Pressed but not crushed

Yesterday was May's consejo.  Our agency doesn't let us know but we hear through the adoption grapevine.  So although we try not to be this way, we are somehow crazily hopeful all day that the list will come out and our kids will be on it, making them officially ours.
We found out that was not going to be the case, even before the list was on the internet.  I'd be lying if I said we weren't disappointed.  As of yesterday, we didn't know why.  We didn't know what stage our paperwork is in.  It's hard to explain to people why we are in this position, when our kids are older and in a sibling group which should make them top priority.
After a little pushing, we got some information today.  Apparently, our dossier is not yet officially approved.  If you read the history, you've read that our adoption requires "special consideration" for my age.  Well....the group of folks that originally said they would make an exception for my age are not all still working for this governing body in Peru.  ONE actually remains which has to be a God thing!  We will call her The Doctor.
I am asking all you praying folks to please pray that The Doctor would be diligent in presenting our case and fighting on behalf of our kids getting a family, our family!  That you would pray for the others involved in the process (social workers, legal and psychologists) to have our kids at the forefront of their minds and to make a decision to make an exception for our special circumstances.  We don't want to be a forgotten pile of paperwork on the corner of a desk.  We need that big YES on our dossier and then a "match" made on the consejo so we can travel!
Please, please pray with us from now until the end of June.  That gives us around 5 weeks to get the dossier approved and still be on the next consejo.  It requires God movement and I believe it is possible!  The next consejo is July 1.
In the next few weeks, our 5 are going to watch 2 of their friends leave the orphanage to go live with a fabulous family in the U.S.  We are so excited for them!!  My prayer is that it provides hope to our 5 that this thing really is possible.  And that they aren't far behind!
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right.  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
We will continue to defend their cause!  Thank you for those of us that will pray with us and our fighting on their behalf as well!

Well we survived

The grad party and Senior Sunday day that is!   I made it all day yesterday without being sappy.  Self preservation I guess. But I just got my camera out and got kind of messed up!  I looked at the senior girls that made up a "panel" at our Senior Sunday church service yesterday...almost all of them, I've known since they were at least 6th grade!  Some of them just as silly as ever! They are so talented!  And have taught me so much over the years!  When I first came home from college, I had NO DESIRE to spend time with middle school girls.  I could write it off as "not my gift".  But I very clearly remember God telling me they were mine to spend time with.  And I walked up to Scott Sterling (who I was working in youth ministry with at the time) and quietly whispered that God told me to hang out with those girls.  Little did I know what a treat it was for me!  They made me laugh hard, be uninhibited, teach boldly and laugh some more.  I am so proud (not in a parental sort of way) of who they are and what they have done.  Many have consistently mentored middle schools girls.  Some are wanting to go into missions.  Others are following God to make a difference in the business world.  ALL are capable of doing amazing things if they continue following this amazing God wherever He leads.  And I believe they will.

THEN in 2008, one of them became my daughter!  How crazy lucky am I!?  We had her grad party yesterday afternoon which was lots of fun!  I think Logan felt special and loved which is what the day was all about!  Both she and I couldn't wait to get our shoes off; who knew such a party could wear a person out!  Because of the craziness going on with graduation stuff, she was home 2 nights in a row to eat with us (which is actually not a common thing around here) and it's been fabulous!  I hope this summer brings many more nights of grilling with all of us home!
As for adoption news, please be praying that we are on the May consejo at the end of the month.  When I find out that the list is coming, I will post it so that we can all be praying specifically.  The Peruvian 5 are doing well!  We've gotten to chat and Skype a little bit again which is so nice!!  I'd love to be able to tell them we got the official, "They're ours! ".

Silence is Golden

Well not really in international adoption.  But we've been hearing a lot of it lately.  We didn't know if our paperwork looked good or if it was going to require changes.  We didn't know if our dossier was on the  desk being looked at or not.  Scott and I kind of teeter totter, who is impatient and who has learned to just wait.  It's a good thing we take turns being impatient or something ugly might happen! :)
Fortunately, we have a handful of folks, both in the U.S. and in Peru that are equally as impatient as we are and help push things a bit.  We have a friend that calls it Operation Adopt Rojas Reyes.  OARR is in full force!

Fortunately, it sounds like we are at least being discussed in Peru.  There is an attorney in Peru that tries to fight on behalf of the kids which keeps our case in the forefront of their minds as well.
What I would ask is that the prayer warriors out there would pray--
For any barriers to be broken down.
For the best interest of the kids to be always the priority.
And for the kids.  That they would not lose heart.

All is well from what we can tell!  Plenty of distractions from the waiting going on in our household--Logan graduating, Laney into everything, Scott working his tail off!  Never a dull moment.  Thanks for your prayers and continued support!