While you are waiting...

We have been furiously working to get as much as possible done with the dossier as quickly as possible so that once our 171-H comes in (after our approved home study) we will turn it all in and be ready to go! It's all very exciting and a little overwhelming!

My first task to jump head-first into was--of course---the photo books. These are books that will be sent to the orphanage where our child/children live(s). One, our child keeps, and has read to him/her daily; And the other? The orphanage keeps. This allows the caretakers to be confident that the families adopting these children are full of love and will protect and guide these children through life. 

And I think? These are great ideas!

But putting these books together has been interesting, to say the least. Mainly because there are SO! MANY! required! pages! in these pre-made! books! 20 pages (to be exact) with 3-4 pictures on each page became a little overwhelming, especially with the "only 1 page for extended family" rule. After adding Christmas, All About Mommy/All About Daddy, and baby pictures, I still lacked two pages! GOOD GRIEF! The solution? As directed by The Husband. Was to put pictures of where we live, the zoo, the river, etc...I don't even know if that's what they wanted....but they said "Be creative"...and so, creatively, I decided to take the easy route! (Mind you, I am still trying to create a scrapbook/Life book for our child to have once he/she is home. It's a standard in the adoption world..and not a place where I will cut any corners!)

So, while I was putting these photo books together. 

And while I was getting uncomfortable calling myself Mommy page after page. 

And while I was trying to fill (said) pages with the things that would most matter.

I found this poem. 

This poem that touched my heart and and calmed my spirit. A reminder that as much as I love these children. And as much as I want to protect and keep them safe, that God wants that even more. And that I should always take the time to recognize what an honor it is to pursue this child and get even a small glimpse of the way God feels as He fervently pursues our hearts. And I remembered that I am not the only one pursuing this child. That I am not the only one wanting to comfort and protect and love on him/her. 

That God is right there. Loving on His child. My Child. 

And that revelation? 

would still any heart!

May you be safe while you're waiting...

 

May you be safe and sleeping soundly through the night

May you be safe as you wake to the morning's light

May you feel our love from so far away

May it comfort and protect you throughout each day

We will pray for you, our little one

Until our time of waiting is done

We will pray that the Lord keep you safe from harm

Until the child in our hearts, becomes the child in our arms