A Long Overdue Update...

Well, it seems like a very long time has passed since I last wrote on our blog. Much has happened and I apologize for the delay. I don't really know where to begin so please bear with me as I try to explain.

To say that our adoption journey has been a rollercoaster ride recently is a major understatement. We have been so thrilled about the Referral of Song to our family. We truly hoped that we would have her home...or almost home...at this point. But that is not the case so far.

Once the Referral was made, we received our Pre-Approval, Letter of Acceptance and Travel Letter very quickly. However, there were repeated issues with our USCIS form that made our trip to China impossible in the expected time frame. It has been frustrating but we kept working...and working...and calling...USCIS...and we hope it has been resolved for now.

However...in the meantime...other issues have developed and, quite frankly, we do not know what will happen in our adoption journey in the coming weeks or months. We will not be able to travel in the alloted time frame due to a vital surgery date in our family. Other concerns have presented themselves, as well. So...our hearts are aching and our prayers are rising continually.

We love little Song so much. We have her pictures on our fridge, on our cell phones and have shared them with relatives and friends. We have named her...and have received gifts for her. Yet...we realize that the present complications could cause major obstacles in our adoption process. We have been so stressed over this...and our hearts ache over what may...or may not...happen.

Our journey of blessings has been very long...extensive...expensive...and intense. It is so easy to begin asking "whys" and "hows" at this point. However, we know that we began this journey trusting God...and we will continue to trust Him in this season, as well. He knows what is best...for Song...for our family...and for His honor and glory. Only He knew that the initial adoption "estimated journey" of eighteen months to two years...would turn into almost triple that time frame...as we begin to see the six year mark next spring/summer. Only He knew the twists, turns and reasons for each step of the journey, And only He knows how this journey will proceed. He is the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow...and we have trusted Him long before this journey began...and each moment since then. And we trust Him now..and in the future. We simply ask you one thing...

Please, please pray. Please pray for His will in all of this. Please pray for what is HIS will in little Song's life. Please pray for what is His will in the lives of our family. Please pray that our hearts, minds and lives will know peace, hope and joy in Him through it all. If He allows Song to join our family, please pray that He will work as only He can to make it happen on every level. If His plan is otherwise, please pray that we will accept, trust and believe completely in His plan...even when we don't know what lies ahead. Please pray that He will hold little Song in His loving arms to protect and provide for her always. And please pray that He will always be first and foremost in her life and in ours.

I will try to keep you updated better than I have done recently. I was quite ill the entire month of November. Our daughter was also ill and was brought home to recover. She now has a job change and a move back to our town in the near future...and our son is finishing his week of finals this week. Tim is working long hours and so much continues to keep us busy. Of course, it is Christmastime and we have much to do as we prepare for that.

May your Christmas be blessed...and your New Year be healthy, happy and holy. May your journey of blessings be peaceful, purposeful and postive. May you always know that you matter to God and to us. Thank you for your prayers as we continue our journey of blessings in His perfect plan.
Cherishing the blessing of trusting in Him,
Terri & Family