The roller coaster ride has begun

We have been formally accepted into the Ethiopian adoption program by our agency!!!! Our application was submitted on August 18th and approved on August 19th. We had our orientation call with our adoption coordinator on the 26th. This is going to be a long road. We reviewed all of the steps we have to go through for the adoption, and there are MANY, but I'm going to break it down and focus on step one. Turn in the contracts. We have 90 days from the date of application to turn in our signed and notarized contracts to AGCI along with our first payment. Now, for those of you who have been reading this blog, you know that this is what had me freaked out. I'm still concerned with how in the world we are going to be able to fund this, but the moment I clicked the send button on the application screen to submit our adoption application, I instantly felt some peace. I found a verse last week that has really helped.

Habakkuk 2:3 But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled! If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day.

I know that even though I don't see how right now, God says that His plan will surely take place. I rest and trust in that for now.

Thank you prayer warriors for the time spent praying for us. God is faithful. We have more peace than I thought we would with struggles listed here, and some that are not listed. Please continue to pray for us, that we would have wisdom and discernment as we go through this process. Please continue to pray for God to provide and for others to be sensitive to God's leading to help, either by prayer or other means.

-Amory

A Future Mother's note

So we have now found out a lot more about the adoption process. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit freaked out right now. I'm the kind of person (and I know you will all be SO suprised at this) who has to have everything planned out, and then have a plan to complete the plan. I'm beginning to see that my plans to plan are about to fly out the window. From what I've heard it'll probably stay that way for the next 20 years or so. So, for inquiring minds, this is what we have found out. We have completed the preapplication process and are approved to fill out the actual application. You know it's going to be a long road when you have to be approved to even fill out an application. We have to pick a homestudy agency (the people that will completely invade our privacy over the next few months) and then we'll be ready to turn in the application. Even just picking someone to do the homestudy is much more intensive than I thought it might be. After we turn in the application we have 90 days to turn in the contract, and then we start the homestudy process.
During our call with our adoption coordinator last week we covered costs. Now we've come to the root of what freaks me out. As you know, I'm a banker, I come by it honestly. Though, I'm sure my Dad thought the day would never come that I would freak over money when I had no concept of what it was in college and my complete lack of a clue was turning him gray. Our first payment is due with the contract. I've marked the last few years of my life by the lessons that God was teaching me. He spent a couple years on patience (which I just couldn't wait to stop learning about!) and then He moved on to rest in Him alone, followed quickly by His plans are unchanging , which was coupled with His plans are better than our own plans. Now it seems that God has moved on to He will provide for us and lean on Him all who are weary and heavy laden. That brings us to our prayer request. Please pray that God will provide the financial means for this adoption and the wisdom to make the right decisions along the way.
Thanks for all of your support. We've been amazed at how many people are being supportive of this.
-amory