Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Where Are We Now?
Some of you may be asking, "Do you really want to add more children to your family?" or "Aren't your lives chaotic enough?" The answers are yes and yes! The topic of adoption has never come up in our lives until now. It was always one of those things that we thought was a great thing for other people to do, but probably not something for us. Oh how God can change your heart! A funny thing is.....after Sydney was born, people would ask if there would be anymore Dye babies for us and I would jokingly say, "Not unless we go to China and get one". To that Kevin would quickly add, "I don't think so!". Oh be careful what you say!
To get everyone up to speed, we are waiting. Waiting for referral acceptance (RA) which is basically the final approval on our dossier. Typically this approval takes 2-4 months after dossier to China (DTC). It's been 2 months, so literally it could be ANY day now that we get the phone call to say our agency has received our RA from the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA). Am I on pins and needles? YES!!! Until we have this approval, we are not allowed to post Maggie's photo on anything public like this blog, facebook, etc. Once we have RA, her sweet face will be at the top of this page! We received an update on her today (another answered prayer). So happy to get it! Right now she weighs 21 lbs. and is 30 inches tall. She is starting to be enthusiastic about the company of other children (good thing) and spends most of her day walking around and playing with toys. Her foster mama describes her as cute and shy. She is now 20 months old and has only been walking since about 15 months. We know that she likes rice paste (guess I'll need a recipe for that one), she loves bath time and likes to dance when she hears music. She stays very close to her foster mama and is very trusting of her. You don't know how blessed that makes me feel! Before we even knew who Maggie was we prayed that she would be fed, loved, talked to and treated like a biological child by her caregivers. At that point we assumed she would be in an orphanage. When we got her referral it turned out that she is with a foster family. She has been with them since she was 5 days old. The person who gets our monthly updates says she is the cleanest child in the area and that the foster family cares for her very much. Isn't God AWESOME???!!! Only He could answer my prayer like that! Lots of little things like that have happened in this journey that just confirms to us that we are in the center of God's will and that she is handpicked for us!
Okay, so after RA comes TA (which is travel approval). Typically that happens around 10 weeks after RA. China has to give us the "OK" to come to their country to finalize everything. In the meantime, we have more paperwork circling the globe for visas, passports,etc. Our agency will make our travel arrangments for airline and hotel. At some point after RA, Maggie will go back to the orphanage. I have no idea why its done this way, but it is. Please pray for me regarding that. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about her going from her foster family (all she has known) to an institution where there are lots of other babies and very few nannies to give them the attention they need. This is one of the times that I knew in my heart that she is my daughter. My heart and everything in me grieved when I found this out. All I know is that I want her here where we can love her, care for her and be a secure family for her. Who can take someone's heart and tranform it from thinking adoption is okay for "some people" to making it ache for a child they didn't give physical birth to? Only God!!!
So as we wait, please pray for us. This wait has been the hardest part. I know the Lord's timing is perfect. There is so much he has shown us in this process and so much more to be learned. Every week on the calendar seems like a year. Lord, help me to wait on your perfect plan!
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5
For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by.
Psalm 90:4
To get everyone up to speed, we are waiting. Waiting for referral acceptance (RA) which is basically the final approval on our dossier. Typically this approval takes 2-4 months after dossier to China (DTC). It's been 2 months, so literally it could be ANY day now that we get the phone call to say our agency has received our RA from the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA). Am I on pins and needles? YES!!! Until we have this approval, we are not allowed to post Maggie's photo on anything public like this blog, facebook, etc. Once we have RA, her sweet face will be at the top of this page! We received an update on her today (another answered prayer). So happy to get it! Right now she weighs 21 lbs. and is 30 inches tall. She is starting to be enthusiastic about the company of other children (good thing) and spends most of her day walking around and playing with toys. Her foster mama describes her as cute and shy. She is now 20 months old and has only been walking since about 15 months. We know that she likes rice paste (guess I'll need a recipe for that one), she loves bath time and likes to dance when she hears music. She stays very close to her foster mama and is very trusting of her. You don't know how blessed that makes me feel! Before we even knew who Maggie was we prayed that she would be fed, loved, talked to and treated like a biological child by her caregivers. At that point we assumed she would be in an orphanage. When we got her referral it turned out that she is with a foster family. She has been with them since she was 5 days old. The person who gets our monthly updates says she is the cleanest child in the area and that the foster family cares for her very much. Isn't God AWESOME???!!! Only He could answer my prayer like that! Lots of little things like that have happened in this journey that just confirms to us that we are in the center of God's will and that she is handpicked for us!
Okay, so after RA comes TA (which is travel approval). Typically that happens around 10 weeks after RA. China has to give us the "OK" to come to their country to finalize everything. In the meantime, we have more paperwork circling the globe for visas, passports,etc. Our agency will make our travel arrangments for airline and hotel. At some point after RA, Maggie will go back to the orphanage. I have no idea why its done this way, but it is. Please pray for me regarding that. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about her going from her foster family (all she has known) to an institution where there are lots of other babies and very few nannies to give them the attention they need. This is one of the times that I knew in my heart that she is my daughter. My heart and everything in me grieved when I found this out. All I know is that I want her here where we can love her, care for her and be a secure family for her. Who can take someone's heart and tranform it from thinking adoption is okay for "some people" to making it ache for a child they didn't give physical birth to? Only God!!!
So as we wait, please pray for us. This wait has been the hardest part. I know the Lord's timing is perfect. There is so much he has shown us in this process and so much more to be learned. Every week on the calendar seems like a year. Lord, help me to wait on your perfect plan!
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5
For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by.
Psalm 90:4
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
How Did We Get Here?
That has been the million dollar question! We've gotten lots of other questions as well (I may blog about later) but this one has been the most popular. For the most part, I've been a stay at home mom for the past almost 11 years now. I was fortunate enough to be able to quit my full time job when our first child was born and since I've worked mostly PRN (as needed) or part time here and there. Staying home with my kids was at the top of my list and after lots of prayer and financial adjusting, it worked out. Fast forward to 2010. By the end of that year, I'm thinking that I need to go ahead and find a full time job or at least a regular part time job because our youngest would be starting kindergarten in the fall of 2011 and at that point it should be do-able for me to work more outside the home. Piece of cake, I thought. I know enough people in the medical world to land something. I'll be contributing more to our household, my hubby will be proud, I'll find myself in an adult world again, we can take trips and do lots of things with the extra money. All was well. I prayed like everything for job opportunities to come my way. After all, this was probably God's plan too, right? I had always assumed that once the kids were all in school, I'd be back in the workforce. Several job opportunities came and went. I had interviews that went very well, good references, etc. But, for whatever reason, nothing worked out. It mainly boiled down to not being worth it in the long haul. The drive would be too long, the hours too late and paying someone else to cart my kids around. This whole dilemma really weighed heavy on me. I wanted so much to get out and work and feel like I was somebody again. In the meantime, I continued to work at my little "as needed" jobs a day or two here and there and all the while praying for something to come along that would be perfect for me.
One day I was driving home and almost out of frustration I said, "Lord what do you want from me? I know you want something because nothing is working out here." In my spirit I felt the Lord say, "I want your obedience." Okay God, I thought. But whatever it is that you want, you'll have to spell it out for me I don't sense anything right now. A few days or maybe more went by and one night I was up really late on the computer and was searching for a blog I had been following. Somehow I ended up on someone else's blog that was about a Chinese adoption. The only reason it even interested me is because the family was from Franklin, TN. They had 3 biological boys (teenagers) and adopted the cutest baby girl from China. Their journey was 3 years long. As I searched and read basically thru the highlights of the blog, that "check" in my spirit came back again and this time it said, "This is what I want you to do." What?! Okay, it's really late and I'm so tired I thought I just heard the Lord say he wanted us to adopt a child. I went to bed and didn't think about it anymore.
That same week I was cleaning my house and this burden for orphans in China was so heavy on my heart that I figured God just wanted me to pray for them. So I did and the burden almost seemed heavier for the little girls especially. Okay, so there must be a specific little girl in China that needs me to pray for her, I thought. Easy enough. I prayed, the burden lifted and all seemed well again. Day after day I could not get this family's story out of my mind and the orphans in China out of my heart. I began to pray about it more and more. This? Are you sure, Lord, this? It was getting clearer that this was definitely what God was asking of me. I researched all I could about China adoptions, the Chinese history (why they have so many orphans) and the cost. Oh boy, the cost! How in the world, Lord, could we do this? Better yet, how do I tell my husband? He'll think I've flipped wanting to bring another child in to raise. And more than that, he'll have 4 heart attacks right in a row when I tell him how much it costs. God, if this is you, then YOU have to tell him because I can't! If you tell my husband the same thing, then I'll know this is something from you. If not, then maybe I've dreamed it up on my own.
I had already been telling Kevin that I felt like God wanted us to do something. I just didn't know what. So, at this point I shared with him that I sensed that I knew what it was, but I wanted him to pray and ask God to reveal the same thing to him if this was His plan. No hints, no nothing. Valentine's Day rolled around and we exchanged our little candy and cards. The neatest thing happened. We both signed our cards with, "The Best Is Yet To Come" at the bottom. We looked at each other standing in the kitchen and Kevin said, "I know what it is now". I figured he was pulling my leg, then he said, "Adoption?". With tears in my eyes, I was speechless! God you have actually, truly, honestly spoken to both of us! Neither of us really knew what to think. But my heart was leaping for joy! Why would God ask us, of all people, to make another child our own? Words can't describe how humbled we felt.
For the next day or two I think we were a little scared to talk about it. As we were going to bed one night Kevin asked, "Do you think it's China?" More confimation, more leaps of joy in my heart! I shared with him the burden about the children in China and particularly the fate of the little girls. We knew then that China was the place and another girl it would be! Next, we prayed and searched for a Christian based agency and found America World Adoption Association. We applied to the China program, got accepted and began our "paperchase" in April of this year. So far, it's been a roller coaster of emotions, papers, check writing, appointments and a LOT of waiting! We are terribly excited to be this little girl's forever family. God is awesome and His plans are the best!
Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.
James 1:27
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
One day I was driving home and almost out of frustration I said, "Lord what do you want from me? I know you want something because nothing is working out here." In my spirit I felt the Lord say, "I want your obedience." Okay God, I thought. But whatever it is that you want, you'll have to spell it out for me I don't sense anything right now. A few days or maybe more went by and one night I was up really late on the computer and was searching for a blog I had been following. Somehow I ended up on someone else's blog that was about a Chinese adoption. The only reason it even interested me is because the family was from Franklin, TN. They had 3 biological boys (teenagers) and adopted the cutest baby girl from China. Their journey was 3 years long. As I searched and read basically thru the highlights of the blog, that "check" in my spirit came back again and this time it said, "This is what I want you to do." What?! Okay, it's really late and I'm so tired I thought I just heard the Lord say he wanted us to adopt a child. I went to bed and didn't think about it anymore.
That same week I was cleaning my house and this burden for orphans in China was so heavy on my heart that I figured God just wanted me to pray for them. So I did and the burden almost seemed heavier for the little girls especially. Okay, so there must be a specific little girl in China that needs me to pray for her, I thought. Easy enough. I prayed, the burden lifted and all seemed well again. Day after day I could not get this family's story out of my mind and the orphans in China out of my heart. I began to pray about it more and more. This? Are you sure, Lord, this? It was getting clearer that this was definitely what God was asking of me. I researched all I could about China adoptions, the Chinese history (why they have so many orphans) and the cost. Oh boy, the cost! How in the world, Lord, could we do this? Better yet, how do I tell my husband? He'll think I've flipped wanting to bring another child in to raise. And more than that, he'll have 4 heart attacks right in a row when I tell him how much it costs. God, if this is you, then YOU have to tell him because I can't! If you tell my husband the same thing, then I'll know this is something from you. If not, then maybe I've dreamed it up on my own.
I had already been telling Kevin that I felt like God wanted us to do something. I just didn't know what. So, at this point I shared with him that I sensed that I knew what it was, but I wanted him to pray and ask God to reveal the same thing to him if this was His plan. No hints, no nothing. Valentine's Day rolled around and we exchanged our little candy and cards. The neatest thing happened. We both signed our cards with, "The Best Is Yet To Come" at the bottom. We looked at each other standing in the kitchen and Kevin said, "I know what it is now". I figured he was pulling my leg, then he said, "Adoption?". With tears in my eyes, I was speechless! God you have actually, truly, honestly spoken to both of us! Neither of us really knew what to think. But my heart was leaping for joy! Why would God ask us, of all people, to make another child our own? Words can't describe how humbled we felt.
For the next day or two I think we were a little scared to talk about it. As we were going to bed one night Kevin asked, "Do you think it's China?" More confimation, more leaps of joy in my heart! I shared with him the burden about the children in China and particularly the fate of the little girls. We knew then that China was the place and another girl it would be! Next, we prayed and searched for a Christian based agency and found America World Adoption Association. We applied to the China program, got accepted and began our "paperchase" in April of this year. So far, it's been a roller coaster of emotions, papers, check writing, appointments and a LOT of waiting! We are terribly excited to be this little girl's forever family. God is awesome and His plans are the best!
Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.
James 1:27
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Saturday, October 15, 2011
About Us
If you're reading this blog, you probably know us pretty well. For those of you who may not, here's a little about our family we'd like to share.
Kevin and I were married in 1995. I knew when we were dating that God put the two of us together. He's the most wonderful man on the planet! He has a very gentle and kind way about him, he's the hardest working person I know and the most genuine person I know. He is juggling four different jobs, one of which is a small businesses from home. Not because he wants to be that busy or make a lot of money, he is simply taking care of his family. There's nothing he wouldn't do for me and the kids. He loves me more than I deserve and I am more in love with him with each year that goes by. We are members of the First Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon. He takes his commitment to our Lord very seriously. He is an example to me everyday!
As for me, I am a full time wife and mother, a part time respiratory therapist and now helping to run the small home business. Our children are young and they keep me very busy! Our little family is my life and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Our first born is our son, Bailey (2000). He's my chocolate lovin', straight A makin', let's see how this gadget works little guy. He is awesome! A typical boy, of course. He's into karate, piano and drum lessons and baseball. He loves to act crazy with his friends and at the same time, he has a very gentle and kind way about him just like his daddy. He loves his mama and the rest of his family. He fights with his sisters often, but at the end of the day he protects them! He will be a wonderful big brother one more time to Maggie. God has a very unique plan for your life my sweet boy!
Next is our daughter, Emily (2002). She's my athlete and my social butterfly. She's into gymnastics, karate and softball. She is loved by all who meet her and is a friend to everyone. She's my helper around the house and my shadow everywhere I go. We are pretty tight! She is beautiful, smart, shy and has so much more potential that she knows. Whatever she does, she soars high! God will use her to do great things!
And last (for now) is Sydney (2005). She is our little firecracker! She loves life and is ready to experience all that it has to offer. She's into karate and softball. Not a day goes by that we don't have laugh out loud moments with this girl. She is a very strong willed child and I believe God will use this personality trait for her good and His glory one day. She is also very tender hearted. I see a lot of love and compassion come out in her as I see her interacting with other children. She'll be great with Maggie!
The last little member of our family is a toy sized Yorkie named Sally. She came into our family in June of this year. She is sinfully cute which helps to keep her out of trouble as we are still in potty training 101.
I couldn't be a more blessed woman. We are a "real life" family with each of us experiencing a struggle of some sort at one time or another. My husband's cell/work phone never stops ringing, someone is always hungry, the dog needs attention, the laundry is never finished and sibling rivalry is a constant. Would I trade it for a life with none of the above? No! The life lessons we've learned and continue to learn are priceless! To have a christian husband, 3 healthy and beautiful children and one Chinese daughter on the way is icing on the cake!
Sons are an heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
Psalm 127:3-5a
Kevin and I were married in 1995. I knew when we were dating that God put the two of us together. He's the most wonderful man on the planet! He has a very gentle and kind way about him, he's the hardest working person I know and the most genuine person I know. He is juggling four different jobs, one of which is a small businesses from home. Not because he wants to be that busy or make a lot of money, he is simply taking care of his family. There's nothing he wouldn't do for me and the kids. He loves me more than I deserve and I am more in love with him with each year that goes by. We are members of the First Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon. He takes his commitment to our Lord very seriously. He is an example to me everyday!
As for me, I am a full time wife and mother, a part time respiratory therapist and now helping to run the small home business. Our children are young and they keep me very busy! Our little family is my life and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Our first born is our son, Bailey (2000). He's my chocolate lovin', straight A makin', let's see how this gadget works little guy. He is awesome! A typical boy, of course. He's into karate, piano and drum lessons and baseball. He loves to act crazy with his friends and at the same time, he has a very gentle and kind way about him just like his daddy. He loves his mama and the rest of his family. He fights with his sisters often, but at the end of the day he protects them! He will be a wonderful big brother one more time to Maggie. God has a very unique plan for your life my sweet boy!
Next is our daughter, Emily (2002). She's my athlete and my social butterfly. She's into gymnastics, karate and softball. She is loved by all who meet her and is a friend to everyone. She's my helper around the house and my shadow everywhere I go. We are pretty tight! She is beautiful, smart, shy and has so much more potential that she knows. Whatever she does, she soars high! God will use her to do great things!
And last (for now) is Sydney (2005). She is our little firecracker! She loves life and is ready to experience all that it has to offer. She's into karate and softball. Not a day goes by that we don't have laugh out loud moments with this girl. She is a very strong willed child and I believe God will use this personality trait for her good and His glory one day. She is also very tender hearted. I see a lot of love and compassion come out in her as I see her interacting with other children. She'll be great with Maggie!
The last little member of our family is a toy sized Yorkie named Sally. She came into our family in June of this year. She is sinfully cute which helps to keep her out of trouble as we are still in potty training 101.
I couldn't be a more blessed woman. We are a "real life" family with each of us experiencing a struggle of some sort at one time or another. My husband's cell/work phone never stops ringing, someone is always hungry, the dog needs attention, the laundry is never finished and sibling rivalry is a constant. Would I trade it for a life with none of the above? No! The life lessons we've learned and continue to learn are priceless! To have a christian husband, 3 healthy and beautiful children and one Chinese daughter on the way is icing on the cake!
Sons are an heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
Psalm 127:3-5a
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Follow us to China!
Ni Hao everyone! (that's hello in Chinese) This is our first official blog entry and it is all very new to me. Our family is on a journey to adopt a sweet little angel from China in a few months. So, this blog is to brag on God for how he's at work in our lives and for the ones of you who would like to follow our story. We can certainly let you know how to be praying for us in the journey.
Right now, we wait. It seems as though everything has been hurry up and wait. I can't complain, however. Our journey has been much quicker than some families we know of. Our paperwork started in April of this year. We were told we would be waiting for a referral on a child most likely a year or more and that the wait time was growing. God moved the first mountain for us. On June 3rd, we received a referral of a little girl born on February 23, 2010. We were not even finished with our dossier yet (that's the huge pile of paperwork that goes to China all about us). We spent all summer on paperwork, official appointments and lots of overnighting paperwork back and forth to various places. Finally, on August 19th, we were dossier to China (DTC). A few days later we received our LID (log in date) which is August 25th. The next step is to receive RA (referral approval). We have our pre-approval for her adoption, now we get the final approval once our dossier is reviewed. This process usually takes 2-4 months. So, I guess you could say we're in neutral right now. It sure feels that way. After RA, we wait again for TA (travel approval) which will start a whole other set of paperwork for visas, travel plans, etc. Our agency is guesstimating around February for travel. It seems so long! Now that we know who she is, the wait is torture! In the end, if February proves to be when we travel, our journey will have been 1 year. It was February this year when God started to stir something in my heart about adoption. From referral time (June) to having her in our arms may even be shorter than a pregnancy. (That makes me feel a little better)
I will blog more later about us and how we got to this place in our lives. For now, we love and appreciate each of you who are walking beside us in this, we covet your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those of you who have given because the Lord asked you to. May your obedience be richly blessed! Pray for us as we wait. That the Lord will continue to prepare our hearts and our home for this new little one. Pray for the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) that the process to place these precious children might speed up for everyone.
Blessings,
Crystal, Kevin, Bailey, Emily and Sydney
Right now, we wait. It seems as though everything has been hurry up and wait. I can't complain, however. Our journey has been much quicker than some families we know of. Our paperwork started in April of this year. We were told we would be waiting for a referral on a child most likely a year or more and that the wait time was growing. God moved the first mountain for us. On June 3rd, we received a referral of a little girl born on February 23, 2010. We were not even finished with our dossier yet (that's the huge pile of paperwork that goes to China all about us). We spent all summer on paperwork, official appointments and lots of overnighting paperwork back and forth to various places. Finally, on August 19th, we were dossier to China (DTC). A few days later we received our LID (log in date) which is August 25th. The next step is to receive RA (referral approval). We have our pre-approval for her adoption, now we get the final approval once our dossier is reviewed. This process usually takes 2-4 months. So, I guess you could say we're in neutral right now. It sure feels that way. After RA, we wait again for TA (travel approval) which will start a whole other set of paperwork for visas, travel plans, etc. Our agency is guesstimating around February for travel. It seems so long! Now that we know who she is, the wait is torture! In the end, if February proves to be when we travel, our journey will have been 1 year. It was February this year when God started to stir something in my heart about adoption. From referral time (June) to having her in our arms may even be shorter than a pregnancy. (That makes me feel a little better)
I will blog more later about us and how we got to this place in our lives. For now, we love and appreciate each of you who are walking beside us in this, we covet your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those of you who have given because the Lord asked you to. May your obedience be richly blessed! Pray for us as we wait. That the Lord will continue to prepare our hearts and our home for this new little one. Pray for the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) that the process to place these precious children might speed up for everyone.
Blessings,
Crystal, Kevin, Bailey, Emily and Sydney
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