Preparing a Place

We have little to report except that—you guessed it—we’re waiting on paperwork. Until you see a little girl in our arms, you can guess we’re waiting on paperwork.

This is an awfully long time to wait, especially now that we’ve been matched with Kira. I was talking to God about this as I was cleaning out a bedroom for Kira. God responded in my heart, “I know. I’ve been waiting an awfully long time for my children too.”

Romans 8 came to mind in a new way:

“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23. Italics mine.)

We are securely matched with Kira. Only something extraordinary could stop the process now. She is ours, but at the same time, the adoption has not been finalized and Kira is not home yet. In the same way, when we trust in Jesus we are securely matched with him and belong to him, but we aren’t home yet. The finalization of our adoption—to be home with Christ—still awaits us.

My God is acutely aware of my wait for Kira because he’s waiting too. He’s waiting on the exact right time in history to bring us home. He understands the joy I have in preparing a place for someone so precious because he is doing the same for his precious children.

[Jesus said] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3

Almost every day Dave and I look at each other and ask, “Can we just go get her today?” But unfortunately we need an alphabet of forms (Original CSR and MER, I-800, DS-260, Article 5, NOC, Article 23/CC) before we’re cleared to bring her home. We wait eagerly for her adoption as our daughter and take joy in preparing a place for her to come home to.

I have such great delight in the gospel-images I keep finding in this process. Our current prayer requests are:

• That the original CSR and MER would arrive so we can complete our acceptance dossier.
• That USCIS would approve our I-800 quickly.