9 Months DTE

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Here we are at 9 months since our paperwork has traveled to Ethiopia.  Nine months!!  I'm a little more sentimental over this monthly anniversary.....nine months of being "paper pregnant" with no delivery in sight.  Nine months is usually that magical time period when you are waiting for your little one when you can say "any day now" - or in the case with my older two, wait for the induction to be scheduled!  Instead, we are waiting - most days patiently - and encouraged knowing God is knitting the details together. 

Our pastor recently used a sermon illustration where a Grandmother was working on her needlepoint.  Her little grandson was sitting below her and looking up seeing all the knotted ends and hanging strings said innocently enough, "That's ugly, Grandma!"  Wisely, the Grandmother lifted him up on her lap where we could see the whole picture.....and see how beautiful it really was.  Looking forward to the day when we see the big picture!

We have updated our request a little recently, so we are actually listed in a few extra categories now.  Here's our unofficial numbers as of today.....

Infant Boy (0-18mo) = 55

Young (under 4 yr) siblings = 29

Siblings with older child = 8

Toddler Boy (19-47) mo = 17

I should add that although that single digit number looks pretty sweet up there, it doesn't mean that we are expecting a referral anytime soon.  These numbers tend to move up quite slowly!  But, that being said, we are thankful for the progress that has been made!!

Since I've been thinking about my 9-month paper pregnancy, I thought it would be interesting to check out what some of our other mammal friends go through before they get to see their young.  At 266 days average gestation, humans are actually a little less than 9 months.  We are most similar to the cow at 284 days.  The most disgusting animal on earth (in my humble opinion), the possum, has one of the shortest gestation periods at only 12 days, hardly time to prepare a nursery.  Some of the longest gestation periods include the camel (400), giraffe (425), grey rhino (480), black rhino (540), and Asian elephant (610).  Topping the list with a whopping 660 days is the African elephant.  

9 months is a long time to wait.  But there are so many mamas out there waiting longer.  Praying for those mamas, especially the ones I have come to know through our agency, who have surpassed mama elephant and whose hearts & arms are aching tonight.