Our bags are half packed

We have been busy getting the house ready for the girls these past weeks. I will try to post a new picture of the girl's room so you can see the changes. It is really taking shape. We have been buying some things, getting some donations from friends, and MaryEllen is even dusting off the old sewing machine for her girls. She really is very talented.

Our dossier part 2 reached Russia a week ago, and they had a few questions, but otherwise we have not heard anything. We are still hoping for a mid Feb. trip, but this too is in God's hands. We are praying for patience as we wait, and trying to stay busy with things until the time comes to go get our girls. Every so often, we find ourselves crying out because the thought of the girls not being with us is so painful. Adoption folks understand that.

This week we are visiting child care options, and hope to have our decision made in a week or so. We are praying for wisdom there too. We met a nice couple the other night who adopted 5 years ago, and their experience was so completely different than ours. The orphanage was dirty, the kids were dirty, and they felt like they were being taken advantage of. We are so blessed to be working with a good agency and a wonderful orphanage and director.

When at church yesterday, we notice a family in the crying room at the back of the church, and thought how perfect that will be for us. The girls can stay with us for a while, and we can still participate in the worship. Cool.

We are finishing up some home projects, cleaning the house real good, and enjoying these last few weekends alone. Being together is good, and having the girls will be a different kind of good. I am trying to finish a stained glass project I started in a class last fall, and hope to have it done before we leave. I figure time will be at a premium when the girls are here. I keep envisioning them sitting on my lap, with my arms around them. I can almost feel them now.

We were studying the Bible this week and ran across a concept that struck a cord with us. The concept is waiting on the Lord, in "God's waiting room". Have you been there? When we wait on the Lord we often feel alone, but in reality God is waiting with us. Sometimes our own selfish desires cause us to ignore God's presence, but He is there to comfort us none the less. The next time you find yourself in "God's waiting room" rest assure that God is waiting with you, ready to comfort you and provide all your needs.

Lastly, I want to thank again our network of support, from family to friends, who have been such an encouragement to us during this process. I will probably say this again, but we sure appreciate all you do and say.

Adoption Poem

Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own,
And don't forget for a
single minute,You didn't grow
under my heart but in it.
© Fleur Conkling Heylinger