I NEED CAKE!

  Talking via phone with anyone affiliated with local or state government entities...makes me want to eat cake. I mean, eat the entire sheet cake in under five minutes, flat. I mean, just got-out-of-prison eat. Why? Here's a recap of today's conversations when trying to get information about having adoption documents county certified. Apparently, I would have had better luck had I called and asked the shoe size of the current President of the United States.
...ring, ring.... Kerry optimistically ready with pen and paper to take down details. HA!
Stranger #1: Hello, Jefferson County Courthouse.
Kerry: Yes, I was wondering if I could speak with the person in charge of county certifying documents for adoption purposes.
Stranger #1- Er...I don't know what that is.
Kerry: Well, it's where the county certifies the notary signature on documents for adoption.
Stranger #1- Um, call this number. (Click.)
Kerry dials phone number 2. Still perky.
Stranger # 2: Hello. Judge So and So's office.
Kerry: repeats directive from above.
Stranger #2- That's not this office. It's either circuit court or district court. Try both of these numbers.
Kerry dials phone number 3
Stranger #3- No, that's not us. Try the other number.
Kerry has put down pen and pencil and is now sensing elevation of blood pressure.
Stranger #4- No, we don't do that here. Try probate court. Here's the number.
Deep exhale. Kerry dials phone number 4 and thinks about how similar this is to calling Charter with a technical problem..
Stranger #5- Well, you're close. All adoption-related issues are done in Judge Whoever's office. Call blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.
Kerry now has no assurance that anyone in that entire building has ever heard of county certifying documents.
Dials sixth number.
Stranger #6 (but who's counting?)- No, we only deal with US adoptions once the international adoption has taken place. Call Circuit Civil Court on the 4th floor. I don't know the number, though.
Kerry: Will the main operator have the number?
Stranger #6 (who is probably doing crossword puzzle while speaking to me)- No. She got laid off. Try the blue section of the yellow pages.
Kerry slams head downwards onto table.
Minutes later and after a renewed sense of determination--Kerry consults yellow pages and finds phone number to Circuit Civil Court.
Kerry notes that it's the same number she called on attempt number 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Head back down on table. Kerry punts to Brent to find out information. Kerry wants cake.

 Unfortunately, this scenario is not that uncommon when trying to accomplish something in the adoption process. It's crazy frustrating. It leaves you asking the question: Shouldn't this be easier? I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Why isn't adoption just plain easier? I think you really have to want it. You have to be so motivated by love for that child that you just perservere through the cost, the inconvenience, the government red-tape, the hours of training--all of it. And when the day comes that I can hold that boy's face in my hands, I'll be able to tell him that we fought for him...and it was worth it all.
 Our adoption by Christ wasn't easy, was it? Tim Keller writes in King's Cross: "Through Jesus Christ, an infinite cost to himself, God has clothed us in costly clean garments. It cost him his blood." Our adoption cost Jesus his life. There is no greater price. 
 With that thought in mind, we press on. We re-do documents, write large checks, battle on the phones for information because it's part of the cost of wanting that little boy like God wanted me. And when I think about the millions of orphans remaining, I remember that Christ would have died for just one. And so we fight for just one.