No updates = frustration. Today wasn't a good day. It's been quite a few weeks since we've had contact with our agency about Katelyn. We couldn't get any reply back via email, text, or phone. We even had emails sent back as undeliverable. Each time we contacted them after unanswered email/call/texts, we would grow more frustrated.
You go long enough with no response and crazy thoughts enter your head. At one point I looked at Andy and asked him if I was nuts to wonder if the agency was out of business! When he confirmed that while it was unlikely, it had entered his mind too, I knew we'd gone over the adoption cliff.
Today we finally got some emails returned and to put it plainly, the person just wasn't that nice. Perhaps she was having a bad morning. Or maybe she was in a bad mood. It took most of the day but I think Andy and I both have pulled ourselves back up, remembered to trust God in all of this, and that His timing is perfect. That's not as entertaining as thinking of ways to hurt her, but it's the right way to move forward. We were sort of made to feel as if the agency is doing us a big favor to advocate for us, send packages for us, schedule Skype calls for us, etc.... We happen to believe that they are paid good $$ to do exactly that so it didn't fly too well with us.
Good things that came out of today...they've finally located the missing care package. :) It was sitting in an office in the orphanage. It is being given to the social worker and forwarded to the family. Progress!
We have a tentative Skype date on Dec 23rd which would be pretty awesome. We will be in Oklahoma and several family members would get to meet her. It will be hectic, but so neat to share her with everyone.
I had envisioned that she would be with us for Christmas, but those are not the ways of the adoption world. Make a plan, expect a schedule, anticipate an end date, and BAM, it all changes. Our feelings may dictate that it isn't going "right," but fortunately, I know God has set this all before us and it simply can't go wrong. I'm
so thankful.
In every day life news, Nathan was baptized this past Sunday! What a joy to watch! His heart is genuine and sweet and he believes wholly in Jesus and his crucifixion that paid for our sins. It really is an honor to watch our other son through this process. What an awesome God. He has directly answered so many prayers...it's really hard to comprehend sometimes. Now we pray for Katelyn's salvation.
Nathan is also getting over the flu and bronchitis. Matt had it a couple of weeks ago and bounced back pretty quickly. I thought/hoped we were in the clear. But on Sunday evening we were out seeing Santa and about 30 minutes later, Nathan asked if he could sit down. Anyone that knows Nathan knows this is not a normal request. By Monday morning his fever was 103 and we were at the doctor's office performing one of his most favorite tests, the nasal swab. I don't often wish that I was working and Andy was the stay at home parent, but little things like that glorified Q-Tip being stuck up Nathan's nose are almost enough to make it happen.
We survived. He got Tamiflu and an antibiotic. I kept him home for 3 days, but when we were Wii bowling today and he was talking smack about my score, I knew it was time to send him back to school. So thankful for medications that make him better so fast!
Matt was written up at school today for discussing a little girl's name with his friend. They were in the hallway and supposed to be quiet. Apparently he couldn't contain the comments and the giggles when his friend pointed out the name "Elizabeth Butts" on the wall. Nothing like good ol' grade school humor.
We pray daily for THAT phone call. The one that initiates one last big flurry of preparations for Katelyn. I. can't. wait.
