Another Father's Day weekend has come and gone and we were so glad to have both children home with us this year. For the past three years, Rachel was touring with a Choir through the university and we missed her so much. But this year, she was home with us. Yay! Several years before that, the teen music/drama ministry I directed with a local Church also left on Father's Day for our annual tours. So it was very nice to be home...together...finally.
As Tim read his cards and opened gifts, I couldn't help but imagine what it will be like when little JennaBeth (EmmaKate?) will be a part of our Father's Day celebrations. What a wonderful blessing it will be to finally have our baby girl/s from China home. But for now...we hold her in our hearts and celebrate Fatherhood that truly reaches to the other side of the world.
I have been blessed with an incredible Dad in my life and thank God for him. Dad has taught me many lessons in this lifetime...and I am so grateful. He's taught me about love, laughter and life. He taught me to get back on the horse, (both literally and figuratively), when I am thrown off and land on the ground. He taught me to stand for what is important...and dismiss what doesn't matter. He's taught me about thinking through things before making decisions....while not hesitating to protect those I love. He taught me to sing...and how to adjust the clutch and check the oil on my VW beetle. He taught me to cherish family..present and those before us. And he's taught me to develop the gifts God gave me. Dad always encouraged my music and my education. He never stops caring...and he still wants to know when I arrive home from a long trip. He's taught me that we never stop being parents...and how to graciously give our children wings...without severing their roots. I've watched Dad raise five children...four sons...and me, right in the middle of those boys. But Dad always has a way of treating us with love, respect and kindness...equally yet individually. I can hardly wait to hand him his sixth (maybe seventh) grandchild someday soon. Many of the lessons I have learned about parenting, I learned from him.
So Happy Father's Day to my husband...You're a wonderful father, Tim. Happy Father's Day to my Dad...I love you and I will always be your little girl. Happy Father's Day to every man who touches lives as a Dad or as the son of one. Happy Father's Day to the Father who continues to orchestrate uniting us with our precious daughter/s in China. We count our blessings as we continue the journey.
Cherishing Dads...
Terri and Family
Jenna Elizabeth (aka "JennaBeth") Song Lorenz
Waiting For Our Little One To Come Home From China!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Twenty-Six Months L.I.D.!!!
It's very late...or early...but I had to write a brief note to acknowledge that as of today, June 13, 2009, we have been Logged-In China's adoption system for twenty-six months! Wow! I've been a rather patient person all my life...but I'm definitely learning an entirely new level now. That's ok. Every day is one step closer...and every moment in this journey is very much worth the wait. I cannot comprehend just how wonderful it will be the moment we see her precious face or hold her in our arms for the first time. I cannot fathom how incredible it will be when we bring her home and we are all together...finally. I'm sure we will look back and reaffirm that this journey was definitely worth it all. Plus that will only be the beginning of our journey together with her. Yay!!
Our oldest daughter, Rachel, has been gone for over a week as she works in a mission in Haiti. After not hearing her voice, seeing her face, or being able to hug her for days, I am so excited to see her at the end of this weekend! Our son, Micah, was gone for quite awhile last night and I could hardly wait until he arrived home. So it will be quite an amazing experience when we finally reach the time we've longed for in the past three years...(so far)...and we are finally together with our sweet baby girl/s. It's going to be life-changing!
Twenty-six months...and counting. My heart continues to grow in love and joy for this precious one God is bringing into our lives. She's been in our hearts for so very long that it's hard to remember a time we weren't loving her, praying for her, thinking about her and moving forward in the journey toward her. Somehow, it just seems she has always been part of our family.
Hold on, precious one! Daddy, Mom, Rachel and Micah are holding you in our hearts every moment. But someday soon, we'll hold you in our arms...and we're moving closer to you each day. We love you, baby girl. What a blessing to know that God is holding you in His arms until He places you in ours!
Cherishing another step in the journey...
Terri and Family
Our oldest daughter, Rachel, has been gone for over a week as she works in a mission in Haiti. After not hearing her voice, seeing her face, or being able to hug her for days, I am so excited to see her at the end of this weekend! Our son, Micah, was gone for quite awhile last night and I could hardly wait until he arrived home. So it will be quite an amazing experience when we finally reach the time we've longed for in the past three years...(so far)...and we are finally together with our sweet baby girl/s. It's going to be life-changing!
Twenty-six months...and counting. My heart continues to grow in love and joy for this precious one God is bringing into our lives. She's been in our hearts for so very long that it's hard to remember a time we weren't loving her, praying for her, thinking about her and moving forward in the journey toward her. Somehow, it just seems she has always been part of our family.
Hold on, precious one! Daddy, Mom, Rachel and Micah are holding you in our hearts every moment. But someday soon, we'll hold you in our arms...and we're moving closer to you each day. We love you, baby girl. What a blessing to know that God is holding you in His arms until He places you in ours!
Cherishing another step in the journey...
Terri and Family
Friday, June 5, 2009
Two Different Daughters In Two Different Countries!
Yes...you read the title right! As of today, we have two different daughters in two different countries! It's hard to imagine but it is a special time in our lives and we are so glad that love, prayers and thoughts extend beyond geographical boundaries!
Yesterday our oldest daughter, Rachel, boarded a plane and headed to Haiti where she will work with a mission for the next eight days. She plans to work in the health clinic, orphanage, perhaps the pharmacy and in other areas where the visiting group will assist. Yesterday's plane rides took her from the Cincy airport to Texas and then to Florida. This morning she boarded another plane and has now reached Haiti. Following a lengthy bus ride today, they will arrive at the mission and begin their work. I never imagined as I carried her inside my body twenty-one years ago that someday I would watch her fly into the skies to visit and work in another country. But it happened anyway and now we wait...and watch...and pray...and anticipate the day we are reunited with Rachel.
Three years ago, Tim and I turned in our application to adopt a daughter from China. Over 25 months ago, our Dossier was logged in China's adoption system. Now...we wait...and watch...and pray...and anticipate the day we are united with JennaBeth (and maybe EmmaKate). We can hardly wait to have our entire family together...finally.
It's not easy having our hearts in so many places at once. But it's an amazing time to watch precious friends, family...and even strangers bless our lives in only a way God could orchestrate! As Rachel met two other college friends at the airport she would travel with, Tim and I met their parents. It was so neat. We quickly learned that we had mutual friends and it seemed we had known our new friends for a very long time! We've already exchanged emails and cell phone numbers and there is no doubt that God provided such blessings for some parents who are missing their daughters a great deal! I must also mention that we recently learned of some friends we went to college with are involved in the mission trip group, as well. The husband already met Rachel this morning and his wife is keeping me updated as she hears from him on the trip. They have been so encouraging and we thank God for the amazing blessing they are as we experience having our daughter in Haiti during this time. The blessings have just been so abundant and our hearts are deeply touched.
Yesterday as we hugged our daughters goodbye before they walked away, we noticed a retired couple sitting closeby. They smiled and made some precious comments about our situation and we quickly learned they had just arrived from Dallas, Texas. The lady was crying with us as we told our children goodbye and the gentleman kept us laughing...and encouraged. Before our ways parted, this precious couple reminded us that "God is watching over them." I have no doubt that this couple was a blessing from God, as well. In general conversation with them later, they heard someone mention that Tim and I will fly to China in the future for our baby girl. It was amazing. This couple smiled enthusiastically and told us that someone in their church in Texas had just brought a little girl home from China! They were so excited for us. Again...another blessing along the way...even from strangers. I may never know their names but I shall not forget their kindness.
Today our son spent his last day as a high school junior. When August arrives, he will begin his senior year and I'm already wondering where the time went. It seems like just yesterday I held him in my arms for the first time and thanked God for our precious family...Tim, our daughter and now our son. Wow...how quickly time passes and things change. Micah made a precious statement today that I didn't expect to come from a 17-year-old guy. He told me that as soon as we get the referral picture of our JennaBeth, he wants to put her picture in his wallet! Of course, I immediately responded by telling him how sweet he was for saying that. He looked at me and said..."why wouldn't I, Mom? She's my sister!" What an amazing family we have. I can hardly wait to see Micah and Rachel spoiling their little sister/s! It's going to be great. We are indeed so very blessed.
So life continues to be a wonderful journey. Sometimes it's difficult...but it's always blessed. It took our faith to an entirely new level to watch our daughter board a plane and then watch it soar into the sky taking her out of our reach...and our country. But we have learned so much already. On our way home last night, Tim and I passed a Church sign that said "Faith is not believing that God can...it is knowing that He will!" I have certainly witnessed evidence of that recently! So many reminders through so many people have repeatedly confirmed that truth.
As our oldest daughter spends the next nine days away from us in Haiti (eight working there and one day traveling back home), as our youngest daughter/s remain in China until we bring her home, and as we are separate from loved ones far and near....I thank God for each of you. Thank you for the prayers, love, encouragement, laughter, tears and life you share with us. Thank you for caring. Thank you for sharing our journey. Thank you for being such blessings along the way...no matter where we may be. May you be blessed as abundantly as you have been a blessing to us.
Cherishing love without boundaries...
Terri & family
Yesterday our oldest daughter, Rachel, boarded a plane and headed to Haiti where she will work with a mission for the next eight days. She plans to work in the health clinic, orphanage, perhaps the pharmacy and in other areas where the visiting group will assist. Yesterday's plane rides took her from the Cincy airport to Texas and then to Florida. This morning she boarded another plane and has now reached Haiti. Following a lengthy bus ride today, they will arrive at the mission and begin their work. I never imagined as I carried her inside my body twenty-one years ago that someday I would watch her fly into the skies to visit and work in another country. But it happened anyway and now we wait...and watch...and pray...and anticipate the day we are reunited with Rachel.
Three years ago, Tim and I turned in our application to adopt a daughter from China. Over 25 months ago, our Dossier was logged in China's adoption system. Now...we wait...and watch...and pray...and anticipate the day we are united with JennaBeth (and maybe EmmaKate). We can hardly wait to have our entire family together...finally.
It's not easy having our hearts in so many places at once. But it's an amazing time to watch precious friends, family...and even strangers bless our lives in only a way God could orchestrate! As Rachel met two other college friends at the airport she would travel with, Tim and I met their parents. It was so neat. We quickly learned that we had mutual friends and it seemed we had known our new friends for a very long time! We've already exchanged emails and cell phone numbers and there is no doubt that God provided such blessings for some parents who are missing their daughters a great deal! I must also mention that we recently learned of some friends we went to college with are involved in the mission trip group, as well. The husband already met Rachel this morning and his wife is keeping me updated as she hears from him on the trip. They have been so encouraging and we thank God for the amazing blessing they are as we experience having our daughter in Haiti during this time. The blessings have just been so abundant and our hearts are deeply touched.
Yesterday as we hugged our daughters goodbye before they walked away, we noticed a retired couple sitting closeby. They smiled and made some precious comments about our situation and we quickly learned they had just arrived from Dallas, Texas. The lady was crying with us as we told our children goodbye and the gentleman kept us laughing...and encouraged. Before our ways parted, this precious couple reminded us that "God is watching over them." I have no doubt that this couple was a blessing from God, as well. In general conversation with them later, they heard someone mention that Tim and I will fly to China in the future for our baby girl. It was amazing. This couple smiled enthusiastically and told us that someone in their church in Texas had just brought a little girl home from China! They were so excited for us. Again...another blessing along the way...even from strangers. I may never know their names but I shall not forget their kindness.
Today our son spent his last day as a high school junior. When August arrives, he will begin his senior year and I'm already wondering where the time went. It seems like just yesterday I held him in my arms for the first time and thanked God for our precious family...Tim, our daughter and now our son. Wow...how quickly time passes and things change. Micah made a precious statement today that I didn't expect to come from a 17-year-old guy. He told me that as soon as we get the referral picture of our JennaBeth, he wants to put her picture in his wallet! Of course, I immediately responded by telling him how sweet he was for saying that. He looked at me and said..."why wouldn't I, Mom? She's my sister!" What an amazing family we have. I can hardly wait to see Micah and Rachel spoiling their little sister/s! It's going to be great. We are indeed so very blessed.
So life continues to be a wonderful journey. Sometimes it's difficult...but it's always blessed. It took our faith to an entirely new level to watch our daughter board a plane and then watch it soar into the sky taking her out of our reach...and our country. But we have learned so much already. On our way home last night, Tim and I passed a Church sign that said "Faith is not believing that God can...it is knowing that He will!" I have certainly witnessed evidence of that recently! So many reminders through so many people have repeatedly confirmed that truth.
As our oldest daughter spends the next nine days away from us in Haiti (eight working there and one day traveling back home), as our youngest daughter/s remain in China until we bring her home, and as we are separate from loved ones far and near....I thank God for each of you. Thank you for the prayers, love, encouragement, laughter, tears and life you share with us. Thank you for caring. Thank you for sharing our journey. Thank you for being such blessings along the way...no matter where we may be. May you be blessed as abundantly as you have been a blessing to us.
Cherishing love without boundaries...
Terri & family
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