Sparrow

I'm sitting here perched next to my bedroom window for the second day in a row - working from home - with a view of our mailbox waiting on our mail carrier to perhaps bring this one sheet of paper I might be interested in seeing.

And this little sparrow flies by and lands on the window sill in front of me. She waits, looks around, sits for a while, and then flies off to our roof. I am brought back to a time not so long ago when I found myself spending day after day in this room (adding up to four months) while on strict bedrest with Ezra. The same thing happened - just once in four months. A sweet little bird and a sweet reminder of Luke 12:6-7 and Matthew 6:26.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I actually, for a hot minute a month ago, wanted to name our daughter Sparrow. (Don't worry, BJ quickly vetoed it.)  :) I just love knowing this - that while I can't be with our daughter - I don't know where she is or how she is, but God knows. His eye is on her, and he loves her so much. 

He is also the one who set this plan in our hearts to bring her home and into our family - and he will see it through. Delays to us, I know, are very likely the plans of God to make sure we find our way to the one precious little girl he has planned for us.

So today, I will thank God in all things. Even delays.

(Yes, that's crayon on our window - the artwork of our Ezra.)

It Didn't Come...

Okay, this will prove that I am in fact a total dork, but you know that scene in The Princess Bride where Carey Elwes (AKA The Man in Black) doesn't show up to stop the wedding... and afterwards the princess mutters down the hall in disbelief, "he didn't come."

Having that kind of moment. I had prayed that our 797, approved, but already a week late, would finally appear in our mail today. But it didn't.

I'm sad.  I'm frustrated.  And trying to muster up positivity from within myself - though I know right now it's only going to come by God's grace.

Approval!

We have our I-800 approval! It won't go out in the mail until Monday, which means we will end up in our mailbox likely on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. This is about a week later than I had expected, but at least it's coming. So thankful that we at least had no mistakes or anything missing that would cause more delays!

We have been in the process now for over 8 months... with likely a year (or more) to go. Please pray for endurance for us! And, as always, for our little one that continues to wait.

Pity party of one

Well, we have an officer, which for most means a quick, 2-day approval. We've been waiting two days and our case hasn't even been looked at yet.

Not. even. started.

We've waited almost 60 days for this approval, which I haven't minded because it's expected. But even this teeny tiny two day delay makes me want to cry. Feeling like it's our home study all over again.

Deep breaths, Jess. Get it together woman! There are bigger. things. than. this.

I can't imagine those who have huge, significant delays AND are matched. Praying praying praying that we endure our delays all BEFORE the match, and none after. Wouldn't that be wishful thinking? :)

Oh well, all in God's perfect timing. He's still in control, still clearing the planned path to the child he has meant for us (and us for her). Isn't that cool?! :)

We have an officer!

After 56 days of waiting, we have a USCIS officer assigned to our case! That's great news and means we should (unless anything goes wrong with our paperwork), have our approval within the next week!

It always feels so surreal in the midst of these long waits, like you just had a dream that you are adopting and it's not actually happening. Thankfully, this particular wait has been predictable and not all too stressful. Just going about life as usual (including Canaan's first day of preschool yesterday. Whaaaattt???)!