Hi, Everyone!
We're still here, enjoying some cooler weather at last. I know you Tennessee folks are glad, too! I have been absolutely swamped with an eight page transition report that we have to fill out for our agency by Tuesday of this week among just every day life with Miss Ava, and I haven't had a chance to upload more pics. I will upload just as soon as I can. We're falling more and more in love with Maia every day! We've begun important steps to prepare Miss Ava for the arrival of her baby sister! This means walking around with a Chinese baby doll in my front-carrier for China. Ava has her own Chinese baby that she is talking to and taking care of, too. So far so good!
Took much needed time just be still today. Um, that was after I burned the sandwiches I was doing in the skillet. The tears flowed and I knew it was NOT about burned toast. I let them flow for awhile and talked to God until I felt more at peace. This is exhilaratingly wonderful, but it is overwhelming at the same time, especially with all of the US/China/agency paperwork and hoops and phone calls.
Looking forward to hotdogs tonight! Maybe it's what we had for dinner last night, too. :)
Peace, everyone,
Emily
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
LOC to China!
LOC means Letter of Confirmation that we have accepted our referral of Maia! They should receive it in a few days and then it will be on average, 4-5 weeks before we get our travel approval to bring her home!
I apologize for taking so long to blog about Maia's referral! We've been absorbing all of the information and have started filling out a mountain of paperwork for our agency. Some of the information is sensitive, so I'm just going to share general things that we know about sweet Maia.
We know that she's most likely with a foster family who cares for her and several other babies, possibly 2-8. They've nicknamed her baby "TiTi" and describe her as timid and fond of listening to music. She has a ready smile and loves to be with people. She is an active little girl they say. :)
The report states:
"When 1 month old, baby's shinning eyes were so lovely that always made people want to hold her more and play with her. When 2 months old, she cried loudly and was strong at sucking. When she was almost 3 months old, she could turn her head and make "oh, oh" sounds. She could reach her hands to her head intuitively and scratch her eyes and ears with her hands. She kicked with good strength and always kicked the blanket away. The baby is very lovely and smart. She loves for her nanny to take her outside of the room to play. She's eating formula, rice soups, vegetable soup and fruit mash. Her favorite food is still formula. Everyday, she gets up at 7:00 China time and goes to bed at 8:00 with two naps inbetween, an hour each. She's eating around 6 times a day right now."
I think about what she's doing at any given time almost constantly. The video we watched was such a blessing. I can picture her being cared for and the type of town she's in now. We got the video from Brian Stuy's site. For you upcoming China moms, I would highly recommend this! Feel free to ask me questions about this. We're getting ready to ask Mr. Stuy to do some research for us and try to find Maia's finding ad/picture in the paper and any pictures with her nanny/nannies/foster mother. I'm hopeful he'll be able to find some additional information for us!
Next on my Maia list is to send her a little carepackage with a blanket, disposable camera, chocolates for her caregivers, and a photo album of some kind that's age appropriate. She'll likely be almost 5 months old when we have her in our arms!
Yesterday was a whirlwind day of trying to reach my Monday paperwork goals!
1) Overnight LOC (Letter of Confirmation) to our agency who then sends it immediately to China! Once they have it, we wait for our TA (Travel Approval)!
2) Take Ava to pediatrician for MMR - receive call from International Adoption Specialist while this is going on - return call later in the afternoon - find out new information from her about Maia's weight, length, blood results. All is well, but Maia may have anemia because of not enough iron in her diet right now. Encouraged to revaccinate and test for titers when we bring her home.
3) Go to see Pam Frye, our home study case worker at Harmony Adoptions, review Maia's file with her, and get her to sign a form for our agency that's required.
4) Come home, eat, and NAP!
It's Tuesday now, and my goals look different. The biggest one is to get the ball rolling on our USCIS I-171H US approval. Called adjudication officer in Missouri who is searching for our updated homestudy in the database there. If she can't get it by this afternoon, I'll need to fax a copy. No problema.
Ava's napping and I'm getting ready to upload more Ava pics tonight! Cindy, these are of your wedding! :)
Nags Head vacation coming up soon, too!
I apologize for taking so long to blog about Maia's referral! We've been absorbing all of the information and have started filling out a mountain of paperwork for our agency. Some of the information is sensitive, so I'm just going to share general things that we know about sweet Maia.
We know that she's most likely with a foster family who cares for her and several other babies, possibly 2-8. They've nicknamed her baby "TiTi" and describe her as timid and fond of listening to music. She has a ready smile and loves to be with people. She is an active little girl they say. :)
The report states:
"When 1 month old, baby's shinning eyes were so lovely that always made people want to hold her more and play with her. When 2 months old, she cried loudly and was strong at sucking. When she was almost 3 months old, she could turn her head and make "oh, oh" sounds. She could reach her hands to her head intuitively and scratch her eyes and ears with her hands. She kicked with good strength and always kicked the blanket away. The baby is very lovely and smart. She loves for her nanny to take her outside of the room to play. She's eating formula, rice soups, vegetable soup and fruit mash. Her favorite food is still formula. Everyday, she gets up at 7:00 China time and goes to bed at 8:00 with two naps inbetween, an hour each. She's eating around 6 times a day right now."
I think about what she's doing at any given time almost constantly. The video we watched was such a blessing. I can picture her being cared for and the type of town she's in now. We got the video from Brian Stuy's site. For you upcoming China moms, I would highly recommend this! Feel free to ask me questions about this. We're getting ready to ask Mr. Stuy to do some research for us and try to find Maia's finding ad/picture in the paper and any pictures with her nanny/nannies/foster mother. I'm hopeful he'll be able to find some additional information for us!
Next on my Maia list is to send her a little carepackage with a blanket, disposable camera, chocolates for her caregivers, and a photo album of some kind that's age appropriate. She'll likely be almost 5 months old when we have her in our arms!
Yesterday was a whirlwind day of trying to reach my Monday paperwork goals!
1) Overnight LOC (Letter of Confirmation) to our agency who then sends it immediately to China! Once they have it, we wait for our TA (Travel Approval)!
2) Take Ava to pediatrician for MMR - receive call from International Adoption Specialist while this is going on - return call later in the afternoon - find out new information from her about Maia's weight, length, blood results. All is well, but Maia may have anemia because of not enough iron in her diet right now. Encouraged to revaccinate and test for titers when we bring her home.
3) Go to see Pam Frye, our home study case worker at Harmony Adoptions, review Maia's file with her, and get her to sign a form for our agency that's required.
4) Come home, eat, and NAP!
It's Tuesday now, and my goals look different. The biggest one is to get the ball rolling on our USCIS I-171H US approval. Called adjudication officer in Missouri who is searching for our updated homestudy in the database there. If she can't get it by this afternoon, I'll need to fax a copy. No problema.
Ava's napping and I'm getting ready to upload more Ava pics tonight! Cindy, these are of your wedding! :)
Nags Head vacation coming up soon, too!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Overflow!
If I had an image of all of the information plus emotions in my brain right now, I think it would look like it's going to explode! We received THE referral packet containing all of Maia's original pictures (the ones I've already shared) and her original medicals and information about her daily routine on Friday afternoon. There's SO much information in her packet, and we are covered up again with paperwork, but it's ok! I welcome this paperwork as it truly leads us across the ocean to bring our little girl home at last!
I'll share some of the fun things that her referral mentioned very soon. They have nicknamed her "TiTi" in the place where she's staying. Her middle name is Ti (we still don't know what that means) and it's common in China to use part of the child's name twice as a sweet baby name. For example, Shao Shao, or Lu Lu or Ti Ti.
I'm currently going through a mountain of paperwork necessary for both China and our agency in Oregon. I'm pretty exhausted and am trying to pace myself. We have until August 5th to return the paperwork, and I'm setting goals each day.
Oh! We also found a video of her county of Yifeng and of the orphange! We are planning to watch that tonight and I can't wait. It will give us a glimpse of life in that part of China where she's from.
I know that the Lord knitted Maia together in her mother's womb and knows her intimately. How He loves all of His children!
Miss Ava went to a little swim party and is in full toddler mode! She's on the go from the time she wakes up until the time she naps or goes to bed. I've got more pictures of her coming up very soon!
I hope you all are having a blessed weekend!
Be back up with pics soon!
I'll share some of the fun things that her referral mentioned very soon. They have nicknamed her "TiTi" in the place where she's staying. Her middle name is Ti (we still don't know what that means) and it's common in China to use part of the child's name twice as a sweet baby name. For example, Shao Shao, or Lu Lu or Ti Ti.
I'm currently going through a mountain of paperwork necessary for both China and our agency in Oregon. I'm pretty exhausted and am trying to pace myself. We have until August 5th to return the paperwork, and I'm setting goals each day.
Oh! We also found a video of her county of Yifeng and of the orphange! We are planning to watch that tonight and I can't wait. It will give us a glimpse of life in that part of China where she's from.
I know that the Lord knitted Maia together in her mother's womb and knows her intimately. How He loves all of His children!
Miss Ava went to a little swim party and is in full toddler mode! She's on the go from the time she wakes up until the time she naps or goes to bed. I've got more pictures of her coming up very soon!
I hope you all are having a blessed weekend!
Be back up with pics soon!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Translations!
We just got our translations via e-mail! Waiting for Ben to come home to share with him. Our agency has overnighted all of the orginal paperwork, and we should receive it tomorrow!!! Whoohoo!
Comment Help
Hi!
Someone left me a comment with a great article about translation, and when I tried to publish it, it disappeared. If you're still reading this, will you please send that to me again? Thank you so much!
No word yet from our agency about Maia's paperwork. I am so hoping we hear something this week. Another Yifeng adoptive Mom I'm getting to know said that the "Lu" in Maia's name means "road" or "journey." Very fitting. She also said that when they got their daughter in 2009, she was told that the last name of "Zhaung" was the name of an orphanage director at one time. I've also read that it's a national minority group. So, we're not sure at this point. Maia's middle name, "Ti" is the one I'm very curious to know the meaning of as it's special just to Maia.
Busy... busy... busy around here!
Someone left me a comment with a great article about translation, and when I tried to publish it, it disappeared. If you're still reading this, will you please send that to me again? Thank you so much!
No word yet from our agency about Maia's paperwork. I am so hoping we hear something this week. Another Yifeng adoptive Mom I'm getting to know said that the "Lu" in Maia's name means "road" or "journey." Very fitting. She also said that when they got their daughter in 2009, she was told that the last name of "Zhaung" was the name of an orphanage director at one time. I've also read that it's a national minority group. So, we're not sure at this point. Maia's middle name, "Ti" is the one I'm very curious to know the meaning of as it's special just to Maia.
Busy... busy... busy around here!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Long-Awaited Referral Day!
Thursday morning started out very ordinary. I spent some time in the morning e-mailing the NBC USCIS unit in Missouri about our U.S. approval. I was feeling very positive about all of that after I spoke with a kind adjudication officer who said she'd "get right on it." All I had to do was x, y, and z, translated as fill out a call to action form, photocopy our original homestudy and send a copy of our current U.S. approval.
I checked Rumor Queen like I'd been doing for days to see if anything new had been reported. All I knew was that some kind of packages had been mailed from Beijiing. No one knew that it was postively referrals or which agencies were going to be calling. I seriously thought it would be the following week before we'd even begin to hear something definitive from our agency.
So, when Ava went down for a nap, I took a shower and then came downstairs to check my cell phone messages - just in case. When I heard the China program Director's voice, I pretty much lost emotional control! She said, "I'm trying to reach you to tell you that we received your referral this morning!" I started screaming and jumping up and down. Ava didn't wake up which is hard to believe. I called Ben at work immediately and could barely speak because I was so emotional. I was literally shaking. He said he'd come on home so we could open the e-mail attachment together.
So, twenty minutes later, in he walked and here's where the revelation and celebration of Maia begins! We set up the camera to capture the exact moment we saw her picture!
Ava wakes up and comes down to see her baby sister for the first time. Now, she says, "More Maia, more Maia." She loves to look at her picture.
Mom and Dad came as quickly as they could to see her and it was VERY emotional to say the least!
Our first "family of four" photo!
Very excited! We called Ben's parents immediately, too, to share the good news, and they celebrated with us from Maryland!
To celebrate, we went out to eat.. you guessed it, CHINESE!
Ava ate her first fortune cookie!
I keep staring at her little picture imagining what she's doing across the ocean from me. All we have to do will keep me busy during this waiting time. It's still so very surreal! Maia Grace is coming home to our little family. The dream I had several years ago "in the waiting" is becoming reality! More on that later... I've saved that special story to share with you.
Praise the Lord!
I checked Rumor Queen like I'd been doing for days to see if anything new had been reported. All I knew was that some kind of packages had been mailed from Beijiing. No one knew that it was postively referrals or which agencies were going to be calling. I seriously thought it would be the following week before we'd even begin to hear something definitive from our agency.
So, when Ava went down for a nap, I took a shower and then came downstairs to check my cell phone messages - just in case. When I heard the China program Director's voice, I pretty much lost emotional control! She said, "I'm trying to reach you to tell you that we received your referral this morning!" I started screaming and jumping up and down. Ava didn't wake up which is hard to believe. I called Ben at work immediately and could barely speak because I was so emotional. I was literally shaking. He said he'd come on home so we could open the e-mail attachment together.
So, twenty minutes later, in he walked and here's where the revelation and celebration of Maia begins! We set up the camera to capture the exact moment we saw her picture!
Ava wakes up and comes down to see her baby sister for the first time. Now, she says, "More Maia, more Maia." She loves to look at her picture.
Mom and Dad came as quickly as they could to see her and it was VERY emotional to say the least!
Our first "family of four" photo!
Very excited! We called Ben's parents immediately, too, to share the good news, and they celebrated with us from Maryland!
To celebrate, we went out to eat.. you guessed it, CHINESE!
Ava ate her first fortune cookie!
I keep staring at her little picture imagining what she's doing across the ocean from me. All we have to do will keep me busy during this waiting time. It's still so very surreal! Maia Grace is coming home to our little family. The dream I had several years ago "in the waiting" is becoming reality! More on that later... I've saved that special story to share with you.
Praise the Lord!
In Translation!
Hi, everyone!
Well, we're still awaiting the translations this week, and I was told by our agency that the translator had until Friday to get those finished. So, we could possibly have them BY Friday, but it's likely they'll come early part of next week. Aghh, I can't wait!
I'm sorry I haven't posted referral day pictures yet. I was knee-deep in air conditioner issues yesterday and a going-away party for our dear friends who are moving to Ireland next week. :(
If you called me yesterday, I'm planning to call you back to chat soon!
Love to all- pictures very soon - I promise!
Well, we're still awaiting the translations this week, and I was told by our agency that the translator had until Friday to get those finished. So, we could possibly have them BY Friday, but it's likely they'll come early part of next week. Aghh, I can't wait!
I'm sorry I haven't posted referral day pictures yet. I was knee-deep in air conditioner issues yesterday and a going-away party for our dear friends who are moving to Ireland next week. :(
If you called me yesterday, I'm planning to call you back to chat soon!
Love to all- pictures very soon - I promise!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Update
Hey, everyone! It's 11:24 Sunday night, and I'm beat. I didn't get to spend much time blogging tonight, but I hope to be up tomorrow or Tuesday with new information and referral day pictures!
We've learned that she's very likely with a foster family in Yifeng County in the Jiangxi Province. Most, if not all babies that are assigned to her social welfare institute are cared for by foster families.
We've learned that she's very likely with a foster family in Yifeng County in the Jiangxi Province. Most, if not all babies that are assigned to her social welfare institute are cared for by foster families.
Introducing.....Maia Grace!!!!!!!
To EVERYONE in the world that has been following this journey and praying for us!
We'd like to introduce a very special little one to you.
I'll tell the referral day story, but I KNOW you guys want to SEE her, so without further delay, we'd like to introduce you to our new daughter!!!
Maia Grace - Lu Ti Zhaung
Jiangxi Province, China
3 months old!!!
Born at Easter 2010 - 4/5/10
More translated information due early part of this week! WE ARE ECSTATIC to say the least! I'll tell the story sometime later today (Sunday) and share referral day pictures!
Praise the Lord!!! At last, the promise of Maia Grace has been FULFILLED!!!
Emily, Ben and Ava
We'd like to introduce a very special little one to you.
I'll tell the referral day story, but I KNOW you guys want to SEE her, so without further delay, we'd like to introduce you to our new daughter!!!
Maia Grace - Lu Ti Zhaung
Jiangxi Province, China
3 months old!!!
Born at Easter 2010 - 4/5/10
More translated information due early part of this week! WE ARE ECSTATIC to say the least! I'll tell the story sometime later today (Sunday) and share referral day pictures!
Praise the Lord!!! At last, the promise of Maia Grace has been FULFILLED!!!
Emily, Ben and Ava
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mysterious Packages Mailed from Beijiing!
Two agencies are reporting that packages have been mailed from Beijiing and are on their way to the U.S. We have no idea if it's the referrals or not or when our agency might expect a package! It's pretty definite that the CCAA processed through May 10th! Hallelujah!
Come on... DHL... Come on US approval... This is CRAZY!
Will keep posting pics of Ava and ANY news on Maia!
Come on... DHL... Come on US approval... This is CRAZY!
Will keep posting pics of Ava and ANY news on Maia!
Pool Adventure Number #2 and Goodbye To Edisto
On the last day before we headed home, we went back to the pool for another adventure. Seeing as how Ava loves water and was insistent about getting in "by herself" the first time, we went to the Piggly Wiggly and bought swimmies and donned her life jacket. They worked like a charm! The swimmies gave her more freedom and helped her stay upright in the lifejacket! I think we found a good combination for our little fish!
Saying goodbye to the beautiful mossy trees of Edisto. Thanks, Mom and Dad, Mimi and PaPa, for a wonderful vacation! We loved spending time with you all!
Saying goodbye to the beautiful mossy trees of Edisto. Thanks, Mom and Dad, Mimi and PaPa, for a wonderful vacation! We loved spending time with you all!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Playground Fun
One afternoon, we took Ava to the playground at Wyndham where we stay each year. The playground has a toddler area, swings and a big pirate ship with slides. No doubt, the highlight for her this year was sliding down the big slide!
Wheeeeee!
She didn't want to swing too long this year. On to more adventurous territory!
Ava did NOT want me to ride with her this year!
A yummy seafood meal as a family.
Ava took a nasty fall in the parking lot after we ate. Good thing I brought the Hello Kitty bandaids. I think we all had one on by the time vacation ended!
Wheeeeee!
She didn't want to swing too long this year. On to more adventurous territory!
Ava did NOT want me to ride with her this year!
A yummy seafood meal as a family.
Ava took a nasty fall in the parking lot after we ate. Good thing I brought the Hello Kitty bandaids. I think we all had one on by the time vacation ended!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Rumor News!
This just in...Two European agencies are saying that the cut off for families log-in-dates is May 10th! Whoah! That's 14 days worth and that hasn't happened in a very long time!
This means that Maia's little face is in this batch! I'm almost speechless right now. Now, we just have to wait for rumors to be confirmed and for those referrals to start being mailed to our agency in Oregon.
Our US approval is still waiting to be issued and is at the National Benefits Center in Missouri. Come on US approval number four!!!!
This means that Maia's little face is in this batch! I'm almost speechless right now. Now, we just have to wait for rumors to be confirmed and for those referrals to start being mailed to our agency in Oregon.
Our US approval is still waiting to be issued and is at the National Benefits Center in Missouri. Come on US approval number four!!!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Still Stalking China Site and Edisto Beach Pics!
Well, I'm still stalking and refreshing the China Adopt Talk site, and the latest is that the CCAA is defnitely matching but we're not sure how far they've gone yet. Rumors of a cut-off date should be trickling in soon and then we'll start hearing that referrals are on the way!!!
In the meantime, the US approval we were hoping was in our mailbox is now in Missouri at the NBC Hague unit. We were informed, by mail, when we got home last Saturday that all intercountry adoption paperwork is now being handled at the Missouri office. Our approval usually comes from the Memphis, TN office, but now it's coming from Missouri. Ugh. I sent an e-mail to a dear lady, Merredeth, that I connected with at that office back in 2008 when the saga was going on with our US filing. That was such a nightmare, and Merredeth was a gem in a minefield that year. I'm hopeful that she'll be able to give me some idea of when our US approval is on the way!
We had a terrific time at Nags Head with Ben's family and just got home Saturday night. I'm really going to try to get all of the Edisto pics with my family posted in the next few days starting today and hopefully, I'll be all caught up soon!
On Wednesday of the week we went to Edisto, we headed to the beach with Papa and Mimi for some sand and sun and jumping waves! Ava really loves to explore the beach and play in her little swimming pool. She picked up all kinds of shells and would "taste" them before putting them in the pool. We spent all morning there before coming back for a big nap!
Ava discovered a love for Curious George this year.
Daddy takes Ava out to the ocean for the first time this year. Safe in Daddy's arms.
What a great day!
Umm... these shells taste good.
Having fun beach time with Mimi and Papa!
Dad had a great splash in the waves!
In the meantime, the US approval we were hoping was in our mailbox is now in Missouri at the NBC Hague unit. We were informed, by mail, when we got home last Saturday that all intercountry adoption paperwork is now being handled at the Missouri office. Our approval usually comes from the Memphis, TN office, but now it's coming from Missouri. Ugh. I sent an e-mail to a dear lady, Merredeth, that I connected with at that office back in 2008 when the saga was going on with our US filing. That was such a nightmare, and Merredeth was a gem in a minefield that year. I'm hopeful that she'll be able to give me some idea of when our US approval is on the way!
We had a terrific time at Nags Head with Ben's family and just got home Saturday night. I'm really going to try to get all of the Edisto pics with my family posted in the next few days starting today and hopefully, I'll be all caught up soon!
On Wednesday of the week we went to Edisto, we headed to the beach with Papa and Mimi for some sand and sun and jumping waves! Ava really loves to explore the beach and play in her little swimming pool. She picked up all kinds of shells and would "taste" them before putting them in the pool. We spent all morning there before coming back for a big nap!
Ava discovered a love for Curious George this year.
Daddy takes Ava out to the ocean for the first time this year. Safe in Daddy's arms.
What a great day!
Umm... these shells taste good.
Having fun beach time with Mimi and Papa!
Dad had a great splash in the waves!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Refreshing and Stalking
I'm not sure how many times I've refreshed China Adopt Talk (aka) Rumor Queen's site this week. Every morning, after Ava's breakfast, I head to see the latest and here it is.
The CCAA had a delegation of some sort traveling and it's mentioned on the China Adopt Talk site that this is why news of referrals could be coming slowly this week.
We pretty much KNOW we're IN this batch. We just don't know when the referrals are going to start being mailed to European families and then to U.S. families. Normally, they are pretty close together.
My mailbox is sitting black and empty as mail piles up at the P.O. while we're gone. I am ever hopeful that our US approval is poking out of the large stack of bills and magazines and advertisements when we get home. Not worried. Not anxious. Just, SO wanting it to be in there when we pull in the driveway this weekend!
Again, I'll post just as soon as we know something, anything!
Maia Grace, your heart is being prepared and our hearts are being prepared to be joined together as a family, under God's authority and blessing. Much of my heart has been living in China for quite some time now. Now the rest of it can get on a plane and join the other part when we see your sweet face!
Will post soon!
Emily
The CCAA had a delegation of some sort traveling and it's mentioned on the China Adopt Talk site that this is why news of referrals could be coming slowly this week.
We pretty much KNOW we're IN this batch. We just don't know when the referrals are going to start being mailed to European families and then to U.S. families. Normally, they are pretty close together.
My mailbox is sitting black and empty as mail piles up at the P.O. while we're gone. I am ever hopeful that our US approval is poking out of the large stack of bills and magazines and advertisements when we get home. Not worried. Not anxious. Just, SO wanting it to be in there when we pull in the driveway this weekend!
Again, I'll post just as soon as we know something, anything!
Maia Grace, your heart is being prepared and our hearts are being prepared to be joined together as a family, under God's authority and blessing. Much of my heart has been living in China for quite some time now. Now the rest of it can get on a plane and join the other part when we see your sweet face!
Will post soon!
Emily
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Appointed Time
Mary Beth Chapman, Stevey Joy, and I sat in a uphoulstered chair in Dr. Keenan's office sometime in 2002 or 2003. I mindlessly flipped the pages of a magazine that pictured them on the front and the word, adoption. I sat staring at the Chapman family and the cute little Asian bedspread Mary Beth had made for Shoey, their first adopted little girl from China. Stevey Joy was their second. I read about Mary Beth's struggle with depression and I asked if I could take that magazine home to keep.
Time
Went
By
In 2005, I would find myself struggling with the relentless attack of depression and search for that dusty magazine and open it. Only to find a blurb about All God's Children International, and adoption agency in Oregon. It was on a cold early March day that my heart would find its way into the populous country of China, into a land known intimately by God, to a little girl known intimately by God.
Time
Ticking
By
Busy
Teaching
Hoping
Logged in, waiting, renewals of US approval, waiting...
Adoption of sweet Ava Faith
Still waiting for the promise of Maia Grace...not giving up... fighting a battle to bring her home in 2007, seeing the mighty hand of God move mountains...
All quiet on the Eastern front - silently waiting...
Now, today, I see these words in front of me.
A European agency says matching is just about done, and they hope to see referrals early next week.
The matches, the referrals, our daughter's name and location is coming...
SOON!
We're leaving tomorrow to go to Nags Head, NC to spend time with Ben's family.
The Lord goes before me, settling my spirit, my frenzied pace, equipping me for every good work ahead of me.
Today, I surrender the bags of details dangling from every finger to the One who knows them so much better than me.
Everyone, it's TIME. It has surely come. Break from pictures while we're gone!
I'll post while we're gone to update everyone on anything I know for sure!
Time
Went
By
In 2005, I would find myself struggling with the relentless attack of depression and search for that dusty magazine and open it. Only to find a blurb about All God's Children International, and adoption agency in Oregon. It was on a cold early March day that my heart would find its way into the populous country of China, into a land known intimately by God, to a little girl known intimately by God.
Time
Ticking
By
Busy
Teaching
Hoping
Logged in, waiting, renewals of US approval, waiting...
Adoption of sweet Ava Faith
Still waiting for the promise of Maia Grace...not giving up... fighting a battle to bring her home in 2007, seeing the mighty hand of God move mountains...
All quiet on the Eastern front - silently waiting...
Now, today, I see these words in front of me.
A European agency says matching is just about done, and they hope to see referrals early next week.
The matches, the referrals, our daughter's name and location is coming...
SOON!
We're leaving tomorrow to go to Nags Head, NC to spend time with Ben's family.
The Lord goes before me, settling my spirit, my frenzied pace, equipping me for every good work ahead of me.
Today, I surrender the bags of details dangling from every finger to the One who knows them so much better than me.
Everyone, it's TIME. It has surely come. Break from pictures while we're gone!
I'll post while we're gone to update everyone on anything I know for sure!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Heavy
Hi, everyone,
I hope you're all doing well. I've taken a little break from the vacation pictures this week. It's been a heavy week. Ben's cousin, Brent, lost his wife, Shannon, on Saturday due to complications after a bad car accident last fall, and Ben and I have been grieving with them even though we didn't get to go up to Maryland for the service. I know many of you reading understand the power of prayer, and I would ask you to lift up Brent and his family. They've been through so much this year, and our hearts are aching for them.
On another note, I did a final walk-through of my grandparent's house on Monday, and my heart has been heavy with saying goodbye to one of the dearest places on Earth to me. They are now in their Heavenly home, having a great time waiting for all of us, but my heart broke all over again saying goodbye to the old tree with my tire swing, the stump where I cracked hickory nuts with Paw when I was a little girl, his garden that he was so proud of, two boards stuck between two trees where I used to play "kitchen", the corner of the couch where Ruthie used to bring me pbandj sandwiches and Sprite and the mouse cookie jar that my hands reached in more than a few times! These are only a few of the precious memories I have of being there. It took awhile for me to leave as I walked the property in the woods and went through every room just sitting and remembering. Oh, how I miss them, and oh, how I long to see them again. I'm ever looking forward to that day as I journey on toward home.
So, as I've said, it's just been a heavy week and I couldn't post until now. I'll put up the beach pictures hopefully later tonight. We're off to see Ben's family in Nags Head, N.C. this coming week, so we'll be back on the road again soon! I hope to put up all of the Edisto beach pics before we leave!
Blessings to everyone,
Emily
I hope you're all doing well. I've taken a little break from the vacation pictures this week. It's been a heavy week. Ben's cousin, Brent, lost his wife, Shannon, on Saturday due to complications after a bad car accident last fall, and Ben and I have been grieving with them even though we didn't get to go up to Maryland for the service. I know many of you reading understand the power of prayer, and I would ask you to lift up Brent and his family. They've been through so much this year, and our hearts are aching for them.
On another note, I did a final walk-through of my grandparent's house on Monday, and my heart has been heavy with saying goodbye to one of the dearest places on Earth to me. They are now in their Heavenly home, having a great time waiting for all of us, but my heart broke all over again saying goodbye to the old tree with my tire swing, the stump where I cracked hickory nuts with Paw when I was a little girl, his garden that he was so proud of, two boards stuck between two trees where I used to play "kitchen", the corner of the couch where Ruthie used to bring me pbandj sandwiches and Sprite and the mouse cookie jar that my hands reached in more than a few times! These are only a few of the precious memories I have of being there. It took awhile for me to leave as I walked the property in the woods and went through every room just sitting and remembering. Oh, how I miss them, and oh, how I long to see them again. I'm ever looking forward to that day as I journey on toward home.
So, as I've said, it's just been a heavy week and I couldn't post until now. I'll put up the beach pictures hopefully later tonight. We're off to see Ben's family in Nags Head, N.C. this coming week, so we'll be back on the road again soon! I hope to put up all of the Edisto beach pics before we leave!
Blessings to everyone,
Emily
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