A Journey of Thankfulness

It's almost here...or isn't it always here? Yes, the calendar shows that this is Thanksgiving week and it is an exciting time. Many of us are thawing out turkeys to be prepared for a Thanksgiving meal very soon. I've organized my list so I know exactly when to prepare each side dish, casserole, dessert, etc.. The new tablecloth is already placed "just so" on our table and the special centerpiece is in its place. Our daughter is home from college and our son's Thanksgiving break began when school dismissed this afternoon. My husband will come home from work Thursday morning...and we're excited about being together as a family...finally. I've even heard whispers around the house about putting up Christmas decorations this weekend. But when I slow down long enough to consider the reason for this holiday of Thanksgiving, another question comes to mind. (My Dad always said I asked too many questions during my childhood. No wonder I became a Counseling major!) :)

I certainly rejoice that this is a time for pausing to remember all of our blessings and thanking God for being so good to us. I believe it is very important that we have an "attitude of gratitude." It's a very special time for families to gather and enjoy one another while focusing on the many ways we are blessed. But my question is this: Wouldn't it be great if we remembered to be thankful every day of our lives? Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, and I truly enjoy it and respect it. But wouldn't it be interesting to see how lives could change if we spent time every day being grateful?

Occasionally, folks will ask us, "How in the world are you staying so positive when the adoption process is taking so very long?" I simply choose to believe that every day is a step closer to our baby girl/s. The choice we have is to either sit around worrying and complaining...or to be thankful for the blessings along the way. Of course, we are human and miss our sweetie/s very much already. But...it's much more enjoyable to consider this a Journey of Thankfulness instead of a journey of frustration. It's all about perspective and that makes all the difference.

Whether you are on a journey of adoption, (like we are), or the journey of life, (as we all are), I pray that you will find joy, peace and thankfulness along your journey. Our journeys are not always easy...but they are definitely worth it. As I close today's post, I want to wish all of you a Blessed Thanksgiving...and a wonderful lifetime of gratitude. Thank you for being such faithful friends, family and professionals as you richly bless our journey to our baby girl/s...and our hearts and lives along life's way. May you be richly blessed...and may you be a continuous blessing to all those you meet.
Thankful for our Journey of Blessings,
Terri & family

Thirty-One Months Since Log-In!

Thirty-one months ago today, our Dossier was logged into China's adoption system! Thirty-one months later, we rejoice that we are getting closer and closer to our baby girl/s. It's not easy to wait, as usual. It's not easy to remember that when we were logged in thirty-one months ago, the wait was only eighteen months until Referral. Now the wait is over twice that amount of time. It literally hurts my heart to miss our little daughter/s so much. But...we are closer to her/them than ever before...and we are very grateful.

We realize that we only see a part of the plan God has in store for our family. We realize that He sees the entire picture and He knows what is best for our little one/s. We realize that the wait is all part of His plan, His timing, His design and His provision. We realize that He already knows how everything will work together for the best. And we trust Him.

We trust Him to take care of our little JennaBeth and possibly EmmaKate. We trust Him to know what is best for them in their precious little lives and the time involved for their journey home with us. We trust Him to know what is best for our family here as we prepare for the arrival of our baby girl/s. We trust Him to provide her/their/our every need before we fly to China to bring them home. We trust and we wait. We pray and we love. We count our blessings along this journey.

Our dear, sweet Jenna Elizabeth (and Emma Katherine?), if I could say anything to you right now, I would tell you that you are loved so very much. You have been in our hearts for over three years. You are in our thoughts, prayers and lives every day. We long for the day we will see your face, hold you in our hearts and bring you home. We long to know more about you. We long to share life with you and we are thrilled to know God has asked us to bring you, our precious little daughter/s, into our lives in this very special and amazing way. Hold on, sweetie/s...we're hugging you in our hearts for now. But some wonderful day, we will hug you in our arms and we will share the rest of our lives together as your Forever Family. Rest, grow and always know we love you. We always have. We always will. Hold us in your heart as we are holding you in ours. I love you so much...and I thank God for you as I carry you in my heart. ~Mom

Thirty-one months...and still cherishing this amazing journey,
Terri & Family

'Just Enjoying the Journey!

It's been a couple weeks since I last wrote...and so much is on my heart. I never cease to be amazed at the wonder of this journey! As with any journey, there are days when it seems we are making major progress...and days when it seems time is standing still. There are uphill climbs, twists and turns...mountains and valleys...cool breezes and warm sunlight. There are nights, days, storms and rainbows. It's never the same from one day to the next...but each step leads us closer to that precious moment when God allows our daughter/s to be placed in our arms and lives forever. I keep trying to imagine that day...that moment...that sense of actually holding our new little daughter and bringing her home. I can't imagine the fullness of joy that will be in our hearts, our lives and our family.

As exciting as the anticipation is for the future with our little one/s...I could never imagine the amazing joy, kindness and blessings we have enjoyed along this journey so far. Friends from far and near have been supportive, excited, prayerful and encouraging way beyond "the call of duty." Just when it seems our journey is "non-progressive" and time is standing still...someone reminds us how much they are praying...or someone asks about our "baby girls" or someone mentions their excitement. Just when it seems that we will wait "forever"...we are reminded of someone else's progress in their journeys. Just when I realize that I may not be a "spring chick" as we raise our little daughter/s, someone "just happens" to mention how young we will stay as we see the world through the eyes of our little "JennaBeth" (maybe "EmmaKate"). Just when I'm wondering how it is all going to work out...someone reminds me of the BIG PICTURE.

Yes.. the big picture is the absolute joy of this journey. We are simple people. We are passionate about serving God, loving our family....and answering the call God placed before us to bring a precious child (or two) home in our Forever Family. We are humbled...thrilled...and amazed at the opportunity He has placed before us. But the big picture is not about us...not at all! Only GOD could create this journey. Only GOD could make this possible in multiple ways. Only GOD...could have prepared our hearts, minds and lives for this precious calling. Only He could design a plan to bring a sweet little girl from China who needs a family into the arms of a family who loves God and children. Only God...then...now...and in the days ahead...knew.

Romans 8: 22>25 says "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

God, Himself, created the love and action of adoption! How marvelous! The wait, the heartache as we miss our sweetie/s, the concerns, the "days of standing still" are so small compared to the glorious journey of hope God has placed before us. It will be an incredible day when we hold her/them in our arms! We're looking so forward to it! But for today...we're enjoying the journey...a blessed, unexpected, undeserved and yet incredible journey of hope! Thank you, God! And thank you, friends and family!
Cherishing the journey...Terri and family