Joyful Reminders!

It's hard to believe that it's been almost three weeks since my last entry. How did that happen? Oh...that's right. With Tim's work schedule, Micah's school, band and physical therapy (injured knee!) schedules, Rachel's college and work schedules and my "keep up with everyone schedule", I guess my writing has not been "scheduled" as well as I had hoped. :) I'll have to work on that! But I'm determined to do it today so thank you for your patience and continued support. We have such incredible friends!

We are sending in paperwork tomorrow to schedule the "refingerprinting" appointments for Homeland Security. I know, I know...fingerprints don't change. But we need to keep everything "current" for the state of Kentucky, the USA and the PRC...so that's what we will do. If doing this takes us a step closer to our little sweetie-pie, then it's worth it! Please pray that this will all work out with Tim's work schedule and Rachel's college schedule. When we receive the appointment, we will go...rain or shine, sleet or snow...convenient or not. It will work out. It is definitely worth it. Sometimes it seems we're so overwhelmed with all the paperwork, deadlines and appointments that we lose sight of all the joy ahead. And then there are those joyful reminders that come at just the right time....

We went to Church last night and as we are so frequently blessed to see, our dear friends were there. They have a great son and their precious twin daughters are from China. As often happens, the girls came running to hug me and my heart jumped for joy! It was perfect timing to be reminded that this journey is progressing and it will be worth it all!!! Thank you, sweeties, for those hugs every Saturday night! I always look forward to seeing you, chatting with you and watching you smile and laugh. What a blessing you and your family always are to us! What gifts you all are in our lives! Thanks for your continued prayers, encouragement and friendship. Saturday nights are so special with you all there!

After Church, Micah thought it was a great idea to eat supper at our favorite Chinese restaurant! We were thrilled about that, of course. When we arrived, Tim saw one of his co-workers there whose little girl is also from China. I had heard so much about this sweet family but had never met them. Wow! There they were with their two sons and their daughter. It was such a joy to meet them. As we spent a few minutes with them, I realized how we had indeed been blessed once more! Hearing their excitement and watching them enjoy their daughter just thrilled my heart again. What joyful reminders we received last night! Our journey is indeed blessed!

We continue to love, miss and cherish our little sweetie pie/s in China but we know God will place her in our arms at just the right moment! We continue to be very grateful for all of you who continue to ask, hope, pray, love and walk beside us in this journey. It would not be the same without you! Please pray specifically for the fingerprint updating appointments to go well with schedules and weather conditions in the coming month! Thanks to all of you who truly care about our Journey of Blessings. We will remember your kindness and our JennaBeth (and perhaps EmmaKate) will be told how blessed we are with your genuine and unfailing love! To each of you who prays, posts and participates in our journey, we love you all!!
Still moving forward,
Terri and family

A Surprise along the Journey!

For those dear friends who have told us that God's timing is always right, we have a wonderful example of that to share with you today! Just last week, we contacted our social worker about updating paperwork and the process began. We received an email from her last night and another email from the agency today telling us that as of last Friday, state regulations have changed and we will NOT need to update the homestudy at 12 months. There were changes made last week that allow us an extended six months! This means that we have major updating to do this spring and summer...but it is wonderful news in that we presently have one less "report" to do along in this journey. As any of you involved in the adoption process understand, that is a huge blessing! So...just when we were stepping into yet another chapter of paperwork, we were told within a day or two that this specific chapter is not necessary! Yay! The news could not have been more perfectly timed! We will miss seeing our dear social worker soon, but we will definitely be able to stay in touch with her and see her this summer! And...there are many projects underway in our household right now to keep us busy, as well. As God timed these new regulations so perfectly, we are reminded that His timing in our Journey to our daughter will also be perfect...and worth every moment we wait in His plan.

Thank you for your continued prayers! Thank you for walking beside us in this journey. Thank you to loved ones who have already shared beautiful gifts for our baby girl. Thank you, God, for the perfect timing and master plan You continue to provide as we walk closer to our sweet daughter. We are so blessed in this Journey and we will keep you posted as we move forward.
Counting our blessings,
Terri and family

The Journey of Updating...

It's time to update our paperwork! Tim called our social worker today and it was so good to talk to her again! She's such a blessing to our family. We have some documents due next month so it's time for more visits, interviews, forms, etc.. Sometimes that seems overwhelming yet it's also exciting for we know that time is indeed passing by and every document is a step toward our little daughter in China. So, we ask for your prayers as we continue this journey of more paperwork...more expenses...more deadlines to meet...and more blessings as we move closer and closer to our little girl. We'll keep you posted as we keep walking through these necessary steps. But oh, it's going to be worth it!

We're thankful for all of you wonderful friends who are encouraging, praying and loving us through this special time in our lives! You are such blessings and we appreciate each of you so very much.
Moving forward...
Tim, Terri, Rachel and Micah

2008...And the Journey Continues

Hello Everyone!
There's only one more day until 2008 begins. Unbelievable! Where did 2007 go? Actually, our adoption journey "officially" began almost two years ago...and we continue to move forward. Sometimes it seems the time is moving so slowly and then sometimes we turn around and another year has passed so very quickly. As friends continue to remind us, God's timing is always right. He's never too early or too late. He's always on time. We believe that our Journey to our little one/s will likewise be in His perfect plan and timing...and each day brings us closer to the little daughter He has chosen for us. The Journey continues into a brand new year and we are excited to see what 2008 will bring.

Tomorrow is our son's birthday! It doesn't seem possible that sixteen years ago, our New Year's Eve was spent in the hospital waiting, (and working), for his arrival. He was actually due on December 20...but what a joy it was when he was born on New Year's Eve night! Now we can't imagine it being any other way. As I told him many years ago, people all over the world celebrate that day. Just as his birthday came at just the right time...and Rachel's birthday came at just the right time....our precious little baby girl will also be delivered in our lives at just the right moment.

Happy Birthday, Micah! Happy New Year to all of you! May 2008 bring you joy, peace, hope and love. And to our little Sweetie/s in China, Happy New Year to you from Daddy, Mommy, Rachel and Micah. We're getting closer to you each day and we love you so very much. Rest in God's arms as He carries you to us. Remember that although we haven't seen you yet, you are definitely in our hearts and family already.

Blessings to you, our dear friends who so faithfully encourage, care, pray and walk beside us on this Journey of Blessings. We appreciate you and love you all.
Blessings to all...
Tim, Terri, Rachel and Micah

A Blessed Christmas To You All

What a year 2007 has been! It seems like only a month ago we were putting away the candles, wreaths, lights and spotlights, tree, ornaments and wrapping supplies. Now we're a few days away from Christmas...and a few more days away from 2008. Unbelievable! We could chat about all the progress made in our adoption journey. We could tell you about the places we've gone and the joys we've shared with our children. But for tonight, it's simply a time to say "Thank You" and we wish you a very Blessed Christmas!

There have been so many blessings along our journey this year. There are the friends who ask how the process is going and really want to hear about it. There are our Doctors and their staff members who take time to ask and help in any way needed. There are our Church friends who always have encouraging words about this journey. There are those of you who are praying for this process, for our little Jenna Elizabeth, (and maybe Emma Katherine), and for everyone involved. There's the adoption agency who is so kind and encouraging. There are our friends who are adoptive parents who always share positive thoughts and information. There are always people to remind us just how blessed we have been...and are right now...as we wait and walk closer toward our little daughter each day. There are those who see us out and about at the stores and say "any word on the baby?" and our hearts are warmed by their enthusiasm and genuine concern. There are so many blessings along this journey that we can't possibly mention them all. But one thing is for sure. What a wonderful journey it is because of each of you who truly care and bless our lives in so many wonderful ways. Thank you!

As the Season continues to grasp us with busy schedules, long check-out lines, numerous commercials everywhere we look...and even traffic jams...take a quiet moment to stop, think and realize that you are a blessing in our lives...and we thank God for you. As you reflect on your past year, your activities, your goals for 2008 and the purpose of your life, never forget that you are touching lives deeply with one of the greatest gifts of all...loving others. Thank you for your love, your joy, your friendship, your prayers and your genuine interest in our family's journey to a little girl on the other side of the world waiting to come home. You may never realize how much you mean to us, but always know that you matter and your life is a gift! We can hardly wait to tell our little daughter about all the special people who prayed us through our journey to her.

We'll keep you posted on our progress. Please keep us posted about your precious lives, as well. We'll continue to update this blog...and will add pictures once we figure out how to do that. Meanwhile, our love and prayers go out to all of you in our lives who truly care and walk beside us in our Journey of Blessings. Thank you for being wonderful blessings to us. A very Blessed Christmas to you all!
Love to all,
Tim, Terri, Rachel and Micah

The Journey...Then and Now

It's a rainy Saturday, less than three weeks before Christmas, and I am thinking about our journey to our little Sweetie/s...and the journey another family made many years ago to their little One. The journey was long. It had to be tiring. They left familiarity for not-so-familiar. They weren't sure who they would meet, where they would stay, or how everything was going to work out in that process, either. As a Mom, I think of Mary and how she anticipated seeing the very One she carried in her heart and body...yet so many "details" were incomplete. I think of Joseph and how he must have felt so much responsibility to care for her...and to make the journey to pay taxes...yet anticipated bringing a new Child into their lives all at the same time. I even think about that precious little One...born in one town...but raised elsewhere. And it occured to me that their journey as a family, though different in many ways, also holds strong similarities to the journey our family now experiences. Yet in the middle of uncertain details, timing, and concerns, an amazing and incredible moment took place full of purpose, joy, peace and promise for that dear family...and so many more. And I am reminded that if God can handle all of the details to bring His Son into the world at just the right time, in just the right plan, to just the right people for just the right purpose...I believe He can bring our family together someday, too. He has done so many times before as little babies join their Forever Families. He did it with Joseph, Mary and His own Son. So, there's a precious reminder that He will bring our little Sweetie home to us when it's "just right," too.

Someone asked us recently if the wait is stressful. I didn't have to think twice before saying, "no." The wait IS hard! The wait IS long. The wait is a lesson in patience, trust and peace like we've never known before. But stressful isn't the word we would use. For there is a peace about it all that we've known from the very beginning. When we began this journey, we knew it was in the hands of the very One who prepared our hearts for it for several years before we began. When we began this journey, we knew it was not in our own timing, but in the timing of God, Himself. When we began this journey, we knew that many, many different factors must be considered in order for the process to develop...and deliver our precious baby girl to our family. As overwhelming as that sounds and even feels sometimes, we have entrusted the care, the timing, the plan and the process entirely up to God. Yes, we miss her so much already. Yes, we wish she could be with us this Christmas. Yes, it would be wonderful to send family pictures to loved ones of our entire family this year. But it is even more wonderful to realize that every day brings us closer to the very child God has in store for us. It is a journey...not a sprint. It is a time of trusting, loving and hoping for what remains to be seen. It's a time of anticipation. And just as some of our dear friends who have been down this road before have told us, God's timing is always right. It will all make sense when we hold her in our arms. It is best to allow God to lead us...and not the other way around!

So precious little Sweetie, we miss you. We love you. We are so excited about meeting you sometime soon. But we know that just as a special Mom and Dad waited for their precious Baby Boy long ago, our wait will also be complete in God's very perfect timing. We wouldn't want it any other way. He's holding you in His hands right now. He's also holding us in His hands at the very same time. So if you think about it, we're not really that far apart after all, are we? Hold on, Sweetie. We'll see you someday soon. It will be worth every moment of this incredible journey to you.

May all of you be blessed in your journeys this season and in the coming new year! Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers and love during our Journey of Blessings. We thank God for each of you. Happy Birthday, Jesus...and thank You for the Journey You made to us.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Love & Prayers,
Tim, Terri, Rachel & Micah

Happy "Holidaze" to our Daughter/s!

Where did the year go? It seems like a few weeks ago that our daughter graduated from high school and moved into college life. It seems like yesterday that our son was in summer band camp. Now there are Christmas lights, decorations, music and the hurried pace of shopping, planning and meeting deadlines in preparation for the Holiday Season. How quickly time is passing in so many areas of our lives...except one!

As we begin to witness the sights, sounds and schedules of Christmas and the New Year, we can't help but think about the "Holidaze" we hold inside our hearts. For as wonderful as it will be to spend time together with friends and family during the season, a part of our life remains with a precious little sweetheart, (or two), in China. We miss her so much already. Just today, I saw beautiful dresses, accessories and items that I thought she would enjoy. And I wonder, is she born yet? Does she know that she is loved so very much already? What will our "Gotcha Moment" be like when we meet her for the very first time? And what will her first Christmas at home with our family be like? (Fabulous, no doubt!) There's the first family portrait that will be made with Jenna Elizabeth (and maybe Emma Katherine) in the arms of her Dad, Mom, sister Rachel and brother Micah. What a joy that will be! We can hardly wait.

But we must. Rather than be sad because she is not with us yet, we choose to rejoice as we realize that each day brings us closer to her...and our life together. So, dear JennaBeth (and possibly EmmaKate) "Happy Holidaze"...because you're always in our thoughts, hearts and prayers...and you will be with us every moment of this season. As your caregivers feed you, change your clothes, bathe you and take care of you, know that we thank God for them as they prepare you for your journey home! As Christmas surrounds the world, know that our love surrounds you, too. Our arms aren't empty for you because they're reaching halfway across the world and holding you in our hearts! But someday soon, we will hold you and we will bring you home. And you'll hear the story about how a little baby boy came into the world and changed lives forever. So rest, dear daughter/s. Rest in God's love and plan. Rest in knowing that some wonderful people are taking care of you and working very hard to help you get home! Rest in knowing that your family loves you dearly. And rest in the dreams of our first Christmas together...very soon!

We love you!
Dad, Mom, Rachel and Micah