I began this post on New Year's Eve from work, but did not have an opportunity to finish it. The last month has come and gone very quickly! While this is a praise, we do have much to do prior to welcoming our dear little one home. Dave and I plan to spend this upcoming weekend working on odds and ends around the house. Until we know the gender of our baby, we are postponing the remaining work on their room. Although, we have plenty to get done.
It has been absolutely wonderful to be less busy with Dave's classes being done. We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends over the holidays. We have additionally enjoyed some undivided time with each other.
With the arrival of a new year, we look expectantly to the day we receive our referral for a son or daughter. It should be about 2-4 months from the time the ICBF receives our paperwork later this month. The ICBF, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (Colombian Family Welfare Institute), is the government agency within Colombia that will be handling the review and referral of our paperwork to a region within Colombia. The "regional referral" is the forwarding of our paperwork to a regional office of the ICBF where we will be matched with a son or daughter.
We are thankful for how clearly God has been directing and providing through this process. It has also been very encouraging to speak with other adopting parents. As a couple we have been praying for children around the world who do not have permanent, stable, supportive, caring homes. We have additionally been praying for our son or daughter....praying for their health, their development, sense of peace and protection, experience of the world around them, their relationships with caring and supportive adults, as well as for their biological parents...for their health, protection, and life journey through adoption. May God also send peace to their hearts, encouragement when the days are lonely and long, and provide richly for their needs.
In the coming month, I (Sheila) begin to transition to working full-time nights. It has been a while since I kept these sort of hours, so I am hoping for a quick adjustment to them. The month of January will keep Dave busy as he works to complete budget and tax paperwork for the church and church council. Tax season is also back upon us, so he will additionally begin to help some of the residents at work with their taxes.
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