approved!

I just got our approval today from the Ontario Ministry!

We're so so SO excited! Can't believe they took the full 10 weeks, minus 1 day, to get it all sorted. But that's okay. I'm feeling very at peace with this adoption. I know the Lord did great things when He gave us Lilah, she was so meant to be part of our family. And I know if things had finished a week earlier or a day earlier, we might never have seen her beautiful face. So I know the Lord is in control and I have faith that He will lead us to the child that is meant for our family.

So now our documents for the dossier have to be translated and notarized before they are sent to China. Our agency already has them all in their hands, so we are just waiting - the timeframe is approximately one month. Then the dossier will be sent to China and we'll get a LID (log in date). At that stage we're ready to be matched with a referral! The lady in charge of the waiting children program has said the matching can take anywhere from 1-5 months.

Every step forward, is closer to our little one!

homestudy revision

We had a little glitch in our paperwork, the Ministry requested that our homestudy be revised to add in a few extra details that wouldn't normally be requested.

So it's been revised, we've signed it again and it's on it's way back to the Ontario Ministry today.

I feel so at peace with this adoption. Sure, like any mother, I want my new little one home as soon as possible. But with this adoption I feel an inner peace that I never really felt last time. Maybe it's because it's our second time and I feel more sure of the process or maybe it's because I have witnessed the eventual outcome of all this waiting and paperwork, a special child that was picked especially for us and our family. I know my Heavenly Father has already chosen a child for our family, and I know every glitch and every extra minute we wait is all in His perfect timing, to lead us to that child. How incredible.

I happened to read Psalm 43 last week, the day after I found out that the Ministry was requesting more information, and I knew the Lord was reminding me to hope in Him, because He is very much in control.

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Psalm 43

1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation:
O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off?
Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me;
let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy:
yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

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The psalmist says to those “cast down” and “disquieted” feelings, “Hope in God. He will come through again, as He has before.”

We see that at the end of the psalm none of the circumstances of the psalmist have changed - only his attitude, and what a difference that makes! “Not yet has the answer come. The darkness and the mystery are still there, but the shining way is seen; and again the soul is forbidden to despair and hope is encouraged in God.”

home study and paperwork - check!

We couldn't be more excited! After months and months of paperwork and social worker vists and running around, our Home Study is finished! We signed the final copy today and it's on it's way to Ontario Ministry, which will take an estimated 8-10 weeks for approval.

When we were driving out to the Adoption Practitioner's office, I got a lump in my throat. I was just thinking that this is the first big accomplished step to our baby girl.

O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1

On our drive home, I was saying how excited I was and Lilah announced from the back seat, "I'm so excited too Mama. I'm excited to be a big sister soon!"

psalm 139

by tilly claire on etsy

bring our children home

I came across this song today. These words moved me...

(speaking to the Lord Jesus)
You will finish what You started
And Your plans for us are good
Help us cling to what You promised
You are faithful, You are sure to...

(chorus)
Bring our children home
Bring our children home
We sing Abba, Father You are able
To bring our children home

By Cindy Foote
[ listen to the whole song here ]

...a tree of life

It's been exactly four years since we started the paper trail that led us to our daughter, Lilah Grace.

What an amazing road our Father has been leading us on. He has taught us so much and blessed us more than we even imagined possible. It has been beyond incredible to parent our beautiful daughter, who was chosen especially for our family.

Well, the Lord has spoken to our hearts and we are thrilled that He has shown us His perfect will - we are adopting again, from China. We couldn't be more excited! Although, if I'm perfectly honest, I do feel humbled and unworthy of His request.

Our hearts are already growing and expanding with the love we feel for this new little one, our child. A child that is more than likely already born. Already God knows and cares for this little one, isn't that incredible? I find it both amazing and staggering.

This verse stands out to me, as we move forward in this adoption process: And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

We can't wait to share our love with our newest little bundle. We are so excited!