Three Whole Years...And A High Chair? :)

As of April 13....five days ago, to be exact...we reached the milestone of being logged-in China's adoption system for THREE YEARS! That's a lonnnnnng time but it is also a huuuuuuge step closer to our baby girl/s. When July arrives in a few months, we will celebrate four years since we first submitted our application and began this journey of adopting our sweetie/s in China. The wait timeframe when we were logged-in was about eighteen months. It is now around four years. Yes...the wait has been extended quite a bit. But, our journey has continued, as well. Now we are beginning to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" and we know that our baby girl/s are closer to joining our family than ever before. Thank you, God!

So...in celebration of this amazing milestone, we did something special this weekend. Although our daughter and son's high chair was retired many years ago, someone gave us a precious used "Jenny Lynn" style wooden high chair long before we ever began considering the adoption process. (Notice the name? Jenny....as in my Grandmother Jenny who we are naming our JennaBeth after?) :) The high chair was about to be thrown away yet it was in great shape...and I couldn't bear to see it go "for some reason." When we brought it home, Tim asked me what we should do with it and we decided to put it in storage..."just in case." Well...I'm glad we did. Who knew why we would ever need it? Obviously God knew all along.

A few days ago, I mentioned to Tim that the next time he was working in the storage building, it would be nice to pull the high chair out. Yesterday, I looked up to see our 18 year old son carrying the high chair into our house. I also need to mention that he had an incredible smile on his face as he carried it inside!

The high chair has now been cleaned up and sits in our great room as a reminder of the little sweetheart/s God is working to bring home to us hopefully sometime next year. Each time I see it, I say a prayer for our JennaBeth/EmmaKate. It's been such a long journey but it's becoming more real each day that the time will truly come...when we bring her/them home.

I might also add that the chair is draped with a crocheted baby afghan from our first two babies' years. A precious little pair of baby Croc shoes are sitting on top of the afghan which our little sweetie/s' special Kentucky Ommie & Papa Ralph already gave her. The afghan represents the loving arms of God that continually surround our baby girl/s....and the baby Croc shoes represent each step of the journey that brings us closer to being together. What an amazing journey!

I know that before JennaBeth/EmmaKate arrive home, I will need to refinish the crib, chest of drawers and high chair. We have decided to go with a dark cherry finish instead of the lighter finish they presently have. Maybe that's one of my many projects to tackle next fall when our Rachel and Micah are BOTH in college. :') But for now, we celebrate three years of log-in, almost four years of the official journey...and a high chair sitting in our home.

Hold on, Baby Girl/s! Your high chair is waiting. (And we can always buy another one if we do receive twins!) Your blanket reminds us of God's love and protection and your shoes remind us of this journey's many wonderful steps toward you. My heart is overflowing with love, anticipation and gratitude for all the blessings along the way in bringing you home. For now, rest...in His arms, in our hearts...and in the joy of knowing that you are loved...forever. We are now YEARS closer to seeing you and holding you in our arms. Until that moment, we are loving you and holding you in our thoughts and hearts...constantly.

May God bless each friend, family member, minister, doctor, nurse, agency worker, government official, attorney, orphanage worker...and prayer-giver who walks along this journey of blessings with us. We thank God for you all!
Cherishing the beauty of each blessing....
Terri & family