Entering 4th Trimester

On February 14th, 2013, Adam and I received word from our adoption agency that we were officially approved to begin the adoption process for a little girl (or two) from Bulgaria.

This past Thursday marked nine months from that day.

Thursday seemed special to me, perhaps it is my overly sentimental self. Throughout the day I thought about the thrill of that February day, how excited we were to tell friends and family. It seemed to me similar to the way you would feel if you were announcing a pregnancy. However, nine months have come and gone and there is no little Waters. Some days it seems we are further away now than we were 9 months ago.

Oh, but how we have grown!

-In patience. It is, humanly speaking, much easier to wait for something when you know approximately how long you will have to wait. For example, I knew when we were engaged that my wedding would occur on December 18. While the waiting was difficult at times, I could always look forward to that day. This, however, is so different. They could tell you "about 1 and a half years" and 1.5 years later you could still be 1.5 years away...we just don't know. However, God DOES know.

-In faith. When we pray about our adoption, we do so knowing that there is NOTHING we can do. We have to trust so many people along the way. For example, we are currently waiting on UAB to send Adam's medical records to a local doctor's office. We have no control over how quickly these people move. BUT we serve a sovereign God who has power over all of these
"The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1 
It has grown my heart to pray about things that I previously thought were controlled by man. 

-In selflessness. "He has taken so much out of me that I didn't need." This is what a mom of two shared with me yesterday. She and her husband have been waiting for a little girl from Haiti for over two years. With basketball, Adam in school, fundraising, and paperwork, there has been little time for ME the last nine months. As an introvert, I definitely need some time alone, but even when I'm by myself, I am learning to serve, pray and focus outside of myself. 

It would be naive of me to act as though these nine months have been rainbows and butterflies, or to pretend that the next nine will be any different, but along the way I am learning to trust.

I am so grateful to all of you who keep asking, keep praying, keep supporting. I pray that your heart will grow as well--for orphans and ultimately for our Lord.