::dossier::

We are working through it.  It's kind of a lot of "hurry up and wait" stuff. 

We are getting there! 
Our biometrics appointment with the USCIS office is on February 1st, and we hope to have everything else completed by then if all the stuff we've sent in comes back in time (passports, state certification, etc.).

While I'm happy to get this dossier stuff on the way soon, I am a little discouraged with the Ethiopia timeline right now.  From what we understand, the wait time between dossier submission and referral is 13-14 months right now.  Then another 4 months or so until our first trip to Ethiopia for court, and then another 2 months or so before our second trip to bring our kids home.  This is a much longer process than it was a year ago in Ethiopia. 

Another 18 months--minimum!?!?!??  My heart is ALREADY aching for our kiddos!  All throughout our Christmas travels, I felt like part of our family was missing---not yet complete.  How can you miss children you do not know?  How can my heart well up with both sadness and excitement when I think about the little unknown faces that may join our family?
And yeah....you read that correctly. Children.  Faces. Even though our age limit is 2 and under, we are open to a sibling group/twins (either gender).  We realize that with an age limit like that coupled with the fact that our agency doesn't refer children together who are not biologically related, it is unlikely that we get a referral for two children, but that is what I am praying for. 

I'm also praying for this process to move a little faster.  I understand and respect the new and tighter regulations that Ethiopia is enforcing.  For heaven's sake, I'm GLAD they are researching and doing what they can to ensure that the children being adopted are truly orphaned or honestly voluntarily relinquished--not trafficked or relinquished as a result of coercion. 
That said, while I pray for patience in my own restless heart, I'm also praying for the process to move efficiently. 

Please pray for us as we finish up our dossier paperwork for submission.  Pray that we don't miss anything (a real request!  this stuff is confusing!), that everything is submitted and approved in a timely manner, and that we are done with our part in February. 

The Lord has graciously provided all that we need for each step of this adoption so far.  He has been faithful and I believe He will be faithful to provide the rest.  Pray that He will do so and that He will teach us to trust Him utterly. 
::::::
A little while ago I was writing our letter to the Ministry in Ethiopia telling them why we want to adopt.  I wrote words like this:
love
security
family
permanence
safety
faith
 
Gosh, I cannot TELL you how this pierces my heart.  Children languish in orphanages RIGHT NOW. 
Millions of children.  Millions of little bodies with little souls who need love, security, family (YOUR family!), permanence, safety, faith....JESUS. 

Oh, Jesus.

All the things You have given us--times a hundred billion. 
You are the Sustainer and Upholder of my life. 
Sustain and uphold the lives of these children.
Of our children. 

Godspeed this process.