Waiting and sewing

Just an update. NO news yet! But adoption agency director said she would share her acid relief tablets with me.
Made little G a book to send with a story I wrote. Adoption agency director flies this weekend. Also sent the cutest little doll made by carters.
I also am working on a project called a Buttercup bag. This is another free pattern by the same Talented person that made the Itty Bitty Baby dress that I made nine of back in May for little G. I ended up sharing a few since..... well it did seem like too many..... and they are just hanging in the closet. Thankfully Hannah loves them, they fit perfect- we all know how pretty little girls feel in a dress made just for them!

Cake and even more happy thoughts!

Just wanted to let you know we are waiting to hear good news from the Childrens Council. They met on Thursday and the lawyer in Ecuador spoke with the head of the council and she said things went "excellent". She said the whole council would meet Tuesday- tomorrow and we should hear good news. Now I am not quite sure if its good news about our agencies accreditation or the "stamp of approval" for us to travel. Just one or both would be great.
Our Church's Ecuador mission group comes home today. I cant wait to see and hear of thier wonderful stories. I cant wait to see Mama Yolis for myself when we travel. She was a beautiful peorson and touched many lives. My teenagers to name a few. I sent a few gifts to the Orphanage and hope they got to "little G" safe and sound.
Im turning 39 again today so Im off to enjoy life and looking forward to the cake my husband made yesterday. (Thank you Alton Brown for the wonderful recipe! "P" is an Alton fan.......)

Thinking happy thoughts

I have just completed a beautiful knitting project Called "Mary Mary"

and the beret called "tickle" for our precious "little G".

I also started "Blossom" which will be a matching red dress.

I am just praying she doesn't grow out of another size of clothing

before we get to bring out little princess home from Ecuador.

The patterns are in a book by Louisa Harding called "Bizu bizoo".

(Means "Kisses Kisses" in French.)

I would love to knit all little girl patterns in the book

I was so excited to see the sizes went from infant to 3T.

Since I know I will be a grandma one day-"Ya- ya" I hope.

I know the book will be one that will get much use.

SO far the directions are well written and I recommend it!

Although in the hat and the dress Ive started

I am choosing to knit in the round

instead of the way the pattern is written

to eliminate the need for sewing it up in the end.

Why if its not necessary??

No news on the adoption front.

I have been doing pretty well at remaining optimistic lately

and not so many tears.

God sent me a few special pick-me-ups

this afternoon as I was helping oldest daughter get to work.

A favorite song came on "Waiting"

I was doing my best at the Karaoke as I drove.......

and there was a billboard.

"Patiently wait on God"

( I felt like the movie Eagle Eye)

Only God speaking in a HUGE voice.

I didn't know that God was really just encouraging me

before the rug got pulled out from under us.

I found out a couple had withdrew from their adoption

because their paperwork process was being difficult in Ecuador

and their agency is also having trouble getting their Hague accreditation renewal....

like our agency.

I am not sure why they decided to withdraw

when its only been 3 months since they have received their referral.

It doesn't really mean anything for us..... just FELT bad.

(this is the second family that I know of that has done this)

Then right before bed I checked my e-mail again.

(note to self: "Do not, repeat, Do Not check e-mail before bed!")

The only agency in Canada doing adoptions in Ecuador filed bankruptcy.

From what I understand this means these families have lost their money

and potential children no matter where they are in the process.

I will be making sure about the details.

Again, this means nothing for our adoption.

But it FEELS horrible.

How are we any better than they are?

I keep trusting that God has not shut the door

and we do keep taking baby steps forward.

We keep developing the character

that is what we need as an "end result"

to prepare us for eternity.

Thinking happy thoughts.

One foot in front of the other.

That is all this life is about.......

(this post was edited on March 7,2012 to add photos we had

but legally werent allowed to share)

This post has been "most visited on my blog" and I felt like adding photos

might add interest to those visiting years later.

Under His wings,

Anna

Adoption update

Lets just start this off by saying, " Yes, we are still waiting."
(I really do need to have a button made to wear when I am out)


New news for today is hopeful. My adoption agency said she recieved our daughters paperwork and is having it translated. Once that is done we can work on the last huge form sent to the USCIS (U.S. customs and Immigration services) I did call that office today to ask questions about the two forms that I need to work on and thankfully they are very efficient and she helped me immensly. So that started the day off on a good note.



Our adoption agency has recieved "little G's" papers from the lawyer in Ecuador and is sending them to be officially translated. (The translator was very moved by our adoption so I was told)Once she gets the translations we will have a phone conversation to get the rest of the last big form with the USCIS done. (I-800) That will go in the mail and once that is processed we are ready on this end to travel. I am not sure what the hold up is on the Ecuador end for our approval but until we get this done I suppose it doesnt matter. I had thought that we needed the approval to get "little G's " papers. So today I am feeling happy knowing we are taking one more little baby step closer to bringing her home!So maybe about the time we get everything together on our end they will have our approval as well! We also will hear from Show Hope about our adoption grant application and if thats Gods will we may get a grant to help pay for our travel expenses. the whole process has been beyond my wildest imagination. I have always known how BIG God is. But knowing things and living it out is so different.

Heres a sweet poem someone listed on our Adoption group. I dont know the name of the author, sorry. It is applicable for so many other places we may find ourselves waiting on God for an answer. I hope it touches someone else like it has me:

Desperately, helplessly, longingly I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate....
and the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" My indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened?
Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked,
and Im claiming your Word."

My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'No', to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believed,
We need to but ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, Ive been asking, and this is my cry;
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again. "Wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and I grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...... for what?"

He seemed then to kneel,
and His eyes met mine...
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
I could give you all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldnt know me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair,
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in me.
when darkness and silence are all you can see.
You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
but you'd not know the depth of the beat of my heart.

The glow of my comfort late into the night
the faith that I give you when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
from an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.
So,
Be silent my child.
and in time you will see,
that the greatest of gifts,
is to truly know me.

Though oft my answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, "Wait."