2012 The Year of the Dragon

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! This week marks the 15 day celebration which began on January 23 and ends on February 6.  This is also known as their Spring Festival and preparations begin a month before the celebration.  Houses are cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away any traces of bad luck and doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red.  Doors and windows are also decorated with red paper couplets printed with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity.  In China, red is the color of luck and royalty.  Children are typically given money in red envelopes for luck, prosperity and to buy treats at the festivities.  Other traditions include feasts, fireworks, parades and more. 

2012 marks the  year of the dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.  The dragon is the 5th zodiac sign which stands for power, good luck, success and happiness.  Characteristics of someone born during the year of the dragon include being flexible, passionate, generous and free spirited.  Chinese traditions are swathed in superstitions.  It's amazing to me how cultures are so different all around the world!  Our Maggie was born in 2010 which was the year of the Tiger.  The characteristics of someone born in the year of the tiger include a good dose of courage, prone to be impatient, sometimes short-tempered, passionate, very cautious, and can be trusted in all things.  Truth or superstition?  I guess we shall see. 

Currently in Guizhou, it's 35 degrees and snow flurries.  I can just picture my little munchkin all bundled up!  The chinese are known for putting several layers of clothing on their babies and children in winter.  Here on the other side of the globe, in Tennessee, we are having almost spring-like weather.  Sunny, 60 degrees, and very different from the last couple of years.  My kids are itching for some snow!  I have to say I am too.  I like days that we can stay home from school, play outside, drink hot chocolate and "nest" with my family. 

The million dollar question is still, when?  I wish I could say that we knew, but we don't.  I know that February is looking impossible (unless God steps in to change something) and it's looking more like early March.  With a document getting lost back in October and now the Chinese New Year has everything closed for several days, we are most certainly off course for February to happen.  Hopefully we will at least get our TA (travel approval) in February.  From there our travel dates will depend on our appointment date with the consulate in Guangzhou to finalize the adoption.  So close, yet so far!  Some days this waiting feels like it's going to drive me crazy.  Other days, I feel like time is running short.  There are several projects at home I wanted to get done before we go and I haven't started a single one!  (I'm the world's biggest procrastinator)  Mostly I'm just feeling blue    :(   Sometimes I go out for a little "retail therapy" to make me feel better.  Even if it's just a stop at Wal-Mart to get her some pj's or something I know we'll need on our trip.

 A care package was sent to her earlier this month with photos of us, our home, her bed, the dog, etc.  I'm praying that her foster mama or her orphanage nanny is showing them to her each day so that she is at least familiar with our faces.  At this point, we don't know if she is back at the orphanage or still with her foster family.  It worries me either way!  I am having a lot of anxiety myself about us meeting her.  From all the adoptive training material we've read and families we've kept up with, we know that the first few days will be difficult to say the least.  She will be whisked away from all she has known and given to some strange talking white people.  No wonder adopted children have a grieving process!  Pray for me.  And for us as a family to bond and connect with her.  I know this is not going to easy on her and most likely not for us either.  She's too young to understand all that is going on.  And at the same time, I literally feel like a piece of my heart is on the other side of the world with her.  The closer we get to traveling, the more I feel my connection with her.  I can't explain it, I just know that it's there and that it has to be God.  I never knew I could feel this way and love a little person this much.  A little person who is not my flesh and blood.  But I know I am her mother.  I find myself worrying over this sweet girl that I've only seen in pictures.  I think these emotions are showing me the bigger picture all the time of God's heart for us as His adopted children. 

This time in January last year also marks when God began to stir something in my heart for adoption.  What a roller coaster this last year has been!  I would do it again in a heartbeat if the Lord asked me to.  What we've experienced and learned is priceless!  As my impatience and frustrations have increased lately, he is teaching me to "Be still and know..." and to "Rest in Him".  His timing is perfect.  I don't know and may never know the reason for the delays, but I have to trust.  Have I mentioned this is extremely difficult? :) 

As you think of us, please pray for our travel to be here before we know it, for Maggie and the transition that is before all of us, for everyone's safety as we travel and our 3 little munchkins we're leaving behind and for the rest of the paperwork and money that is to be paid to fall into place according to His plan.  We love you all and appreciate all the love and support on this journey in our lives.  To God be the glory!

Be still and know that I am God....Psalm 46:10a

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.   Psalm 62:1

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.   Isaiah 43:5

I will bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-   Isaiah 43:6b

It's Getting Close!

Well I guess it's time to hear from Dad since time is getting close. I have been very emotional the past few weeks because when I reflect on what all God has done and what He is going to do sometimes it seems a little overwhelming. I wish I could explain to each of you, who has followed us through this journey, prayed with us, cried with us and encouraged us when we were down, how we feel but all I can say is Thank You. One of the guys in my prayer group prayed the other night that Maggie will be a part of a bigger family than just ours, our church family and that's how we feel also. One of my prayers is that Maggie will grow to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior here and someday go back to China and use what God has taught her and make a difference in someone else life, I also pray that for each of my children. For His glory.

As of January 13, 2012 we received a letter from NVC(National Visa Center) stating that Maggie's visa application has been processed and forwarded to U.S. Embassy/Consulate General in Guangzhou, China-Mainland. We are very excited, very scared, very nervous and every other kind of emotion to go with that, all rolled into one. Please continue to pray as this is probably the hardest part, WAITING. Also continue to pray that when we get Maggie that her transition process would go smoothly.

   I know many of you have read our testimony of how we have got to where we are now but I would like to tell you a condensed version of what God has been doing in my life through the adoption process. It never ever ever even crossed my mind that we would even think about adopting. God can not only change your mind but He can also change your heart. God has put a love in my heart that I cannot explain for a little girl on the other side of the world that I've never talked too, never had any communication with and only seen very few pictures of. Most of you parents know the love that I'm talking about. The same love you have for an unborn child.  I am blessed with a beautiful, wonderful wife and 3 great kids and one on the way and sometimes I wonder why He chose to bless us again. When we first started the process we thought it would be a long process, maybe 1 1/2 years or 2 years or maybe even 3 years. So I started to try to figure out how we could come up with the money. Crystal and I felt that God didn't want us to borrow, raise or even ask for any money, just trust Him. While praying that this would all happen in His time, on June 3rd of last year God kicked it in gear. Crystal and I were on a conference call with our agency and  our coodinator was explaining all the details of the adoption process and even how long it could take. After hanging up we were a little overwhelmed with the whole process and all of the unknowns and not 5 minutes after we hung up my wife called me in tears. By this time I was in a store in Linden and I first thought that something had happened to one of the kids. All I heard was we have a file that our agency wants us to look at.  Crystal didn't want to look at the pictures until we had gotten the file but I couldn't wait to see her. Now who could resist a little girl in Tennessee orange.

   I knew without a doubt that God had done something only He could. After wiping tears for a few minutes even being asked if something was wrong by the store owner I got in my truck and burst into tears again. I thanked God for what He was doing and for the confirmation (again) for what He started. After coming out of the clouds I again wondered how God was going to come up with money to do this in such a short time. All I can say is that each point that money has been due God has provided. It's been amazing to be apart of.

  We are now at the end of all the paperwork, waiting and paperwork and waiting and even more paperwork and more waiting we are excited to be this close to  meeting our little girl. We believe that even though she was born from other parents God created her knowing that she would be in our family. Through this process God has showed me that He can do anything He wants too.  The US government nor the Chinese government nor anybody else can change Gods plan. We are not one bit worried about anything because we know that our family is right where God wants us to be and theres no better feeling in the world.

 Thank You again each of you who have went through this journey with us,  prayed for us and helped us financially. We are truly greatful. Please continue to pray for our family.

  So we ask you to pray:

1. For Maggie - health and transition

2. The flight (I don't like planes)

3. My children - being away for 2 weeks

Psalms 62:5-8