One month and how can I pray for you????

According to the little "ticker" at the bottom of my blog, we have been waiting exactly 4 weeks and 2 days for the referral of our little Sara Joy.  Well, guess what?  That little ticker LIES!!!!  I know that I'm the one what set it up and I'm the one that imput the information, but seeing it say only one month just doesn't seem right.  Although, if I put the actual information in there, people would freak out...wondering why we have been waiting so long.

So, it's been one month..... this time.  Maybe I should put that on there.... still it would probably generate more questions than I would want to answer.  So, I'll just go with the one month and know that it's either been the LONGEST month of my life and the kids grew like weeds during that month, and oh yeah, skipped a couple of grades - - - or, even though it says one month, know that it has been more like 30+ months.

Even if I go with just the one month, it seems like so long.  By the time you get all of your paperwork done, that usually takes a good six months - unless you are an expert at it by now, like me, and can get it done in less than 4 months - add that to your wait time.  Most families don't just come up with the idea of adoption one day and do it the next either.  There is usually some time of consideration.  There are usually circumstances to work out too.... either they just had a baby (baby needs to get older), they are pregnant (one thing at a time), there are finances (yeah, adoption is not cheap), there are family issues (try bringing a family on-board with adoption, it sometimes can be difficult), a new job (probably should be in it for awhile before announcing an adoption), an ill family member (is this really a good time), praying for a change of heart for husband or wife (God's timing, not ours) - all these things delay the process and add to the wait time. 

I know that the same is true for pregnancy.  Some people have to wait and wait.  They hold off until the perfect time, thinking that they can get pregnant right away, and then it does not happen... for weeks, months, years.  I was not one of those people.  Not from the pregnancy side.  It happened right away. I was blessed in that regard.  But truthfully, when I think back to how long I have truly been waiting to adopt.... it has been nearly 25 years. 

I have a biological son.  I have completed an adoption.  That does not make the wait for this one any easier.  To tell you the truth, my heart is already aching for the NEXT one after this one!  I guess when it comes to that one, I'm in the position of making sure that my husband is on board with that one.  Since I've given the next one a name, it's a little harder for him to say "no"  - not that he would say no, but he has not said yes yet either.  That will come with time though :)

So, in just the 30 days that we have been waiting for our referral, Christmas came and went.  The tree came down and the house went back to normal.  Our kitchen floor was ruined.  A new year came upon us.  Anna learned how to ride a bike w/o training wheels.  Our plumbing messed up and we got to pour money into that.  My friend announced she is expectiing.  I had eye surgery.  Tim lost 17 pounds.... and our little girl is 30 days older. 

We had three meals a day during those 30 days (if we wanted to anyway).  I hope our Sara did as well.  We had warm comfortable beds to sleep in.  Not sure about our little girl. 

I wish she were home with us.  A month is so long in the life of a child.  I look at how my children have grown in the past month... the things they have learned, how they have physically grown.  Even Cameron at 10 years old has changed in a month.  He is learning so many new things at school, our relationship has changes, it has gotten more mature.  He has two new teeth coming in.  Anna, since she is younger is changing even more.  She has developed such a sense of humor.  She is learning in leaps and bounds.  She is in Kindergarten and I'm constantly amazed at the new things she is learning.  She can read more and more every day.  She can take a word and mark all the long and short vowel sounds (I'm sure I couldn't do that in 5K).  Like I said, she learned to ride her bike... in just two days.  Imagine how Sara is changing.  I don't know how old Sara is, but my guess is she is born already.  We requested up to a 2 1/2 year old.  My guess is she is here.  Is she learning how to walk right now?  Is she with her family?  What will happen in her little life to make her an orphan?  I hope someone will comfort her until we can be there for her.

How long has your wait been?  Can I pray for you during your wait?  Maybe you are not waiting for a referral, but there is something else that I can pray for you about... if so, could you please tell me? Maybe you are waiting for your spouse to get on board with an adoption.  If so, let me know.  Maybe you are not adopting at all, but need prayer for something different.  Maybe you are trying to have a baby (the biological way), please let me know.  Maybe you are trying to sell your home, or looking for a job... it doesn't matter what it is... I'd like to know.   This year I would like to focus a little less on myself and a little more on ministering to others.  I know this post was all about me and my wait, it's my outlet to express my feelings, but it is also a way for me to ask for ways that I can pray for you.  Specifically.  Please let me know specifically what I can pray for you about.  I am going to keep a journal and will pray specifically for your requests daily.  The only thing I ask is that when your prayer is answered... please don't forget to tell me about it.  I want to write that in my journal too.  I know God answers prayers... and sometimes I need to be reminded how they are answered... and in his time.  So, comment away and tell me what I can take to the Throne of Grace for you.  It would make my day.  I'll keep reminding you to send me your prayers, because I can't wait to see how God answers His children this year.  Ooohhh, I'm getting goose bumps.  I just had to go change the title of this blog... it started out all about me.  I have never purposfully prayed for other people (who I never even met) and had the opportunity to follow up with them.  To hear how and when their prayers were answered.  I promise I will pray for you, if you promise you will let me know the outcome.  I will take your petition to the Lord, DAILY.  I promise.  How exciting!  I can't wait to hear how the year ends with prayers answered.  Maybe that will be a year end post - how the Lord answered prayers for my friends this year. 

I'll ask for them every week!!!  If you have one though, and don't need a reminder, just tell me about it at any time.  If you have 50 prayer requests, I don't care.  I won't get sick of seeing your requests and I won't get sick of  talking to the Lord about you.  Please, please, please.... even if only ONE person participates with me - you will be blessing me by allowing me to pray for you.  Don't hold back.  I really can't wait to see what God will do.

In Christ,
Charity