And Now....Forty-Two Months Along!!!!

Has it been almost a month since my last post? Time is passing so quickly on the calendar...but slowly in our hearts re: our little girl/s in China! But each month that passes means a major step closer to meeting our daughter/s and bringing her home! What a blessed life we have...and I am so thankful.

The past month has been busy here at the Lorenz home. Our Rachel and Micah have been busy at the universities and working at their jobs. It's so hard to believe they are taking mid-term exams already in this semester! Just yesterday I saw a Christmas tree in someone's window here in town. Yes...that's right....it is the middle of October and someone has their Christmas tree up! Before we know it, 2010 will be closing and 2011 will begin. But we stay busy and life has been wonderful in so many ways.

During the past couple weeks, we returned to a town where we used to live to attend the Celebration of the Life of a precious person in our previous ministry. Although we were sad for the occasion of his passing, we were all very aware that we will see Philip again. Yet to walk into the Church building as well as visit in the home with friends from almost twenty years ago was much like "going home." We were so blessed to spend time with our friends that day. Tim and I cherished each moment of reconnecting with those precious people.

Last weekend, we attended the Fall Homecoming at our alma mater, Kentucky Christian University. Our daughter was last year's Homecoming Queen so we watched her crown the new Queen. Plus, we saw people we had not seen for the last twenty-five to thirty years! It was wonderful! We are already talking about next year's event!

During these times of reconnecting with others at our school and our former residence, I couldn't help but think about the Homecoming we anticipate with our baby girl/s. I tried to imagine the joy of having our little JennaBeth, (perhaps EmmaKate), come home for the first time. I thought of how wonderful it will be when our daughter, Rachel, meets and holds her baby sister/s for the first time. And I thought about how our son, Micah, will see his baby sister/s and take her into his arms for the very first time. How wonderful it will be to have our little girl/s to meet their older sister and brother...and grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins...and all of our dear friends. I even thought about taking our little girl/s back to KCU for Homecoming next year! There we will be pushing a stroller while our friends are already grandparents! I have even wondered how thrilling it will be when we set foot on US soil for the first time with our baby girl/s....and what it will be like when we walk into the airport holding our little one/s...as our Rachel and Micah wait for their very first glimpse of their new sister/s. Homecoming will hold even greater meaning for us than ever before...and I can hardly wait.

For now, though, forty-two months since our Log-In Date with China's adoption system, there is much to do, prepare and anticipate as we come down the homestretch part of our wait! But for this moment, I am enjoying this step in the journey and am so thankful for each blessing along the way. The house is so quiet this morning while Rachel and Micah are at KCU and UK and while Tim is sleeping before returning to work tonight. But it won't be long until there will be a little girl...or two...filling our home with love, laughter, new schedules, diaper changes, bottle feedings, baby food, car seats...and another wonderful journey of life with our little one/s.

Thank You, God, for this amazing journey of our lives...for calling us to be Mom & Dad to your sweet children, Jenna Elizabeth (Chinese name) Lorenz ("JennaBeth")...and perhaps Emma Katherine (Chinese name) Lorenz ("EmmaKate"). Thank You for our dear friends and family who are praying, loving and walking beside us as we take each step closer to our little girl/s in China. Thank You for all those who are caring for our baby girl/s in China...and for all of those here in the USA who are helping us prepare to bring her home. Thank You for holding us all in Your hands...while we hold our baby girl/s in our hearts!
Cherishing this amazing journey of blessings,
Terri & family