Hurry up and wait

We are so ready to be back in Ukraine, with our beautiful 9 year old daughter to our side, dressed in our church clothes, having no idea what a Ukrainian Judge is saying other than a gavel falling and our daughter legally ours. We feel the consistent cycle that most adoptive families feel when the process slows the passion. We know we are getting closer but it still does not speed the process up any. Our prayer is that I get an email in the next few hours that will tell us when our court date is and we can go ahead and book our flights to reunite with our daughter for the last time.

We have talked with M almost everyday, only missing her a few times. She can say her American name at ease now and is learning new phrases constantly. We have been praying so hard for her, that she will not forget our love or devotion to her, and that though we are thousands of miles away she is still a crucial part of our family. She has been excited at times in our conversations, we have shared our heartaches through tears, and we have encouraged each other with constant "Love you, Love you's!"

It has been such a struggle, fighting off the nay-sayers, those who are not supportive, and the critical. Truth is adoption doesn't make sense for those who can't see the bigger picture. That's why there are over a billion Christians who have been adopted into God's kingdom but 143 million orphans still left alone in the world. To most people adopting is nothing more than just buying a kid, so it is no surprise to face those people because they can't see the forest because of the tree. Yes adoption is non-conventional but so was our Lord, so my prayer is that those people will catch the vision of our adoption as a God sized calling not a families personal choice. We knew the risk that adoption would involve and have been encouraged amidst resistance that this is what God desires for us and gives us understanding why so many have been critical of us. The truth is that every dollar, every tear, every sacrifice, every mile, every sleepless night, every layover, every hurtful words behind our back will be well worth it when I see the face of our daughter filled with Love and not hopelessness. I am so thankful to have so many people in our lives who have constantly encouraged us, told us they have been praying for us, poured out the spirit of hope and inspiration to us. My prayer is that all of those people who are not bought into what GOD is doing through Adoption will either come to us and allow us to share the vision of what God is and has done, or they repent of their inward focused Christianity that only affects their schedule and not their lives.

Lord may you be the light into the darkness, may you be the hope in injustice, may you be the victor! Thank you so much for your prayers and support, this fight is not over so keep praying.