Paper work, and more paper work...

I honestly have been feeling overwhelmed with all the paperwork that is required for this journey. I pretty much have been keeping track of all the orders, requests, appointments and figuring out the details to get everything notarized. In some ways I feel like I am back in college!! Parent training, book reports, physicals, blood work, money flying out of our account for all sorts of fees and postage. It is truly a test. A test to see if adopting this beautiful girl from China is worth all the stress, time and money. And EVERY time I even think that question: "Is all this worth it?" IT IS A RESOUNDING YES! Yes, it is worth it. I just wish it didn't take so long. Hours of studying and research and filling out questionnaires takes so long and crams my brain with so much information. I know there is still so much to learn and so much time to wait.....

Psalm 139:23-24
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

We pray every day for Joy that she would be protected by her foster parents and cared for until we can meet her and bring her home. We pray that her heart would already be captured by God's love and that she does not fear. 

It is so hard. Every day we take to get through this process I am afraid that is one more day she feels she will never have a forever family. She still does not know that we are working our tails off to get this paperwork done as fast as we can so that we can go to her. We are not exactly sure when the agency will tell her she has a family wanting to adopt her. I hope to be able to send her as much information about us as soon as we are allowed. The agency will most likely wait until we have our USCIS approval or even until our Dossier is sent to China and the official request to adopt Joy is approved. That is so far off! But it is all God's timing.

Pray for her, that in her heart, she knows deep down that her family is racing to her. That she will not age out (they age out of adoption eligibility at 14)  and be adrift without a family to protect and love her. That she will not feel alone. Pray that her disappointment, at being left in foster care for so long and seeing so many other kids get adopted because they are little, will be lifted from her and not scar her too deeply.

Pray for us as we continue through this process. We meet with our home study agent this Wednesday and it will take about 3 hours to get through all the information and questions. Pray that our agent can write up our home study quickly and accurately so it can be approved and sent with our I800A application to the USCIS for approval to adopt internationally! It seems like so many steps and doors to walk through, but we are trusting God. We will keep walking forward as long as the door keeps opening. 

Thank you to everyone who have been donating and praying so fervently! It is greatly appreciated! Each dollar is a huge help! We almost have enough for the $2000 fee for our home study this Wednesday. God is so good. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You are greatly appreciated!!