Today finds us bracing for even more winter weather as snow, ice and cold temperatures continue to move through our area. There are folks who love this type of weather and while I will agree that it can be very picturesque, I am not a fan of "winter wonderland" conditions. Yet I also realize that the cold temperatures do bring advantages such as overcoming germs, etc.. Growing up in the mountains, however, brought many challenges during the winter. I remember riding the school bus over fifty miles a day and most of that ride included roadways along mountains, hillsides, valleys and very sharp turns. During any other time of the year, this was an incredibly beautiful...and usually safe trip. But the snow and ice that accompanied winter created dangerous conditions. More than once, our school bus found itself sliding across the roads. More than once, the elementary students were literally walked up and down the steep hillside to their own building because the bus could not even climb the snow and ice-covered road to the pick-up/drop-off area. More than once the students on our bus were asked to huddle in a group over the wheel areas of the back of the bus so their combined weight would provide enough traction to ease out of the ditch we had just entered. There are also memories of my own driving experiences in snow...none of which I particularly enjoyed in those treacherous conditions. Although the winter weather can be beautiful, there are indeed challenges that affect people in multiple ways. We enjoyed the beauty of the journey back then...but sometimes the conditions were most concerning.
In some ways, our adoption journey can be similarly described. There is indeed joy in this journey of blessings to our baby girl/s. We have no doubt that God has led us into this journey of faith as we rely on His guidance, provision and protection. The purpose is extremely clear but there are definite concerns along the way.
Today my heart is heavy for so many families in their journeys. The economy leaves no one untouched and I know there are growing concerns as many of us continue to wait, work and walk toward our precious children waiting to come home with us. Job security is not to be taken for granted. Living expenses are climbing. Paychecks are taking cuts, if they even continue. People are losing jobs, homes, insurance and the lifestyles they once took for granted. For now, our job situation continues and we are extremely thankful. Yet as we all feel the crunch of an unstable economy, uncertainty, adjustments and concerns, I know that hearts are heavy in many lives. We remain a very blessed nation which we definitely need to remember and thank God for every day. But it is a frightening time for many people in many lands.
So I simply ask you to pray for our country, our world, our families, our businesses, our schools, our Churches and the many journeys represented in this season of our lives. It may be winter with challenges and uncertainties. But spring will come and creation will rejoice as we are reminded that He was working out His plan every moment. Please pray that as we all feel the chill of winter's challenges, we will be reminded, strengthened, encouraged and hopeful as we focus on the Creator of the Universe. He's holding us in His hands and although we may not always be aware of the plan, we can claim His promises, cling to His presence and grow in glorifying Him through it all.
As always, your prayers for every precious child waiting for a family, for every precious family waiting for a child, every wonderful person working so hard to bring them together and every individual walking through the journey of life...are valuable and appreciated. We thank God for each of you...and your prayers.
Praying through the journey,
Terri & Family
Jenna Elizabeth (aka "JennaBeth") Song Lorenz
Waiting For Our Little One To Come Home From China!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Twenty-One Months...and Counting!
It's so hard to believe that twenty-one months ago today, we were logged into China's Center of Adoption Affairs! The wait is indeed long and will grow longer but each moment, each day, each week and each month brings us closer to our sweet, sweet baby girl/s.
The wait was eighteen months when we were first logged in..but we knew that the time frame could easily change. It did change...and it may change again. But we simply trust that our journey is in God's hands and His plan and timing are always best. It's not easy but it's definitely worth the wait! For we know that the precious baby girl/s God has already placed in our hearts will be placed in our arms at just the right time, in just the right place, in just the right circumstances. We also know that she is never alone for the same God who guides our journey to her...is holding her in His arms, as well.
So...the journey continues and we continue to pray for our sweetie/s...and all the wonderful people who are walking beside us. We are grateful for the birth parents who will bring her into the world and decide to share her with us. We are grateful for the caregivers who will take care of her until we arrive in China to bring her home. We are grateful for those special people in the USA and PRC who are working to bring the precious babies together with their forever families. We thank God for orchestrating it all in His wonderful design. And we are thankful for all of you who care, pray, encourage, love and walk along this journey with us. It truly makes all the difference to know that you are beside us!
As we all continue our various journeys in life, we pray that we will all seek His purpose, plan, peace and promises. What a comfort to know we are never alone!
Hold on, dear Sweeties! Dad and Mom are still working very hard in our journey to you. You are so very loved by your parents, sister and brother. There are many people praying for you and loving you. And your Heavenly Father is watching over you every moment. We're twenty-one months closer to you...and that's a lot of steps toward you in our hearts and in our journey. We love you so much. Always know you are with us every moment in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We'll see you soon.
Cherishing the journey of blessings,
Terri & Family
The wait was eighteen months when we were first logged in..but we knew that the time frame could easily change. It did change...and it may change again. But we simply trust that our journey is in God's hands and His plan and timing are always best. It's not easy but it's definitely worth the wait! For we know that the precious baby girl/s God has already placed in our hearts will be placed in our arms at just the right time, in just the right place, in just the right circumstances. We also know that she is never alone for the same God who guides our journey to her...is holding her in His arms, as well.
So...the journey continues and we continue to pray for our sweetie/s...and all the wonderful people who are walking beside us. We are grateful for the birth parents who will bring her into the world and decide to share her with us. We are grateful for the caregivers who will take care of her until we arrive in China to bring her home. We are grateful for those special people in the USA and PRC who are working to bring the precious babies together with their forever families. We thank God for orchestrating it all in His wonderful design. And we are thankful for all of you who care, pray, encourage, love and walk along this journey with us. It truly makes all the difference to know that you are beside us!
As we all continue our various journeys in life, we pray that we will all seek His purpose, plan, peace and promises. What a comfort to know we are never alone!
Hold on, dear Sweeties! Dad and Mom are still working very hard in our journey to you. You are so very loved by your parents, sister and brother. There are many people praying for you and loving you. And your Heavenly Father is watching over you every moment. We're twenty-one months closer to you...and that's a lot of steps toward you in our hearts and in our journey. We love you so much. Always know you are with us every moment in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We'll see you soon.
Cherishing the journey of blessings,
Terri & Family
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Blessed Journeys in 2009!
The holidays have arrived. The journey has been busy as we visited family in Ohio the weekend before and family in Virginia the weekend after Christmas day. Now we celebrate the dawning of a brand new year and a new chapter in our journey of life, family, Church, adoption, etc.. There's something so refreshing about new beginnings, isn't there?
Just yesterday, we celebrated our son's seventeenth birthday. Where have the years gone? It seems like only a few years ago that we made that trip to the hospital where many hours later, our son was born. Now he is driving, finishing his junior year of high school, making plans for college and becoming an incredible young man. It doesn't seem possible that time has passed so quickly. A few months ago, our daughter turned twenty. How did that happen when "just yesterday" I would place them in their carseats in our first minivan and take them out for Happy Meals every Friday night? Now they are building individual lives with school, goals, relationships, and dreams of their own. We are indeed blessed as we watch them grow and develop into the precious lives they have been given. It's been a wonderful journey so far with them. It has simply passed way too quickly.
Now we realize that a new year is once again upon us and we continue to move forward as individuals, as a family, as spouses, as parents, as children, as siblings, etc.. We are once again reminded that seasons come and go all too quickly and each precious moment is a gift to be cherished. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was in college making plans and dreams about my own future? Wasn't it just a few short years ago that I married that handsome guy from Ohio? Wasn't it just a blink away that we became parents for the first and second times? Wasn't it just a moment ago that we bought our first house, their first bikes and they began school? Actually, we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year....unbelievable!!! Our daughter is almost halfway through her college career. Our son has only a year and a half left in high school. And we're seriously praying about purchasing another house in the future. Yes....the seasons quickly come and go...but each season is full of purpose, joy and blessings. We cannot stop time nor can we decrease or increase its pace. But we can certainly enjoy and embrace the gift of each moment.
So today, as the first day of 2009 shines brightly in our lives, we are grateful for another beginning. We are thankful that new seasons await us. We are embracing today and the joy of having our children home. We appreciate the new memories made with family and friends over the past week or two. We are excited about the opportunities that lie before us with new friendships, new seasons and new beginnings. We embrace today...this moment...the gift of each breath...and the blessings that surround us from past, present and future seasons.
And yes...our hearts continue to ache for a little girl or two in China who have captured our hearts forever. We long for the day that we can hold her and bring her home. We long for the moments we can watch her eyes twinkle with excitement, joy, love and assurance in her Forever Family. Although time passes so quickly in other areas, the time we wait for her seems to pass ever so slowly. Yet we realize that each moment, each day, each effort and each step in this season are purposeful in our journey to our baby girl/s. We must cherish this part of the journey for it is what makes it all complete in His perfect plan and timing. It wouldn't be the same if it happened any other way.
So as the journey continues, may your journey in 2009 be full of love, joy, peace, hope and good health. May each moment be a gift in your life. May your life be full and purposeful. May your new beginnings bring life to your years and years to your life. May you always know that you are special, loved, cherished and blessed. Thank you for blessing our lives in the many different ways you do. Thank you for walking beside us in our journey. Thank you for allowing us to walk beside you in yours. Remember you are never alone! Blessings to all of you in this new year!
Cherishing each moment,
Terri & Family
Just yesterday, we celebrated our son's seventeenth birthday. Where have the years gone? It seems like only a few years ago that we made that trip to the hospital where many hours later, our son was born. Now he is driving, finishing his junior year of high school, making plans for college and becoming an incredible young man. It doesn't seem possible that time has passed so quickly. A few months ago, our daughter turned twenty. How did that happen when "just yesterday" I would place them in their carseats in our first minivan and take them out for Happy Meals every Friday night? Now they are building individual lives with school, goals, relationships, and dreams of their own. We are indeed blessed as we watch them grow and develop into the precious lives they have been given. It's been a wonderful journey so far with them. It has simply passed way too quickly.
Now we realize that a new year is once again upon us and we continue to move forward as individuals, as a family, as spouses, as parents, as children, as siblings, etc.. We are once again reminded that seasons come and go all too quickly and each precious moment is a gift to be cherished. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was in college making plans and dreams about my own future? Wasn't it just a few short years ago that I married that handsome guy from Ohio? Wasn't it just a blink away that we became parents for the first and second times? Wasn't it just a moment ago that we bought our first house, their first bikes and they began school? Actually, we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this year....unbelievable!!! Our daughter is almost halfway through her college career. Our son has only a year and a half left in high school. And we're seriously praying about purchasing another house in the future. Yes....the seasons quickly come and go...but each season is full of purpose, joy and blessings. We cannot stop time nor can we decrease or increase its pace. But we can certainly enjoy and embrace the gift of each moment.
So today, as the first day of 2009 shines brightly in our lives, we are grateful for another beginning. We are thankful that new seasons await us. We are embracing today and the joy of having our children home. We appreciate the new memories made with family and friends over the past week or two. We are excited about the opportunities that lie before us with new friendships, new seasons and new beginnings. We embrace today...this moment...the gift of each breath...and the blessings that surround us from past, present and future seasons.
And yes...our hearts continue to ache for a little girl or two in China who have captured our hearts forever. We long for the day that we can hold her and bring her home. We long for the moments we can watch her eyes twinkle with excitement, joy, love and assurance in her Forever Family. Although time passes so quickly in other areas, the time we wait for her seems to pass ever so slowly. Yet we realize that each moment, each day, each effort and each step in this season are purposeful in our journey to our baby girl/s. We must cherish this part of the journey for it is what makes it all complete in His perfect plan and timing. It wouldn't be the same if it happened any other way.
So as the journey continues, may your journey in 2009 be full of love, joy, peace, hope and good health. May each moment be a gift in your life. May your life be full and purposeful. May your new beginnings bring life to your years and years to your life. May you always know that you are special, loved, cherished and blessed. Thank you for blessing our lives in the many different ways you do. Thank you for walking beside us in our journey. Thank you for allowing us to walk beside you in yours. Remember you are never alone! Blessings to all of you in this new year!
Cherishing each moment,
Terri & Family
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