Shooting Stars

Although it seems as though we just started on this journey...almost a year has passed since we first began the process. It's hard to believe that we have already been waiting two months since our completed dossier was sent away. We are definitely ready to see the child that God is sending us, but we realize that it will be in His time and that He is still preparing the road...not only with us, but our family and friends. While we recognize that some people find it difficult to completely understand our motivation, we truly know that we are fulfilling a request from our Savior. A request that involves sacrifice and faith; a request that involves unconditional love and security; a request that involves unity and compassion.

We received notice over the weekend that we are one more step closer to a referral as our dossier has completed all of the necessary steps. It has been authenticated, translated and registered with the MOWA (Ministry of Women's Affairs-the adoption authority in Ethiopia). Now we are officially ready to receive a referral. A referral is when we are presented with the biography, medical history, family history and photos of the child that we will be matched with. This is very exciting as it will be the first time that we actually "meet" (even if it's only on paper) our son.

I have to share something else that happened over the weekend. Throughout this whole process, as I have been praying, dreaming and anticipating the delivery of our son...I have secretly hoped that God would show me a sign when our child was born. I know this seems a little hokey, but how cool would it be to experience the birth of our son in a non-physical way thousands of miles away. So, as I have been thinking about this and praying, I would question different things that would happen and wonder "was that my sign?". But, then I would just say to myself...no, it was just that I was thinking about it at that time. Well, on Saturday evening as Julie and I were on our way to Montezuma to pick Jaden and Justin up from Julie's dads house, we both saw a shooting star falling in the night sky and then it just fizzled out...like a spark that made its way from a fire. I can count the number of shooting stars that I have seen in my lifetime on one hand...and the more that I think about that star, I can't help but wonder if that was our 'sign'. God has definitely used a star in the past to announce a birth. I know...silly huh?? But, how cool would it be to find out that the child that we have been matched with was born on October 2nd? Can I at least dream?

This experience also made me think of the lyrics of a song by Mainstay called Stars are Singing. The lyrics are as follows:

Under open skies I leave the day behind
Wonder in my eyes, the world feels so alive
I just speak Your name and my heart seems to change
God of truth and grace, I can only praise You

And the stars are singing out
the glory of Your wondrous love
Heaven's reaching down
to show me all that You have done for me

Healer of my heart, come burn away the dark
Under soft twilight, I can hear your voice tonight

Your name is higher than the Heavens
Your glory fills a million skies
Your heart is reaching down from heaven
and my soul cries out to You

We are so blessed...blessed beyond complete understanding.