Jenna Elizabeth (aka "JennaBeth") Song Lorenz

Waiting For Our Little One To Come Home From China!

Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Forty-Five Months Closer!

We are busy adjusting to 2011 and all that it involves. Rachel returned to KCU last Sunday to begin her final (wow!) Senior semester before graduating! Micah returned to UK on Monday to prepare for his second freshman semester. (Another Wow!) Tim is back at work and I am here at home with unlimited projects, goals and activities to accomplish as a family, an individual and an adoptive parent. There is no lack of things to do this year...and I am thrilled to face another year of life, blessings and purpose.

While visiting Tim's Mom in Ohio recently, she said something that really inspired me. Some of the family members were talking about reaching various ages and the shock that comes along with each new decade. Then Margaret said that age has never bothered her for she is simply thankful to have another day/year to live. I love that! I am so grateful for such a positive outlook on life and it is one I choose to embrace, as well. Thanks, "Mom Margaret!" :)

As today marks the forty-five month mark of being Logged-In China's adoption system, I choose to see the joy of being so much closer to our baby girl/s. Instead of being discouraged that it has taken far longer than we ever imagined, I believe that God knows exactly what is best in His plan to bring our baby girl/s home to her Forever Family. I have heard it said so many times from several of our adoptive family friends. God knows the EXACT child He has chosen to bring into our lives and only in HIS perfect timing, will she arrive...just as He planned all along. We wouldn't have it any other way. So...45 months is a significant place in this journey and we are thrilled to be this far along.

Many thanks to you who continue to walk beside us as we wait for our JennaBeth/EmmaKate to come home. Your prayers, encouragement, excitement, faith and joy are tremendous gifts. We thank God for you each day as we continue this amazing Journey of Blessings. May each day in your lives be celebrated and lived to the fullest!
Cherishing each step closer to our little one/s,
Terri & Family

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Another Year of Blessings! Happy 2011! ♥

Christmas has come and gone. New Year celebrations are complete. Decorations are taken down and packed away. Tim and the children are back at work. Soon Rachel and Micah will return to the universities to begin their spring semesters. It's a new year and a time of more change in our lives. But I choose to celebrate that this is a time of new blessings, new opportunities and new growth as individuals and a family. I do miss the tree glowing in our living room. I do miss the time we spent with family and friends over the holidays. But I am so grateful that we had those moments to share then....and I look forward to new moments to share in this new year.

As we enter 2011, I anticipate so many possibilities this year. Will we get "the call" this spring, summer or fall? Will we see JennaBeth's (and maybe EmmaKate's) face soon? Will we wait longer or shorter than we anticipate? What will it be like to be in China to finally see, hold and bring our little one/s home? How will our lives grow this year? How will the children enjoy spring semester? What will Tim experience at work this year? Will I find new opportunities and accomplishments in my personal goals and dreams? What great times will we share as a family? What will it be like to be the Mom of a college graduate in May? Where will Rachel find a nursing job after graduation? What will her apartment be like? How will family and friends find their new year of opportunities? What surprises are in store for us? What exciting moments lie ahead in our lives this year?

The truth is that we don't know what each new day of this new year holds. But I do know this. We are very blessed to have great family, friends and people in our lives who are walking along this journey with us. And we are so very thrilled to be walking along life's journey with them, too. We are never alone and we have so much to be thankful for in this new adventure of 2011.

I just want to take this opportunity to say that I wish each of you a very joyful, healthy, peaceful and loving 2011. May your journey be blessed each moment. You have blessed our lives so greatly and we look forward to sharing a new year of life with you. May we celebrate this gift of life, love and hope with great anticipation and gratitude.

May our little one/s in China come home soon. We love you, JennaBeth/EmmaKate. May God continue to hold you in His arms and bless each life that takes great care of you until Dad and Mom come to China to bring you home. Our thoughts and prayers are with you continually as well as with the caregivers, birth parents and workers who are making it possible for you to come home soon. Until then, we are holding you in our hearts with much love and joy.
Cherishing another year of blessings in our journey,
Terri & Family