8 Weeks Later....

... and still waiting on a single, simple, yet ever-so-important signature!!!  I think I'm going to lose it.  Mmmmm.... No, I already have.

We accepted our referral of Eli on July 26th.  Since that time, we've been chomping at the bit, checking email a million times a day, and constantly checking in with our agency, to see if "the signature" has come in yet. Ugh.  Apparently one particular orphanage director (where Eli was before coming into the care of our agency) has decided that it's really not a big deal to sign or not to sign any documents right now.  We already know that time is of no essence to most Africans, but apparently this guy also likes to take advantage of having some control... and so it is that Eli, and other sweet littles, sit in our agency's care center for even longer than necessary. So. Frustrating.

I am in constant prayer over these circumstances.  Every morning I wake up with a prayer as I once again check my email.  I fall asleep as I pray (oops!), and I pray on the treadmill.  I am in His Word every day and I'm faithfully reading my special devotional.  One of my sweet Kindergarten moms prays for this every morning on her way home after dropping off her daughter at school.  And I have a handful of incredibly faithful prayer warrior sisters that have been lifting this up too.

So why are we still waiting?? Why is ELI still waiting???  Can you tell that there's a part of me that's feeling not just frustrated but also very helpless?

But so it is -- and I can't change the circumstances right now -- and this is just the way it goes with international adoption.  So NOT in our timing nor the way we'd like the process to go.

I'm reading a book called The Circle Makers.  It's a great book about prayer circles; a quick and easy read.  But one thing that has stood out to me this week, probably because of my slump, is that the author reminds us that prayer is not just to ASK for something, but it's also to PRAISE.

And so, this week I have been very intentional in my PRAISE prayers...

He has put the most amazing friends in my life:

* My super supportive and thoughtful friend Amber wore our adoption t-shirt for her roller blade marathon last weekend! I LOVED getting her text picture last Saturday. :)  And every day she seems to find a few minutes in her day to send me encouraging, sweet text messages just to remind me that she's "tuned in"and cheering for Eli!

* Karen, who keeps me LAUGHING, running, praying, and laughing some more! :)

* My best homie, Esther -- she just gets it and gets me.

* Jenny, Katie, Lisa, Leah, and Steph -- who like to "check in" and get updates.  Even if there's nothing new.

* And many friends far away that I can feel are thinking of and praying for little Eli and this crazy road of adoption.

He has given me the most amazing family:

* Johnathan and Tenleigh are HEALTHY and HAPPY and their first weeks of school are going great!!

* Ryan's weekly tradition of driving with the kids to the SA gas station down the road to get Icees.  Daddy has become Tenleigh's heartthrob for these special dates, as she has picked out just one special cologne that he must put on, just for Icee dates! :)  Seriously.  Melt my heart.

* I get to work with my mom every day! The most amazing teacher ever.

* Mom and Dad are just minutes away!

* My brother suggested the name Eli. :)  And he has the sweetest family!  I am so in love with my little nephews and couldn't be more thankful for my sister Anna.

* Ryan -- "Steady Eddie".  :)  Need I say more? I love him big.

I am seeing how He started carving our path to Eli years ago:

 --- but I think that's for another blog post.  That may be a long one. :)

Your name shall be...

Yesterday I saw your beautiful face again.  Our agency sent us another picture and milestone checklist. You are the most BEAUTIFUL brown baby I've EVER seen!! {And the only reason I need to add "brown" to this equation is because I've also seen the most beautiful white baby boy and white baby girl -- aka your brother and sister. :)}

I am over-flowing with gratitude that from your pictures you look healthy and loved and as though you're being taken care of! Your cheeks are full and your hair is growing in so much! In fact, the picture we received a few weeks ago... I wasn't quite sure it was YOU, so I hemmed and hawed for a full day -- comparing that picture to your referral pictures.... I even asked for some "expert advice" from my dear friend Karen from Liberia, and she LAUGHED and laughed at me!! Because your hair is getting so curly, and your lips are filling out! And she reminded me that this is what happens to African babies. :)  But you are absolutely precious and beautiful and I can't wait to hold you.

Tonight the house is quiet.  Daddy took Johnathan and Tenleigh to the pool to swim.  I love a quiet house!! But I do notice that the quiet makes my heart hurt more.  It forces me to slow down, and in so doing, my mind automatically thinks of you, sweet boy.  Sometimes it's really hard for me to stop the tears.  But it's also a really good time for me to Be Still and Pray.

Sweet boy, you have a name!! You have a beautiful Ethiopian given name, with very special meaning to us... but because Daddy has a hard time pronouncing it :), we're going to use your special Ethiopian name as a middle name.  Daddy and I narrowed down our choices to 2 names that we love, and we left the final decision up to your brother and sister. We thought that would be a special thing to do!  And it was! When we explained to them that THEY got to choose your name, Johnny had the sweetest, biggest smile. Tenleigh was ready to go right away and nodded her head, grabbed the pen from my hand and knew exactly what she was going to do.  She got down to business right away! :)  We love the name that Johnathan and Tenleigh have chosen for you:

The votes are in!! Johnny's vote is on the left, Tenleigh's is on the right. (Good thing they're the same!) :)

And so your name will be Eli A------- James Vick.  James is Daddy's middle name.  I love the meanings of each part of your name too.  Eli = "Lifted to God",  A------ (Ethiopian-given name) = "Our Hope",  and James = "servant heart" or "supplanter".  {I like "servant heart" better, so we'll go with that one :)}  Not sure if we'll use James or A------ first, so the order of your middle names may change.

But it feels SO GOOD to have a name for you! And we love the name! :)  And I think you most definitely look like an Eli.

Sweet Eli, we are praying for you all the time! And I know that others are too! Your auntie and uncle, Grandma and Grandpa, and very special friends.  We are hoping and praying that your signed contract would hurry up and get here from Ethiopia so that we can submit all of your paperwork to NBC (National Benefits Center) to be reviewed. The new PAIR process (Pre-adoptive Immigration Review) starts up Sept. 1st.  (TOMORROW!) I was SOOOO hoping we'd have our paperwork submitted and ready to be reviewed right away.  

Still in God's timing though.  Always has been, always will be.

Love you so much, sweet Eli.

XOXO,

Mommy