"I will not leave you as orphans..." - John 14:18
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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

A Much Delayed Adoption Update

It's been a long time, I realize. A really long time.

Travis and I began this blog in an attempt to try to keep you all up-to-date on where we are in our adoption journey, and while that still remains the goal, we're finding we don't have as many updates as we once did––especially since our agency decided to do away with waitlist numbers.

But it's more than that. Honestly, sometimes it's simply difficult to have to say the same thing time after time, yearning to be able to give a different answer. "Still waiting," we say over and over. "Still waiting."

We are happy and so blessed to have so many people care about our adoption, and honestly we love when you ask for an update. So, keep asking! In your questions, we hear your heart and are unbelievable blessed to know our journey has impacted many of you so deeply. Many have become vested in what we're doing, and honestly, if this were an easy road for us, I'm not sure that would have happened to the same extent. God sure does beautiful things through difficulty and trials.

Still, giving updates can become tiresome.

We see people at the grocery store–– "Still waiting."
At our girls' school–– "Still waiting."
At family gatherings–– "Still waiting."
Children's birthday parties–– "Still waiting."
Around town–– "Still waiting."

Oh, how we wish we could have a different response for you all––for us, for our babies––but the fact of the matter is, we're still waiting. And honestly, we don't have any idea when our wait will stop.

Waiting can be very difficult, and in a wait like ours––a wait that seems to last for eternity––it's easy to fall into moments of frustration. Still, our faith tells us to hold on. We know our babies are coming. We know the One who promised is faithful. During each and every dark moment we face in this thing––each time we begin to question Is this ever going to happen?––God faithfully shows up, spurring us on toward His goal for us. Honestly, I believe this journey is just as much about our spiritual growth as it is about having more children to love and call our own.

But it has been tough––let me tell you––this has been a very difficult, long journey, one that is far from over. Still, we are thankful for all its fruit. The compassion we've seen take root and grow in our girls. The patience grown in us all. The faith God is carefully cultivating and growing. It's a beautiful thing, this process of sanctification. Blessing upon blessing has been poured out upon us, and for this we're beyond thankful to a God who knows what we need, even more than we do.

So please, still ask. Ask us where we're at. Ask us if there's any news. We really do appreciate talking to you about it. Honestly, I think it does drive us forward by way of having a constant reminder of what we have to look forward to. And until the day we bring our children home––the day that has been ordained since the beginning of time by our amazing God––we will be "still waiting..."

Here's what we've been up to the last FIVE months (Can you believe it's been so long!):

Avery was in the talent show!

Camping






The Reno Rodeo



Horseback Riding Lessons!



Beach Day! Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe

The kids first backpacking trip (Overnight!) with the Owens





The First Day of School!
(Ella––second grade, Avery––first grade)

Avery's Birthday! She's 6!




"Sisters Necklace"

Look at that amazing daddy!

Fall Soccer

Ella's Birthday Party! She's 8! (How did that happen?!?)


And that about does it. Until next time...

5 comments:

  1. hi laurie! you've been on my heart and i wanted to stop and say hello. i am sorry its been hard in this waiting period. it will all be worth it when you look into the eyes of your babies. praying for you today!! lora

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    1. Thank you, Lora! We can definitely use the prayers. The Lord knows what He's doing and is faithful. And you're right––it will all be worth the difficult wait when we have them home! I hope you and your family are doing well! Many blessings, friend!

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  2. Hello Laurie. So good to know you through your profile on the blogger. I am so glad to stop by your blog "Love half Way Around the World and the post on it " A much delayed Adoption Update". It is a blessed and wonderful adoption Journey of Coomb's family.I am blessed to see those beautiful pictures of children who have hope, future and purpose in their lives because of your adoption in to God's family. I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 34yrs in the great city of Mumbai, India and have adopted one orphan child some 15yrs back while she was 11yrs of age. We had no plan to adopt but since this child was shelterless we felt that we should accept her as our third child as we have two of our biological childre. I know what it takes to care, nurture and upbiring them in the likeness of Jesus. You are such a blessed couple. It is my prayer that you will have at least one kid from India. May God bless you as you do a great job of shaping these kids in the likeness of God. Well our church has an outreach ministry to the poorest of poor in the slums of Mumbai and reach out to them with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young people as well as adults to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions trip to work with us. We would love to have young people or adults from your contact to come on a short term missions trip to work with us. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede

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  3. I see you were still on the waiting line. The waiting is sometimes so difficult, where you’ll come to point of doubt if it is ever going to happen. But I always believe that in life, the best things are worth waiting for. So don’t give up!

    Dean Glover @ Adoption Network

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  4. Thank you for your encouragement Dean. It's been a long journey. We have definitely experienced and still do experience the moments of doubt from time to time. We will keep pressing forward. :)

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