Adoption Update... or lack of one.

Hey guys!

A few weeks ago I posted THIS regarding our adoption. At that time, we anticipated to hear something from the Ethiopian government within approximately 10 days.
Well, 10 days have come and gone.
Still no word.
Our agency (America World Adoption Agency) has been awesome about keeping us constantly informed on things that they are hearing. However, nothing official regarding the status of Ethiopian adoptions has been confirmed.
So we wait.
And we pray.

Our agency had an Ethiopian research paper (that was apparently discussed in the initial meetings) translated and they emailed it to us. It was a whopping 44 pages long and difficult to read because of translation.
However, I trudged through it and I am thankful I did. It really gave me great insight into what the Ethiopian officials are concerned about regarding International Adoptions.
I am praying for reform.
I am praying against complete closure.
I ask that you join me in praying on behalf of the true orphans of Ethiopia.

Also, I have been on the phone with both America World and our Home Study Agency (New Beginnings).
You see... a lot of our paperwork is beginning to expire and needs to be updated.
I want to be diligent about keeping stuff up to date, but I also want to be a good steward with our finances. Particularly since Ethiopian adoptions are "questionable" right now. So after many discussions with both agencies, we have decided to let certain documents expire and we will simply update them one more time when we are near a referral.

I am slowly beginning to gather the mounds of paperwork that we will need for our home study update. FYI, most people do not have to gather a bunch of stuff simply for an update, but since we have both switched jobs, health insurance, etc and had a new baby.... we have a lot to update.

Our home study is something we will update regardless of Ethiopia's adoption status.
Why?
Because we plan to adopt, and to do that from any country (U.S or international) we will have to have an updated home study.

Thank you guys for checking in on us and for praying for us!

I am so sorry that I have dropped the bomb with blogging.
I absolutely love to blog and to talk about our adoption.

However.

I. Am. Exhausted.

Chip is 4 months old. The first 2 months home, I felt like I was running on adrenaline because that was the only way to survive. I was "out of the game" because I was on maternity leave.
So I didn't have to stress about work or socializing or anything like that.
I just had to function in my household.

But now.
Chip is 4 months old and life is demanding us to pick up the pace.
To get back in the game!

And some days, I feel like I am running with people who have been training for a marathon.
I simply cannot keep up the pace!

I will get there. We are just adjusting still :)
It takes time I guess.

So with that being said... I am going to try try try to do a better job blogging and keeping you guys up to date on our adoption.
Our agency plans to send us an email on Thursday regardless of an official word from Ethiopia or not. We will hold loosely to timelines.
So please just continue to pray for the Ethiopian officials as they make huge decisions on behalf of millions of orphans in their country. Yes, "millions"
That research paper I was telling you about listed the specific number of orphans in ET last year. It was almost 4 million!! To give you a visual for that number.... in 2010, the population of the entire state of MISSISSIPPI was like 2 and 1/2 million.
So... yeah. A LOT of sweet babies!

Lee and I were writing some scriptures the other day and I came across this one:

"being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 1:6

We are learning to trust.