With God all things are possible

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. 

Listen to the don'ts. 

Listen to the shouldn'ts, 

the impossibles, the won'ts. 

Listen to the never haves, 

then listen close to me... 

Anything can happen, child. 

Anything can be.”  by Shel Silverstein

 

Come to find out, we can work on Steps 1, 2 and 3 concurrently!  Yea!  We hope to send in most of the dossier to begin translation this week!

 

The Little Reveal

I got permission today to add an enhanced photo:

It's been "watercolored" the easy way, with software. Isn't he handsome? 

He is also very friendly, social, hard working, polite and active.  We think he'll fit right in.

Could it be?

Well, today I went from being very frustrated to encouraged.  We found out that the orphanage wants to see our Home Study File.  Unfortunately, we don't have our Home Study.  But then we found out that our Home Study has actually been reviewed and only needs one minor change.  Hopefully by the end of the week, we will have the approval letter and the home study in our possession  and be on to the next steps!  Immigration paperwork is next and can take 2-6 weeks and then we can submit the Dossier (like a Home Study for Colombia, with more information) which can take 3 months.  Wow.  It seems like it has been so long so far that it almost feels like we are a hibernating bear, waking up from a long winter's nap, ready to get moving again.  

So thankful....

We found out this past week that we qualified for a $5000 Family Subsidy grant from Wide Horizons!  Woohoo!  Even though it won't help now, the amount will be applied to the third payment of $11, 750.  Now, we are just waiting for approval on our Illinois Home Study.  This is a lesson in patience and we are just trying to do or learn whatever we need to while we wait.  Nothing proceeds until we are approved, even though both of the next steps are mostly completed and ready for us to "hit the ground running" when we do get approval.  The worst part is knowing that there is a small chance that we will not be approved.  However, as Jeff reminds us, God is the one who really does all approving.  He is the one in control.  He is the one with perfect timing and the best plan for us.  Please pray for patience for us.

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
    and patience is better than pride.  Ecclesiastes 7:8