We are almost there!

Yesterday we got a call from our homestudy provider, who informed us that USCIS contacted them and said that our approval letter was in the mail ! This was GREAT news!! I also got the letter through email and forwarded it immediately to our agency....they then immediately forwarded it to Ethiopia! STEP 1 DONE! YAY!
We are only half-way there though.....We were told that it could take up to ten days for something called a cable 37 to be wired to Ethiopia. This is something in relation to Hailu's visa approval. The process can take that long, because there are a couple of steps involved.
After this takes place we will FINALLY get our travel approval and embassy appointment!
There was a bit of drama that went on yesterday with all of this, that I can't post online....so, family and friends, I will have to tell you about it when we talk.
Someone that has been "with us" from day one at our agency emailed me yesterday. It was so comforting to hear them say to us that this whole situation was confusing and not normal at this stage in the process. Someone that we trust and respect and that knows the very most about Hailu and our whole situation ,confirmed our feelings. There are only a few people whose opinion would have a lot of weight in this situation.....this person is one of them! I guess it's just nice to know that we aren't crazy for being a little frustrated and confused about all of this.
So, unless God chooses otherwise....we most likely aren't going to be traveling to pick up Hailu this month. There is a reason for all of this.....and we have no choice now but to wait, and trust the Lord that He will take care of all the details. It is hard to balance sometimes, trusting the Lord and letting Him work it out, but also making sure we do all that needs to be done on our part. My friend Ajay sent me an email the other day to encourage us...she is going through a lot right now also with her adoption process. She referred to a verse that peirced my heart and brought tears to my eyes.....Exodus 14:14 " The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. " The amazing account in Exodus of God delivering the Israelites out of Egypt...the miracles that took place then.....how hard it must have been for them to "be silent" when they were so scared. The Lord DID fight for them and won! He IS fighting for us too....we just need to be silent and let him work His miracles HIS way!