Happy Birthday, Issac!!!

Well, it's official. We have a teenager and he has his dancing shoes on again. The boy's basketball team is sponsoring a Sadie Hawkin's Dance tonight and he's there cuttin' a rug or standing on the boy's side of the commons area (I'm not sure which one, but I would guess the first). He turned 13 at 8:27 pm last night while we were at the high school boy's region finals, so we will be celebrating his birthday on Sunday. He and a few of his friends and family are going to a sport's grill/game room. That is what Issac wanted to do, and he is pretty excited about it.

It's hard to believe how fast the time has gone by. It seems it has just been a few days since I made the picture of him playing his guitar. Look at that sweet little face. We love this little boy/young man like only a mother and father can understand. We thank God every day we have been given such a perfect gift and we are SO BLESSED!!!!!!!

When I originally started this blog, we had hoped we would be travelling to China during this month to bring a very special little girl to our home. But our direction has changed. Now we are praying for the PreApproval of another family to bring home the same very special little girl. She deserves to be in a home with a family, and hopefully, she will have a large family with lots of people to love her.

These past six months have been a roller coaster ride, extreme highs followed by extreme lows. God has been with us and given us the strength and courage to face the issues involved with this disappointment. It has not been easy! But I know, I will not have to face more than He will give me the strength to endure. Please continue to pray for Salem's safety and health until she is home, and pray for us as we continue to do as we are led.

Valentine's Day

Well, I was right. Issac gave me the rolling eyes, "my mom's crazy" look when I started reminiscing about the day we found out we had been chosen to be his parents. Little did I know 13 years ago that on this Valentine's night he would be getting ready to go to a Jr. High dance. He is my little Travolta!! We had a great day and hope everyone enjoyed spending time with their special loved ones.

We are still waiting to hear from Salem's family on their PreApproval. It should be anyday now.

News from Salem

Since my last post, the weather in China did let up for a few days and hopefully things will continue to improve. We received news through a phone call to the SWI that she is well and walking. They are keeping them layered and warm. This was good news to hear. We had assumed she was walking because of the pictures we had seen, but the workers at the orphanage confirmed it. Thank you to anyone reading the blog that made a donation to the Half The Sky program.

Thirteen years ago this week, on Valentine's Day, we were contacted by our adoption agency and they gave us the official word that we had been picked by a birthmother. Valentine's Day is a very special day because of this. When we received that news, our lives changed forever. We are so thankful we were given the opportunity to experience the birth and life of a perfect little boy. Issac will be turning 13 in just a few weeks and I cannot believe how fast the years have passed. We will have a teenager in just a matter of days and he is turning into a wonderful young man. On Valentines' Day, I'm sure I will tell him his story of how we received the news that we had been picked. When he was small, he loved his story, then he just thought I was kinda corny. I'm anxious to hear his reaction this year. I love to make him roll his eyes and give me that look like "my mom's crazy." haha It's amazing how much joy comes in making our children think we've lost our minds.

Hugs, love and kisses to everyone on Valentine's Day!!

The Weather in China

I'm sure many of you have seen the crazy weather that China has been experiencing these past 2-3 weeks. There are so many orphanages that are being affected. I have received information from an organization, Half the Sky, that works with several of the orphanages to make sure they have the needed supplies on a regular basis. This organization has helped the Qingyuan SWI, Salem's orphanage, with so many things in the past.

A lady from Half the Sky has been in touch with most of the orphanages and received requests for things such as space heaters, coal, blankets, etc. Some of the nannies have purchased from their own monies and Half the Sky has committed to them they will receive reimbursment for any supplies they purchase during this crisis. Salem's orphanage has requested space heaters and jackets. They have not been affected with snow, but much colder weather than normal and very wet. All the children have colds and they are trying to keep them warm. Please pray for her health. Since I received this information, it has weighed heavy on my mind. Think how you would feel if you received word that a child you love dearly was half way around the world, sick, and there is no one there to just pick her up and hold her and make things all better.

Please pray for her and another little girl, Eliana, the soon-to-be-daughter of a friend of mine in VA. They are in this orphanage and need your prayers.

Here is the link if you want to donate or know more:
http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php

Waiting.....

We are still waiting on some news about Salem's family getting their PreApproval. Hopefully they will have it in the next couple of weeks. If not, it may be the end of February or first of March before they receive it since the Chinese New Year is celebrated in February and the CCAA shuts down for a couple of weeks.

We have been researching and discussing our options concerning foreign adoption. We need to make some decisions and from the information we have received from four countries, do not feel we should proceed with any of them. They are very risky programs, dealing with new countries, and because of our past losses, we are not ready for such a big risk. I want to proceed only when God prompts, and right now, we feel we need to just wait and see. For what, I don't know, just wait.

This past month has been difficult. My emotions have been everywhere - sad, angry, depressed, lost, hurt, fine, anxious, you name it, I've probably been there. I've questioned everything that happened during this adoption process and there have been times that my human mind has wanted to just chalk it up to coincidence, but I believe very strongly things happen for a reason. I am trying to find the reasoning in it all, but I can't see the big picture. Some day I hope to look back and see how all things have come together perfectly, but looking ahead, I don't see it yet. I have faith that someday I will. I never want to waiver in my faith of what God can and will do and that He has our best interests at heart. We have a room in our home and love in our hearts to share with another child that needs it if that is God's will.

I hope to be able to share with you soon the news of Salem's family. It's still hard to think she will not be in our home, but this journey was not about us. It was about her finding a family, and I pray that will be very soon.

Salem has found her family...

Next to her name it once again reads "has found her family." Once we have more information, I will share it with all of you. Please pray that paperwork moves very quickly so she will have a home soon.

Our family celebrated the first birthday of our little Princess Presley, my brother and sister-in-law's first child. As you can see from the photos below, she is definitely a princess.

I will continue to post to this blog for a time. Please continue to pray for Salem and so many others waiting for their families all over the world. I do not want our experience to discourage anyone from pursuing adoption. It is an absolutely wonderful, life-changing experience with a great reward for both the child and the parents. There are so many children that need the love of a family, and if you have the heart of adoption, follow your heart.

Salem has been matched...placement pending

Those are the words next to Salem's name now. Immediately after our news was shared with the adoption community, there were many inquiries concerning her future. Many couples looking to adopt were inquiring about her and her status. There is a family that is completing the preliminary paperwork in order to receive the Pre-Approval from China. They meet all the requirements according to the interpreted regulations of the CCAA, and should receive the Pre-Approval in the next 4-6 weeks. Salem's status could change anyday to "Salem has found her family." I am very thankful that someone stepped up quickly and has chosen to make her a permanent part of their family. She will be a blessing to any family she joins and I hope she will be blessed with a wonderful family.

This is a bittersweet situation. It's very hard for my simple mind to process the complex ways of God, but I have to believe He has all things ordered and in His time. When we received the news two weeks ago, I immediately asked God "Why?" I felt so strongly that I had followed His leading. Where did I go wrong? Why is this happening to us again? I blamed myself because I had put my husband, son and family through this horrible whirlwind of emotions. Some say we should never question God. But God knows me. He created me. He knows how I react and hurt. He also knew when we started this process, what the outcome would be. If my earthly father led me into a hurtful situation, I would question him as to why he did it. He might give me an answer that I wouldn't understand as a child, but he did it because he knows best. To me, that's the same way with God, our Heavenly Father. I have asked and I don't have an answer. This week, someone told me instead of asking "Why?" ask "What...do you want me to learn from this?" and "Where do you want me to go from here?" I STILL feel like God lead us to this point. I don't know why, what or where, but we are praying for the answers to those questions. We don't have to have the answers to all of those questions, but some we do need answers to.

Please help us pray for wisdom. We want to continue to follow as God leads, even if we have to face difficult situations. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

Also continue to pray for Salem. She is a very special little girl whose life has touched many. I believe God has a special place for her and a ministry through her story. She had a rough start in life and up to this point has found a special place in every heart she has touched. From the workers with Love Without Boundries, to the foster family, to the CHI family and then our family, she has brought many people from various places together. There is a Chinese legend that says when a child is born, an invisible red thread connects that child's soul to all those people, present and future, who will play a part in that child's life. I strongly believe we are connected to her by that red thread. I don't know how and what part of her life we may play, but she has definitely played a very important part in our life.

Sending lots of love and prayers to Salem and her forever family.