Paper, paper, paper

Our counter looked like this picture for most of last week, and by Monday morning it was all neatly organized in that snazzy accordion file and hand delivered to our (local!) and very sweet and knowledgeable social worker. (If you ever need a social worker in this part of Texas, let me know-- I highly recommend this one.) The other great thing about this home study is that it will be far less expensive than usual because it doesn't have to go through an agency. We're talking a third the amount. Thank you Jesus for something being cheaper for a change!

I only have a couple of documents that I still need to get to her before she does our home visit on Monday, then she can start writing. As soon as she finalizes the home study, we can send it to USCIS with our I-171 (immigration) application. I am hoping that takes no more than 5-7 weeks, during which I can compile the documents for the dossier (some are duplicates from the home study documents). There aren't very many at all compared to China, and they don't have to be certified or authenticated (a ridiculous process where the Texas Secretary of State and Chinese Embassy certify that the documents are real) so a month should be plenty of time to get it done. 

I'm hoping our dossier can be sent to Nepal sometime in August, at which point we can begin our official wait. The program reopened so recently that there really is no way to predict what that wait time will be. I'm just hoping that Lily will have a sibling in her same generation. Beyond that, I hesitate to even wager a guess. Maybe 2010, maybe 2011. Someone else received their referral today, but I don't know when their dossier was sent. It could have been there since before the program closed last year, although some of the people who have sent dossiers this year have received referrals already so it doesn't appear that they are necessarily going in order. 

Until then, I bury myself in paperwork and keep looking for ways that the Lord is providing for this adoption. We can't really afford it, but when we started Lily's adoption we couldn't afford it either. However, God abundantly provided everything we needed for Lily's adoption and I know He will for this one too. (This time I hope He chooses a different way than giving us 2 extra years to earn it, but beggars can't be choosers!) 

Want to know how He has provided already? Yesterday I got a call from the accountant saying our personal and business returns were (finally) ready for me to pick up. I assumed it was bad news since I'd think they'd want to share any good news over the phone (reason #432 why I don't think like an accountant). I didn't think much of it the rest of the day, but at the last minute I remembered to swing by their office on my way out of town. I braced myself as I opened the folder in the parking lot, then I went like this: "!!!!!!".  Because of the adoption tax credit (thank you George Bush!) we are actually getting money back, and it should be enough for the first round of expenses we'll have for Nepal. Yeah! 

Then I remembered what my devotional said that morning that hit me right between the eyes: 

Rest in Me, my child. Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen. Pray continually, asking My Spirit to take charge of the details of this day. Remember that you are on a journey with Me. When you try to peer into the future and plan for every possibility, you ignore you constant Companion who sustains you moment by moment. As you gaze anxiously into the distance, you don't even feel the strong grip of my hand holding yours. How foolish you are, My child!

Remembrance of Me is a daily discipline. Never lose sight of My Presence with you. This will keep you resting in Me all day, every day.

I Thessalonians 5:17; Psalm 62:5

How foolish I am! I never stop scheming in my mind how everything is going to work - finances, travel, how Lily's going to do with another kid in the house, which room will be his, blah, blah, blah! Planning is not a sin, but scheming because I think I need to figure it all out on my own-- which usually comes with anxiety and worry-- most definitely is. Lord, forgive me for trying to rely on myself. Thank you for your provision, and thank you that it was something I wasn't even expecting so that you could show me that it came from You, not my own schemes and plans. Thank you that you are faithful even when I am not. 

Then Kyle crawls into bed after talking with Kristian on his drive here and tells me that although they loved Kathmandu, it is basically a war zone. Hello fear, you're back so soon! SO GUESS WHAT MY DEVOTIONAL SAID TODAY??? Trust me and don't be afraid. Don't let fear dissipate your energy. Instead, invest your energy in trusting Me and singing My song. The battle for control of your mind is fierce, and years of worry have made you vulnerable to the enemy. Ask Him to control your mind; He will bless you with Life and Peace. Isaiah 12:2; Romans 8:6. I am so thankful that I have a God who knows exactly what I need, when I need it.