Do you Like Roller Coasters? Welcome Aboard!

Hello Friends! 

Welcome to the Baker Family Roller coaster. 

Wednesday, August 1. 

We got awesome news this day.  We reached spot #3 on the wait list for a referral.  Payton and I were walking into the church office when Billy called with the news.  I think several people on Third Street must have thought I was a bit loony (not an unusual finding there, I must add J) as I looked at my daughter and yelled,  “We’re number three!  We’re number three!” 

Thursday, August 2. 

That afternoon I got on Facebook just briefly and noticed an update from West Sands, the partner of our adoption agency.  They had given out six referrals that day.  Now my first thought was, “What?! Why not us?!”  Then I reminded myself that West Sands also does adoptions through China, or it could be that they gave referrals for older children instead of babies.  I was fighting personal disappointment with joy because six more children would have forever families.  Someone commented on the status and asked if they could get any details of the referrals so that the rest of us would know how it affected us.  So, every five minutes or so, I was checking to see if West Sands had answered the question.  Maybe these referrals had moved us to the number one spot.

We pulled out of the driveway to go get some dinner and were turning out of our neighborhood when my phone rang with an unfamiliar number.  I answered, cautiously hopeful that this might just be Lesley from Lifeline (our agency).  Indeed, it was.

Drum roll, please!.........

WE GOT A REFERRAL!!!!! An absolutely beautiful four-month-old baby girl is waiting for us in Ethiopia.  Thank you, Jesus!!!! 

We told Payton that she was going to have a baby sister, and she said with awe and absolute joy, “Oh!  I wanted a sister!”  The tears were flowing freely as this moment that we had waited on for 22 months had finally come.  We sped back home to open an email from Lesley that would allow us to see her face for the first time.  (This did not thrill Payton, who was ready for dinner. J) 

Billy and I stood arm in arm, anxiously waiting for the picture to appear.  And then there she was- a perfect, wide-eyed, beautiful baby girl.  Oh, how I loved her from the first instant.  Lesley gave us some info about her background- she was abandoned, found, and brought to the orphanage.  She said that she would give us a day or so to think about it, and make sure that we wanted to accept this referral, but there was no question for Billy or me.  That was our daughter. 

I’ll tell you more about her (what little I know) in my next blog, but first I want to take you on the next hill of the roller coaster. 

Lesley told us that Thursday evening that the Ethiopian courts would be closing in the middle of August, and that they were going to work diligently to try to get us a court date before the closure.  If not, we would not go for our first trip (you have to go twice to Ethiopia, bringing your child home the second trip) until the end of September or beginning of October.  This meant we could go in the next couple of weeks to meet our sweet girl- way faster than usual.  That was so exciting to hear.

Friday, August 3.

Billy went to take some papers over to Lifeline.  While he was there Lesley got an email from West Sands saying we could possibly leave for Ethiopia as early as Thursday, August 9!  Thursday!  Less than a week away.  Okay, we have a few things to do before we leave the country for a week, so this news was super exciting and also sent my blood pressure through the roof.  She told us that we would not know for sure about traveling until Monday came. 

Today, Monday, August 6.

So Monday has come and (almost) gone.  No court date yet.  We had a travel webinar tonight with West Sands and they were hopeful that we might have good news tomorrow, but of course, they could make no promises.  If we go this weekend, we could possibly bring our daughter home before Christmas.  If we do not get a court date next week, it appears as though we will not go for our first trip until the beginning of October.  Ugh. 

I’m constantly reminding myself of what I’ve written on this blog multiple times.  His timing is perfect.  He knows.  He has a plan. However, despite this knowledge, it was a rough day.  It seems as though despite waiting for 22 months, I still have not completely perfected the art of patience.  Maybe I’ll be closer by the end of it all. 

Little blessings helped today, though.  Tonight when we signed on to the webinar we saw the face of a friend we worked Crossings with 12 years ago.  How cool is that?  He and his wife will probably be in Ethiopia meeting their child with us.  Those of you who have gone through an adoption know how special it is to walk this journey with friends, so it was just awesome to find out we will be there together. 

Then tonight, when I asked Payton what she wanted to pray for, her immediate response was, “my little sister.”  Thank you, Jesus.  Oh, how you have blessed us.

So, tomorrow I will probably have another day filled with nausea, and I will probably jump and run every time the phone rings.    We so hope that it is a day that is an up on this roller coaster.  Please pray that Lord willing, we get good news, and if it is not His plan for us to go next week, pray that we will remember that He is in control, and that He is watching over our precious girl. 

We are praising Him with all that we are for His goodness.  Roller coasters in life are made bearable when the One who designs them is the One who you trust- not only are they bearable, but they are remarkable and always manage to bring Him glory.  He is faithful and loving and such a good Father- I hope you can see that in our story.  Can’t wait to tell you more…

Blessings,

Jodi