6 Months Waiting

In the past few days, I have had several friends ask about an adoption update. I pause every time I am asked because I am just so humbled that y'all are thinking about us and invested in this. It is so encouraging to know that we are supported and loved and being prayed for. I also pause because we're in that difficult waiting period where there just isn't much to say. No real news. No update. Just waiting. But, I'll fill you in on a few things....

The Wait
We have been officially waiting for 6 months now. Average wait times for our parameters (age, gender, special needs) are about 22 months.

The more I think about it, the less I like "averages."

There have been several referrals recently for families who had been waiting for 8 months. Last week, a family received a referral after waiting 4 years.

Averages. Bleh. Our wait time will be what it is and there is no way to prepare for the timing of when we will receive that life changing phone call that tells us we have another little one or two.

The Paperwork
We have finished our Rhode Island home study and received immigration approval on it, so we are done with everything we need to do while in this tiny state. (Unless, God willing, we receive a referral while here. Then we have a whole lotta stuff to do!)

This is really great and any progress toward a completed adoption is something to be celebrated. However, I do have a touch of "post-paperwork blues." When we are in the midst of a home study, I feel so productive and active and like we are actually accomplishing something. When it's over, I feel...bleak and worthless seem too harsh, but it's somewhere just north of there. I feel like I'm twiddling my thumbs. I feel powerless. I feel...like I'm waiting. Do you know "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss? Do you remember The Waiting Place? We're in the waiting place. And waiting gives me a general sense of "bleh." And perhaps a lack of descriptive words.

We also recognize the importance of the waiting place as it can be a time of growth and rest if approached correctly. So we are fueling up and recharging and spending wonderful time together as a couple and as a family of 4. We are learning about Bulgarian culture and holidays and cooking traditional Bulgarian meals (that we "aren't quite sure if that's exactly what it's supposed to taste like") and traveling and enjoying this beautiful weather and tourist town.

Life is very, very good right now. There's just something, someone, missing.

The Future
We will move from Rhode Island in November to ...??? Caleb is currently "talking orders." That's Navy-speak for "figuring out what and where his next job will be." At that time, we will redo our home study (again,) file for immigration approval (again,) and wait (again.)

At some point, we'll bring home our family members. That's the end result of this whole thing. People being loved. When I think about that, I am in awe of God's family design. I am so grateful that this is our path.

Thank you, so sincerely, for your interest and concern. Thank you for loving us enough to care. Thank you for listening as I ramble and for not telling me that you regret asking when I talk for 20 minutes straight.

I will continue to keep you updated and pray for the day when I actually have something to tell you...