So I'll do my best and try to fill you in on a few of the details behind our BIG announcement!
Many of you know we are a licensed foster family who were eagerly pursing a domestic adoption. Over the course of the summer though, Shane and I began praying about changing our adoption plan. The Lord began to stir in our hearts the call towards an international adoption. We weren't really sure where at first, but fervently prayed for clarity, wisdom and guidance as we researched many different options. Our ONLY criteria was that we wanted to be USED! We so desired the Lord to just use our family in ANY way He saw fit! I wish I could tell you specifically ALL the ways the Lord moved in our lives as He directed our hearts towards China! Most importantly though, He strategically placed godly families in our path! Families who we watched step out in faith, and follow His call to China. Because of these courageous families and their faithfulness, we began to pray and ask the Lord if He was calling us to China too!
The answer was a resounding YES!!!
Many of you know we are a licensed foster family who were eagerly pursing a domestic adoption. Over the course of the summer though, Shane and I began praying about changing our adoption plan. The Lord began to stir in our hearts the call towards an international adoption. We weren't really sure where at first, but fervently prayed for clarity, wisdom and guidance as we researched many different options. Our ONLY criteria was that we wanted to be USED! We so desired the Lord to just use our family in ANY way He saw fit! I wish I could tell you specifically ALL the ways the Lord moved in our lives as He directed our hearts towards China! Most importantly though, He strategically placed godly families in our path! Families who we watched step out in faith, and follow His call to China. Because of these courageous families and their faithfulness, we began to pray and ask the Lord if He was calling us to China too!
The answer was a resounding YES!!!
On September 6th 2011 I received an email from a dear friend which included pictures of a few waiting children from China!
When I opened it, I lost it and immediately forwarded the email to Shane at work.
When I opened it, I lost it and immediately forwarded the email to Shane at work.
That email changed EVERYTHING!!!
For in that one email...we caught a glimpse of our precious daughter for the first time EVER!!
For in that one email...we caught a glimpse of our precious daughter for the first time EVER!!
On September 9th 2011, we sent our application into our agency, along with our LOI (Letter of Intent) asking permission from China to adopt our precious baby girl!
On September 25th, 2011 we received the news that we had been holding our breath for...
We were (PA) PRE-APPROVED and could now begin getting our dossier ready!!!
We celebrated our new PA status with a dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant!
I LOVED what my fortune cookie said that night...
"Impatience may be appropriate at this time."
Oh how true that is, and THE perfect description of what my mommy heart is feeling right now!
IMPATIENCE!!!
Everyday I wake up and think..."Okay, what can I get done today that will get us closer to our baby girl!" I cannot stand the thought of her not being with us one day longer than she absolutely has too!!
I LOVE her so much already!!!
So NOW the real FUN has begun!!
We are on a mad paper chase to bring our girly HOME!
Right now, I am beyond thankful for those who have gone before us in this process.
They are literally holding our hand and walking with us through each and every step!
According to what we've been told, we anticipate to travel in June of 2012, although my heart is fervently praying that we will be able to travel before then!
We'll see!
As Shane and I were talking the other night, I began telling him just how heavy my heart was for our baby girl!
I worry about her constantly now!
Is she healthy? Is she cared for? Is she loved? Is she crying? Is she hungry? Is she sleeping? Is she safe?
Please pray for our SWEET Addy-Kate!
Pray that she stays safe and healthy as she waits for us to come to her!!
Our family covets your prayers as we walk through this new and exciting journey!
We celebrated our new PA status with a dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant!
I LOVED what my fortune cookie said that night...
IMPATIENCE!!!
Everyday I wake up and think..."Okay, what can I get done today that will get us closer to our baby girl!" I cannot stand the thought of her not being with us one day longer than she absolutely has too!!
I LOVE her so much already!!!
So NOW the real FUN has begun!!
We are on a mad paper chase to bring our girly HOME!
Right now, I am beyond thankful for those who have gone before us in this process.
They are literally holding our hand and walking with us through each and every step!
According to what we've been told, we anticipate to travel in June of 2012, although my heart is fervently praying that we will be able to travel before then!
We'll see!
As Shane and I were talking the other night, I began telling him just how heavy my heart was for our baby girl!
I worry about her constantly now!
Is she healthy? Is she cared for? Is she loved? Is she crying? Is she hungry? Is she sleeping? Is she safe?
Please pray for our SWEET Addy-Kate!
Pray that she stays safe and healthy as she waits for us to come to her!!
Our family covets your prayers as we walk through this new and exciting journey!
This is wonderful! I have read your blog for some time now and love hearing about your family's heart for adoption! Adelyn is my daughters name so I am quite partial! Addy Kate is BEAUTIFUL! Many prayers are with you through this journey!
ReplyDeleteYou know we will be praying for you all, and especially Addy-Kate, as you wait on the Lord for her to come home. What wonderful, precious news!!!! And how awesome to have so many others around who can encourage you as you take care of all the details. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOh Jenny...I have just have tears of joy from reading that. What a blessing from God. I'll be praying that everything goes smoothly for you (and extra, extra quickly!)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I am so happy for you and your family, and will be praying for your sweet baby girl!
ReplyDeleteWhat joy on your faces in all of the pictures!! We are so excited for you & are blessed to see how the Lord is using your family. We are praying for your sweet Addy-Kate & hope she will be in your loving arms very soon!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story, its wonderful to see God at work. I went back to your announcement post and this time around I saw the China shirts the kids were wearing....so cute!
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for her and her protection. And again I am so excited for you guys!
How incredibly exciting!! I was wondering if the big news would be a new family member!! What a blessing!! Love her name, it's close our Madelyn (Adelyn was on our list of names as well). May God continue to bless you all as you continue to inch closer and closer to meeting your precious girl!! Blessings~
ReplyDeleteI'm going to say it again: I am so happy for you! She is going to have such a wonderful family!
ReplyDeleteHEY JENNY...I'M NEW TO YOUR BLOG..MY FRIEND/CO-WORKER SENT ME THE LINK THIS WEEK..AND I SOOOOO LOVE THIS POST!!..YA'LL ARE TOO CUTE OF A LIL' FAMILY..I'LL DEFINITELY PUT YOU ON MY PRAYER LIST FOR YOU ALL ON YOUR JOURNEY TO BRING ADELYN KATE HOME...THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WORLD WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD..I'M EXCITED TO READ THE JOURNEY WITH YOU!
ReplyDeleteSuch an exciting time for you. Praying for you entire family!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful journey already! Thank you for sharing her & her story with us. We can't wait to journey with you!
ReplyDeletewhat delightful, beautiful, exciting announcement!
ReplyDeletei couldn't help but share in september 1991 we saw my sister for the first time across the way at church with her foster parents who were praying for the family who would raise her. later that month she joined our family forever. and her middle name is kate too, just like precious addy-kate.
i am so excited for your precious family!
What a blessed baby girl she will be to have all of you as her family. Congratulations.
ReplyDelete