"He knows...."

Today marks 10 weeks our paperwork has been in Ethiopia. Every day is one day closer. At least that's what I keep telling myself to keep from growing anxious. We have busied ourselves with school starting back, Bible Study for stay-at-home-mom's gearing back up, and the routine that all those schedules require. It still grows difficult to sit and feel like we aren't DOING anything for our sweet girl. Then I am reminded that His plan is never idle, always at work to accomplish His purposes. And, DOING isn't always best. Being still is often better. Trust is often part of the purpose He wishes to accomplish. Just when I feel like no one except Mark and I (and our friends/family who have been there or are in this process now) understands what the wait is like I am reminded,

He knows.

We were able to get a new dining room table that seats 8! Our old table sat 6, but we wanted to be proactive in making her part of our family... moving forward in faith that she will be sitting with us soon. With every passing meal I look at that empty chair (we moved one chair away from the table to make more room) and remind myself it won't be empty forever. We often refer to that chair by her name (the name we are likely to give her if we use her Ethiopian name as her middle name). With meals it often feels like a double-edged sword. Not only is that chair empty, but the table often has meat, veggies, bread, etc on it... plenty to go around and more times than not with leftovers. Then it occurs to me that she is living with famine and with no table or seat to call her own. Just when I get overwhelmed by it all and think the world has forgotten I am reminded,

He knows.

Today Mark and I went to Regan's first-of-the-year parent/teacher conference. While there, we were chatting about Regan's academics and her goals for the year. The teacher commented on Regan's willingness to help others and her sweet spirit. Then she said the bible verse for the students to memorize this week is Psalm 139:16 "...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Ms. Bond (Regan's teacher) then said as the class discussed the verse through the week she asked them for examples about things God already knows. Some of the kids said things like, "He already knows what I am going to eat tomorrow" or "He already knows what reading part I am going to get tomorrow." And Regan interjected by saying, "He already knows when I will get my sister." Yes, sweetheart, He does. And I, for one, needed the reminder. It brings comfort to my longing heart to simply hear,

He knows.