L.I.D! L.I.D! We have L.I.D!!!

L.I.D!  L.I.D!  We have L.I.D!!!
This is really happening folks! I have butterflies in my belly! This was our last milestone to accomplish before we can be matched with a child. We were told that it could take 2-3 weeks for LID (Log In Date) after our dossier was delivered, but it took less than a day!
While we are waiting to be matched, the CCCWA will translate and review our entire dossier. The CCCWA has the ultimate authority to approve or deny our dossier.
Please pray for the CCCWA's approval and for our perfect match to be revealed.
Now we wait... for a file, a name, a smile! Stay tuned!

Dossier Delivered to the CCCWA

That was fast! Today our dossier was delivered to the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption). Now we're waiting for that oh-so-important L.I.D. (log in date)...

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DOSSIER to CHINA!

It finally happened! Our dossier was mailed to China today!!! Words simply cannot express our excitement!
So much energy and love has gone into the creation of this dossier. We know all the hard work will eventually pay off, but it's nice to start seeing some fruit!

We're on #7!

One Year In

It has now been a year since we took the first small step towards adoption by completing our Medical Conditions Checklist (MCC). Wow, a whole year! This first step was an important beginning, as it opened the conversation of what medical conditions we thought we could handle. As time went on, and I was able to discuss many of the conditions with medical professionals, we added a few more conditions. Even more important about this first step, is that it holds our place in line. After our dossier arrives in China and we have LID (log in date), we can be matched anytime! Usually the longer the time between MCC and LID, the shorter the time from LID to match. At least during dossier compilation, we were working on something, working towards something. After LID, we will just be waiting.

I'm thankful God gave me a spouse that would help make this dream a reality. And I’m so glad we took the first step of MCC a year ago!

"I’ve got all these plans piled up sky high

A thousand dreams on hold and I don’t know why

I’ve got a front row seat to the longest wait

And I just can’t see past the things I pray today

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are

Then every doubt I feel deep in my heart

Grows strangely dim

All my worries fade and fall to the ground

Cause when I seek Your face and don’t look around

Any place I’m in grows strangely dim

Strangely Dim, Francesca Battistelli

For Real This Time

Our remaining documents arrived in Georgia yesterday. This means our dossier is finally complete! (For real this time.) Today our dossier was mailed to Colorado for binding and translation. CCAI will mount our photos and arrange our documents in a professional red folder. They will also translate the most important parts of our dossier, decreasing the chance of misinterpretation. (Full translation will occur in China.) Thank you for all of the prayers over the last year! We appreciate every single one!

Keep Calm and Sing On

This morning I attended the prayer meeting at Daystar Church. Pastor Eric spoke about worshiping God not just with our heart, but also with our mind. So often lately, my mind has been bogged down with questions and concerns. So many thoughts swirling in my head. Our adopted child always seems so close, yet so far away. Sometimes during my prayer time it's hard to focus on anyone or anything other than this child and this journey.
In the background, I heard a familiar voice sing these words...

"The hopeless have found their hope
The orphans now have a home
All that was lost has found its place in you
You lift our weary head
You make us strong instead"

I stopped trying to focus and just let go. I let the chorus "Jesus we love you" melt my cares away.
This song was written by a couple with which we were blessed to enjoy fellowship at TCC. Paul and Hannah McClure moved to California and lead worship at Bethel Church. It was Paul's familiar voice that caught my attention. Hannah was pregnant with their son Ezra at the same time I was pregnant with Ethan. Paul obviously understands how I feel, as he said (in a video about the song) “leading up to Ezra being born was overwhelming.” While writing this song, Paul said “I was learning to choose thankfulness, to choose to be happy with the season that I was in and the process that I was in.” Although I first heard his words in February, they definitely ring true for me right now. I am being reminded every day to enjoy my life and my family as we prepare to grow. Don’t worry about the process, Jesus wants to bring this orphan home and so He will make it work out. Paul also said that “Life isn’t easy obviously but chasing after Jesus is, you just have to show up. Jesus wants to help and Jesus wants to be along for the ride. All you have to do is adore Him.” (By the way, have I said how thankful I am for prayer service, even at 6am? Thank goodness I showed up today.) Hannah adds “Thankfulness will lead us back to declaring his goodness.” Such powerful words! The more thankful I am, the more I bless His name. Thank you Paul and Hannah, for using that stage in your life to write a song that reminds us we have hope and rest in Him. That can definitely put one's mind at peace.
What are you struggling with today? What do you need to lay down so that you can be thankful and at rest? Find a way to worship God with your heart and your mind today.

Jesus We Love You, Paul McClure, Bethel Worship

Jesus replied "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind." Matthew 22:37

And just to make sure I'm practicing what I preach... When I picked Ethan up from daycare this evening, my car wouldn't start. Praise God this didn't happen last week in Raleigh, Charlotte, or King!

So Close

So Friday started with a cup of coffee all over my lap, every fetus I scanned in a terrible position, and a lunchtime phone call from CCAI. "All of the documents you sent look great, but…" Oh how I hate to hear the "but." Jaime explained that we were missing "sealed" background checks. We were mistakenly under the impression that the home study background checks were sufficient and only additional explanations or court documents had to be sealed. So our original background checks have expired. (I feel like China is very picky about all this documentation, but thankfully our adoption agency knows exactly what they want.) I was very frustrated at this news, but was forced to immediately swing into action. We only have a month to obtain and seal these documents, which usually takes at least six weeks of mailing. After a dozen phone calls and emails to our placement agency and home study agency, Phillip rushed to the court house to obtain the documents. Monday morning I drove 2.5 hours in torrential downpour and rush hour traffic (with a stomach ache) to the Secretary of State office in Raleigh. (Props to Google Maps for alerting me to a car accident ahead before I saw the firetruck, ambulance, and police pass by.) I had written 3 personal checks, filled out 2 envelopes, completed the Embassy form, and copied our passports. While waiting for the original documents to be authenticated, I used my phone to find a UPS store nearby. Since my stomach still hurt, I searched for a pharmacy too. Wouldn’t you know it, on the way to medicine, God walked me right by a Wells Fargo to purchase the money order I had forgotten about. After picking up the documents, I immediately drove to the UPS Store and mailed everything to a courier in Virginia who will hand deliver the documents to the Department of State and the Chinese Embassy in D.C.

I thought we were to the waiting part. As much as I dread it, I am also ready for it. I'm tired of the dossier frustration. Amidst the terrible Friday/Monday I was having, there were plenty of things to complain about. But as Pastor Ian once said, "I may have a hundred small things to complain about, but I have a million reasons to bless the Lord." That sure is the truth.

God, thank you for this journey, all that it has taught us, and the child we will one day meet.

Thank you for a helpful spouse, willing to drop everything to run an adoption errand.
Thank you for the twelve hour shift on Sunday to help make up the added expenses.

Thank you for my dependable car that wasn't in a wreck or broken down in the rain.
Thank you for KLove radio and Christmas CDs.
Thank you for the shorter return trip so I made it to work on time.

Thank you for supportive family and friends that pray with us for a completed dossier!

"The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger

Your name is great and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing

Ten thousand ressons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, Oh my soul
I'll worship His holy name"

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord), Matt Redman