Just Thinking......

It's a hot, sunny, summer day and I'm staying inside as much as possible! So I thought I would write a few lines to our dear friends/family. There are no new steps in the journey to share today. But I do have a random thought going through my head. :)

Last week Tim and I spent a few days visiting his family in Ohio. We checked in a hotel, visited with his parents and their spouses, visited his dear Aunt Lucy...and reminisced...lots. Sometimes we drove around country roads I never saw before. Other times, we drove around familiar areas. We even spent time visiting the town where he attended high school. I enjoyed seeing the sights where my precious hubby grew up. I especially enjoyed watching him as he took a stroll down memory lane. There's just something about reconnecting with our "roots" in life, isn't there?

Perhaps the most interesting moments of reminiscing we had during our trip was visiting the graves of Tim's Lorenz and Geib grandparents...and great-grandparents. Now call me "unique," but I enjoy and appreciate the history we often find in family cemetaries. We learn so much about our roots...our ancestors...those people who have a very direct connection to our heritage and our present! In fact, one of my goals in life is to assemble family tree information for our children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren before I leave this world. I am always amazed to discover how God brought people from other parts of the world into our lives over many decades...which led to us being who and where we are today! That fascinates me.

For example, someday our children's children may ask about their family history, which involves people from Ohio, Virginia...and China. It already amazes me that our children are a direct result of a man who transferred from the University of Akron, OH....to a Christian College in Grayson, KY...who "just so happened" to meet a woman from Virginia who had already graduated from that Christian college...yet "just so happened" to find it necessary to return for one more major. Going back even further, there are people in the lives of our original families who are from Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and France. Add to that combination the fact that I have Cherokee roots in my family tree...and we have some very special ancestry. There are lots of "just so happens" in our lives, aren't there? But it doesn't really surprise me for God knew all along just how it would all take place. I am definitely amazed...but not surprised.

As I gazed upon the tombstones of Tim's ancestors, (and our children's ancestors), I thought about those dear people who lived many years ago. What would they think if they knew how their family had continued to live on in unexpected destinations, decisions and developments? Yet...without each of these ancestors, we would be different!

Of course, I couldn't help but think about our little one/s in China. We are so excited in our journey to our daughter/s. We pray. We dream. We work. We wonder. We love. And we try to imagine what it will be like to see, meet, hold and bring her/them home for the first time. But that will only be the beginning of life as she/they know it. Most likely, someday, our baby girl/s will have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will wonder...how it all happened that someone from China came to America years ago, which changed their lives greatly, too. I hope there will be records and documents for them to see how it developed...and that they will cherish their Chinese and American heritages. Most importantly, I hope they will all know that IN GOD'S PERFECT PLAN, a man from Ohio met a woman from Virginia and they heard God's call to bring a precious child home from China to love and to join their family forever. I hope that each family member in our past, present and future realizes how valuable their life is to God...and how He works through each of us to touch countless other lives for Him.

I pray that each one reading this blog is reminded that as we share our heritages from so many people, locations, generations and choices, we are ultimately in HIS hands, HIS design, HIS purpose, HIS love and HIS will. May we each cherish the amazing journey He has directed for us in the past, present and future. What blessings we have been given!
Cherishing this incredible journey...past, present & future...
Terri & Family

Four Years in Process! 39 Months Since Log-In!

Time is certainly passing quickly this summer. But it seems like forever since we officially began the adoption process four years ago this month. However, we are so thankful that we are getting closer to our baby girl/s. As of July 13, we have been "Logged-In" China's system for thirty-nine months! Wow!!!

Although the wait time has more than doubled since we began our journey, we know that it will certainly be worth every moment once we see our sweet JennaBeth (EmmaKate?). It has been a very long road of waiting, updating, re-fingerprinting, wondering, praying and more waiting. But once our dear little one/s are with us, each moment will be priceless since it led us closer and closer to our baby girl/s.

Right now, our friends, Melanie and Ryan, are in China meeting and preparing to bring their sweet little Ally home with them. Melanie was Micah's Spanish teacher in high school for four years. They were logged-in not quite a year ahead of us. Now they are holding their baby girl in their arms! We have a renewed sense of excitement, joy and anticipation for we know we are not far from the wonderful day we meet our little daughter/s. So close....so very, very close!!!!

Hold on, dear JennaBeth/EmmaKate. We are so incredibly close to seeing you, meeting you, holding you and bringing you home. Of course, our hearts are already with you and you are definitely a precious part of our lives. Our love, prayers and thoughts are constantly with you. Hold on, sweetie/s. We're almost there!

To all of our loved ones, friends and angels along this journey, thank YOU for praying for our baby girls...and for our family as we draw nearer to her/them each day. You are a very special part of our journey and have made it much more bearable. We are blessed every step of the way by your love and assistance. May each step of your journey be richly blessed.
Cherishing each amazing step...
Terri & Family