Pressing On

Today the painters showed up and finished touching up the addition. So all that remains are very small projects inside like filing down a door, putting on storm doors, hauling away unused items and such things. So I hope to move more things in this weekend. Since I didn't know when the painters were coming, I wasn't able to plan for friends to move the furniture this weekend, so it looks like the majority of the furniture will be next weekend. Too bad I'm not partially bionic or I could do it myself.
I know that not being bionic is not my only limitation. There are other skills I lack like drawing, singing, fixing a car and so on. Yet I know that there are areas that I do excel in like organization and getting things accomplished. I have always found it interesting that God has gifted us all in so many different ways, but not in all ways. I know that it is so we can lean on Him and on others that He brings into our lives whether it is at our job, the church, the neighborhood or family. Learning to lean on others or to ask for help can sometimes be a humbling process, but it can also be a joyful time. By that I mean that I can serve others through the skills I have or I can get to know some wonderful people because of the skills they have. I think one of the best gifts that we all have, is the gift to encourage one another and to support one another. Through out my life I have met so many people that have been an encouragement to me.
So today I want to thank those of you who have continually encouraged me during this adoption process and I want to ask you to continue to pray for me to have the strength to continue to press on. On Saturday it will be exactly 4 months since I left for Russia for the first trip. I was told that I would get a court date in 2-4 months. I have hit that 4 month mark with no hint of a court date. Today it is 2 years, 8 months, 1 week and 1 day since I submitted my application. At that time it was 9-12 months from start to finish. During this whole process I have yet to complete a step in the suggested time frame. I know in my head, that God's timing is not my timing, but please pray that I will know this in my heart too and that I will be able to completely rest in His timing.

Chapters

I love to read and for the last several years it seems like it is hard for me to find time to read as much as I used to read. Once in awhile, I will get a book on a Friday and stay up until the wee hours of the morning and just have a marathon of reading time. For those times when there is no way I am going to finish the book in one setting, I stop at the end of the chapter and place my bookmark in the book and close it for the evening. Then there are those days when I come to the close of the chapter and think, just one more chapter and then I will go to sleep. And of course there are the times when I have to read through the whole book and I just can't stop at the end of the chapter.
Today I was thinking that I have encountered all of those situations lately. For instance, with the adoption, I know it is the end of the chapter and I can put my bookmarker in place and "go to sleep." I found out today that there will be no more court dates given in February. So I don't have to jump every time the phone rings, because it will be at least another week or two until I hear something. This frees me up to think about other things. Today not only was I able to finish a chaper, but also the book concerning my second job. I had given notice about 3 weeks ago that my last day would be the 27th of this month. But today I discharged the last patient I had on my caseload. The manager had already made arrangements and hired another therapist to be on call and work in that facility at needed. So he graciously allowed today to be my last day there. What a great feeling to know that after I finish my full time job, I now have flexibility to work on other projects and get other things done. As we continue to see major progress with the addition, I feel like the other situation where I am at the end of the chapter, but I am not ready to put the book down, because I need to just do a little more. Over the weekend, I have been bringing out more boxes of my mom's, putting up curtain rods and blinds and moving out some little pieces of furniture. I have also started pulling out some things of Natalie's (like the play kitchen) and putting things out and moving things around as my mom's stuff is moved into the addition. I find that I just can't unpack one box, but want to keep doing more. Today the plumber pretty much finished and there is a commode, running water and faucets on both sinks. Small other little projects like putting the door stops in were also completed today.
It really is amazing after months and months of hardly anything happening, I find myself just wanting to "keep on reading the chapters" as I see things unfolding in front of me at this new pace. It is exciting to see what tomorrow will hold and I wonder what book I will finish next!!

Timing

Today the contractor returned and covered up the sewage pipes and leveled out the yard. We were talking and he told me that it is much more common for the inspector to fail the sewage line the first time than to pass it. Although I know God's timing is always perfect, I am still amazed at such a thing as this. I feel like we are coming down to the wire between when the addition is done and my mom moves in and when I leave for Russia. The fact that this passed inspection the first time, just confirms to me that God is going to get her moved in first. What a huge relief that will be for me and for her. About 2 weeks ago I joked with my mom that I could think of about 100 things that needed to be done for the addition to be completed. I did come up with 50 and since have added 20 more. But at this point we are down to just 20 things that need to be completed.
My brother who lives in Alaska will be flying in for a few days at the end of the month. And even though I am ready to go to Russia, it would be okay if I was able to see him and then go. So this may all be part of the reason for the delays. Again God's timing.
I also found out that starting in 2007 NC now allows for a tax credit for adoption. So if my process had not been delayed due to reaccreditation, then I would not be able to claim this on my taxes for next year. Timing!
It is nice to be on the other side of some difficult times and see why those delays were necessary. So when I am stuck behind another of those roadblocks, I just have to remind myself: TIMING!!!!

Here is a view from the upstairs of the ditch in the front yard.

Whew!!

I can't believe it has been a week since I last wrote but then again considering the week I have had, I'm not surprised. And the funny thing is that nothing I did was related to the adoption. It started Saturday as I began moving boxes out of the attic into the addition. It is not finished yet, but the kitchen cupboards are in. Knowing how much stuff my mom has (because I packed it all a year ago) I wanted to get a jump start on it. I'm not kidding when I say there had to be about 25 boxes. As you seasoned packers and movers know, kitchen stuff works better in small boxes. I also moved all of her Christmas decorations out of my attic into hers. It was a very full day and we were both pretty tired by the end of the day but happy for the progress. The next day I was up early and worked for several hours at my job, onto church, then I took all those boxes to a friend's house where I packed up a lot of her things. Then to a Super Bowl Party. Monday morning, I was back at work, then onto the second job and from there onto helping my friend move all of her things into storage. I got home about 9:15. Tuesday I went to both jobs and then onto a church meeting. Home at 10:15. Wedneday off to the doctor's after work and running a few errands. Thursday worked both jobs and then finally finished my laundry that I started Saturday (can anyone relate here?) Today I worked my normal job and came home at time. Whew!!!!
The addition continues to look more and more like a little apartment. Monday a gentleman came from 10 AM to 10 PM and laid the vinyl and carpet. Wednesday the plumber showed up for an hour and took lots of notes. He came back on Thursday and put in the kitchen sink and the fixtures for the shower. At theatpoint the contractor showed up with his back hoe. They dug a huge ditch around the house and began laying the pipes for the sewage line. Today they were able to complete that and have it inspected which it passed. My poor yard looks like a huge construction site, but it will be so worth it in the end.
That is what I often hear during this adoption journey. And I really do believe that is true. This week there were some minor break throughs. The company handling my birth certificate billed my credit card on Wednesday so that tells me that they have started to process it . Also I found out that my documents were sent out to Krasnoyarsk. Once there they will be translated and then notarized and submitted to the court. Considering how many people are currently in court, in country, awaiting a referral and being processed for court, I anticipate at least 2 weeks for that to happen. I have nothing to verify that, just a time estimate I've given myself before I start getting restless again. I have been told, once the court receives them, then I should hear of a court date shortly after that.
I know people have been praying as there is a real peace just to rest in the Lord and focus on other things. Considering what my week has been like, I look forward to the weekend and slowing down just a bit!!
Yesterday when I was driving to work, I was stuck behind a car. It was going slow and there was no way to pass it. I didn't follow it too long before it moved into the left turning lane and I was free to go around it and actually go the speed limit. I was thinking how so many things are like that in life (including the adoption.) How there are road blocks and we are making progress even if the progress is slow. BUT once that roadblock is gone then we are free to take off!! I am so grateful for the roadblocks with the adoption that have been removed and I feel like I am just cruising now!!!!

Be Still

I sent my request for my birth certificate on the 22 of January and it arrived the next day. I have called several times and each time I have been told that it has not been processed. Last night I began to panic as I thought about all the personal information that is in the application letter. No one seemed to know where it was since it was not in their system. This morning I called again to express my concern that after 10 days it seemed to have disappeared. I spoke to a woman at length and finally she agreed to send an email to the department that should have received it. She told me she would call be back. A gentleman I spoke to last night also told me he would call back which he never did. I have to admit I thought for sure I would not hear back from her. About 2 hours later I was standing in my office watching the rain pour down outside. As clear as anything in my mind I could hear the words, "Be still and know that I am God." I felt a tremendous peace about the whole situation. And I knew it was God's gentle way of reminding me that I don't need to panic or feel frantic. About 10 minutes later I got a call from the woman I had spoken to. They had located the envelop and apparently they are very backed up because of a huge influx of requests (in light of the movement with adoptions, I can believe this to be true) and that they would be processing it very soon. It was such a relief to know that it was not somewhere floating around. So once again, I am reminded to "BE still" and let the Lord take care of things.