'Just Enjoying the Journey!

It's been a couple weeks since I last wrote...and so much is on my heart. I never cease to be amazed at the wonder of this journey! As with any journey, there are days when it seems we are making major progress...and days when it seems time is standing still. There are uphill climbs, twists and turns...mountains and valleys...cool breezes and warm sunlight. There are nights, days, storms and rainbows. It's never the same from one day to the next...but each step leads us closer to that precious moment when God allows our daughter/s to be placed in our arms and lives forever. I keep trying to imagine that day...that moment...that sense of actually holding our new little daughter and bringing her home. I can't imagine the fullness of joy that will be in our hearts, our lives and our family.

As exciting as the anticipation is for the future with our little one/s...I could never imagine the amazing joy, kindness and blessings we have enjoyed along this journey so far. Friends from far and near have been supportive, excited, prayerful and encouraging way beyond "the call of duty." Just when it seems our journey is "non-progressive" and time is standing still...someone reminds us how much they are praying...or someone asks about our "baby girls" or someone mentions their excitement. Just when it seems that we will wait "forever"...we are reminded of someone else's progress in their journeys. Just when I realize that I may not be a "spring chick" as we raise our little daughter/s, someone "just happens" to mention how young we will stay as we see the world through the eyes of our little "JennaBeth" (maybe "EmmaKate"). Just when I'm wondering how it is all going to work out...someone reminds me of the BIG PICTURE.

Yes.. the big picture is the absolute joy of this journey. We are simple people. We are passionate about serving God, loving our family....and answering the call God placed before us to bring a precious child (or two) home in our Forever Family. We are humbled...thrilled...and amazed at the opportunity He has placed before us. But the big picture is not about us...not at all! Only GOD could create this journey. Only GOD could make this possible in multiple ways. Only GOD...could have prepared our hearts, minds and lives for this precious calling. Only He could design a plan to bring a sweet little girl from China who needs a family into the arms of a family who loves God and children. Only God...then...now...and in the days ahead...knew.

Romans 8: 22>25 says "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

God, Himself, created the love and action of adoption! How marvelous! The wait, the heartache as we miss our sweetie/s, the concerns, the "days of standing still" are so small compared to the glorious journey of hope God has placed before us. It will be an incredible day when we hold her/them in our arms! We're looking so forward to it! But for today...we're enjoying the journey...a blessed, unexpected, undeserved and yet incredible journey of hope! Thank you, God! And thank you, friends and family!
Cherishing the journey...Terri and family