Day 214 - Applications mailed!

Praise the Lord - we've mailed three applications to adoption agencies! I checked our delivery confirmation slips late this afternoon. One had already arrived at the agency in Georgia, one was in the post office in Kansas, and one was in "transit" to Arizona!

Many of you have asked what our next step will be. From here, we wait to hear back from each agency. For example, according to one agency's website, it takes about one week to register us once our information is received. After that, we should receive an e-mail from them with instructions of how to proceed. We will have access to available situations they have and can request our profile be presented. For other adoption agencies, it can take up to 30 days to process our application.

It's hard to give a definite timeline for anything with adoption. There are so many unknowns. For me, the lack of control has been the biggest obstacle. Many of you who know me know I like control. There I said it. I like to know what's going on, I have my own method of doing things, and I want things to go like I plan. Well, adoption has taught me a lot about releasing my need to control. I'm not in control, the Lord is. He already has a precious baby chosen for us. Chosen by God. For us. Isn't that wonderful to think about?

As we enter into the next season of waiting, I have several specific prayer requests:

- Pray for those adoptive parents that have been waiting to be matched.

- Pray for our baby's birth parents. Pray for a sense of peace and assurance. Thank the Lord they have chosen life for their baby.

- Pray for the Lord to lead us to the right situation.

- Pray for us as we wait. Pray for continued patience and faithfulness.

Thank you very much for your words of encouragement!