Friday, August 22, 2008

40 Days of waiting

Well, tomorrow marks 40 days of waiting,in 4 days it will be 6 weeks since our LOI was sent electronically to China. Our agency speculates we will receive our LOA 2 months after LOI. Of course it could be longer, it could be shorter(of which I doubt). We were able to get an update on Katie this week!! She looks very healthy in her pictures, thank you God. She is drinking from a cleft bottle. She sleeps well, isn't crawling yet, but sitting alone. She is very tiny still, only wearing a size 3-6 months clothes. She is a petite 13 1/2 lbs and 26 1/2 inches long. Just a peanut. I've mainly been buying 6-9 months clothes with a few 12 months. I probably won't buy anymore until we have her, with the exception of sleepers, as we have none.

As always, keep praying for all of us, and for our LOA to come sooner then later:)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Waiting

Today is 5 weeks since we received the phone call that will forever change our lives. We have 4 pictures and a complete referral packet which talks in detail of our Katie, yet she is half way around the world. We must wait for the seemingly never ending paperwork to be processed. We only are given an estimate for the timeframe, which is 1-6 months, but most likely 2 months. Which if it were 2 months we are only 3 more weeks away. Only. Then we must wait for one last round of paperwork to be processed. Our invitation to come to China to meet our Katie, and again more paperwork.

Each day gets harder and harder waiting. I can't help myself but look at the clock and know what she is doing, at least according to her schedule that we have been given. I tell you the truth in that each morning the first thought that comes to my mind is what is Katie doing? Sometimes I am dreaming about her and it takes me a minute to acclimate to the fact that she is not here, sleeping in her crib. The reality sets in that we are still waiting.

Our house is never quite right when one of our children are not here. Over the years we've gotten use to sleepovers, and as our oldest two sons may be gone more then before, however it just seems like something is missing. In our case now, our youngest daughter is. We ache to have her with us. Brooke is practicing holding her with her babies. She talks about her baby sister everyday. Katie is so loved.

The waiting makes me think of how God must feel, waiting for people to come to him. How He loves us so much, and yet people deny Him everyday. They may come to Him during a tragedy, but then get back to "their" lives on their own. We saw this happen as a country after 911.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

30 days waiting for RA/LOA

Today marks 30 days that we have been waiting for our RA/LOA. Remember, that is the next approval process we are waiting for. This says that the CCAA has the last approval for the adoption, and also the CCAA is asking us, are we sure we want to continue. Of course we are!!

Last Sunday I was talking with a gentleman from our church. I told him how hard it is to wait. How I think of our Katie waiting for us. He told me that I should think of this waiting time as if I were in a room waiting, and Jesus was sitting with me waiting. He knows how hard it is, and I need to remember that His timing is perfect. So as I wait I have been thinking about how Jesus is sitting next to me, and Katie too. It is hard, but I keep my faith in His perfect timing.

My husband was filling in for the senior citizens sunday school class and spoke about how we grow in the valley, not on top of the mountain. I feel I have grown so much during this process. Its something I can't explain. I think differently then I did before. I have been in the valley, and continue to be there. I'm thankful for the vallies, as difficult as they are. They are not fun while we are there, usually they are pretty painful. But as you begin to near the mountain, then climb , and ultimately reach the top, we can praise God for being with us, being patient with us, and loving us. In this particular case with us, we will be on top of the mountain when we are united with Katie, and yet we know there will be vallies again. However we know that God is faithful, and we once again will grow.