! 

We've been pretty intentional about our choices with the boys. Whether it's movies, music, video games, books, outside influences, etc., we've paid careful attention to whether these things would draw the boys closer to God or pull them away. As their parents, it is our right to decide. Of course, we must  ultimately trust God, but we can do our best to protect and shepherd these treasured children given to us by God.  Can you imagine how hard it is to have our 10 year old daughter miles away in an orphanage and all we can do is pray for her safety? Occasionally, I have these crazy dreams where I move to the orphanage and temporarily live there so I can protect her until we bring her home. Oh how we long to have her here!!!

The lyrics from this Watermark song have been playing over and over in my head and this really encourages me:

Good For Me by Watermark
You bring life to my bones
And a spring to my step
And a heart that knows what it means
To wait before You
Laughter into my house
And a time to sing and shout
And a heart that knows what it means
To really trust You...
And when the shadow of sorrow comes
I will fall on the only One I know
Is the Rock that won't be shaken...

'Cause it is good for me
To lay it down at Your feet
It is good for me to lay the good and bad
In Your hand, my God...
It is good for me
To lay it down at Your feet
It is good for me
You are the constant One
When my life is overwhelmed
And You stay the same when all around is changing
And, oh, how good it is, yeah
Just to know the life You give
And my song shall ever be
That my God is faithful...
And when the shadow of sorrow comes
I will fall on the only One I know
Is the Rock that won't be shaken...
And when I delight myself in You
You give me the desires of my heart, 
When I confess that You know best
Peace flows like a rive and joy comes in the morning...

Daily, I'm reminded that I have to lay the timing of bringing her home down at my Father's feet. I can't control it in any way! (And I sure like to control things.) It is completely out of my hands and I have to trust that God knows best! It is hard. I'm not gonna lie.

And so an update on our process: We received our I600 approval in the mail today! Hooray! We are one step closer to sending our dossier to Ukraine. We were told that the approval time for dossiers is now taking up to seven weeks, instead of three. This is due to the increase in Ukrainian adoptions ever since Russia closed. The government offices also have an extended non-work period in July. SO, we still don't have a time frame for travel yet. August may be wishful thinking. It may be September, but my heart is trying to prepare for later so I'm pleasantly surprised instead of disappointed. 

We would love your continued prayers for Irina's safety and protection. Please pray for swiftness in paperwork approval and perseverance/trust as we wait.