What If?

I've been battling a case of the "what if's" lately.  LB's orphan investigation has already began or will be beginning within days.  Being at this 'almost there, but not quite' stage is tough. 

What if LB's family can't be located and this takes forever?
What if LB's family is found, but they don't want to agree to his adoption?
What if we invest all this time and emotion into pursuing LB and he's not really meant to be our's?
What if our little guy is really still out there waiting for us to find him?
What if we don't have him home by our desired timeline of Christmas?

The irony with this beckons back to one of my earliest lessons as a first grade teacher.  Little kids love love love to play the "what if" game.  Very early on in my teaching career, I instituted a very simple (but effective) rule.  I.don't.play.the "what if" game.  When kiddos start down that path, I put a stop to it immediately.  It's a bunny trail that will suck you in every.single.time. 

Clearly I need to take a lesson from my own play book....

One of my favorites:  ^{Jeremiah 29:11} For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.