Interview #2

Love them...love them all!

This interview went just as well as the first but looked different in a few ways.  First of all, it was MUCH smaller.  In the particular county we interviewed with on Monday there are three rounds of interviews (yes, I know...three!).  So, this interview had less people in it than our previous interview (that county only requires one interview to choose a family).  For interview #2 and #3 more and more people are added.
To make a long 2 1/2 hour interview shorter -  they liked us...they liked us enough that they decided immediately after the interview was over to advance us to "the next round."  Now, we just sit and wait for them to finish interviewing the rest of the families, make their decisions on who they will advance, and notify us when the Round 2 interview will be scheduled.  The good news is that if you make it into Round 3 they interview the final three families all in the same day and make their decision that very same day.  At least all your waiting up until that point is rewarded with some expediency!

So, we love them...we love them all.

Though this group looks so very different from the first group we can't help but love them too.  Each of these groups has such different group personalities and then within that each child has such a different personality.  We would be thrilled to be chosen for either set.  We've had some people ask us which group we would choose if were chosen for both (WISH!).  The answer to that is we could not.  There is not one single characteristic, need, personality...anything at all that would make us choose one group over the other.  They are so different and each so special that there is no way to compare them.  Should that happen, we'd leave it up to the expert...our caseworker.
                                         HOWEVER
We are still praying that we don't have to choose (or have anyone choose for us).  We're hoping the timing will be just right that we'll clearly know who our group is going to be.  Which brings me to another point.  We could walk out of these interviews without any children.  Boy do we hope that isn't the case...boy do we ever.
But I continue to claim that we fully trust in God's sovereignty during this whole process, especially now that we are so close - much closer than we've ever been.  But you know, as I sit and wait for "the call" or "the email" I am fighting feelings of nervousness and anxiety.  I'm trying my darndest to keep them at bay and out of my head.  I've been reminded (by others, by myself, by Jordan, and by the Word) that I am not fighting this battle alone.  I've got the greatest warrior fighting for me and my kids...the warrior that NEVER grows weary, NEVER gets anxious, and NEVER gives up.  I am confident His will will be done in this battle.  I sometimes just wish I could close my eyes and let Him finish while I hibernate :)

I'm going to leave you with two verses I've been clinging to this past week; they have a very special place in my heart.  These are verses that came to me at two different times at just at the right time by two people who didn't even know I needed them or why I needed them...these two women didn't even chat with each other about this.  In fact, one was given to me by a woman I had never met before.  Please notice how similar these two verses are...this clearly isn't a coincidence but rather a specific message meant for me in my time of need.  So thank you Kate O. and Sherilyn J. for listening and responding as you were directed.

"You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you...Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out and face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20: 17

"Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22

(See, that doesn't look like a coincidence, does it?  Thank you Stacy S. for your post about coincidences!)