Precious Fingerprints

Today Adam took off a whole day of work for the second time to try to get our fingerprints for the I 800-A. I took off work for the first try, and today I was really sick and needed to study for a big exam that is tomorrow.   We called multiple times trying to make sure the office was going to be open because we knew the weather was supposed to get bad tonight.  The message kept telling us that they were "operating under normal conditions".  The building where we have to get this done is a long distance from our home, and so to go there and travel back home it is a whole day journey.  Today we were at the desk at 11:50 AM.  Our appointment was at 12 noon.  They told us that they were closing at 12 noon and would not take us because at 11:40 AM they had announced they were closing and turned off all the machines!  Argh!  We explained how we had made this trip last month and the same thing had happened.  I was thinking in my mind, "it couldn't take that long to turn the machines on, could it?  Do you know how much time it takes us to make this trip?  Do you know how much in wages we lose when we make this trip?"  They smiled and said they would mail out a new appointment.  We were SO frustrated.  The weather was not even bad yet.  We were standing right there at the desk and they gave practically no notice of closing.  I don't know why these things happen.  But I do know that the Lord has said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Yes, in know in my heart this won't be the last trial we face in this adoption process.  Adoption is hard, and one must be fully committed to it in order to see it through.  It is not for the faint of heart.  And I am sure we will face much greater sorrows and trials in the process.  But, the reward of children is great and what we will face is a small price to pay compared to the joy of adoption.  And there is a greater promise in that verse, too.  The king of kings  has adopted us as His own dear children.  And He went to much greater lengths than we will ever be asked to in order to adopt us.  He is our Father.  And He has overcome this world that is full of "trials and sorrows".  We can look forward to the great hope of someday living in a world that is free of these things with our Father in heaven.  And until then, we will plan to make yet a third trip so they can capture these precious fingerprints of ours.