Forty-Three Months Closer!!!

We have great news to share again! As of yesterday, November 13, 2010, we have been "Logged-In" China's adoption system for Forty-Three months! We are getting so much closer to our baby girl/s! We have always seen each step in this journey as another blessing toward seeing, meeting, holding and bringing our little girl/s home from China. But forty-three months is a significant accomplishment in the process. We are thrilled, to say the least!

We have been told recently about how very patient we are as we wait. Well, truthfully, we don't always FEEL patient. There are times when I see other little Chinese girls and my heart stirs strongly because we long for our daughter so deeply. There are moments when I feel a very strong connection to her...even more than usual. (Those of you who have experienced adoption know exactly what I am talking about!) There are times that I just want to jump on a plane, go find JennaBeth/EmmaKate and bring our little one/s home...NOW!! But...as we have learned many times in life, God's timing is always better than our own! So we wait, pray, love, wonder, wish, hope, wait, work, update, wait, dream and wait some more. But we do know that it is always worth this journey and whatever time is involved.

I often heard when I was pregnant with Rachel and Micah that once I held my babies in my arms, I would forget the labor pains. Well...I have to disagree--strongly! :) For those pains were very uncomfortable, strong and exhausting...but each moment brought the birth of our children closer...and it was worth it all. I will not forget the patience, pain or presence of so many people who encouraged and helped us during those wonderful experiences of having our first two children arrive. I DO remember...vividly...what it took to reach the point of holding our babies in our arms. And I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! THAT'S what love does!

Likewise, the "delivery" of our baby girl/s in our arms sometime soon will be so rewarding that I will always consider this journey very worthwhile. Will I "forget" each prayer, update, homestudy, form, fee, dr. visit, fingerprint appointment, etc. that we had to endure? No...for each step was a valuable part of bringing our daughter/s home to us! I cherish any and every endeavor that led us closer to our little one/s. Just as "moms who have been there" are so encouraging to new moms, I hope that our adoption journey will enable me to encourage other parents who are waiting for their children, too.

Adoption is a wonderful blessing to so many lives! I always knew it was special. I have seen friends and relatives rejoice from the blessings of adoption since my childhood. My husband saw the same situations in his life. But now we see the joy of adoption in an entirely new light for we are experiencing it firsthand. It has touched our hearts, lives, family, faith and attitudes forever. To realize that God called us...a very simple family...to become parents of a little girl or two from China who need the love a Dad, Mom, brother and sister...is both overwhelming and amazing! Some folks have told us that our little girl/s will be blessed to join us. And that means so much to us. But I must admit that I believe WE will be the very blessed ones! To share love, life, family name, laughter, joy and our world with this precious little one is an incredible calling! Our lives will never be the same...and we are touched forever!

November is National Adoption Awareness Month and we are blessed to be a part of the joy and journey of adoption. May God bless each orphan, adoptive family, friend, social worker, adoption agency, doctor, attorney, notary, caregiver, government worker and individual who make this journey possible. Thank you for your continued prayers, love, encouragement and presence on our amazing Journey of Blessings.
Loving our Little Ones in China,
Terri & Family