Progress!

I'm starting to really like Mondays! That seems to be when the breakthroughs happen for us. Today we got word that the "powers that be" in great state of Texas see no problem with granting us a variance. This means that the rule about not adopting from an agency where a relative works will not apply. Because my bro-in-law is not under the Adoption and Maternity Services umbrella at Buckner and especially because our home study is being done by an agency here in Delaware (where we have ZERO relatives), they do not feel there is any conflict of interest. We also were excited to have found a great Christian agency with which to do the home study! The agency we originally thought would be great doesn't seem to have much concern about client support and post-placement services. Because we will need the support of other families who have been and are in the same boat, as well as the advice of professionals, as our adoptive children assimilate to family life, a new culture and a new language, this is a very important part of the big picture. We met today with the social worker who will handle our case and were impressed by her candor and thoroughness. After our meeting with her, we went to the State Police office to apply for our criminal background checks...woohoo!...and do fingerprints. There is so much yet to do and so much still to pray about. Thank you all for lifting us and these children up to the Lord. We can see His hand at work.

In other news, we checked off a few last-minute things from Karl's pre-deployment list this morning. We went to Base Legal to make some minor changes to our wills, which we'll sign and pick up Thursday; then we ran by the Family Support Center, where they gave Karl phone cards to call home. They also signed us up for Hearts Apart, a program where I can call the base at designated times twice a week, and they'll patch me through to Karl for a 15-minute free phone call. Boy it really hit home then. I was given vouchers for a free oil change and free child care from 10-2 on the second Saturday of every month at the Child Development Center. That may come in really handy! Karl has handgun training tomorrow and simulators every evening until we head for TX/OK on Friday. It's hard to believe that this is all really happening. I just don't know how I'm going to drive home after our goodbyes and come home to an empty house. God will give us all the strength we need, but the day will be a testament to the Holy Spirit as Comforter, the One who envelopes us in our sorrow. Someday, we will look back with wonder at how God met our needs in those moments, but it may be hard to appreciate it on that day.

Yesterday at church, they had us come up front, and they laid hands on us and prayed for our whole family, even D and K. It was beautiful and special, and God gave Kari just the right words to pray for what we need. We are so thankful for our church family and their love and support.