Today we received photos of the care package that Ann is mailing to George Mason. We are giving him a little photo album with photos of us and descriptions for his nanny to help him to begin to transition into our family. I think it turned out so cute! My hope is that he would be able to recognize us when we meet for the first time- praying God prepares his heart even now for that big day!
We also included a little bear that plays music, a toy that features one of the most popular children's cartoons in Ch*n@ called Pleasant Goat, candy for his nanny, and a letter from us (translated) and questions about his needs/likes/dislikes that might help us as he adjusts to life in his new home. (also translated).
Very excited that he will be getting this soon and be able to hold in his hands for the very first time - a gift from his Momma & Daddy! ♥
Oh my heart! I LOVE MY SON! I can't wait to kiss those sweet little cheeks! If I'm not mistaken, I do believe the cutest boy in all of Ch*n@ is OURS! (hee hee! not that I'm biased or anything - lol!)
Yesterday, we purchased a care package for our little boy from a wonderful lady who lives in Ch*n@ and works for families who are adopting little ones. We purchased him a little photo book that will have photos of our family inside so that he can begin to learn our names and faces and prayerfully that will help him with the transition into our family. Along with the care package, she asks for an update from the orphanage, and I had no idea how fast the update would appear in our inbox!
I thought we would have to wait for the care package to be delivered, then the update written out, then mailed back to her, then to us. So I guess I was expecting months to go by or at least weeks. nope. ONE DAY LATER! So blessed!!!! I quickly forwarded the email to Dave at school and when we finally were able to talk about them, it was incredible how on the same page our hearts and feelings are about our son. David and I both had the same thought looking at our little boy.
He still looks so sad and we can't wait to put a smile and giggle on his little face. And our next thought was the same too...
"he needs his Mommy."
"he needs his Daddy."
We smiled and hugged knowing how miraculous this whole journey really is! Praise God that our hearts are united in our efforts to bring him home and that prayer that was lifted up at the beginning of this journey when David was struggling to say "Yes" to being a daddy again has been sealed with God's confirmation that we are both READY TO GO BRING HIM HOME! BOTH of US are overflowing with JOY and so ready to hold him in our arms! Praise His Holy Name!
Just 8 months ago...we had no idea the journey God would lead us on. No idea that our son waited in Ch*n@. No idea the blessing God was ready to pour out on us. Just 8 months ago...we were both weak and wounded from the battle with the enemy over our precious daughter, both questioning God's plans for our family, both burdened by the results of unfilled expectations and wanting nothing more than a new beginning. Jesus' arms open and waiting to hold us. His plans so much bigger than ours. Holding our hearts high to Him, together, we marched down the mountain we had just recently ascended and decided we would follow Jesus back down it again to Ch*n@ to bring home our son. Trusting Him to lead the way. Wherever He led us. Whatever the cost. Whenever He asked. It has not been easy. There are days and nights we struggle to find our way. But as He promised, He has always been with us. Never left us. Not even for a minute.
As we await immigration approval to travel to Ch*n@, we continue to pray for His provisions to complete our journey to our son, and we know He will be faithful to meet every need however great, however small, in His perfect timing. For He has shown us through His word that He is more than able!
Psalm 20
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now this I know:
The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
9 LORD, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
So blessed to believe in a God that not only cherishes the desires of our hearts, but actively pursues a deep and meaningful relationship with each one of His beloved children. A God who goes to battle for us, who chooses to bless us by working through us to do His good pleasure, what a JOY to serve THE KING OF KINGS! What a blessing to know He loves us! My soul sings!
O Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all
The works Thy Hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout
The universe displayed;
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
I hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
These photos just make my heart SOAR with LOVE and JOY!
We are officially approved by China to be George Mason's Mommy & Daddy! David and I are BEYOND excited! God has been so faithful throughout our journey to do exactly as He promised and open every single door for us! Praise His Name! I had a feeling pressed deeply on my heart that we would hear news this week. I can't really explain it - we should have waited 2 to 3 months for our approval, but I know God's ways are so much higher than ours, and there was a peace that this week we would receive our LOA. I have to admit all day today I've been a little sad thinking somehow I had heard Him wrong. It wasn't until this evening that things started to make sense...
you see...
Apparently, Nicole from AAC called earlier this morning...and well, the girls both decided that to TODAY of ALL DAYS they would be "helpful" and they both ANSWERED the phone call! And NO they are not supposed to answer the phone! And YES this is the VERY FIRST time they've ever done that. lol! I was in the bathroom of all places!
So our director at our agency told them "Go tell your Mommy that "Nicole" is on the phone and needs to talk to her." They both said "Mommy is in the bathroom." (nice! oy vey!) So she told them again to tell me and they said "Okay" and then she heard "click" as they promptly hung up the phone. lol! Now to their credit they did knock on the bathroom door and tell me that "somebody is on the phone" but of course I didn't IMAGINE that they had answered the phone. I thought they were just letting me know someone was leaving a voice mail - because we have a really, really, did I say REALLY, old answering machine and you can actually hear the person leaving the message. So I went on with my chores, bathed the girls, put them down for naps, jumped in the shower and got ready to go to Target to work. The whole time neither one of the girls offered up any IDEA that they had talked to someone on the phone. Nope...they never did deliver that message. Those little munchkins!
So right before I'm headed out the door to my evening part/time job, and I mean RIGHT BEFORE, keys in hand, purse on shoulder, walking out the garage door - Nicole calls back. And tells me the story of what happened earlier this morning..and then she says, "I have some EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU! WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR LOA from CH*N@!"
And ever since 4:45 pm this evening, I haven't been able to erase the smile from my face. My cheeks actually ache! :) What a GREAT DAY! And to think, somehow, someway, God even worked all that chaos out for good too, because David was home from school when we finally learned the AMAZING news together, so I guess it all worked out in the end just as it should have.
We are so EXCITED! So it is official! We are PARENTS to the CUTEST LITTLE BOY in the WORLD! (not that I'm biased or anything...lol!)
AAC is Fed-Exing the all important documents to us, we sign them and notarize them and send everything back to them ASAP! Then our paperwork goes to USCIS for our I800 approval (processing immigration paperwork for his travel visa to the U.S.). We don't really know how long that will take. Could be weeks or a month or more. Then the wait for our Travel Approval. So we are praying that we can still travel before school starts. Wouldn't it be miraculous to be able to hold him on his 2nd birthday!?!
Praising God for another miraculous milestone completed on this journey to our treasured son!
To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a custom in Northern China, to make a Bai Jia Bei or a quilt of 100 Good Wishes. When a baby is born, family and friends lovingly give the child's mother fabric scraps from old clothing with a wish for the new baby. The new mother makes a quilt for her child from the scraps, and it is said that the luck, energy and good wishes from all of the families and friends who contributed the fabric surrounds the child when he is wrapped in the quilt. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.
As we were waiting to travel to embrace Jessa, we were blessed with fabrics & wishes from all of our friends and family members. What a treasure Jessa's 100 Good Wishes Quilt is to her! She LOVES it so much, and it is a special reminder of all the people who prayed for her and us during the long wait.
We would like to give George Mason the same reminder of our love for him. And with your help, we can! My niece, Kelly, has lovingly agreed to help make the quilt for him (she also made Jessa's and it is GORGEOUS!). Once all the fabrics and wishes have been gathered, I will make a little scrapbook to keep them in for him so that he can read all the thoughts, prayers, and verses, and wishes of those that loved, wanted, prayed, and thought of him even before he came into our family. What a gift!
We would LOVE for you to join us in creating this very special keepsake for our son. Here is all you need to do to be included in his quilt:
Please send to our home a piece of fabric.
Your choice (only one guideline: it will be part of a little boy's quilt.)
Size: A fat quarter is preferred.
Include with your fabric, a written or typed note on card stock or plain paper:
wish
prayer
special Bible verse
special poem or quote
You may also include a photo of your family if you would like too.
Thank you so much for helping us complete his quilt with your loving contribution! We can't wait to see him snuggled in his quilt safely home with his forever family.♥
a Daddy
to play catch with in the warm summer sun
to tell funny stories too when the day is all done
to fish off the dock as little men like to do
who'll give him shoulder rides at the park and the zoo
who'll make him feel proud of all that he's done
and make him excited about what's yet to come
who'll teach him to love others and God first in his life
be an example of what a loving man is to his wife
give him more joy and comfort and praise
while protecting and nurturing him all of his days.
a Momma
to hug him so close when he's hurting inside or out
to kiss his "ouchies" all better and erase all the doubt
who'll tuck him in and watch over his sleeping
encourage his heart and cherish dreams in her keeping
to pray over his life and help him to see
all that Jesus has created him to be
who'll be there to catch him while he's just learning to fly
and stand there with smiles while he soars really high
to tell him he can when he thinks that he can't
teach him to believe and embrace what God grants.
a Big Brother
that makes him belly laugh and roll on the ground
cheer him on at his games and toss a ball around
be proud of all that he's learning to become
while giving him guidance and strength to overcome
who'll send him running away in a fun game of tag
then make his heart soar just listening to him brag
about all the things his little brother can do
and all the moments he's helped him shine too
who'll scoop him up high and then wrestle him down
change his face to a smile when he's wearing a frown
who'll teach him to pillow fight and dive really deep
and who'll be there to congratulate him when he takes the big leap.
a Big Sister
to play pretend with and make-believe
to watch him grow up and help him achieve
all of his dreams both big and small
and standby to catch him should he ever fall
who'll read him books over and over and over again
and who'll cuddle him close when the thunder rolls in
to play in the kitchen while having tea at high noon
wearing silly costumes singing loud out-of-tune
she'll baby him more than he wants or he needs
and he'll be content to go where she leads
she'll love him completely and let him go first
and when he succeeds her joy will just burst.
And he'll know he's adored from his head to his toes
by the best, loving family that God could have chose."
The journey feels more and more real as we complete each step! Our agency emailed us last night to let us know that are dossier is officially logged into the "system" in Ch*na! Which is an answer to prayer as it means everything arrived safely in Beijing and is now accounted for by the C C A A.
Our Log In Date {LID} is 04.14.11! So we have been waiting on our Letter Of Acceptance {LOA} since April 14th {unbeknownst to us}. YaY! I love when you are waiting and progressing on the journey and don't even know you are! ha! ha! :)
The last part of the email said: "That means approximately 2 months until LOA and 5-6 months until TA {Travel Approval}."
I guess we might have to change our expectations about having Mason in our arms before his 2nd birthday, but we know God is in control and our plans are not His plans, although it would have been so nice to hold him sooner! :) We'll just have to wait and see that the Lord is GOOD! :)
Happy Easter! God bless you and your family as you celebrate God's Love for us! And as we rejoice in the Risen Jesus who through His death and resurrection we have HOPE and NEW LIFE, I can't help but think about my sweet Hayden. The grave that was conquered that beautiful day - that my baby boy might also be risen to new life - it brings my heart such hope knowing I will see him again! And even now, I picture him singing with the angels in heaven around the throne of the King of Kings!
HOSANNA, HOSANNA! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!
What a pleasure it is to give to the Kingdom of God through donating to families who are working toward bringing their precious little ones home! One such family is in the process of adopting TWO little girls from China, and they have an amazing journey that they share on their blog Ni Hao Ya'll. Right now they are fundraising through a terrific donation/give-away. Just click on the button to learn more about how you can be a part of bringing these two treasures home to their forever family.
After all the paperwork has been processed, and notarized, and state certified, and authenticated by the Ch*nese Consulate, we are so excited to announce that we are DTC! It has been 5 months since we received PA (pre-approval to adopt George Mason) and we are so ready for today! Yes, our dossier is finally in an airplane headed on its way to Ch*na! Praise the Lord! Please pray that it will arrive at its final destination safely and on time! Next step...LID (log in date - entered into the system). Hooray for today!
So I just couldn't wait any longer and I broke down this afternoon and called USCIS to see if our I800A had been processed yet, and not only did she tell me it had been processed, but we were approved YESTERDAY {3.10}! woo hoo! She said we should be receiving the official approval in the mail sometime next week. Which means I will be frantically checking the mailbox each and every day! lol! Life is Good!
We had a smooth day of completing yet another step in the process to bring George Mason home. Today we were fingerprinted electronically for the USCIS immigration process. Since we've been anticipating this step for sometime, David and I prepped in advance by lathering our hands up with lotion each night. Yes to Carrots! lotion is by far THE best lotion I've tried! It soaks into your skin and doesn't leave a sticky film and it softens and actually healed my badly cracked hands. The problem with cracked hands is that they make cracked fingerprints which can end up jeopardizing USCIS approval. Well all that time spent lathering up worked! We not only did not have to have them redone over and over again, but they took the first time! Hopefully, we will receive our I-800A approval in the mail within the next couple weeks and be that much closer to sending our dossier to Ch*na. For those wondering what the next steps are here is a breakdown of where we've been and where we have left to go. The bullet points in red are the steps we still have left to complete.
Referral Photo 10.07.10
AAC Grants Permission To Adopt 10.12.10
LOI 10.26.10 {Letter Of Intent To Adopt Mason}
PA 10.29.10 {Ch*na Grants Pre-Approval to Adopt}
Home Study Complete 01.04.11
Dossier Docs State Sealed 01.06.11
Fed-Ex Dossier Docs to Agency 01.09.11
I-800A Received 01.14.11
I-800A Notice of Action 01.20.11
Received Finger Print Notices 02.07.11
Finger Print Appointment 03.01.11
I-800A Approval
DTC {Dossier Mailed To China}
LID {Log In Date}
LOA {Official Approval - Letter of Acceptance/Confirmation}
