Faith, Hope, and Wisdom?

(If you read nothing else, read the bottom of this page.  Many of you know adoptive families.  Read the bottom of the page to get what adoption really looks like. )

Paperwork has been a hang up for our adoption process.  And so it was no surprise to hear your court date has happened, you are his parents BUT there is a BRAND NEW process for birth certificates and passports, which will most likely hold up these vital documents. Que banging head against wall. Without these, we cannot leave the country with M.

So, needless to say, this made me cry.  I just want to go get my kid.  SO BADLY! So Michael and I were talking, and decided, Why don't we just go ahead and go?  We may end up being there longer, and we may be inviting more frustration.  But we have decided to take frustration AND have our son. We are stepping out in faith and hope.  I'm not sure if wisdom is going with us, but we are definitely praying for it!

Our agency director and in-country social worker have both been great in being open minded about this idea. The Lesotho government has been gracious and is allowing us to come over before all the i's are dotted.  We have been cautioned about the unpredictability of how quickly or slowly documents move through this system.  We feel like we are well aware of the unpredictability, and this makes us feel all the more convinced to head over and start the bonding process with our baby, while he is still a baby. 

So now we plan.  We buy tickets, we book lodging, we pray for paperwork to process. We plan to leave while it is still barely July.

Here is how you can join us in prayer :) (thanks everyone)

1. That the paperwork gets completed in a timely manner, and we are able to spend only the necessary amount of time across the ocean.

2. That we all stay healthy and safe.  That the Lord goes before us and sets our course for us.

3. That I don't go crazy as we make these plans very quickly.

4. For Rosebud, that she is ready for the large amounts of travel and intense differences in all things  familiar to her.

5. For M, that he is ready for the large amounts of travel and intense differences in all things familiar to him ;)

There is so much more to pray for, so feel free to get creative.  Honestly, there is so much, there is plenty i haven't thought of.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYER, THOUGHTS, AND SUPPORT!  It has been a long two years, and you guys have made it survivable!

SPOILER ALERT: The hard part is yet to come.  We will need even more support upon our return.  I wanted to post this because in my church and friend group there are many adoptive families. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS BLOG: so you can know how to support the adoptive families in your circles:
http://sammyneric.blogspot.com/2013/07/hungry-for-truth-telling.html?m=1

A Summer of Rejoicing!

God's Love is AMAZING.  His provisions are abundant and I cannot help but have a joyful heart as I praise him today for the many gifts he has given to my friends and family!(Quick side note.  This is how I write. Not how I talk. Real world Tara would be like "Man! God rocks.  This is crazy awesome.  I can't believe this".  Just thought those of you who don't know me should know I do not write the way I speak)

Below is a prayer request from one of my January 2013 posts.  I wanted to update everyone on God's amazing answer to these prayers!!!! These families were in their adoption journey, and we joined with them in prayer for patience and endurance while they waited for their children.  Since May, this is how prayers have been answered:

1.  M & L in Missouri- BABY GIRL!
2. J  & J in Oklahoma- LITTLE GIRL AND BABY BOY!
3. K & S in Oklahoma- BABY GIRL!
4. The other Lesotho program adopting families: US, Canada, and the Netherlands.  - OUR FAMILY AND THE OTHER US FAM WE PRAY FOR HAVE BOTH HAD MATCHES!!! THE OTHER FAMILY HAS ALREADY PICKED UP THEIR LITTLE GIRL!

I know many families who fall under #4 continue to wait.  Please continue to lift them up.

As for us,  our documents have made it through court!  We are M's Parents :)  We are so thrilled.  I tear up every time I think about it.  We can't wait to go wrap our arms around him!!! All that is left is getting his birth certificate and passport.  Once our social worker has secured those, we will be headed to Lesotho. We are hoping to travel at the end of this month!

Hoping to see Maseru in real life soon :)

Prayer requests:

1. That the paperwork make its way swiftly back to our social worker.
2. That the Lord travels before us, making our journey blessed and without major incident.
3. For me.  I'm naturally an anxious gal.  I'm going to need some peace.  For Rosebud, she is naturally a momma's girl. She is going to need some understanding.  For Michael. He has to take care of me. He is going to need wisdom ;) And for my sister Caitlin.  She is going as Rosebud's nanny.  She is going to need a good mix of everything the Holy Spirit can gift her with :)
4. FOR M!  For the BIG CHANGE coming up in his life.  For his heart to be open to his new family.  For the time he will have with me in the early months of his time here to attach, bond, and settle into a whole new continent, family, routine, etc.

Thank you for joining me in this joy and praise!  and for lifting our fam and son up in prayer!