....

I couldn't think of an appropriate title for this post.

"Transition drags on" ?

"Stuck somewhere in between" ?

"Incomplete" ?

How to convey what we are living and feeling during this bizarre season of life ? How to summarize our emotions, our thoughts ?

....

That about sums it up.

We are living an ellipsis. Those four little dots that mean "to be continued" are a very accurate description of our life, which moves forward and promises hope, but is not quite complete.

David is living in an ellipsis as the visa application process drags on, with each completed step leading to another task that must be done, another document that must be found, another appointment that must be made, another fee that must be paid (our internationally-bound friends understand this wearying ordeal all too well !).

Elise is living in an ellipsis as she moves from one job interview to the next, fills out one application after another, makes one phone call after another, investigates one potential connection after another.

Jude is living in an ellipsis as he temporarily resides in a country that is one of his homes and is yet somewhat unfamiliar, as he is far from his mother, as he is without real rhythm in his days.

Some days I feel that there is nothing more we could possibly do to advance along the ellipsis any faster. And in those moments I must find contentment in resting and trusting in God. Then suddenly I feel as though there is not enough time in the world to finish all we must do to move on to the next step.

I wish David already had his visa.

I wish I was already settled into a job.

I wish we didn't have to be separated.

BUT our lives are not filled with despair, as it may appear from my last post and the start of this one. Yes, it is a strange season and I often don't know how I should feel in the midst of it, but we are honestly doing well and God is carrying us through this odd time. Of course I wish that all of these things that are "in-process" would hurry up and work themselves out, but I am peaceful in the waiting (most days :-) ).

And there is so much hope and beauty in the midst of this season. David has his final visa step (an interview at the U.S. Embassy) scheduled for June 14th. We will hopefully know shortly thereafter whether he's been approved for his visa or not !

I have had some lovely interviews for a wide variety of nursing positions (it is surprisingly overwhelming to discover the incredible diversity within this profession, and having to choose from the list !), and I feel very hopeful about one in particular that I believe God has been preparing me for over the past couple of weeks.

Jude is doing very well in Switzerland, soaking up all of the French that surrounds him and enjoying one-on-one time with his papa !

I am going to visit David and Jude from June 13th-28th !!!!!! That is the best news of all ! My current position ends on June 11th, and I simply made the decision that I needed to go and be with my family, no matter whether I had a job set up or not. If nothing else, I can keep looking when I return. But it will be so worth it to see my two handsome men !

So yes, it is frustrating to be stuck here in the process. Yet we see the hand of our Heavenly Father directing us, protecting us, providing for us and loving us in the midst of it all.

And with every reality check, such as meeting a family whose one-year-old baby is dependent on a ventilator to live, I am once again struck by how many people are in much more difficult situations than I am, and I'm filled with gratitude. I want to live in gratefulness rather than self-pity, and to see the opportunities instead of the obstacles that surround me.

Thank you for your prayers, and please continue to ask God that:

-He would guide me in my job search

-David would have grace during his interview at the embassy -Jude would not grow up too much while he's apart from his mom :-(

-We would be a blessing to everyone we meet, no matter where we are !

Lots of love from Minnesota and Yverdon !

-Elise, David and Jude