It Ain't Over Til... Well, Will It Ever Be Over???

I woke up this morning with the excitement and anticipation of heading to downtown Raleigh to turn in my LAST 4 adoption forms to be apostilled. The pure joy of being able to cross those final four forms off of my "to-do" list gave me a lift in my step and a song in my heart. I even found a parking spot after only having to circle the block 3 times! Life was peachy!!!



I proudly passed my forms through the too high window slot (their counter was not made for those of us under 5'4"), and smiled as I counted out my cash (you need exact change remember) and handed it to the teller. Life was chocolately!!! (better than peachy any day).



Well, that peachy/chocolately disposition quickly turned sour (think rotten asparagus here) when I was told that 3 of the 4 documents were being rejected and needed to be re-done.



No! It couldn't be! Today was my goal date to get this accomplished!! Don't mess with us list-makers!!! We can turn ugly really fast when our lists NOT ONLY can't be checked-off but have stuff ADDED TO THEM??? Are you kidding me???



I'M READY TO MOVE ON TO THE FUN STUFF like planning the new look for Josi and Nadia's shared room, shopping for toddler toys and clothes, making a family photo album to take with us to Ukraine...NOT RE-DO MORE FORMS!!!



But, then I remembered (again) WHO is really in control of this process (forms and all) and I was able to stop and remember my "Thankful List" I've been compiling through the paperwork chase. So, here are some of the things on my list:



I'm thankful that we start every day in PRAYER for Nadia and for the peace that comes with knowing that God is taking care of His girl while she's waiting for her family to come and get her. We also make sure to pray for the other orphans who are still waiting for their families to come get them. (Is one of them for your family?) Just had to ask. :)









I'm so thankful for my neighbor KAREN who is not only extremely generous with her time and resources but is also a NOTARY!!! She's allowed me to come over at 10:00 at night or at 8:00 in the morning to have forms notarized and re-notarized until we get them right. She even runs forms downtown for me when I'm busy with homeschooling. Thank you Karen! Isn't it so cool of God to put a notary RIGHT NEXT DOOR to me???

I'm also thankful that the baristas at my neighborhood STARBUCKS see me walk in and have my drink going before I even get up to the counter. It's great having an acceptable addiction and being able to go somewhere where "everybody knows your name" (insert Cheers music here).

And last but certainly not least, I'm ever thankful for the MAN God chose for me in His infinite wisdom. Jim supports me in my weaknesses, praises me in my strengths, loves me even through adoption paperwork setbacks(insert tantrums here), and even brings me flowers "just because"--which is my favorite reason to receive flowers!!!

Yes, I'll be driving all over town tomorrow picking up "re-done" forms to try to submit them before offices close downtown tomorrow...but for tonight, I'm remembering all I have to be thankful for and giving praise to the ONE who provides it all!!! "It is well, it is well with my soul."