~ Bigger ~

Well we find ourselves running the last leg of this race, and while it feels like this journey has been a long one...in reality, as far as adoptions go, ours has been a quick process. It was just over a year ago that we officially started the paperwork part of this journey, but it has been closer to 2 years since we first laid our eyes on our sweet Christabel.

As we navigate the last leg of this journey, frustration, impatience & fear have been ever present emotions!

•  we wait for a passport only to find out that our agency has had trouble acquiring Christabels birth certificate, thus delaying the passport application.
• we hear that even when her passport application is submitted there is a shortage of passport booklets, thus delaying the issuance of her passport.
• we hear that our I-600 application is in the hands of our USCIS officer  
• we also hear that other families have been asked for more documentation [evidence]
• we wait to get our RFE [request for evidence] but we pray that we skip this part and just get an approval letter
• we fear the ever growing Ebola crisis in West Africa.
• we fear that the flights in & out of West Africa may be shut down...trapping our daughter in Ghana for an unknown period of time

I will admit that I have had moments of panic!

I avoid the news at all costs.
All the talk of banning flights from West Africa.
All the outrage over this not already being done!
To come this far in this journey to have the process derailed by a nasty virus!

This really can not be happening.

Then...just as has happened many times during this journey I am reminded of the truth!

This plan is bigger than me.
Bigger than Christabel.
Bigger than passports, and immigration, and RFE's, and Ebola and banned flights!
This plan is orchestrated by the maker of the heavens & the earth!
And we believe that God is not about to let such little things stop such an amazing plan!

Christabel has been held in the hands of God since the day she was born.
Much longer than she has been our daughter...she has been the daughter of the King!
He is the reason she survived against all odds.
He is the reason she has the most beautiful smile & spirit.
He brought her into our family & He intends to see this plan through to the end!!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."