Tests, Surprises and Nods from God!

The past week has been very eventful, to put it mildly! There were exciting moments, surprising moments, overwhelming moments, challenging moments, studious moments, uncertain moments, "I can't believe this is happening to us" moments, frustrating moments, determination moments, exhausted moments, victorious moments, are you serious moments...and wow, God, thank You for bringing us through it all moments!

Last week, Tim and I were rejoicing about the completion of our latest home study update process. We had turned in all the necessary paperwork and were waiting for the final touches to be finished at the agency, after which it would be sent to Homeland Security to update our I-600A status...which is the official USCIS approval for us to adopt. That's a verrry big thing! :)

The phone rang Thursday morning and our social worker had a few questions for us from the agency re: some details before sending off the home study. One of those questions involved parenting classes. Yes...we still need to take parenting classes. I know....we have an almost 23 year old daughter and an almost 20 year old son...and we stilllllll have to take parenting classes. This is more about the needs, conditions,care, etc. of adoptive children so we knew it would be informative and helpful. No problem. We would get that done in the near future. However, due to some recent changes in Hague Convention requirements, (an international arrangement), parenting classes must NOW be completed before home study updates. Whaaaaaaaaaat? Our home study had to go to USCIS NOW before it expires in September...or we would have to start this process all over again...and I mean completely start all over again. During our Dossier and last two updates before this one, we had been informed that our parenting classes would not be addressed until we were much closer to going to China. Ok...no pressure...until RIGHT NOW!

The parenting classes were online so I quickly ordered them and set them up for immediate use. The "alleged" 10 hours...notice I said ALLEGED ten hours..meant watching four different classes/sections, taking tests, watching a Culture segment...and then receiving proof of passing the course by receiving certficates of completion. Hmmm. It sounded a bit involved...but doable. So Tim and I quickly realized that our weekend plans would be changed and we would take the four classes, take the tests and move forward. I wish it had been that easy. But, satan had another idea.

There had already been an earthquake in my home state of Virginia that week and Hurricane Irene was bearing down on the east coast where we have so many wonderful friends. And yet, this weekend brought a storm of its own into our adoption journey. Tim and I worked all Saturday afternoon on the first class. We passed the tests, (we had to take each of the four tests individually), and vowed to take the remaining three classes on Sunday. However, Sunday became much more interesting. For some reason, many segments of the videos would not download...while others did. We tried several different ways of trying to work with the delays...and total absences of some segments...but it was not working at all. We called our social worker. We called the class seminar company in Missouri...who, of course, was out for the weekend. So...we both went to separate ends of our home...and prayed. Although the classes were still not easily downloaded or easy to watch, we slooooooowly viewed piece by piece of the remaining courses. We worked throughout the entire day...through most of the evening...and until 4 am on Monday morning. At this point we had passed all four tests. All we had to do was watch the required section on culture and our classes would be complete. We finished that around noon on Monday.

Tim and I were extremely exhausted...very overwhelmed...and discouraged. Although we have never doubted God's leading, we had pushed a parenting course that should take a month or two into about forty-eight hours or less. And that alleged TEN hours I mentioned earlier...became more like twenty or more by the time everything was done! Not only did we have to watch videos and graphics, plus check other resources...but we had to then study...take the tests...and move forward. We both felt extremely under satan's vicious attacks on many levels of life at this point. But GOD........

That's what I love about God. No matter what is going on in life...it is never the end with God. Our Monday was busy getting things done at home and work. And then along came Tuesday. Tuesday morning brought a call from the parenting class company in Missouri. They apologized repeatedly and are sending us additional resources in the mail to help in our adoption journey. Well, that was nice, I thought. The certficates arrived by email so we quickly printed those, copied them and sent them off to our agency so the home study is OFFICIALLY now complete. Yessssssss! Whew...now we can breathe. Sounds like a pretty cool day, right? BUT GOD......

Then it happened. A phone call from our adoption agency telling us about a little girl in China who just might be of interest to us! Whaaaaaaaat???? I talked to the SN lady at the agency and she explained that this precious little fourteen month old girl...born less than a week before my birthday in 2010...had been "locked in" China's just-released list for our consideration. Wow! However, her Special Need situation is quite severe...and one that we had not agreed to on our SN checklist form we had turned in just a couple weeks ago. We had checked that a minor form of this would be considered...but the agency wanted us to see her "just in case" before making her available for other agencies.

Tim and I immediately prayed about this possibility. The SN lady asked if we just wanted to see the medical records...or if we wanted the pictures, as well. I told her we definitely wanted to see all of it because this little sweetheart was not just a "condition"...but a precious child God had created...and we wanted to see her! As Tim and I opened the email, we looked into the face of a precious little girl who has spirit...determination...beauty...and a bright future ahead of her. Of course, we want to bring her home. But...we also want what is best for her complicated needs. We had several phone consults about her...and although our hearts were very moved by this little girl, we knew right away that she belongs to another family who can care for her needs more sufficiently than we can. It wasn't easy to say that to her adorable face, her beautiful pictures...or her documents that talked about her love for music...but it was a totally peaceful decision. You see, this journey is about following God's plan...not ours. It's about what is best for that little girl who will need many, many professional services to take care of her. It's about waiting...working...waiting...and watching for God to move in such a way that we have absolutely, positively no doubt whatsoever that the child/ren He places in our lives are exactly what He planned and designed....as our Forever Family is brought together while her needs are met in every way she deserves and requires.

So why did this happen? I can't speak for God, of course. But I know this. Sometimes...when we least expect it...God does something that grabs our attention so strongly...that we KNOW He is preparing us for something far greater than we can ever imagine. Sometimes, He doesn't say yes...or no...or even maybe. He just NODS...and He assures us that He IS working it all out. He has NOT forgotten what He has called us to do or what He has promised to do. He is simply nodding His head forward and backward saying..."Watch out...it's coming soon...and I want you to be READY!" Tim and I...and both of our children...firmly believe with all of our hearts, that the "sneak preview" of God's amazing hand at work...was allowed into our lives today to remind us that it is almost time...and to be ready...to pray, prepare and be at peace as His plan unfolds so very soon! At a time when Tim and I have been so excited about our 54 month update's completion...only to be bombarded with satan's schemes to distract and discourage us in different ways recently...God has stepped in....and said...I AM GOD....HOLD ON!

Today I ask that you pray specifically for the precious little girl we have nicknamed "Lili" ("Leelee") who has lots of surgeries and work ahead of her. She's definitely going to make it! And her new family will be blessed beyond measure to have her. What an incredible life and story she will have to share in the years ahead. Pray for all those involved in taking care of her. What a joy it would be to somehow hear how her life unfolds.

So now...we wait. Many tests and trials have come upon us. We have had human moments when we felt frustrated, annoyed, discouraged, alone...and impatient. That's from satan's schemes, no doubt. But we have never stopped believing that God is in control and He will make a way for just the right moment...for just the right little girl/s...to come home to us. Were we surprised today? Sure! I never imagined that after a grueling parenting class marathon, we would within hours receive a call from our agency about a little girl in China who needs a Forever Family and home. I never imagined we would see the words "Referral Information" on our computer screen so suddenly. I never imagined we would decline the referral. But I am certainly learning about what I like to call "Nods from God." As He moves His head back and forth toward us, I can't imagine what He has planned for us...and our little JennaBeth. He knows. He has it all worked out just right. He is waiting for just the right time to bring her into our lives. As God nods...I can only wonder what He will do when we see her face for the first time...finally hold her in our arms...and bring her home. I believe, as a friend said to us today, that God will smile, laugh and cry tears of joy with us when His precious baby girl is brought together with her Dad, Mom, Brother and Sister, friends and relatives who have waited for so long to bring her home. We are so thankful...and we rejoice...for this amazing Journey of Blessings...complete with tests, surprises...and Nods from God.
Cherishing each step toward our baby girl/s,
Terri & Family