Forcing hope

Yep - just trying to FORCE HOPE into my mind and stay positive.  Friday I saw some posts on the yahoo groups - and man ok - some are so negative - I've changed my status on those.  Anyhow AAI warned us a week or so ago that some court dates may slow down.  There were some changes.  Well an article was published or something - I wish I had the strength and emotional state to go back and read or reference it - but honestly I can't. I'm trying not to get tears in my eyes and just can't do that right now.  Its too depressing.

Anyhow - MOWA or the courts in ET are slowing things down to 5 hearings a day.  I may be getting the details wrong - but they think this will reduce adoptions of children from ET by 90% - Wow- that's the hard part.  All these kids, homeless, orphans, living in places that can barely feed them.  NOT for trying, I believe most agencies do everything for the kids they can, they just don't have the finances or means - like many people there.

So it was hard.  Craig is awesome and helping me to stay focused.  Yesterday I attended our Bishop's day conference for church and it helped.  I prayed and continued more prayers in silent at church this morning.  Our agency, and luckily I saw more posts today from other agencies - they all feel that the court can do more, but MOWA is slowing things down.  NOT because they have to - yes they need to slow it down a little to really do more full inspections on the adoptions, but because they want to see if the gov't can give them more help.  If I remember correctly they only have a handful of employees.  I want to say under 10- more like 5-8 people.  I'm sure I'm wrong on these numbers - so no one quote me here - but I just remember that.  So I am clinging to this fact and glad that other agencies think this too.  A LOT are sending representatives there to have meetings with MOWA in the coming weeks.  These are the agencies that are good and ethical - they care about these children and want to help them.

So yeah - I'm clinging and forcing hope right now.  AT the Bishop's day, this church Hope UMC had a bookstore.  I bought my own little African Angel figurine - its so beautiful.  A bookmark with this beautiful angel overlooking an African Village.  I hope to scan this picture and share - I'm going to hold onto these.  I know God put us on this path or led us here - who knows.  But I have to believe our future kids all have a guardian angel overlooking them.

Anyone else out there - and I know my dear friends I"m meeting out there - you feel the same way.  We must continue to lean on each other and hold each other up.  hang in there.  I"m having a good moment right now - I may have a bad one tomorrow.  But we'll all get our kids home - we'll get our referrals and we'll meet as well!  You know who you are - We WILL meet with our 4 kids having a blast one day.  That is another hope to cling to.

Happy Sunday evening all -
God Bless - and remember lets keep hope and faith (that's all I can do right now)
Love
Gail