God is good!

Julia here. So, I'm a little behind in posting this photo of our amazing night with some of our friends who are also adopting from Africa. I found out a few days later I had the flu, so I think I have a bit of an excuse (and I profusely apologize if anyone else got sick - I definitely wouldn't have come if I thought the flu was on its way!)! Anyway, I think all these precious friends posted this at least a week ago, but I just have to include it on our blog as well.

When we began this journey to adopt, I think we had some vague knowledge of one or two of these families adopting. As we became more serious about pursuing international adoption, we were blown away to find out that so many of our college friends were on this same path! It had been years since we had really been in touch with these friends, but reading the words they had written on their blogs resonated deeply within me. These are true kindred spirits - they understand in a way no one else can what this road is really like. So to have an opportunity to sit around & catch up with them, meet their children, and get to talk about our children who we have yet to meet was thrilling! The McCuistons, Jacobs, Cheathams and Tidmores are incredible families and I am so thankful to have them in our lives. Seriously, I keep looking at this photo and thinking, "God, you are SO good!" He didn't have to give us so many friends with the same heart for adoption. He didn't have to surround us with people whose families will look like ours! But His grace covers us, and His love continues to be so evident. I have no idea what the future looks like, but I'm pretty sure I will be depending on these friends for moral support in the days to come. I can't wait to see what this photo looks like in a year!

On a totally unrelated note, we are going on day 2 of being home for a snow day! And we just found out school has been called off tomorrow - I sure hope we survive so much togetherness :). But I have been more thankful than ever for a warm house and plenty of food to eat! The snow has kept us out of school, but much worse than that, it has kept us from being able to finalize our home study. We are waiting on a document from one of our doctors, which is ready, but which I am unable to get out to pick up...yet another frustrating delay in this long process! Hopefully next week we can get all the details covered & be able to send off our I-600A (our government approval form). S-L-O-W seems to be the most descriptive word for our paper pregnancy! I'm really trying to see this as an opportunity to be taught by the Lord, to not waste a moment - and I know I have a lot to learn. But we're coming baby girl! We think of her & pray for her often. She is constantly on our minds - every bit as much a part of our family as if she were growing in my tummy like her sisters did. It will just take a little longer to see her sweet face. But faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see. And we have faith - in Jesus, and in His good plan for our family!