Brooke and the No-Update Update

 It's been a long time since I have given a Brooke update. The reason for that is that I have nothing to tell. As many of you will remember, I flew to Ethiopia in September of last year to try and further Brooke's adoption case along. The logistical challenge lies in the reality that she doesn't have one living family member to sign her adoption papers -  (yes, I know that logically the kids that are 100% orphaned are the ones that need to be adopted, but the reality in Ethiopia is they are generally the children that are stuck in the system.) While we were in Ethiopia, we thought we had cleared a way for her case to progress to the first of three courts. Now that we are six months past that point, with no reports back of her case even entering the first court, I am beginning to lose hope. 

We are almost at the two year mark since Brooke's mom died and we asked the agency to begin her adoption process. We agonized and prayed about the decision because it's no small feat to adopt a 12 year old (who is also the same age as our two sons!) We really felt like it was the right thing to step out in faith and reunite Brooke with her biological sister, Bella. Since we have had time with her on three different trips to Ethiopia, we love her and want her to be our 12th child! As tough as an older child adoption is, I really feel like she would do well in our country and our family. 

I fall back on the reality, however, that we have prayed the entire time that God would place her in our family if it is His will. We will absolutely believe that God did not consider it in her, or our other children's, best interest if the adoption never takes place. We will not abandon Brooke in Ethiopia either - we will somehow make sure that she is taken care of. The best thing in all of this right now is that she is living day to day knowing that she is loved and wanted by all of us! That alone can make a huge difference for a child.

 West Sands did a wonderful service to these two placing them together in the guest home and allowing them to bond before we ever brought them home. They are the best of friends and as close as any two sisters could be.

Bella and Selah

 I would just love to see Brooke given the same opportunity with the seven sisters she would be coming home to!