Dear Annamae,
I just want you to know today that I think about you each and every day.  I am feeling that soon, we will see a picture of your sweet face and then the dream of you will be a reality in my mind's eye.  I thought that being so busy with your sister Jillian would make the waiting easier, but it has not.  I miss you like crazy.  I long to hold you in my arms today.  I want to see you smile, to hear your laugh, and to see you sitting next to us at the dinner table.  Above all, I so want to know that you are loved and cared for as you wait for us.  Soon enough, I will hold you and you will know that I am your momma.  I will love you with a Godly love because Christ first loved me.  I will teach you to pray, to rely on God's Word, and I will sing to you in my off tone voice while you giggle.  I can't wait to have you home dear one.  I can't wait to tell you the story of how God led us to you and to watch you blossom as you learn to live in the love of a family.

With all my heart I love you,
Momma

On His Way

My DH left the house before the sun was up to get our precious dossier documents to Springfield.  They will be certified there today by the Secretary of State.  We had to wait a few days so that our agency could take one more look through the papers to make sure they were just right.  While I hated waiting the two extra days, it was good to hear...they are perfect and you are done!  These words are music to an adoptive momma's ears.

After DH returns with them today, I will head to the USPS to get them to the courier service so that they can be taken to the consulate in Chicago.  I really wanted to do this step myself as the courier service adds a couple of days, but I just can't take a whole day away from the house this week.  It isn't best for anyone when momma is gone for a whole day and with all that Em has to do..it just couldn't work.  So we will send it to the courier and WAIT!  I am not good at waiting one bit!  But I understand full well that this adoption will be done in the Lord's time and while that may not match up with mine..it is for the best!  Holding on to some encouragement from the word today while I wait..

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:14

Waiting On Our Last Piece of Paper

Only one piece of paper is stopping our dossier from being sent to China. 
We are waiting on our I797 approval from the US government. 
It has been two weeks already since our fingerprint appointment with the Dept of Immigration. 
I am praying that this notice will arrive this week and our dossier will be on its way! 
I am definitly not better at waiting this time around. 
I WANT ANNA HOME!

Here's to hoping the mailman has it in his hot, little hands today!

Longing for Her

A dear friend of mine is in China, right now, welcoming her newest treasure into her family. 

I want to be there.

I want Annamae home. 

My heart is full the last few days just thinking about it and longing for her.

At the same time, I am already really dreading leaving my Jillian behind for two weeks.

It will likely be ten more months before we travel and already I am worrying about her.

Not sure how in the world I will survive leaving her.

Praying and holding on to a favorite verse of mine.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts you.
Isaiah 26:3