there is peace in waiting

Fourteen months after beginning our adoption and five months after first seeing his sweet face, we are waiting to hear when the state where Ryan resides will make their approval on our case (the coveted ARC approval, which is then sent to CARA for the prized NOC approval). It is hard to carry on with life as we know it while our little guy is 9,000 miles away waiting for us, even if he doesn't know it yet. :) So far our summer has been spent working on things around the house like painting doors, pressure washing, landscaping projects, as well as volunteering at church, photography work, beach trips - anything to keep myself busy and my mind very, very occupied! 

The most difficult part in our wait is not knowing a clear timeline on how things will progress until we bring Ryan home. From what we know, this is how India is. Each state is different, each judicial system is different, each orphanage is different. The guidelines set in place aren't always followed due to lack of personnel, funds and organization. I can't fathom trying to organize the adoption of thousands of children and daily I pray for the hard working people whose job it is to do so. So we wait and pray for the best possible outcome for ALL orphans, around the globe, waiting for their families.

In all of this God is teaching me (again - cause I'm a slow learner) that I need to trust Him with this adoption, trust HIS perfect timing; not Natasha's, not India's, but God's perfect timing. Waiting is hard when your baby is growing older each day half a world away, waiting is hard when you haven't the faintest clue as to how long the wait will be, waiting is hard when there are so many unknowns, waiting is hard period. But I trust God knows what's best for Ryan and for our family and knowing that gives me peace. 

{There is peace in waiting}

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14