This is a post I can’t believe I’m writing already.

We fully expect setbacks and twists and turns during the process.  It’s pretty much par for the course.

Today, we learned “Hague compliant” and “Hague accredited” are different things, and that difference is a big deal when adopting from South Korea.

We are working with an out-of-state adoption agency, so that means we need to find an in-state agency for our home study.  After looking at our options, we went with the provider who could provide the fastest turnaround.

We completed all the documents, got things notarized, got fingerprinted, and sent in a small non-refundable deposit.

Today we found out they are not Hague-accredited.  They are Hague-compliant, meaning they can write the reports under the supervision or in conjunction with another accredited partner agency (like our agency).  For many countries, that’s perfectly acceptable.  It’s not for South Korea.

So we are back to the beginning for our home study.  Josh sent out a couple of emails tonight to clarify that our other options are, in fact, accredited and to see how much this will delay us.

I’m trying not to be disappointed (though I am failing at that as I write this).  Any delay is more time I’m not with my child.  Any delay could mean missing EP submissions opportunities down the road and pushing the process back 3 – 4 months.

But in this case, it is GOOD that South Korea is so thorough.  It’s good they have high standards.  It’s good they keep the child’s best interest in mind.

And God is not surprised.  God is not saying, “Oh… Why didn’t I make sure this agency was accredited?”

Perhaps this is just a small reminder of how much we are not in control.  We are not in charge here.  There are no negotiations, no chances of bending the rules.

In ways, it makes me think of both pregnancies with my boys.  With Jackson, I had pains very early on that made me afraid the pregnancy wasn’t sustainable.  I rushed in for an ultrasound and saw a perfectly positioned little person in the making.  With Elliott, he was considered a threatened miscarriage.  I went in for an ultrasound early on, and he measured small and his heartbeat was too slow.  I couldn’t control any of it.  I just had to wait and see what would happen.

So in a way, this is the typical start to a Sewell child.  Something unexpected to keep us on our toes.  Something to make us remember parenthood is always a giant leap of faith.