When Ana-Sophia came into our lives back in September, we checked out every library book we could find on adoption and on Serbia.  We subscribed to every blog on Serbian adoption and quickly developed our own time-line based on all of the experiences we read about.  We were certain that by now (3 months in) we would have our dossier submitted and simply be waiting on a travel date. Well…that’s not exactly the case.  Since we changed home-study agencies mid-stream, we are still in that stage of the process.  However, it looks like it will be done by Christmas.  I made a master list of all the things that needed to be done  for both the home-study and the dossier and while we’ve been waiting on the home-study, I’ve basically completed the dossier list.  It feels so good to open my little notebook and check off one more thing.  Every check mark brings us a little closer to bringing Ana home.

On the funding side, things have been a little slower than we had hoped also.  Last month we started the process of converting our VA mortgage on a house that we own in Columbus, GA to an FHA with the hope of cashing out some equity that would cover the actual adoption fees in country.  The online appraisal sites that the bank based the offer on all placed our house at around $265,000.  We only paid $162,000 for it back in 2002 and so we felt very safe taking a little equity out.  Well, the formal appraisal came back last week at only $210,000.  Neither of us feel comfortable with taking equity out with it being that low, so we’re just going to leave it alone for now.  We are not worried about the funding though.  God has given us every dime that we’ve needed for every step in the process thus far and He certainly will not fail us now.

I read this verse this morning and felt very clearly that this is God’s promise to Ana-Sophia. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.