Pausing for Prayers...

As our journey continues, we have made great progress in gathering updated documents. We continue to wait for one, though, which our social worker told us would take awhile. Our adoption agency advocate also told us this week to wait a little longer before contacting Homeland Security again. So that's one less document to send this week. But the majority of the paperwork has been handled, thankfully. Once our homestudy is updated, we will be in good shape for awhile.

As usual, though, when we are trusting, working and waiting, it is no surprise that satan tries to discourage and distract us. There are always rumors about the adoption wait going around and we deliberately ignore them. But there does seem to be some consistent concerns that the wait may be prolonged anywhere in the three to five year range!!!!! Wow! That's a huge "lump in the throat" to swallow. However, we continue to believe that God is in control and will bring our sweet little girl/s into our lives as He has planned all along. Please pray for our little girl/s..and for God's master timing and perfect plan to continue as He knows best.

Something else we have been considering for a long time is the possibility of special needs adoption. We've known all along that this is something to consider but we have not taken any formal steps to pursue it. We are still in the "seeking God's direction" stage. Considering our ages, we know we could not accomodate a major special needs case. But we could consider less intense ones. So please pray that we will listen and learn God's will for us in this journey and in this special consideration. Special needs waiting times are not as extensive as non-special needs. But we do not want to base our decision solely on waiting times. We want to bring into our family and home the child that God has called us to call our own and that is the most important part of our journey. We truly cherish your prayers for our daughter and for our family as we continue to step closer and closer to her.

I'll admit. Our hearts sink when we hear the words "three to five years' wait." It doesn't make sense. But distraction, discouragement and impatience do not mix well with faith so we need to remind ourselves that the same God who led us to this journey will see us through this journey and no one...no one...except God Himself knows the answer to how long it will take. It's up to Him...and He knows best. Thank you for your kindness, prayers and encouragement as we continue in this journey of blessings. It will be worth every moment when we hold her in our arms!
Cherishing the moment,
Terri and family

Thankful...

The process of updating our paperwork is in full gear now. We've already received reports back from a couple government offices and continue to wait for others. It's also been a joy to talk with those kind folks who previously wrote letters of reference/recommendation for us and are now renewing those letters for us. So the journey continues...and we are so thankful.

We heard from our adoption agency yesterday and it appears that there is some encouraging news, as well. At one time a year or two ago, referrals were made in month-by-month groupings. For example, the dossiers of that month usually received a month's worth of referrals. But as things progressively slowed down, only a few days of referrals were being matched during a month which meant that more waiting time extended for the adoptive parents. For the first time in a year, about eight days of referrals (instead of two or three days) were matched for the month of June! This is a wonderful step in the direction of possible reduced waiting time. So we rejoice in that slight but optimistic direction. We still have no idea when our baby girl/s will be with us but we are so thankful that there is good news in this area. It is already apparent to our family that the second year of this process is more challenging. The dossier has been sent and logged in...fourteen months ago tomorrow, to be exact!! We are updating paperwork this month and next. And then we wait...more.

Yet I can't help but remember what some wonderful friends continue to tell us. Some have said that "it's all in God's master timing and perfect plan." Another has said "God's timing is always right." And another has said "When you hold her in your arms, it all makes sense." So it is not for us to question the "whys" and "how much longer"...although that comes to mind every day. We'd rather focus on the fact that God indeed knows the specific baby girl/s He has in His plan for us...and He will bring us together when the time is right. So why? Because God isn't finished with this process yet. How much longer? As long as it takes to bring our baby girl/s into our family and home as God has planned! It is tough to wait, I'll admit. While walking through the mall today, I saw a precious little Asian girl and my heart jumped with joy and excitement. Then I realized that our little girl IS on the way...at just the right moment and in just the right way. She may not even be born yet. But she is in God's mind...and in His plan...and in our hearts. As our dear friend also reminded me recently, "God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways." We will trust in Him.

Meanwhile, we'll continue the updating process...and my friend, Judy, and I may eventually give in and buy those precious little girls' shoes that we've been watching! I mean...a girl can never have too many shoes anyway, right? :] And we want to be ready when the time...and our baby girl/s...arrive! Being "paper pregnant" is not always easy and it is the longest pregnancy I've ever known...but it sure gives us more time for shopping and preparing!!!!! ;]

We are so thankful in our journey for your prayers, your love, your reminders, your encouragement...and for all those who are helping us as we update the paperwork! This is truly a journey of blessings every step of the way! Thank you so much! Blessings to you and yours!
Cherishing the moment,
Terri and family

Another Step Forward

Well, the updating process has officially begun! Yesterday we mailed several documents out for updating our status. Our social worker will visit our home next month so it's really happening! Of course when she comes, we know we're going to have a wonderful visit. She's amazing! So the journey continues and we are grateful for every blessing involved.

It's been a long two years since our journey began with the application process. We've been logged in China's system for almost fourteen months now. But the wait ahead remains very long. It isn't easy...but we know each step takes us closer to our baby girl/s. This is a true faith-builder and an enormous patience-builder. But she is definitely worth every step we take toward her.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Thank your for caring. Thank you for your support during this exciting yet extended season in our lives. It would not be the same without you walking beside us. We'll keep you posted.

Have a great day and know you are always in our thoughts, hearts and prayers. We are so blessed in this journey and we love you all!
Terri & Family