Waiting... and waiting... not so patiently

Hey blog friends...

So I don't really have any "news" I just thought I would let you know what we have been doing.  We have no idea what size our daughter really is, we got some random numbers that look like somebody took a USA chart for average child size and picked the middle numbers.  It however would make her big for her age.  So either she is smaller and someone was "saving face" or she is older than they told us.  In the mean time we have been trying to buy all the things we need for our trip.  Including lots of medicine to bring with us.  I haven't shopped for children's meds in YEARS lol.  So it was amusing, standing in the isle in Target with my mother trying to figure out which ones to buy.  Vitamins took the longest, I have no idea what she will be willing to take, she may run away screaming about these crazy Americans shoving all this stuff down her. :) We are bringing so much and we have to try and get it into two suitcases or pay for an extra bag.  I am strongly considering this because she will need one coming home as well... or maybe it could be a small one David could carry on... who knows.  I am going nuts, idk if I posted about this before but the nesting thing is driving me nuts. I never really had a strong desire to "nest" when I was pregnant, maybe because I am a planner and got things done pretty early.  This time however, the process has kept me from planning as I would like so I HAVE to get everything done NOW! It is crazy... (my poor family has to deal with me).

I have been reading a lot about China and trying to prepare for every scenario (ha..ha).  Funny thing is, I am most concerned about planning my potty trips so I NEVER have to use a squatty potty! If you haven't seen them, look up Chinese toilets, then you will understand my horror! My poor child may have ever used a western toilet, so teaching her that will be interesting.  We still have not gotten an official update, which means we don't know if she got our package or not.  I hope she did, and I pray her foster mother is showing her the book everyday.  Please be praying for her that she be able to transition without trauma.  This is tough for any child but our baby doesn't have someone telling her everyday that she is going to live with her forever family.  In her mind, she is home, no one has communicated to her otherwise. :(  My heart aches for her and how scary it could be, but I know we serve a great big God who can calm her fears and help her bond to me quickly... (yes and David too) but mostly me...lol  This little girl has captured the heart of so many already, I cannot wait until you guys can all meet her...

Destin has an ortho appointment today so I better get some stuff done before then... Oh and pray our TA (travel approval) arrives today, if so we will be able to leave around the 16th!!! If not it could be another couple months due to a Chinese holiday and a couple trade fairs. PRAY PEOPLE!!!!!

Love.... Me

Awesome God

Ok so we had to call our adoption agency today to ask about a statement we recieved that didn't make sense.  When we got a response we were shocked to see we had recieved another grant.  This is the kind of grant given for a specific child, not "to" a family.  God is so amazing, He knew exactly what we needed.  We now have eveything we need to complete our trip and bring our baby girl home!  I cannot tell you how amazing God is... I am so in awe, and so humbled.  We are so undeserving of His blessings...

.... sigh... God you are so beautiful, so amazing...

Article 5

We got the official word, our article 5 was recieved yesterday! This just means travel approval is coming in just a couple weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ummmm we need to get visas.... Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo very excited!!!!! Now I must make a packing list... ok, what that really means is I have to consolidate all the small list I have everywhere, and make a master packing list!

Information, Accurate or just saving face?

Ok so we got a tiny update on Ariana, it included height, weight, head circumference, and chest circumference.  No shoe size, which we really need, or this poor baby will go barefoot until we can hit the local Walmart type store, and who knows what we will find there. :) Anyway I was trying to figure out what sizes she will wear by this information.  What I found was some of the measurements put her in a 4t, which is good because most of the clothes I bought are 4t, but some of the numbers don't make any sense at all.  So while searching and trying to figure it out I remembered an article I read recently.  It talks about Chinese culture, and how important it is to "save face".  Basically they don't want to be embarrassed in public, or seem they don't know things, so if asked a question to which they don't know the answer, they will make one up.  I read about families being led on wild goose chases by following directions from people on the street in China.  So each person they asked didn't really know the answer, and they made up directions.  This is so funny to me... I don't know why.  I guess I imagine some Lucy type comedy where she and Ethel are running in circles around a foreign country, while a little old Chinese man sits laughing at them as they pass by.  I know, the movies in my head are only amusing to me. Soooo... back to the point, I am now wondering if these numbers were given to "save face"?  She lives in a foster home so I know it isn't as easy to get her information.  I guess we will have to wait and see... waiting... is... not... something... I ... do... well .... grrrr... I guess God knew this about me and figured it would be a good life lesson. Ur... ummm... thanks God. 0:)

We are still waiting for the infamous TA or travel approval.  This part is so much harder than I imagined.  Like I just started the last month of pregnancy, and I know how long I have to wait, but I have no exact day yet,  I feel the nesting thing coming on.  I have to get her room completely ready... or I may go insane.  Ok so I exaggerate, but I am going nuts inside... I can't wait but I know I have to, and I can't rush it.  So I guess what I am saying is pray for my poor family because I may drive them crazy for the next month or so (any maybe for my readers, because I make no promises about the qualiy of posts you may see).

Brief update

I know it has been a little while since I posted. I am trying out posting from my email since I have learned u cannot access blogs in China. So we will see if this works. We have a little news, we did get our loan from Abba fund, and it is such a blessing. Although it is 6000 less than we need, it gets us so much closer. We have had some big struggles recently but I know God is writing a beautiful testimony for us to share. He has brought us so far and we are so close to her. Travel is predicted for September but we haven't received our travel papers yet. We should be getting them soon . Then the mad dash to get things done starts :).

Please pray that our travel approval comes through quickly, and that we can get the last 6000 together in time. Oh we also sent her care package which should have arrived by now and our fabulous adoption agency sent for an update. It could take a couple weeks but I cannot wait to hear more about her. Every tiny detail is beautiful to me, and they give me strength, I cannot wait to hold her... Until next time...

Me
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Status

Ok so we have now filed our I800a (permission for Ariana to enter the USA), her visa paperwork is done and paid for, and we have requested that our loan process be expedited.  The lady we spoke with was very kind and said she would make that request for us.  So prayerfully we will find out about our loan very soon!  Please keep praying that we get travel approval in July, this is very important.  Also keep praying that nothing will happen to slow this process any further, Ariana needs to be home with us, and learning language. :) It feels like we are getting so close.  We will be sending her a care package in the next few days, which is very exciting.  Thank you all again for praying and standing with us....

Needs and victory.

I sit here still in awe of God and His majesty.  A year ago we were unsure if we would even make it to this point, but we stepped out on faith and told God He would have to complete this journey.  We even had one very reputable agency tell us they couldn't help us.  My God knew exactly where my little girl was and what agency we need to use.  Today we have our LOA from China and very shortly we will recieve our travel papers.  I cannot believe how far we have come, and every single step of this journey was God.  He has provided everything we have needed, basically we filled out the paperwork and he did the rest :).  He has just reciently, shortened a process that "could have" taken 7 months into 1 (and a few days). We still have a couple huge needs, but I believe.... I believe.... I believe! Help us pray this process continues to go quickly and that every single need is met on the way.  Thank you so much for walking this journey beside us, for holding our hands and hearts, and for praying for us without ceasing.  We have been blessed with amazing people in our life. God thank you for surrounding us with such love! We still want to beat the August first deadline, for those who don't know China has changed some policies that will cost more money and years added to this porcess, so help us pray get get our travel papers in July.  Nothing is to hard for God.  For any of you that have been watching our journey from the begining, I made a challenge then in my very first blog post (you should go read it again). I believe God has called so many of you reading this to begin your own adoption journey.  I believe you have asked God to confirm it in your heart,  I believe our story, although not yet complete, is the confirmation you need. I believe that your heart has been stirred, and if you will allow Him God can you a miracle in your life too.  There are too many babies out there waiting for a loving home like yours.  My family is praying for you, for all those reading these words, that God will fan this desire into a roaring flame like He did ours... and that you too will catched the "Adoption Bug" and pass it to everyone you know. :)