Already loved more than you know, Baby Girl!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Happy Day-LID!!!!
Today we received notification from our agency that CCCWA has given us a log-in date (LID) of 10/31/12!!! This is soooo exciting because it means the next step will be seeing our little girl's face. This week has been a big week for us...on Monday my heart skipped a beat when we received notification that our dossier was delivered to the CCCWA in China. The email stated it usually takes 3 weeks to receive a LID...so I am sure you can imagine my surprise when I received an email this morning stating we had a LID...in THREE DAYS...NOT THREE WEEKS!
Also, this week, we got some not so exciting news...we were denied an adoption grant we had worked really hard on and were sooo hoping for to help cover the additional $13,000.00 we need. Nick told me several times he didn't think we would get the grant, but I was praying for the impossible. So I am sure you can imagine my disappointed when I opened up the letter stating we didn't make the cut:(
Well, thankfully God knew my disappointment and sent me a little devotion to encourage me, CHALLENGE me, and really ask me if I can trust Him? Can I wait patiently on Him, trusting in His perfect timing? Can I believe He has our best in mind and is working on our behalf?
If there is one thing I have learned on this adoption journey is that with each step of faith we see God's provision. Sure, I wanted that grant...and I wanted it now. But God already knew that wouldn't be the path of funding for us...and He is behind the wheel...and He will provide...I just need to trust.
Also, this week, we got some not so exciting news...we were denied an adoption grant we had worked really hard on and were sooo hoping for to help cover the additional $13,000.00 we need. Nick told me several times he didn't think we would get the grant, but I was praying for the impossible. So I am sure you can imagine my disappointed when I opened up the letter stating we didn't make the cut:(
Well, thankfully God knew my disappointment and sent me a little devotion to encourage me, CHALLENGE me, and really ask me if I can trust Him? Can I wait patiently on Him, trusting in His perfect timing? Can I believe He has our best in mind and is working on our behalf?
If there is one thing I have learned on this adoption journey is that with each step of faith we see God's provision. Sure, I wanted that grant...and I wanted it now. But God already knew that wouldn't be the path of funding for us...and He is behind the wheel...and He will provide...I just need to trust.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Dossier to China (DTC)
Here’s the news you’ve long been waiting for—your dossier was sent to China today(10/26)! Hooray! JHere’s what to expect for the next month:The CCCWA will receive your dossier in approximately 3-5 business days. Our China Department will contact you by email once your dossier has been received by our representatives in China and hand-delivered to the CCCWA.The CCCWA usually logs in dossiers within 3 weeks of their receipt. This Log-In Date is called your LID, the date that you may “coun t d own” to your referral. We will e-mail you as soon as we have confirmation of your LID and will then give you instructions on how to download your LID Packet. Your LID will also be posted on your “My Adoption” page of the CCAI website, www.ccaifamily.org, the instant we are notified of it.Now that you’ve reached this huge milestone, the ladies in the Child Match Department will be monitoring your file and contacting you with regards to any required updates and/or information that’s needed between now and when you receive your match. Should you need to reach that department directly, please contact Kate DeTrent at childmatch@chinesechildren.org or 303-850-9998, ext. 43 or Andrea Gerome at childmatch2@chinesechildren.org or 303-850-9998, ext. 37. If you have a Medical Conditions Checklist ( MCC ) on file with our agency for consideration of a match of a child(ren) with special needs through our Waiting Child Program and have questions regarding your personal wait timeline, please contact the Waiting Child Department directly.Again, congratulations! If you have any questions about this e-mail, please do not hesitate to contact me.Congrats on hitting this milestone,CCAI Dossier Team
Monday, October 15, 2012
Waiting
I really feel like shouting from the mountain tops...our dossier is complete!!! This last six months has been FILLED with paperwork, autobiographies, home study, mailings, appointments, fundraisers, etc. I feel like I can finally take a breath and focus on my family. It is absolutely mind boggling to think that this huge step is complete and next we wait...AGAIN! We wait for the precious little girl that God has for us to be revealed. We wait for permission to go get her. We wait to meet her. Waiting is no fun! I recently re-read a post I wrote while I was waiting on Nick to say yes to adoption. I re-post here-
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
While I am Waiting
(This is a post I put on our totsites the day before Nick said "yes"...I wanted to put it here as well so it is all in one place)
So to most of you it is no surprise that I am desperate to adopt! I have so much I want to share about this it kind of overwhelms me! The Lord has laid so many cool things on my heart in the last months that I want to share. Mostly, so I don't forget and see Him working during this phase of our life, but also so our friends and family can share this incredible journey with us! More importantly, one day, I hope our sweet little girl will be able to look back at these posts and know how MUCH we loved and wanted her!
So, God has really done a number on me in these past months. To say that I have had a total heart makeover is an understatement. I have prayed many prayers to have my heart burdened for what burdens His and he certainly did answer.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
I can no longer turn over at night and pretend there aren't orphans...TONS of them around this world. I can no longer pretend that some aren't hungry, some aren't scared, some don't know LOVE of any kind, and some don't have incredible special needs. My heart aches! I recently came across this prayer on one of my favorite new blogs (No Hands But Ours). Man, did it speak to me!
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
So, I am completely burdened (thank you Lord) and I have no idea how this journey will end. I can say with confidence that I am learning the difficult lessons of patience and submission to the One who holds all power in His hands WHILE I WAIT!
So to most of you it is no surprise that I am desperate to adopt! I have so much I want to share about this it kind of overwhelms me! The Lord has laid so many cool things on my heart in the last months that I want to share. Mostly, so I don't forget and see Him working during this phase of our life, but also so our friends and family can share this incredible journey with us! More importantly, one day, I hope our sweet little girl will be able to look back at these posts and know how MUCH we loved and wanted her!
So, God has really done a number on me in these past months. To say that I have had a total heart makeover is an understatement. I have prayed many prayers to have my heart burdened for what burdens His and he certainly did answer.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
I can no longer turn over at night and pretend there aren't orphans...TONS of them around this world. I can no longer pretend that some aren't hungry, some aren't scared, some don't know LOVE of any kind, and some don't have incredible special needs. My heart aches! I recently came across this prayer on one of my favorite new blogs (No Hands But Ours). Man, did it speak to me!
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
So, I am completely burdened (thank you Lord) and I have no idea how this journey will end. I can say with confidence that I am learning the difficult lessons of patience and submission to the One who holds all power in His hands WHILE I WAIT!
One of my favorite songs at this point in our journey-
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
Monday, October 1, 2012
A purple girl car!
Gavin and I recently had a discussion about how we have so much...a home, toys, food, each other...while others like baby sister don't. Without missing a beat, he runs to the play room and brings back the only thing that resembles a girl in the entire room-a purple matchbox car (I am assuming he relates purple to girls). He says with the sweetest voice ever, "Oh I know baby sister can play with this purple girl car in China!" I seriously could have cried right then and there. Thank you God for my precious boy...thank you that we have the opportunity to teach him so much while on this adoption journey. Thank you God that the "giving" part seems to come natural for him.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Almost DONE!
Yesterday, I sent off the bulk of our dossier to CCAI for critical review! Once I get the last two docs back from the Consulate in Houston we will be DONE!! Now, the excitement and anticipation can really begin! I have started daydreaming about what she will look like, her name (hopefully Nick will soon agree to the name I love-a combination of Gavin and Ethan's name), and what I want her room to look like. I daydream about our trip to pick her up and officially becoming "paper pregnant." I don't think I am the only one ready for the "little sister." We met a Chinese family at the pool a couple days ago and Gavin would not let their daughter out of his sight. They had such a wonderful time playing together and I had just as much fun talking to her mom. I cannot learn enough about China!!!! We love you "little sister!" We all are praying for you! Your family awaits!!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Adopt Speak and more
When we first began the adoption journey I read tons of blogs and easily became overwhelmed at all the acronyms and numbers used to describe various families points in their journey. Now, I speak the language. So many languages to learn...at this point one would think Mandarin would be important, but just to navigate your way through this crazy process you have to learn "adopt speak" as I now call it. I am now a fluent "adopt speaker" and very excited to say that we now have our I-797!!!!!! This is soooooo HUGE for all those familiar with this process. Basically, given our home study, fingerprints, and other application documents the United States has approved us to adopt a child from the P.R. of China:) This is the last major part of compiling our dossier. The incredible part of this is that from the time I was fingerprinted to the time we got our approval in the mail was five days!! From what I understand it can usually take several weeks once you attend your fingerprint appointment. So, here is the other HUGE part of this...this means almost positively that the little girl God has planned for us has already been born! Those who can relate know how bittersweet this can be...our daughter is waiting for us, but while she waits she is not in our care...she is living in an institution without a mommy and daddy. I recently read a book by Kay Bratt called Silent Tears: Life in a Chinese Orphanage which has impacted me greatly. At this point, I have a difficult time talking about my bittersweet feelings. Those who love me and even those who don't-I challenge you to read this book. First and foremost, because I believe it's important for us to be educated and not turn a blind eye to what is happening in this world. Second, those who love me would understand some of the bittersweet feelings and why I am a bit emotional these days.
Most days, I have great intentions to sit and write a great blog post, but have a hard time gathering my thoughts...this certainly has been one of the most incredible growing experiences and we are not even holding our daughter yet. I want to do better at sharing...I will try!!
For now, baby sister, you brothers await:)
Most days, I have great intentions to sit and write a great blog post, but have a hard time gathering my thoughts...this certainly has been one of the most incredible growing experiences and we are not even holding our daughter yet. I want to do better at sharing...I will try!!
For now, baby sister, you brothers await:)
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