The "news" I have to share with you is that we have submitted our paperwork to update our dossier file in Bulgaria. Adoption paperwork and authorizations have expiration dates and we were nearing some of those. It's now been one year since we were officially registered as waiting to be matched to adopt a little boy from Bulgaria! So we've successfully done the work, chased the paper, and paid the fees to get everything back to the same status that we already had. And now we continue to wait. Nothing really has changed.
And that's alright. We are told "averages" of how long it normally takes to be matched - also called when we "get a referral". That's the exciting day when we get a wonderful phone call about a certain little boy God has in mind for our family!! However, we know that God isn't all too concerned about averages or our plans, so we could get that unannounced phone call at any moment or one or more years from now. Or I suppose there's a small chance that God has something completely different in mind for us and the referral call from Bulgaria might not ever come.
And we really are OK with whenever this unfolds. That doesn't mean I am perfect at waiting; there is still plenty of work for God to continue doing in my heart regarding waiting and all the other parts of this adoption. However, the process to adopt Karina seemed to consume me at times. Maybe I felt the urgency of the unknown ban that was to come and abruptly stop all adoptions from Russia to Americans; but I'm pretty sure it was mostly just my impatience. We went into this Bulgarian adoption process knowing there would most likely be a pretty long wait. Thankfully, God has presented us with many wonderful things to do in the meantime. Most of the time I do not feel like we are waiting on this adoption process to move along - we are simply living the life God is leading us on and anticipating His next step for us. Maybe since the last adoption process, I've just learned better to live with the expectation that He has wonderful new adventures for us around each bend. Seeing the face of our son on whatever day that awesome phone call and email arrives will be just another of those surprises He blesses us with. And it will come in His perfect timing and unfold in a more awesome, exciting way than I could ever dream. And then there will be more new adventures to begin. But meanwhile we are busy enjoying the other journeys He has us on as well.
That's the extent of the update for now. I figured I should maybe put a few words to explain where we are more than the "Nothing new. Still waiting" I usually respond with when asked how the process is going. But that really pretty much sums it up :)
We are thankful to be on this journey and excited about the thought of a little boy to love. Praying that he is already loved, well cared for, and valued by those taking care of him. And knowing that he is fully loved by the Father who perfectly formed him, knows him by name, and hears every longing of his precious little heart.
That's the extent of the update for now. I figured I should maybe put a few words to explain where we are more than the "Nothing new. Still waiting" I usually respond with when asked how the process is going. But that really pretty much sums it up :)
We are thankful to be on this journey and excited about the thought of a little boy to love. Praying that he is already loved, well cared for, and valued by those taking care of him. And knowing that he is fully loved by the Father who perfectly formed him, knows him by name, and hears every longing of his precious little heart.
