We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:9.  When we began our adoption process at the end of 2009, we certainly thought we’d have our daughter home by now.  We are becoming a little weary of the waiting and uncertainty.  Our journey is proving to be a much longer road that we expected at the outset; however, we are confident and convinced that this is what God has asked of our family, and we are committed to see it through.

Over the past two months, we’ve moved up (or down as it were) a few spots to number 25 in the queue as families in front of us are being matched with orphans.  That’s good news!  The kids have been plucking links off our paperchain (which is now looking a little crumpled and faded…the colors of the Ethiopian flag are green, light beige and pink, right?) 

We recently made another trip up to the local branch of the Department Homeland Security: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (which is by far the most efficient and well-run government office in which I have ever done business…and I’m NOT being sarcastic!!) in order to request a renewal of the “pre-approval for citizenship” for our little one.  We’re good there until May 2014.  Oh that we have this adoption complete by then… 

We spent some less-than-enjoyable time being vaccinated for our pending overseas trips.  Some of the vaccinations required a “series” of shots to achieve full protection, so it’s been a bit of a process.  Then, get this…we received a notice by mail last month, that the lot of Typhoid vaccine we received has been recalled (no problem, I’ll just bring it back in for a refund…oh wait, it’s in my body!!) because it apparently lacks full potency.  However, people who received the vaccine are being urged NOT to be revaccinated before the next scheduled booster (2 years).  So essentially, we aren’t fully protected against Typhoid Fever (potential symptoms: fever, diarrhea, rash, hallucinations, nosebleeds, lethargy, delirium, etc), and there’s nothing to be done about it.  Nice. 

And so, we stay the course.  We wait.  We celebrate with the families who are traveling to Ethiopia to see their children face to face for the first time.  We rejoice for the families who are bringing their little ones home after so many months and years of waiting.  We try to prepare our family (and our hearts) the best we know how for the changes, challenges, and excitement that lies ahead.  We try not to contract Typhoid Fever.

PS---A note for my Grams, who is now frantically looking up data on Typhoid Fever- worldwide outbreaks, treatment, prognosis, etc…we’re going to be fine.  With a little common sense during our travels, I feel quite confident that we will NOT be infected with Typhoid.  I was just being dramatic.