On Their Way to Her

Tomorrow the family, who were strangers to us only a short month ago, will be on their way to our daughter. They will be boarding a plane on a journey to their son in Weinan City, China. A journey that has crossed ours and led us to introduce ourselves to them begging them to try to get just a glimpse of our princess when they are there. Begging them because Jill and Joshua (their son's name) are in the same orphanage. (Begging wasn't really needed as this momma from Colorado is gracious and understands the heart of this adoptive momma (me) to "see" her daughter. She even sacrificed space in her suitcase for a package for my girl. What a huge blessing she has been.) They were told by their guide that he has arranged for them to meet Jill and they have permission to get pictures of her for us. I am praying that this sweet family has a safe trip and their son is in their arms safe soon! I am also praying that they get a glimpse of our Jill. Thinking that this momma is going to get to meet my girl is so overwhelming and yet I simply can't wait to be there myself. So blessed that God has brought these loving, believing strangers into our lives and that they are more than willing to bring our love to Jill. As soon as those pictures are in my inbox, they will be posted. Stay Tuned....

Oh That These Days Could Last Forever

Waking up to this...

Spending the day like this....

Ending with this...

Enjoying our holiday staying with my dh's parents on the coast. Oh my girl is growing up so that I hardly recognize her walking the beach next to her daddy. The only thing missing is Jill. Can't wait to have that precious baby here. Looking at this ocean and sunset..You are Marvelous God and I am in awe of all that you given me. Post more soon. Hope you are enjoying your holiday and family this week!

Dear Jill

Stillness lays on the house now like a comforting quilt. Still I am restless. Daddy and Sissy are in bed snug and resting. What a beautiful quiet Christmas it was here for us. We opened presents for you and I have to admit that mommy did shed some tears thinking of you so far away. (You will get to used to that when you join us. It happens often.) You are such a miracle sweet one. A precious miracle and we can't wait until you are home with us. In just a week, we hope you will be getting your gift from us. We are sending it with a family whose son lives in the orphanage. I wonder what you will think when you see our pictures? Will someone let you see us? Will anyone explain? Do you know in your little heart already that you are ours? Will you like your pink dog? Momma prayed over that little thing before sending it on its way to you. I am praying that God is readying your heart for us precious one. Praying that in God's perfect time, we will be together at last. I can't wait to hear you call your sister sissy and see a smile on your face. I can't wait to watch you sleep and have tea parties. I can't wait to see you run into your daddy's arms and kiss him. Mostly, I can't wait until the day that I don't have to miss you so much! I love you so my girl. Merry Christmas. This is the last Christmas you will spend alone.

All my Love,
Mommy

Blessed-A Choice to Make

Yesterday I was given the privilege of being a part of bringing the light of Jesus to a needy family that has come in contact with our congregation through our food pantry and free Saturday meal ministry. Through these ministries the faithful volunteers from our congregation welcome the poor in the name of Jesus to be fed and send them off with food for their families.

Last week at the meal, a dear friend of my mine was confronted with a very real need facing one of the families she serves through these ministries. This family needed beds for their little ones. Their five year old and 18 month old had been sleeping on a couch. They-had-no-beds. They had never had beds. No-beds. My friend's heart was troubled when she discovered this and she couldn't sit by and do nothing. She started by asking for prayer in our women's Sunday School Class. Soon because of her efforts, our entire congregation was rallied around this cause and more than enough money was brought in to provide beds for these little ones. We were also able to get gifts, blankets, and pillows.

I was lucky enough to deliver these things yesterday to this family's modest home... Blessed.
Blessed by the experience.
Blessed by the chance that Jesus gives me to help others though in a small way.
Blessed to see the five year old boy shouting with joy-NOW WE HAVE BEDS!
Blessed to have the opportunity to have beds for my family and one waiting for little Jill already.
Blessed!

Immediately after delivering to this precious family, I went to the grocery store to buy more supplies for another gathering I have to cook for this week. The store was packed. The line was down the aisle, but I couldn't forget-Blessed! I had a choice to make in that moment. We have a choice to make in every momment. Choose to remember that I am blessed. Choose to remember that I am blessed to be able to walk into the store anytime I want and buy whatever I need anytime that I need it or choose to dwell on the time spent waiting. Choose to use the time to take in the blessing or choose to waste the time counting all the minutes ticking away. Blessed. So many of us are blessed this holiday season.

Today I am choosing to bask in the blessings I have and not dwell in the world that is so full of negatives. Hope you are feeling the blessings of a life in Jesus Christ this Christmas Eve. No blessing compares to the blessing of knowing my Savior!

Impossible

Jesus looked at them and said, "With Man these things are impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
When we started this adoption, we literally had NO IDEA how God could really make this happen. It seemed beyond impossible.

We had NO IDEA how DH would be able to overcome his fear and fly.

We had NO IDEA how we could ever agree to surrender our easy lives and invite in the unknown.

We had NO IDEA how we would pay for this adoption.


We had NO IDEA, but God knew!!

God knew that He would give DH a love for this little girl that could overcome his fear of flying. God knew, the daddy in my DH would have to get to his little girl.

God knew that the fears of the unknown would be overcome by His promises to never leave us or forsake us. God knew that He would use this journey to draw us ever closer to Him!

God knew that He would provide financially every-step-of-the-way! Even when I didn't know- God knew. We have made it to $4,000 dollars in donations in just two months. Each and everyday we are given more and more by so many people who love the Lord and are supporting us by helping us bring our baby home! People who are making more than one donation. People who are giving in huge ways and sacrificing much so that our girl can come home to her family. $4,000 dollars just like that!! Who knew? God knew. Have you ever just taken such a leap of faith and had God show up in such a big way? He promises He will and I am in awe of the goodness of my God! I was just in the kitchen yesterday shouting and screaming with Praise to God for amazing friends who shared $1,000 dollars with us!! Praise be to Jesus!

This momma is forever grateful to the many friends who have so generously supported us and loved on us and our girl. I can't wait for you to meet her.. I can't wait to tell her about all that God has done through so many to bring her home to us. Missing her like crazy today and counting down the days until I can hold her in my arms!

Keep My Eyes Open

While I sit warm in my house, baking my 100th batch of cookies..Logging on to my email to find the sweet face in the video above. It is so easy to close my eyes to these images. They cause me to feel pain, but I can't keep them out. I can't close my eyes. May I keep my eyes open to the millions of children, widows, and poor who are struggling. Who are cold. Who are hurting. Who are in need. May my eyes continue to be open to the world around me..in my backyard and around the world. Jesus wants that. Jesus wants me to respond. Jesus wants me to feel the hurt of those in need and reach out. I have wasted so much of my life not doing what Jesus wants. This Christmas..I am trying so hard to keep my eyes open, to experience the need of others, and to respond. Thank you Jesus for the way that you don't give up on me and for the way that you challenge me each and every day to live out this life the way that you call us to. I am blessed to know you Lord! Praying that all who read this may know the blessing of knowing you this Christmas Season!

There She Is

There she is. Right where she belongs. That's the only picture we have of Jill from the orphanage and it is almost a year old now, but here it hangs on her grandma's wall with the other family pictures. So very blessed that my family is so willing and ready to accept our new princess from half a world away into our family. You are so very loved Jill by all of us. I am a picture taking momma. So don't worry precious girl, I will make up for all those months when there was no one to take your picture when I get to you. You're big sis rolls her eyes when the camera comes out now-a-days(though I am convinced she secretly adores my fondness of her). Simply can't wait to photograph you over and over again! Love you sooo very much!

To Jillian

There I was digging under the Christmas tree. Looking through the packages for the ones we needed to pack up for our first family Christmas function of the season. Suddenly, I came upon it. I put it there. It shouldn't have struck me so. It was the little gold package without a bow. The one whose tag read: to Jill from Mommy, Daddy, and Emily. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes and I began to wonder what my little girl was feeling this Christmas so far away from her mommy and daddy. Oh the waiting is so hard and at times I am filled with more sadness than I think I can bare. Still, the fact that I can miss someone so much that I don't even know is just so supernatural that I wouldn't miss this pain for the world. I know that when I finally hold her in my arms, I will have just a glimpse of what it must feel like when God welcomes one of His precious children home.

I was thinking after I saw the package what God must have felt like that first Christmas sending his son from the comforts of heaven to this Earth knowing what he would have to endure. I was thinking about the fact that God was separating from his son for a little more than thirty years-all the while knowing that in order to have him join him again, he would have to endure a horrific death on the cross...a death so painful, so brutal. A death so necessary so that many more of his children, us, would be able to join him one day too. I am so very thankful for God's sacrifice and that I can have the chance to be in relationship with Him who made me! Just I anticipate Jillian coming home, I look forward to the moment that God welcomes me home-to live beside him for eternity!

I am thankful too for this adoption journey-full of joy, trials, and tears- as it is allowing me to see my God all the more clearly. Pray for my little girl and the many who are spending this Christmas without a mommy and daddy. My little girl has somebody coming for her, but so many don't.

Submission Date

We have a submission date. A package arrived at our agency today with a letter from China that had our name on it and a submission date of Dec. 8. This is the date that our paperwork was officially submitted to the center in China. That means the official waiting begins as of Dec. 8. Here is what the next few months look like from here...

1. Waiting for Letter of Confirmation. This comes from China and could take 3-5 months but right now is running about two months. (You know this momma is praying like crazy that continues.)

2. Seeking the second half of our US immigration. This comes from the US government and takes 2-4 weeks.

3. Waiting for Travel Approval This is the golden ticket to China issued by their government. This takes 4-6 weeks.

4. Traveling to meet our baby girl!! This could be about three weeks after our golden ticket arrives.

If everything goes as planned, we should be traveling in May/June. I simply can't wait!! Oh to hold that baby! Thanks so much for your prayers. They are priceless to me!

Best Way to Spend the Day

It looked like this outside....




So after church we spent the rest of the afternoon doing this...



and this...


and this...



and this....



I love spending the whole day in the kitchen with my girl. Precious mother daughter time that I wouldn't trade for the world. So thankful to God for giving me this wonderful young woman to raise up in Him.

On It's Way to Her Soon!

Yesterday, we headed to the local toy franchise to pick out something to send half way across the world to our sweet, precious girl. I really wanted to get a blanket but Jie Jie (big sis) wanted to pick out a stuffed animal. We found a soft, pink doggie and a picture album. We are putting our pictures in the album and praying over that little dog. Just think in less than 4 weeks these very items that we have touched and prayed over will be half way across the world with our girl. Oh to be going myself. So extremely thankful for this wonderful family who is willing to send a bit of my love to our Jillian. God is so good to have lead us to them. Have a blessed Sunday! Stay safe and warm!

He Found One

My dh came across this blog last week. I love it because it means that he was thinking about Jill and was searching. Well my searches have turned up void, but his search was successful. I haven't found one family who is going to or who have adopted from Shanxi province. BUT...He found a family that will be traveling to our Jill's orphanage in a few weeks to get their son. They may get to see her. Can you believe it? I am truly jumping-no leaping-with joy!!! Despite having only one bag a piece, they offered to take something to her from us. I am going to run out and get something for her. What to get? I think I may send a blanket that we sleep with for a few days. Then, it will be like we are right there with her. Oh I am just so thrilled!! I may get pictures of her in just a few short weeks. Praying that this precious family has a safe trip and they get a chance to see our girl!! Oh, I can't believe it! Honestly, GOD is sooo good! So good! Keep praying my friends! You are so vital to me!

Praise the Lord!

This is one of the worst times of the year for most people financially. There is a lot demanding people's money during this season..gifts, special offerings, travel. There are a whole lot of ways to spend your money in December WHICH makes it even more miraculous that so many of our precious friends are investing in us and helping us to bring our precious gift home. WE HAVE RAISED $2,000 AS OF TODAY!! Thank you, thank you, thank you a thousand times over for investing in God's call on our lives and bringing this precious girl home to us.

I was so encouraged to receive this personal note from some wonderful,faithful believers who we are blessed to call friends.
It read..
We are so excited to share in your journey of adoption! God has many blessings in store for your precious family and your "new addition".(They are grandparents to two beautiful Chinese granddaughters adopted by their daughter.) Our son told us that our daughter's first adoption gave him a more vivid picture of Christ's salvation to us. Their little girl, due to her severe disabilities, was rescued from a most certain death had she not been adopted (by their daughter's family)..we too were sentenced to death had Christ not rescued us!

To which I spoke audibly after I read it alone in the kitchen..AMEN! Thank you sweet Jesus! Thank you for the opportunity you give us to know you and for the chance you are giving us to reach out across the world in order to show our newest daughter who you are. We love you Lord and are so blessed by the many you have put in our lives like these precious friends-who because we share you as personal Savior are like family to us. Praise you Jesus! Praise you Jesus!

Christmas Here

We have called this city home for 12 years now. While I never dreamed that this would be the place that I would stay, I call it home and I have lived here longer than any other town during my life. There are a few things about the Christmas traditions here that I have come to look forward to. One is the Winter Wonderland Parade.. Supposed to be a time to bring Santa Claus into our neighborhood. But as dear hubby and I see it, it is a chance to put Jesus back into the season by distributing Bibles and tracks to the hundreds who line the streets waiting to catch a glimpse at the jolly old man himself. Little do these unsuspecting observers know, they are about to encounter God himself in the faces of our precious teens smiling and passing out Bibles along the parade route.

Love me some teenagers who come out in the freezing cold to bring the good news to others. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being such an incredible example to all those around you. You are boldly living your life for Jesus and you inspire me each and every day to live more like Him. Love to see you living it for yourselves and so very thankful to be a part of your lives. Love ya like crazy!!!

Longing for Her

I haven't ever longed for anything in my life like I long to get my daughter home. Today was one of those days that the longing just overcame me. Watching my dear husband help a young girl zip her coat at church this morning. Tears fill my eyes and longing fills my heart. Oh to have Jill here to help her with her coat. Driving to Walmart this morning and longing to have her here to see the Christmas trees lighting up our park. Longing to hold her. Longing to love her in person. Longing to see her smile. Longing to hear her say momma. So longing to see her little hands folded for prayer. Longing to rock her. Momma is longing for you sweet girl. I love you so. Knowing that God is the only one who can satisfy my deepest longings and that I have to trust Him. Trust that you are cared for and that your little heart is being readied to love us as much as we already love you.

Our dossier is officially on it's way to you and I am begging God during my prayer time to make the wait fly by. Begging God to allow us to get to you as soon as possible. Calling on all my prayer warriors to petition the Lord for the same!

Could It Be You?

I never dreamed that when I asked God to break my heart for the orphan that I would literally cry buckets of tears for little ones across the world. I loose sleep at night thinking about these children without a home while my own darling kiddo lounges in the arms of her daddy on the couch in the livingroom. God how can this be? What can I do? I am linking to this post. An incredible little guy who needs a forever family. Could It Be You? Read it. Pray. Seek His Face!

T-Shirts Are In

The first order of t-shirts we put in are finished and I will ship them out this week! Thanks so much to all who have already ordered. :)

There is still time to order in the second round. I will put in another order next week and should have them in time to ship out for Christmas gifts. Just look on the side and order through paypal!