Another step completed!!!!!

On February 20th, the remaining documents were officially sent to our agency for review and our dossier is complete! We are so thankful that this part- our part- is finally complete. Now hopefully they accept all of our notorized documents- we had quite the meeting with the notary which is a story for another time! Our dossier now makes a tour of its own-first heading to our agency, then to the Ethiopian embassy in Toronto, back to the agency and then back to our province then to Ethiopia! We are praying that it does not get lost!

Reality has set in as it had for each of our other children. Whether by birth or through adoption there is a fleeting moment of "what did we just do"?!?! But the moments pass and I know that this is right and good. It will be hard- probably excrutiatingly sometimes- but right and good. Micah 6:8 comes to mind. So we celebrate! We are heading out for supper as a family this weekend. We are tracking our dossier through the mail.

And we are brainstorming for some fundraising ideas. We are trusting God on this one. Depending on how many children we are referred, expenses could look vastly different. So if you wouldn't mind praying with us that these things would be taken care of. And if you have ideas, or what has worked for you- we would love to here. We have about a 1/3 of the cost covered  so far for the maximum number of children we have requested- so God has been good. And we are thankful and continuing to trust in Him.

So here we go! We are hoping our dossier will be in country within the month and as we wait we will prepare- emotionally, mentally, financially & physically. We are excited and hopeful. As my little princess said this morning as she snuggled in bed with me "Momma, in my good dreams last night all our kids were home from Ethiopia". Amen to that.

Blessings,
Candra

provincial approval & original homestudy 

the rest of the necessary papers out of our hands!!!

approval...very soon!

This picture shows the day we met little man....what an amazing day it was! And I was reminded about all the good work- paperwork, saving financially, meetings etc - we put in beforehand. 

And this week, it looks like we will finally get our homestudy approval from our provincial government   for this adoption..then we need to get it notarized (already have an appointment!) and send it off to our wonderful agency! So. So. excited!!!

To our child(ren) in Ethiopia...we are working hard, getting our part done 

and praying each and every day for you 

- for joy, for hope, for health and that you would know God's love in your life/lives!!!!

Love, mom&dad +4

mom + work...is good.

This post is a little bit of my heart and my life in the last couple of weeks...

About a week ago, I got an offer to work at another location of pediatric work. I absolutely love my job, love the families and children that I am privileged to work with and have been honored to meet so many great colleagues! We have also been praying that God would open up opportunities to provide funds for our adoption expenses that soon will be upon us! Initially, I began to have this inner struggle about working more or staying home with my kids more. And I have to be honest, I really enjoy my days at home and I also really enjoy the opportunities I have to work and pursue my career. 

To back up a little, anytime I share with people that I have four children and work as well, I get all sorts of reactions. I also know I place a lot of expectations on myself - most good but some probably too high to attain.  So the struggle I began to have was a few things - what would others think of me? Would me kids be OK? Am I being selfish? Is this God answering our prayers?

And then I had a few people talk some sense into me!

-First my husband - he supports me and encourages me as a woman but also in my professional life - unconditionally. He also asked me if I  thought the kids had less of a relationship with him because he has always worked more than me? Good rhetorical question! And the answer is no - we both have incredible relationships that we are always working on with our kids.

-Second- a great older (than me) woman that I have been blessed to get out for coffee with regularly was so encouraging. She just expressed that God has been opening up all sorts of doors for pediatric work for me and that it is awesome! She has been a great cheerleader. 

In my heart, I know that this is the life I have been called to and chosen to live but encouragement is always good...

In saying all this, I desire to passionately pursue being a mom! I.....

1....desire to raise my kids as missional people - that they would look outward - to live for Jesus each and every moment of their lives

2....to let them know that failure is OK - it is the reason we succeed later

3....demonstrate that risk and sacrifice are good and important. That comfort and material things (although I think we strive sometimes too hard to make sure our kids have this) is far less important than we would like to think!

4....show them that memories and experiences as a family far outweigh what we "get/have"

5....strive to be an example & demonstrate that me working is my choice, my ministry - it makes me balanced and a healthier mom & wife, and, that is is OK to do things differently

6....i pray for them everyday 

7....hope to show them that there is grace & forgiveness within our family

8...work hard at being patient and not getting frustrated and that I am willing to say sorry when I don't get it right
9...am first and foremost God's daughter and I desire to follow God's will in my life

Just so you know that I absolutely do not have everything figured out in my roles - there are things I have chosen to intentionally had to let go of, the main one being-

**CLEANING!!!  My house may only get a good cleaning every few weeks. Yes, I am admitting that. I keep it tidy, floors swept, laundry continually happening,dishes done and bathrooms clean (at least the guest one). But the dust stays, the floors go unmopped, the beds sheets not washed every week, toys not cleaned up every night, don't bake weekly - but you know what - I am and my family is OK with that. Just being honest.

And there are other things we have had to be really intentional about including - 

**FAMILY TIME!!! We hold tightly to our family time each week.

**MAKING THE MOST OF MOMENTS!!! I make sure that I involve the kids when I am home - when I cook, grocery shop, clean etc. to make sure I know what is going on in their day. Each of them almost always as some one on one time each day.

And as my husband stated to me and I have already mentioned - I work more than you and I think I have a pretty great relationship with them. Well put.

So today I am thankful for the opportunities God has laid before me. And for the people I meet in those opportunities. I am trying very hard to no longer wrestle with our decision and my desire to work. I am blessed. I love what I do.  And I have people who unconditionally support our decision. And I am pretty sure if you do what you love and balance the best you can, all your relationships will flourish and grow.

And they are great kids. I could not be more honoured to get to be the one they call mom.

Blessings,

Candra

documents....sigh.

This was us in mid-December...all of our dossier requirements minus the homestudy being sent to our agency! We are still waiting for our home study approval and it is supposed to come this week. But last minute clarifications and rewrites have made that a very big maybe. Hoping that we have it in our hands by Friday -

Blessings,

Candra