Indeed, there is no news in regards to our case. We continue to wait for our official referral and travel approval to visit our baby girl.
When I read those words, no news, I instantly felt peace.
I was not expecting to feel peace. I was expecting to feel angry, frustrated, and irritated. The emotions of adoption are like a merry-go-round. They change as you go around and around.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus -Philippians 4:7
Peace. Calm. Relief. I felt all of these as I read the email from our agency.
And I felt guilty.
Guilty that no news was a relief. How is that possible? How was this static information bringing me peace?
I think it is because I need a few moments off the ledge. WE need to be off the ledge for a bit. I need to experience a few days where I am not jumping sky high every time the phone rings. We need to be fully (or at least mostly, lets be honest) engaged in conversations, events, and well- life. I need to put my phone down and stop refreshing my email 5,394 times a day hoping for an update. Especially when our agency will call not email.
This wait. Is hard. We are at the mercy of someone else. Surrendered. Paralyzed? Yes. And sometimes, I don't like it.
As we've endured this wait, I have been privileged to take part in an adoption group for Bulgaria. There has been a lot of movement with cases. A lot. While this is promising, it can be heartbreaking when it is not your case. You feel a split emotion of "YAY and BOO" at the same exact time. Yesterday, someone took the time to recognize those of us that have not experienced movement. In short:
For those of you waiting, please don't be discouraged. Hang in there...and don't waste the wait.
Don't waste the wait.
Oh. OHHHHHHH.
There is purpose in our waiting. We knew this before, but this statement- THIS statement was like the Gibb's head-smacking thing on NCIS.
Duh.
The wait has allowed us to reflect and cherish our adoption process with AJ. It has reminded us that much more of what a miracle he is.
The wait has allowed me to tear up when I look at pictures of our process thus far. It has allowed me to tear up when I hear the phrase "sin on a plate" and see chocolate cupcakes. It reminds me of the friends who baked up a storm for our bake sale.
The wait makes me tear up remembering the enormous amount of donations we received for our first (yes, I said first-that's some foreshadowing for you) rummage and our auction fundraiser . The generosity and split-second "we want to help" makes me choke up. Every.single.time.
The wait reminds us to trust God and remember that we are not going at this alone. His plan is far bigger than ours and we don't need to understand all of it. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And yes, I realize this is a cliche. And sometimes NO, I don't want to hear it. But we know in our hearts, this is exactly where we are supposed to be.
The wait is giving us time to navigate the additional paperwork, fees, and other costs that have entered our adoption process.
The wait allowed Jeremy to have a much needed shoulder surgery.
The wait is making me squeeze AJ harder and give him Mama smooches more often.
The wait is allowing us to prepare for AJ's upcoming surgery and attack some relatively new needs and issues in relation to his disabilities.
The wait has allowed us to witness family and friends celebrating our baby girl's birthday without ever laying eyes on her. That's love people.
The wait has made me appreciate the friends who have written, printed, and signed 3,239 reference letters for us as we plug away applying for grants. Your time and efforts are precious and yes, it makes me cry. Every.single.time.
The wait has brought texts and Facebook messages from friends who remember "Wednesdays" were days to hold our breath hoping for news on our case.
The wait has brought emails and phone calls saying, "I was just thinking about Mimi".
The wait has enabled this little girl to have a massive wardrobe thanks to the generosity of people wanting to help.
The wait has allowed us to build stronger friendships.
The wait has given us time to learn so much about AJ and given him time to communicate to us that he knows what is going on. He knows he has a sister. He knows.
The wait allowed me to finish my Bachelor's degree.
The wait allowed Jeremy to take a much needed break from his NP program and secure clinicals for the next semester. A.blessing.
The wait has allowed us to help a friend in need.
What am I saying? The wait hasn't been all that bad friends. I don't want to waste the wait. I don't want to sit on a ball on the couch bawling my eyes out every day because my baby girl isn't home. Some days I'd like to. But I don't want the wait to paralyze us either. We are trusting that she is happy, loved, and being well cared for.
The wait has allowed me to tear up when I look at pictures of our process thus far. It has allowed me to tear up when I hear the phrase "sin on a plate" and see chocolate cupcakes. It reminds me of the friends who baked up a storm for our bake sale.
The wait makes me tear up remembering the enormous amount of donations we received for our first (yes, I said first-that's some foreshadowing for you) rummage and our auction fundraiser . The generosity and split-second "we want to help" makes me choke up. Every.single.time.
The wait reminds us to trust God and remember that we are not going at this alone. His plan is far bigger than ours and we don't need to understand all of it. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And yes, I realize this is a cliche. And sometimes NO, I don't want to hear it. But we know in our hearts, this is exactly where we are supposed to be.
The wait is giving us time to navigate the additional paperwork, fees, and other costs that have entered our adoption process.
The wait allowed Jeremy to have a much needed shoulder surgery.
The wait is making me squeeze AJ harder and give him Mama smooches more often.
The wait has allowed us to witness family and friends celebrating our baby girl's birthday without ever laying eyes on her. That's love people.
The wait has made me appreciate the friends who have written, printed, and signed 3,239 reference letters for us as we plug away applying for grants. Your time and efforts are precious and yes, it makes me cry. Every.single.time.
The wait has brought texts and Facebook messages from friends who remember "Wednesdays" were days to hold our breath hoping for news on our case.
The wait has brought emails and phone calls saying, "I was just thinking about Mimi".
The wait has enabled this little girl to have a massive wardrobe thanks to the generosity of people wanting to help.
The wait has allowed us to build stronger friendships.
The wait has given us time to learn so much about AJ and given him time to communicate to us that he knows what is going on. He knows he has a sister. He knows.
The wait allowed me to finish my Bachelor's degree.
The wait allowed Jeremy to take a much needed break from his NP program and secure clinicals for the next semester. A.blessing.
The wait has allowed us to help a friend in need.
What am I saying? The wait hasn't been all that bad friends. I don't want to waste the wait. I don't want to sit on a ball on the couch bawling my eyes out every day because my baby girl isn't home. Some days I'd like to. But I don't want the wait to paralyze us either. We are trusting that she is happy, loved, and being well cared for.
This wait is making the moment we get to hold her in our arms even sweeter.
None of this is any comparison to our forever with her.
