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
Jenna Elizabeth (aka "JennaBeth") Song Lorenz
Waiting For Our Little One To Come Home From China!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
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
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
Sunday, November 1, 2009
'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
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
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thirty Months Since Log-In!
It's official. As of today, we have been logged-in thirty months and we're still moving closer to our baby girl/s in China! How exciting! Two and a half years have passed since our Dossier arrived half-way around the world and was entered in China's adoption system! Of course, our wait continues...probably for another year or more. But we rejoice that we are this much farther along in our journey.
Meanwhile, life has been full...as it always is in our home. Tim has been working hard, as usual. Rach was nominated to the homecoming court at the university and became Homecoming Queen last Saturday. Her brother, Micah, escorted her...and it was a great day! Micah had oral surgery yesterday for removal of four wisdom teeth and is doing great. I stay very busy. Life is good.
In the middle of so many cares of life, we pause and count our blessings. Our family remains close and we love one another dearly. We have precious friends all over this country and some in other parts of the world. We love our extended families in Ohio and Virginia. And we continue to anticipate the arrival of our dear "JennaBeth" ("EmmaKate"?) in our arms someday in China. We are thankful.
As much as we miss our little daughter/s, we know that the day will come when we will bring her home to join our "Forever Family." It will be an incredible time of rejoicing. Until then, we continue in our love, prayer, gratitude and joyful anticipation. Until then, we trust her in the hands of our God and the wonderful caregivers in her homeland. Until then, we cherish each day, each moment and each step we share together. Thank you for walking beside us in this journey!
Thirty months closer and cherishing every blessing,
Terri & family
Meanwhile, life has been full...as it always is in our home. Tim has been working hard, as usual. Rach was nominated to the homecoming court at the university and became Homecoming Queen last Saturday. Her brother, Micah, escorted her...and it was a great day! Micah had oral surgery yesterday for removal of four wisdom teeth and is doing great. I stay very busy. Life is good.
In the middle of so many cares of life, we pause and count our blessings. Our family remains close and we love one another dearly. We have precious friends all over this country and some in other parts of the world. We love our extended families in Ohio and Virginia. And we continue to anticipate the arrival of our dear "JennaBeth" ("EmmaKate"?) in our arms someday in China. We are thankful.
As much as we miss our little daughter/s, we know that the day will come when we will bring her home to join our "Forever Family." It will be an incredible time of rejoicing. Until then, we continue in our love, prayer, gratitude and joyful anticipation. Until then, we trust her in the hands of our God and the wonderful caregivers in her homeland. Until then, we cherish each day, each moment and each step we share together. Thank you for walking beside us in this journey!
Thirty months closer and cherishing every blessing,
Terri & family
Monday, October 5, 2009
One Daughter's Birthday...And Another Daughter On The Way!
It's an exciting time in our home right now. Tomorrow is our daughter, Rachel's 21st birthday! It doesn't seem possible that it's been that long ago since her Dad and I traveled to the hospital to give birth to our firstborn. But since then, she has graduated from high school, enjoyed a mission trip to Haiti, traveled to many states here in the USA to sing with high school and college choirs...and is presently a junior in college majoring in nursing. Wow!
The past twenty-one years have been a blessing beyond words. But there have been realistic moments of uncertainty, patience-building, concerns and sadness. Yet as we observe our family now, we know that nothing will ever change the love for our children and there are no regrets in this journey called parenthood. Life is a gift. Children are a gift. Family is a gift. And that surpasses all other twists and turns along life's road.
Likewise...our journey to our baby girl/s in China is also a tremendous blessing. The paperwork has been overwhelming...repeatedly. The concerns, the wait, the uncertainty and the challenges in patience have not been easy. But we know that our love for our little daughter/s in China is worth every moment, every tear, every concern and every challenge. Bringing JennaBeth (EmmaKate?) into our family will be an amazing blessing that makes this journey absolutely worthwhile.
I never imagined that we would wait so long. We knew the waiting time could fluctuate, of course. But when we logged-in, the wait was 18 months. We will soon be logged-in thirty months with no end in sight. It's hard to miss our baby girl/s so deeply for so long! However, every adoptive parent I know has told us that when we hold our baby daughter/s in our arms, we will understand why it worked out this way. God has allowed this wait in order for His plan, His timing, His glory and His honor to be known. He knew before we ever began this journey what child He planned for us to bring home from China. He knows her name, her birthdate, her everything! So we continue to trust in Him...and His design for our little daughter/s...and for our family.
We never anticipated the long wait but along with it comes unexpected surprises. We thought that our baby girl/s would arrive home before our older children finished high school or college. However, it now seems that our oldest daughter will be out of college and our son will be in college by the time our baby girl/s arrive. Along with that realization comes the possibility that our little daughter/s may easily grow up with any grandchildren that we may someday have. Now that would be exciting! I've seen this happen in several families and it is a blast! So, we're already seeing wonderful possibilities in this design and timeframe. It may not be the way we expected it to be...but it will be awesome in its own way! What a sight to see as our little one/s play with their niece/nephew at similar ages. Awesome!
So...we celebrate now...and look forward to the future. We are blessed today. We were blessed 21 years ago. And we trust that God will bless us with our little one/s someday soon. It just doesn't get any better than this. Thank you, God, for the family we are today, the family we became years ago, and the family we anticipate in the years to come. Happy Birthday, Rachel! We love you. And hold on, little one/s in China. We can hardly wait until we are all home together. We love our family...and all the friends we've met along the way.
Cherishing our family and friends today, yesterday and tomorrow....
Terri & family
The past twenty-one years have been a blessing beyond words. But there have been realistic moments of uncertainty, patience-building, concerns and sadness. Yet as we observe our family now, we know that nothing will ever change the love for our children and there are no regrets in this journey called parenthood. Life is a gift. Children are a gift. Family is a gift. And that surpasses all other twists and turns along life's road.
Likewise...our journey to our baby girl/s in China is also a tremendous blessing. The paperwork has been overwhelming...repeatedly. The concerns, the wait, the uncertainty and the challenges in patience have not been easy. But we know that our love for our little daughter/s in China is worth every moment, every tear, every concern and every challenge. Bringing JennaBeth (EmmaKate?) into our family will be an amazing blessing that makes this journey absolutely worthwhile.
I never imagined that we would wait so long. We knew the waiting time could fluctuate, of course. But when we logged-in, the wait was 18 months. We will soon be logged-in thirty months with no end in sight. It's hard to miss our baby girl/s so deeply for so long! However, every adoptive parent I know has told us that when we hold our baby daughter/s in our arms, we will understand why it worked out this way. God has allowed this wait in order for His plan, His timing, His glory and His honor to be known. He knew before we ever began this journey what child He planned for us to bring home from China. He knows her name, her birthdate, her everything! So we continue to trust in Him...and His design for our little daughter/s...and for our family.
We never anticipated the long wait but along with it comes unexpected surprises. We thought that our baby girl/s would arrive home before our older children finished high school or college. However, it now seems that our oldest daughter will be out of college and our son will be in college by the time our baby girl/s arrive. Along with that realization comes the possibility that our little daughter/s may easily grow up with any grandchildren that we may someday have. Now that would be exciting! I've seen this happen in several families and it is a blast! So, we're already seeing wonderful possibilities in this design and timeframe. It may not be the way we expected it to be...but it will be awesome in its own way! What a sight to see as our little one/s play with their niece/nephew at similar ages. Awesome!
So...we celebrate now...and look forward to the future. We are blessed today. We were blessed 21 years ago. And we trust that God will bless us with our little one/s someday soon. It just doesn't get any better than this. Thank you, God, for the family we are today, the family we became years ago, and the family we anticipate in the years to come. Happy Birthday, Rachel! We love you. And hold on, little one/s in China. We can hardly wait until we are all home together. We love our family...and all the friends we've met along the way.
Cherishing our family and friends today, yesterday and tomorrow....
Terri & family
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Twenty-Nine Months Since Log-In!
Twenty-nine months ago today...twenty nine long but purposeful months have passed since our Dossier was logged in China's system! It's been almost two and a half years since our papers arrived in China...wow!! And it's been over three years since our journey first began to our baby girl. So how do we feel during this long wait? Peaceful. Purposeful. Patiently missing her...deeply missing her. But holding on to the hope that God knows every moment, every step, every facet of His design to bring our sweet daughter home. Our hearts ache for her...but our journey to her is completely in His hands and we know that He knows what is best. As I've said before...all the joy and love for her greatly surpasses all the waiting we must endure. It will be worth it all!
This weekend I wrote about our 29th month Log-In anniverary on my Facebook status. As usual, dear friends wrote very encouraging words which mean so much to us. One friend, an adoptive parent himself, wrote the following words that I must share with you:
"Ephesians 1: 3-5
"In the Message it partially reads- "Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son." Know, know know--He is taking great pleasure right now in planning the details!"
Thank you so much, Tim!! When we focus on the awesome wonder of God planning each detail of our journey to our JennaBeth (EmmaKate?), it makes our wait seem so much more purposeful and worthwhile. We're not simply waiting on major paperwork or a process. We are waiting for the hand of God to literally "Mastermind" this entire life-changing blessing in His own amazing, incredible, perfect and very best design. How could we want it any other way? To realize that God is bringing a precious little girl in a country halfway around the world...into our hearts, lives and home at just the right time, for all the right reasons, with every detail according to His personal specifications...is an overwhelming blessing. We're not only waiting for our daughter...we're trusting God's timing, provision, pleasure and perfection! The Creator of the Universe...is forming, leading and orchestrating our journey to another incredible gift of life for our family! That's definitely worth the wait!
Jenna Elizabeth * Lorenz...(Emma Katherine * Lorenz?), our hearts are full of love, joy, wonder, anticipation and peace as we wait for you. As much as we miss you and long for you to be home with us, we know that the Hand of God is creating you, caring for you and preparing you for your journey home with us. Rest...in His love and care. Rest in your homeland which we will always remember. Rest in our love. And rest...knowing that someday soon...we will hold you, hug you, love you and introduce you to your life with us and our loved ones. For your life, and ours, will be changed forever...and we will never be the same. Until the day we travel to meet you and bring you home...always know that you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. Until the details are complete and in order...we're holding you in our hearts. We're twenty-nine months closer to you, baby girl/s. Rest, baby girl/s...rest.
Cherishing each detail in God's plan...
Terri and Family
This weekend I wrote about our 29th month Log-In anniverary on my Facebook status. As usual, dear friends wrote very encouraging words which mean so much to us. One friend, an adoptive parent himself, wrote the following words that I must share with you:
"Ephesians 1: 3-5
"In the Message it partially reads- "Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son." Know, know know--He is taking great pleasure right now in planning the details!"
Thank you so much, Tim!! When we focus on the awesome wonder of God planning each detail of our journey to our JennaBeth (EmmaKate?), it makes our wait seem so much more purposeful and worthwhile. We're not simply waiting on major paperwork or a process. We are waiting for the hand of God to literally "Mastermind" this entire life-changing blessing in His own amazing, incredible, perfect and very best design. How could we want it any other way? To realize that God is bringing a precious little girl in a country halfway around the world...into our hearts, lives and home at just the right time, for all the right reasons, with every detail according to His personal specifications...is an overwhelming blessing. We're not only waiting for our daughter...we're trusting God's timing, provision, pleasure and perfection! The Creator of the Universe...is forming, leading and orchestrating our journey to another incredible gift of life for our family! That's definitely worth the wait!
Jenna Elizabeth * Lorenz...(Emma Katherine * Lorenz?), our hearts are full of love, joy, wonder, anticipation and peace as we wait for you. As much as we miss you and long for you to be home with us, we know that the Hand of God is creating you, caring for you and preparing you for your journey home with us. Rest...in His love and care. Rest in your homeland which we will always remember. Rest in our love. And rest...knowing that someday soon...we will hold you, hug you, love you and introduce you to your life with us and our loved ones. For your life, and ours, will be changed forever...and we will never be the same. Until the day we travel to meet you and bring you home...always know that you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. Until the details are complete and in order...we're holding you in our hearts. We're twenty-nine months closer to you, baby girl/s. Rest, baby girl/s...rest.
Cherishing each detail in God's plan...
Terri and Family
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Great Friends...Great Blessings!
It continually amazes me how time passes so quickly in every area of our lives...except the wait for our precious baby girl/s. :) But I am even more amazed at the countless reminders and blessings we are shown along this journey. The past couple weeks have been no exception.
Last week I attended the Inauguration of Kentucky Christian University's fifth President. Tim and I went to school with Jeff and his wife, Debbie, so it was a joy to witness them become KCU's President and First Lady! Little did I know what other blessings that day would involve.
One of my newest friends who works there recently welcomed their baby girl home from China. Kim and her husband are incredible parents and are so proud of their beautiful daughter, Grace. I met Grace for the first time during my visit that day. My heart was so moved and encouraged as God once again reminded me that every moment we wait is indeed worthwhile! It is an amazing walk as we witness God's precise orchestration of placing wonderful adoptive parents and families in our paths to remind, encourage and strengthen us in our season of waiting. I pray that someday as we go through our lives with our JennaBeth (& EmmaKate?), we will be able to encourage other waiting parents. It is a blessing beyond words to witness others who have waited...and brought their sweet children home. All the paperwork, all the waiting, all the prayers, tears and even frustrations lead to being given the opportunity to bring home a precious, innocent miracle of life that God is placing in our hearts, our arms and our family! Wow! Seeing other families with these precious children reminds us that our family will welcome home our little girl/s someday too! And that's definitely worth the wait!
That same day, I reconnected with a college friend I had not seen for a very long time. Donna and I have shared on Facebook...but we finally got to visit face-to-face. It was great! As I later shared our adoption website address with her, Donna spoke words that I consider a true blessing. Discussing our wait, I commented that God's timing is perfect. Donna added to that by emphasizing..."God's timing isn't just good...it's PERFECT!" She was so encouraging about our family and our journey and she touched my heart deeply. Of course, we believe that God's design and plan are perfect. But to hear someone remind us that it's "better than good"...blessed us tremendously. God indeed knows the specific child He will add to our family and His design, timing and plan are definitely perfect...and we will trust Him as we continue to wait!
New friends...old friends...adoptive parents...biological parents...doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists...family and strangers...God has spoken through so many precious souls to encourage us as we wait for our baby girl/s. As much as it hurts to miss our sweetie/s, our joy will far exceed this wait. And we shall not forget all the incredible blessings along the way. May the blessings in our journey be used to help someone else in their journey. Whether your journey of life includes adoption or other goals and experiences, it is always a tremendous opportunity to thank God for unexpected blessings...and to reach out to others' lives as well. Life is truly an incredible journey of blessings. May you be blessed and be a blessing more than you ever imagined!
Cherishing each opportunity....
Terri & family
Last week I attended the Inauguration of Kentucky Christian University's fifth President. Tim and I went to school with Jeff and his wife, Debbie, so it was a joy to witness them become KCU's President and First Lady! Little did I know what other blessings that day would involve.
One of my newest friends who works there recently welcomed their baby girl home from China. Kim and her husband are incredible parents and are so proud of their beautiful daughter, Grace. I met Grace for the first time during my visit that day. My heart was so moved and encouraged as God once again reminded me that every moment we wait is indeed worthwhile! It is an amazing walk as we witness God's precise orchestration of placing wonderful adoptive parents and families in our paths to remind, encourage and strengthen us in our season of waiting. I pray that someday as we go through our lives with our JennaBeth (& EmmaKate?), we will be able to encourage other waiting parents. It is a blessing beyond words to witness others who have waited...and brought their sweet children home. All the paperwork, all the waiting, all the prayers, tears and even frustrations lead to being given the opportunity to bring home a precious, innocent miracle of life that God is placing in our hearts, our arms and our family! Wow! Seeing other families with these precious children reminds us that our family will welcome home our little girl/s someday too! And that's definitely worth the wait!
That same day, I reconnected with a college friend I had not seen for a very long time. Donna and I have shared on Facebook...but we finally got to visit face-to-face. It was great! As I later shared our adoption website address with her, Donna spoke words that I consider a true blessing. Discussing our wait, I commented that God's timing is perfect. Donna added to that by emphasizing..."God's timing isn't just good...it's PERFECT!" She was so encouraging about our family and our journey and she touched my heart deeply. Of course, we believe that God's design and plan are perfect. But to hear someone remind us that it's "better than good"...blessed us tremendously. God indeed knows the specific child He will add to our family and His design, timing and plan are definitely perfect...and we will trust Him as we continue to wait!
New friends...old friends...adoptive parents...biological parents...doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists...family and strangers...God has spoken through so many precious souls to encourage us as we wait for our baby girl/s. As much as it hurts to miss our sweetie/s, our joy will far exceed this wait. And we shall not forget all the incredible blessings along the way. May the blessings in our journey be used to help someone else in their journey. Whether your journey of life includes adoption or other goals and experiences, it is always a tremendous opportunity to thank God for unexpected blessings...and to reach out to others' lives as well. Life is truly an incredible journey of blessings. May you be blessed and be a blessing more than you ever imagined!
Cherishing each opportunity....
Terri & family
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)