First Appointment

YAY!  I can finally post! :)
Our first appointment was Tuesday.  We drove to Columbia to meet our case worker, Tricia.  It was a very informative meeting.  I feel so grateful that we have been well prepared to this point.  Some of the scenarios and stories could have been very intimidating had the Lord not already been preparing our hearts to see this adventure with truth and light.  When I was 19 and the Lord first laid adoption on my heart, I had a very romantic view of adoption.  . . . Truthfully, that romanticizing continued up until the last few years, and really over the last year reading and talking with couples who have adopted, I have a much more clear picture of how it is really, most likely, going to play out.  :)
What's next:  Over the next three weeks, we will have three more visits and do 10 hours of online training.  After that our homestudy will be written up, reviewed, and approved!  Then it will be time to start the dossier.  We are especially excited about having to go to Charleston to get finger-printed + DATE DAY! :)
Prayers: Continue to pray for wisdom.  By the end of the home study, we will have to specify an age range and say "yes" or "no" to a lot of medical concerns and special needs that our children could have.  Our desire is to be open to whatever the Lord will bring us, knowing that He will prepare us, and that through Him we will thrive.  Also pray for our children's protection.  Our caseworker was telling us that spiritual warfare is very strong in Ethiopia; witchcraft is prevalent.  Pray that the Enemy is bound from our children and their family.  Pray that the Lord is working in their lives.  Pray that He blesses them and keeps them safe and healthy.  Pray for their birthfamily as very difficult decisions are what will bring them to us.  Pray that someone would show them the Love of Christ and that they would experience His freedom and love even in their diffficult circumstances.  Praise the Lord for what He is already doing in preparing Jayden, Asher, Jude, and Evy, and pray that He would continue to give them understanding and a love for these brothers and/or sisters that we don't yet know.  Lastly, pray that we would be wise and efficient with fund raising efforts, and that Chann's business would continue to grow so that I will be able to be a full-time stay-at-home mom by the time we bring these children home!

Thank you for your love and support!