Still Waiting and Even More Excited!

It is so hard to believe that it's been almost a month since I wrote my last post. Life has been exciting...and continues to grow even more thrilling. Since my last post, we have moved Rachel home from the university, celebrated Mother's Day, celebrated our twenty-sixth wedding anniversary, preparing for Tim's birthday tomorrow....and anticipating Micah's graduation next month. Wow! Life is so blessed!

We are also celebrating the referral of our friend, Melanie's, sweet daughter from China! Melanie and her husband, Ryan, are almost one year ahead of us in the adoption journey. Yesterday they received the referral of their daughter, Allyson Marie. We are so thrilled for them! They have been logged in over four years and now they are seeing pictures of their adorable daughter. Congratulations, Melanie and Ryan! Melanie is Micah's Spanish teacher and has been such an inspiration to us as we all wait for our baby girls. Now she is anticipating the trip to China this summer to bring Ally home. How awesome this time is for their family!!!

It is also an eye-opener for our family. You see, when people used to ask us if we had heard anything, we "gauged" our wait somewhat on Melanie and Ryan's wait. We always said, "Well, Micah's teacher hasn't heard anything and they are a year ahead of us." Now...that has changed in a beautiful way! Now we see the "light at the end of the tunnel" for Melanie and Ryan. NOW we see that we are quite possibly a year or less in our wait for our JennaBeth (and EmmaKate?). What a great "second wind" we now have as we continue our journey. It is a great time to celebrate for our friend and her family. It is a great encouragement for our family's journey, as well.

Hold on, baby girl/s. This is most likely our last summer without you at home. We are so excited and we have much to do to prepare for your arrival. Know that you are loved very, very much and you will be in our arms sooner than ever before. ♥

I am thankful for the joyful news for our friends. I am thankful that Ally will be in their arms in the next couple months. I am thankful for the journey that they have diligently endured to bring their little daughter home. I am thankful that we have been able to watch their joy (and patience) lead them to this wonderful moment in their lives. I am also very thankful for the precious people who have touched their lives in their adoption journey. What a beautiful family that will finally be together. Thank you, God!

I am also thankful for our dear friends, family and journey. I thank God for each of you daily. Will you please continue to pray for our baby girl/s...the dear mother who will bring our daughter/s into this world and make a tremendous sacrifice so that she/they will be able to join our family? Will you please thank God for the precious people in the agencies, government offices, doctors, notaries, orphanages, etc. who contribute greatly to this journey so selflessly? Will you pray for all the adoptive parents who travel this road...which is long, challenging and a true journey of faith? Will you pray for the precious babies who are waiting for their moms and dads to come to China for them? Thank you so much!

Each moment. Each gift. Each heartbeat. Each day. These are all gifts for which we are thankful. Cherish each step of your journey. May you be as blessed in your journey as you have blessed the steps in ours! Much love to all of you! ♥
Cherishing the blessings...
Terri & Family