Very soon I will write a proper post about 2013's blessings, since 2014 is right around the corner! But for now I am leaving just a tiny little update on where things are at with our process.
Embassy in Ethiopia conducted a special interview with a key person involved in Eli's case. It was originally scheduled to be on Dec. 11, but due to a very strange circumstance, it didn't end up happening and we were re-scheduled to Dec. 18th. Things went very well that day! :) Yay! I tell you what -- talk about holding your breath! I emailed our case worker that morning just to tell her that my heart was pounding. {You know -- so she wouldn't forget to let us know how the interview went! ;)} But praise God that it went well the 2nd time!
We are now waiting on one more piece of completion for the orphan investigation, and I am PRAYING that we hear good news tomorrow from Ethiopia that we've cleared!!
So then what?
Well -- our case will be submitted back to the US for a final processing, which will likely take about 4-5 weeks. Once we are cleared with that, then we will be submitted to Ethiopia again for a court date! We are hoping that our court date will be Feb./ March.
I can feel that things are closing in and we're getting so much closer to bringing home sweet Eli! But with each step in the process, I am still so anxious. My head and heart are completely consumed with all things Eli or Ethiopia:
* Every morning on our way to school, Tenleigh asks, "what's Baby Eli doing right now Mom?"
* I constantly check the time to try to "guess" what he may be doing at the different hours of the day. Ethiopia is 9 hours ahead of our time.
* Eli's sweet face is burned in my memory. But lucky for me, we get monthly pictures from our agency as well as several pictures from other adoptive parents that are already over there and snapping pictures for us!
* The other night while running, I fixated on a van in the parking lot that I was facing. And I imagined it to be a van that we might see in Ethiopia, with a charming driver, taking us to the care center to meet Eli for the first time. I went through this scenario a million times in my head that evening, all the while staring at this navy blue van. But it sure made my run go faster and easier! ;)
* As part of our Christmas baking, Tenleigh and I made Spritz cookies in the shape of Africa! Spritz cookies!! Ha! ;) They were pretty hefty Spritz cookies! :)
* I think I've narrowed down the paint color for Eli's bedroom! And I picked up his bedding earlier this week from my friend Amber!
* I've started to make a to-do list of little things to do and prepare before Eli comes home.
Oh, this wait is gruesome. And yet I must remind myself how blessed I am. I hear such sad stories about other families' current adoption experiences and my heart just crumbles for them.
Tonight after I ran I came upon Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me…" I find such peace in knowing that God is concerned with everything that concerns me. I will rest in this promise tonight!
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