Bye Bye, Dossier

Today was the day. I mailed our dossier (unintentional rhyme). We have worked for a loooong time on the paperwork for our dossier--getting things signed, getting things notarized, going to the doctor, contacting our insurance company, asking for reference letters, finding old tax returns, copying passports, getting new passport photos, writing a letter (maximum one page...how ridiculous!) explaining why we want to adopt from Ethiopia, getting certified copies of birth certificates and our marriage license...Well, you get the idea. I was nervous to even put it in the mail. On more than one occasion I tried to rationalize driving to Kentucky to drop it off in person. But I went to FedEx today and boldly asked for an envelope and put all of that hard work (original copies!!!) in the mail.

                                                                   Our life on paper

                                                                       Bye Bye, Dossier!

The woman who helped me was so, so sweet. She asked me if I wanted to place a monetary value on the parcel. I responded, "Priceless." She gave me a funny look, and I quickly explained that we are adopting from Ethiopia and what the parcel actually was. As soon as I explained it, she was all smiles and said, "Well, that is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard." And she was RIGHT! And not because Adam and I are beautiful, but because God is. He is perfectly beautiful, and adoption is a beautiful picture of the Gospel, of what Jesus Christ did for us by willingly laying down His own life so that we could spend an eternity with our Heavenly Father, the One who created us and the One who loves us unconditionally.

So today was another step closer to our little baby bird. And while I am anxious about all of that paperwork being out of my sight (you know I am calling Lifeline tomorrow to make sure it got there), I know that the Lord is in control, and He is bringing us ever closer to our little one.

Please pray that our dossier is in working order and that the one piece we are missing (state police clearances for both of us) arrives soon so that we can send everything off to Ethiopia.

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Love,
Baylor