The latest news: Our file still has not been sent to the inspector's office.
Yes, we were meant to have been done with this process by the end of February. And yes, we are now at March 7. Obviously, this government assigned cut-off date means nothing to our caseworker.
Speaking of Ms. Bowers, I had a visit with her last week at our house. Her supervisor had read through our homestudy and had a few questions, most of them redundant, one of them quite barbaric. Then she took another walk-through of our house, insulted my housekeeping skills a few times (hey, it's not my fault we're renters and aren't allowed to take down wall-paper or put in a new tub!), took a complete inventory of all of the baby items we now have, and left me with paperwork for our two babysitters to fill out for their CORI forms. Yesterday, Ms. Bowers called to check on the status of those forms and the fingerprinting that needs to get done for Lisa and Dana to be official babysitters. Apparently, our case is on hold until they get that done. Another obvious question: Why did you, Mizz Bowers, wait to give us these forms until now? You've had more than four months!
Sheesh.
So we're continuing to wait to get approved and licensed. And after that happens, we'll continue to wait for what they say will be at least a year for a baby to come available for us. It's the waiting game that I'm not very good at. I used to be an extremely patient person, not sure what happened to that, but I'm just not anymore. Perhaps this is God's way of forcing that trait back into me. At any rate, it's getting harder and harder to walk into the empty nursery and at some point after the inspection is through, I think we'll be moving my clothes out of that closet, putting sheets over everything in the room to keep it dust-free and closing the door for the duration of the wait.
Please continue to think of us and pray for us as the process is beginning to take it's toll. I keep reminding myself of our word for the year: HOPE.
And so, still with empty arms but hearts still filled with hope, we look forward to the future.
4 comments:
Oh, that's really frustrating. I'm so sorry. Red tape is infuriating. We'll be praying for patience and a quick conclusion to your waiting....
I'm sorry this is such a long stressful process for you guys! I'm praying for you and for Mizz Bowers
Love ya
I'm praying for you guys and that your hope and trust will remain focused on God and not only the frustration of the red tape and government process.
When everything happens in God's timing it is blessed beyond measure, so I pray that your child will come home in God's timing, and during the waiting process you will be refined and strengthened with the Joy of the Lord.
Becky & Mike,
I've been wanting to share this Beth Moore poem with you for sometime now, here it is. I hope that is is an encouragement to you along this journey. I can see that the waiting is hard and your hearts yearn for a little one - until then allow the Lord to use this time to prepare you in ways that only He can for what lies ahead. It is our human nature to think that we are "so ready" and yet God is all His wisdom & love for us does just what we need in the timing that we need. Be encouraged - you're little one is being prepared just as you two are.
The Adoption
I heard the front door open
My heart began to pound
I froze to see if it was them
Then I heard the sound
Of a tiny little four-year-old
Asking this strange man
"How come we gathered all my clothes?"
Did my husband have a plan?
Exactly how to tell the child
On this awaited day
"You've left the only house you've known
And now you're here to stay?"
And what am I to say to him,
"Hello my name is Mom"?
I was filled with insecurity
But my husband looked so calm
He diverted his attention
And didn't answer right away
He looked at me assuredly
"Let's just let him play."
After minutes just crept and crawled away
He patted his right knee.
"Can I talk to you a moment, Child?
Would you sit right here with me?"
He stopped what he was doing
And crawled up on his lap
He looked straight into my husband's face
And dropped his baseball cap.
"Michael, do you have a Dad?"
My heart jumped in my throat.
A sadness swept that precious face
"No," he said, "I don't."
"Michael, I've been thinking
Since the first I saw of you
We've got a common problem
Is there something we can do?"
"I've everything that I could want
Upon my list but one
It seems that you don't have a Dad
and I don't have a son."
"Watcha say we strike a deal
And seal it with a shake?
I've thought it over carefully
Now, the choice is yours to make."
I remember well the boy's words,
Feet swinging as he sat--
After all this time without a Dad,
"It happens just like that?"
The man gave him a gentle nod
The boy's grin grew wet
As if he thought, "What's there to lose?"
He blurted out, "You bet!"
His hand appeared so fragile
In my husband's callused palm
Keith whipered, "There's a bonus here.
That lady's now your mom!"
The handshake gave way to a hug
Tears came as no surprise
Transfixed, I watched my precious son
Be born before my eyes.
They ascended up our stairway
Suitcase tightly in his hand
My husband pointed to a door
And said, "Enter, little man."
Cautiously he took each step
Until he was inside
Bunk beds for boys, and lots of toys
Confused, his eyes grew wide.
"Whose stuff is this?" The boy inquired
Not knowing what to do
"Go ahead and touch it, Child!
It all belongs to you."
The birthday of our special son
Should not seem strange or new
For if you have been born again
You've been adopted too.
For God so loves the aching world
He pulls us, good and bad,
On to his lap and says to us,
"I want to be your Dad."
"You have no Heavenly Father
And you're not my son, it's true,
But there's room inside my family
A space made just for you.
"It's not a snap decision
It's the kind that takes the heart
But with a 'yes' all things are new
Want a second start?"
"You bet, Dear Lord, my mind's made up.
I've made my final choice
Yes, I'll be your brand new son!"
Let angels now rejoice!
"Partake, Joint Heir, your heritage...
I am your great Reward
Stick closely by my side, Dear Child
I'll guard you with my sword!"
Friend, are you wandering lost about,
An orphan of the soul,
Bleeding from your brokeness?
But One can make you whole.
Cease waiting 'til you're good enough
There's nothing you can do
God's business is adoption, Child,
And He has chosen you.
Forsake the earthly vanities
No treasure's left to own
That equals that sweet moment when
God says, "Child, welcome home."
by Beth Moore
from Things Pondered
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