Can you even believe we've been on the Wait List for 13 months? Me neither, Friends. Me neither. When we started the process, I think the average wait time for a referral was something like 8 months. Now, my best guess is that it may be more like double that. But here's the thing - it's OK! Actually, it's more than OK - it's really GOOD! I'm not sad, I'm not upset, I'm not depressed... I'm really GOOD! The Lord has done so much in my life and heart this year that I wouldn't trade one second of it for a referral.
I mentioned a few months ago that David Platt's Radical had been pretty life-changing for us, and had we received our referral at 8 months, we would have completely missed out on what the Lord wanted to do in us through that study.
I think I also mentioned a couple of months ago that we'd been volunteering with an apartment ministry in our area. We have continued to do that and have been SO thankful that the Lord led us there. He has shown us that everyone's life is not as comfortable as our's and that He wants to use us to show others how much He loves them. I may have mentioned that we started out tutoring the kids, but starting in August, we'll actually be leading a Bible Study for the kids. It was an opportunity that just fell in our laps that we couldn't refuse. I have no idea what it will really look like, but I'm excited about teaching the kids about Jesus.
Another opportunity that just fell in our laps was the opportunity to do a backpack and school supply drive for the kids in the apartment community. We're hoping to collect at least 160 backpacks and school supplies so that every kid will have exactly what they need to start school. I've been a bit nervous that we might not get everything we need, but the Lord has continued to remind me that one way or another, He will provide.
I think I also mentioned a couple of months ago that some friends had challenged us to a Biggest Loser type competition - couple vs. couple. I may have also mentioned that we were going to try Couch to 5K. C25K went pretty well for a couple of weeks, but then I ended up with runner's knee (or something) and couldn't do anything for 2 weeks. After that we decided that walking would work just as well as running. And to be honest, I actually think it's working better. We did not win the competition for the month of June, but by the end of the month we'd found our groove and July has been a very successful month for us in terms of weight loss and just being active together. And a bonus is that we're spending about an hour of quality time together each night, which we weren't previously doing. We'll both try to "save" conversations for our walks so that 1) we have something to focus on other than just walking in silence; and 2) we end up talking about things that we didn't take the time to talk about before. I never thought it would improve our communication skills, but it has! So, in addition to learning how to become physically healthier, our marriage is becoming healthier as well. And let's just be honest, if our adoption had gone quicker and we were home with a baby now, we wouldn't be so focused on learning how to live healthier, we would be in survival mode! It's just one more thing for which to be thankful.
As for Ethiopia, there are a lot of specifics I can't really talk about on the blog. Things have happened this year that have slowed down the process (at least for now), but I think all of them have been done for the sake of protecting the children. And for that, I am so very thankful. I believe that the Lord is working in Ethiopia to allow adoptions to continue ethically and in a way that glorifies Him.
We have been so blessed this year to really see the Lord's Hand at work - in our lives, in the lives of those around us and in Ethiopia. And I wouldn't trade it for the world! Happy 13 months waiting :-)
