Made my day;)

I woke up this morning and had a sweet email waiting for me from Sheri @ Gifts to China with Love.

It included a short note about our sweet Addy-Kate!

"I MADE A CALL TO MS GAO. SHE TOLD ME ,YU HU YING 'S FOREVER FAMILY SENT THE GIFTS BEFORE.

SHE SAID YU HU YING IS IN THE ORPHANAGE TAKING CARE. SHE CAN WALK AND CAN SPEAK SOME WORDS LIKE MAMA.

THEY WILL SEND INFORMATION AND UPDATES TO US. THEY JUST MOVE IN A NEW PLACE NO INTERNET YET."

Oh, I know it's not much information, but to me this email meant the world!!!

 Boy, do I wish I could have been there to see my baby girl take her first steps!

How I long to hear that sweet little voice call ME mama, but just knowing how my baby girl is doing thrills my heart to no end!

Words cannot even express how much I love this little one already!

CANNOT WAIT TO BRING YOU HOME ADDY-KATE!!!

Inching closer (an adoption update)

I'm happy to report that I finally feel like we are making a little progress in this adoption process. My heart is so anxious and every time there is a delay of some sort, I begin to feel frustrated. The adoption process, in and of itself, is tedious, but I think this time around, knowing Addy-Kate is just sitting in an orphanage waiting on US, makes this process much more difficult for me.

I'm just so anxious to get to her!

I find myself daily, even hourly, on my knees before the Lord, begging for patience, wisdom, and PEACE as we walk this journey. 

The Lord is gracious as He lovingly reminds me (over and over again) that He is in control.

John 14:27 

"PEACE I leave with you, my PEACE I give unto you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!

He is in control of the process!

He is in control of the timing!

He is in control of our paper work!

AND 

He is holding Addy-Kate in the palm of His hand!

I have no reason to fear!

Thank you, Jesus!

 As we continue on this journey to our sweet Addy-Kate, we have had plenty to do to keep us busy. 

Every day there seems to be a new paper that needs to be ordered, signed, and notarized!

Every week is filled with yet more appointments that need to be scheduled and attended!

And just yesterday, we finished our twelve hours of training needed for our adoption too!

Breathing a sigh of relief that that's DONE--whew!!!

Thankfully though, each month that passes means we are that much closer to meeting our baby girl--YAY!!

All the kids (and Shane and I) had to have well-checks AND blood work done-UGH for our homestudy update!

Last week, we met with our wonderful social worker, Miss Kim!

Kim was our social worker when we adopted Sophie, 

so we feel beyond blessed to be working with her again!

But the BEST thing we got to do so far, in this entire process,  is order our very first care package for our baby girl!

We ordered it via Ladybugs n Love!

I sure do hope Addy-Kate likes her soft new blankie, and I hope the nannies enjoy the candy and nuts:)

Just today, I received a sweet email from Ladybugs n Love letting us know that our care package was on it's way!!! It should arrive at Addy-Kate's orphanage on Saturday or Sunday--YAY!!!!!

 I'm hoping and praying that we will have some updated pictures of our precious girl soon!

I'm just dying to see that sweet face again!!!!!

You can be sure I'll show her off post them when I get them;)

Cannot wait!!!!!

Some of the details...

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!!!

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.

That email changed EVERYTHING!!!
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!

OUR BIG BIG NEWS!!!!

 WITH HEARTS OVERFLOWING WITH GREAT JOY,
WE ARE THRILLED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER!  

~ADELYN KATE~

BORN ON JUNE 2, 2010
IN CHINA 

COMING HOME FOREVER IN 2012 

We are ALL smitten by that sweet face already!!!


More details coming soon!!!