As you may or may not have heard, our home study appointment was postponed. I think it's safe to say that we're a little disappointed, but we are encouraged by the quick turn around. To sum it all up, the children of the social worker who was to do our home study on Monday came down with colds; therefore, she had to care for her kids. God willing, she will be performing the home study this Friday night at 6:30 pm. Friday wasn't one of her available days initially, so we're thankful that she's making room for us.
In the meantime we've been focusing a lot of our energy into our profile book. Ashley has taken the lead with the design, and she's doing quite the bang up job! We've been scouring our hard drives for photos, but we've noticed that we haven't done the best using our cameras. I think there are more pictures of our dog than of either of us, especially Ashley. Looks like I need to be more of a shutter bug. I'll work on that. Anyway, our hope is to have the profile book finished by this weekend.
I believe that the most important part of our profile book is our "birth mother" letter. For those of you who don't know, it is a letter either independent of a profile book or in the first few pages that is addressed specifically to the birth mother and/or her family. It's the only real opportunity to speak directly to the mother. I was afraid that writing it would make me feel like I was making a Powerpoint slide deck. Something like:
"The Top 10 Reasons to Choose the Muehlbauer's"
Fortunately that wasn't the case. We ended up writing what I think is a very heartfelt message that in some ways preached into our own lives/ Ashley suggested including scripture in the letter, and God directed me to this:
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 ESV)
Though the context speaks of future glory attained on Christ's return, it also refers to suffering. I'm not putting our pain on the same level as the worst emotional or physical suffering, but to deny it's hurt would be oversimplifying it. Regardless, we have God's revealed will that says this thorn, if you will, will be worked out for our eternal good; and that brings me comfort.
So sad to hear that your home visit had to be postponed!! I wish I lived so so so much closer to you guys. I would love to come over and see your book and pray with you and just sit with you as you dream about what could some day be your child.
ReplyDeleteMiss you!