Waiting, Waiting, I Am NOT Good At Waiting!

I was going to post yesterday but didn't get a chance to. A couple days ago, I was feeling rather irritated that everyone I know seems to call an agency and within days has a social worker calling to book the first home study visit. Not us. We have had *all* our papers in for the last two weeks and have been waiting for a call. It was totally out of my control. Not something I like. LOL! I did all I could to move things along quickly and then I was at their mercy.

I ended up calling Tuesday, and found out that the lady who was to arrange our social worker was ill and couldn't do it, but that she would be doing it that very day.

By Thursday, I had heard nothing still and was having a hard time not getting agitated. Waaaaitting.... That morning, I went downstairs and read my devotions, as I really needed a word of encouragement. I have to admit, I have been rather delinquent lately!!! School took over and I seem to hit the floor running, but of course whenever I need encouragement it is always there. When will I learn to get the encouragement *before* I need it!!! Then I might not *need* it!!! LOL!

I found it a bit funny how it happened that morning. I read my first devotion and it was about meeting the Lord in the morning.

"..in the morning! Then God means me to be at my best in strength and hope. I have not to climb in my weakness. Blessed is the day whose morning is sanctified. "

I *know* that when I do my devotions first in the morning I am better focussed on life and not stressing about 'stuff'!

I next read my other devotion:

Amusingly, it was called: Tranquilize Tension. (smile)

"... such is the peace I feel deep within my being now as I close my eyes and think about Jesus Christ."

"His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Okay, so I read these and I think, "Yes, this is fitting with how I was feeling... tense and anxious and certainly not resting in God's timing!"

Then I picked up my Bible and it fell open to a page. There were two plain pages of writing and smack in the middle of one page was a little green box and in the middle of this book were the words:

God is Peace.

I just laughed out loud. Okay, I get it! Where I wasn't sure if it was a 'word' when I read the first two devotions, I was certainly sure after the Bible fell open to something so blatant!

I would love to say that I then *rested in peace*, but I am human. I tried and it lasted.... for twenty four hours! Sort of.... With a number of unpeaceful moments thrown in! *laugh*

But then today, I was remembering this impending 'proposal' that the Ethiopian government is working on, and I got restless and agitated again. I am okay waiting when I know what is going on. Just no one had told me anything for nearly two weeks, and I was expecting to hear something in a matter of days.

Then last night, I got a note from the social worker at our Hope Services agency. She told me that though we couldn't legally finalize our homestudy in less three months (which would be October 28), it was highly unlikely that they would be done by then anyway! And also, that the social worker that they are contracting our homestudy out to, has three months from when she receives the documents, which won't even be until *next week*. That would put *her* deadline as out to December 10!!! YUCK!!!! Maybe you can understand my agitation (that reared its ugly head again!) So, that backs me up maybe 6 weeks!

She also wasn't even sure if the social worker she had contacted would take on our file. Therefore, she would have to wait and then would contact another one if the first said no. Living in the boonies is not a great idea when trying to pursue a quick adoption!

Untrusting me! This afternoon, I received an email at 4:45pm from our social worker, at Hope Services telling me that she had just heard from the contract social worker and that she *will* be able to do our homestudy. She said we now have to wait til next week for her to receive and read our documents. Okay, I thought, I can wait. Now I have some idea of what is happening and when!

Bu then, within another 3o minutes, I received another email from the new social worker!! She said that she would be calling us early next week, as soon as she had received our documents!She said she is looking forward to meeting us! YEAH!!!! Things might start moving.

Now, please, just pray that she will be willing to hustle and do two meetings at a time and that we might actually be done by the end of October!!!!!

Each time we meet with her in her town (2 hours away) we have to arrange childcare for some of the kids and take at least three with us. We want to be able to meet her while the weather is still warm enough to visit in a park (if she will be willing to do this) so that the little ones can play, while Dane looks after them. And of course, Ray has to take at least a half day off work. So her being willing to double up appointments would be so wonderful.

Stay tuned for the *call* from the social worker....