Little Dose of Reality

A few nights ago, when I was facing a bit of insomnia, I wrote a great blog post that really captured what's been on my heart and mind lately. Like all my best lesson plans, it was written in my head so I had little recollection of it when morning came.

Last week, we had a bit of a wake-up call regarding how loosely we must remind ourselves to hold our referral once we have one. A family with our agency lost their baby girl to bacterial meningitis after being hospitalized for nearly a week. They hadn't had the referral long before she became ill. She fought hard, but went on to be with our Lord over the weekend. Thankfully, the children and the caregivers at the baby's home are all well and taking antibiotics as a precaution. However, it was a gentle reminder that we are only here for a time. We are simply caretakers of what God has given us....whether those little darlings live in our homes or across the ocean.

This also reaffirmed for me our choice of agency. In the beginning, I wasn't sold on choosing a Christian agency. Too many times I've seen people use that label as a banner, but then conducting business in a manner that is anything but Christian. Nick felt strongly that we should choose a Christian agency and I felt very drawn to the one we chose. I was blessed as the agency sent out updates throughout the week and continued to call for prayer. In the end, their reflection on the little one going Home really showed their true hearts. In such a long, exhausting, emotional and expensive process, it's good to have all the reassurance one can get!!

We received our notice for fingerprints yesterday. They scheduled us for May 2. However, lots of adoptive parents have had great success as walk-ins in advance of their appointment. Since we're leaving town on Friday for spring break, we're going to attempt to be at the Baltimore office when they open at 8 and see if they'll take us. We've heard of others having success at this office and their website states that military can appear without an appointment after 9. Maybe they'll take mercy on me and let me join my darling husband? He's the smooth talker....we'll see how skilled he is on Friday :) Wish us luck!