Where we are

OK, I think I've been in some kind of "delay denial" by not posting our travel news. Our original day of departure was next Thursday, June 5th. Then the whole swine flu thing marched up from the south & spread around the globe. We actually received our Travel Approval at the end of April, and that should have been a very exciting day for us. (Thank you, Lori, for reminding me on that day to not let the enemy steal my joy. It's not his to take.) Unfortunately, provinces all over China began cancelling appointments as well as not scheduling new ones.

We were given new tentative travel dates of June 25-July 9, with a Consulate Appointment scheduled for July 7th...BUT we were told with the flu in China it is a day-to-day situation, so we should not purchase any airline tickets yet. This has been beyond frustrating, and if I didn't know the One Who is ultimately in control of it all, I would go crazy.

Each day brings us one day closer to our girl, so for that, I am truly grateful.

"You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by."
Job 11:16

Our Sweet Girl

Last Friday we received a much prayed for email update on Gracie from our agency. We were told (after repeated inquiries...what is it with these mothers-to-be?!) that we would probably receive no updates before we travel. The last pictures and medical information we had was from when Gracie was 8 months old. Well, on Friday we not only received our passports with our China Visas, but we also got this update!!

Gracie Jia Shu is now 15 months old.
She weighs 20.9 lbs.
She is 29.9" tall.

My biggest hope was to receive updated photos, and when I scrolled down,

I saw this beautiful face!



Thank You God!




"Thus far the LORD has helped us."
I Samuel 7:12

*More to come this week on our travel situation - Please keep praying!

Happy Memorial Day!

Yard Sale Part Deux

We are very tired, but are PRAISING GOD for His provision. We still had enough to set up another yard sale this weekend. (Dodging raindrops once again...What's up with that?!) Brian's parents came for two days to help us out. They did way too much and we are so grateful for their help!

When everything was totaled from our two day sale, including some generous financial donations today, we made over $1,400!!!! In the words of my new friend Linn.."Yippee Jesus!"

More to come next week on our current travel situation (please pray) and an update we received on a certain sweet little Asian girl!!

Remember

This sign has been on our sweet Erin's wall for one year.
Today marks the passing of one year since the death of
Steven Curtis Chapman's 5 year old daughter, Maria Sue.
Erin has been so faithful to pray for their family,
and we plan on holding them especially close in prayer today.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order
of things has passed away."
Revelation 21:4

Showered With Love

Yesterday the girls and I were able to share a wonderful afternoon with family and dear friends. Our little Gracie was celebrated and showered with wonderful gifts!
My sweet friends Amy and Lisa gave so much of themselves to make our time special. I can't wait to see the finished scrapbook Lisa began for Gracie. Everyone there was asked to write a special note to, or prayer for Gracie. Lisa will finish the scrapbook with those notes and pictures from the afternoon!
Everyone present has been with our family, and faithfully encouraged all of us from the beginning of our almost 3 year journey. Thank you for not forgetting us and our new daughter during this long wait!
My brother Tom and his family surprised us & drove down from Charlotte. That made my day! I wish we had more time to visit & laugh.What a crazy, wonderful family our sweet girl is getting!

This candle was one of my favorite gifts.
It says "Home is where my mom is." :)

Trivia question

The term "stormy weather" can refer to...

A. The title of a jazzy tune sung badly by at least one contestant at every state level beauty
pageant in the United States.
B. The title of a 1943 musical motion picture.
C. The condition of the weather for our fund raising yard sale this morning.

If you said all of the above, you were correct!!! The morning began around 5:30 for us as we were up early to set out everything for the sale. Our trusty local weather reporter said there would be no heavy rain until the afternoon. A little after 8:00am it started POURING!! Between our family, my sister, & niece, we managed to get everything that needed to be covered either in the garage or on the porch. It truly was a crisis of faith for us. My initial reaction was a tearful "let's pack it up". Can I tell you we learned that a die-hard yard sale shopper literally will tough it out "rain or shine".

We all were drenched, and total strangers were packed like sardines in our garage wheeling and dealing for everything not nailed down! We had to laugh! On what was a truly terrible morning for a yard sale, God allowed us to make over $700.00!! Whoo Hoo!We have a good amount of great items remaining, and will probably set up shop again next weekend. God was good.

We had a tough week with some very discouraging travel news. (more to come on that next week) This process continues to teach our family to trust God more and more every day. We choose, in spite of our human "feelings", to trust His timing in regards to travel and financial provision. I love Him so much, and want to honor Him with my trust. He is so real. He is so faithful. He is loving and good. He is all powerful. He was the Alpha and will be the Omega of this adoption.

We want to thank every single person who helped make this sale possible. Our church family at CrossRoads was overwhelmingly generous with their donations. We don't know the name of every person who gave, but PLEASE know we are so grateful for your love shown to a sweet girl that will soon be a part of your church family. Thank you to Jennifer and Kim for your great donations. Thank you sweet Missy for your precious time spent pricing items & for your priceless encouragement. We could not have made it today without the help of my wonderful sister and niece. Thank you Sue & Katie!!! (Hope you don't get pneumonia.)

The calm before the storm

Still hopeful!

Drenched sisters and one sweet cousin

More drenched sisters