Meant To Be

Several people have asked me what takes so long for an abandoned baby to be put up for adoption. For example, Elijah was abandoned in July 2014 but his file wasn't released until October 2015. Quite frankly, I have no idea. I assume it has a lot to do with bureaucracy and paperwork.
What I do know is that two days before Elijah was abandoned, I emailed my husband a letter explaining why I have always wanted to adopt and why this dream is so important to me. Most people's first thought after hearing the word adoption is expense, but that wasn't his angle. He just wanted to know where I was coming from so he could get on board. Having a beautiful, well cared for baby in our arms made it an easy case that there was another treasured soul out there who needed us. I also know that God has orchestrated this vision from the beginning and that I am incredibly grateful I followed my heart.
There have been frustrating, stressful, and disappointing times when we almost gave up on this dream. One such time was when we thought our homestudy was complete until CCAI reviewed it. It was missing so much information, even after our social worker had been working on it for months. But that nameless, faceless orphan kept us going. Our homestudy report was finally completed on May 6, our 9th wedding anniversary. That weekend we celebrated Mother's Day, and shortly after we emailed pictures of dossier documents to CCAI for review. Do you know what was happening across the world at that time? When I saved Elijah's pictures on my phone, they were sorted chronologically. Right between pictures of Mother's Day on a horse farm and four dossier documents, were pictures of Elijah's sweet, innocent face. An orphan waiting for a family, waiting to be loved.

We pray for peace and comfort over little  Elijah. He is not yet old enough to understand God's promises, but is old enough to know that we are strangers taking him to a foreign land. We pray for unexplainable love, understanding, and acceptance between us.
I wish I could sing to Elijah today and let him know just how good our God is. So many times I worried about errors and dealines, while still praying for the perfect match. After reading Elijah's description, I know he is just right for our family. While we still need quite a bit of funding to complete this adoption, I rest assured that God wanted us to take this path and He will give Elijah a family.
Thank you God for bringing the blessing of Elijah to us. We believe in miracles and your goodness. Continue your work to bring Elijah home.

Elijah's Puzzle Page

"Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always"

Always, Kristian Stanfill

(: Introducing Elijah :)

Introducing Elijah Garrett Hanks!

(Circa May 2015)

His is the sweet face for which we've waited. He was abandoned near a gate in his village, likely before he reached one month old. He was taken to the police station and then to a local orphanage, where he has spent the rest of his precious life thus far. Elijah is 16 months old and has cleft palate. Orphans that are never adopted into a family become outcasts of society. This young child, full of potential, needs a new beginning.
Elijah is described as "a quiet boy who has a ready smile and is very obedient." His nannies wrote: "He is a cute boy. We all like him and hope he could find a family who loves him, makes him feel the love of parents, and have a happy childhood and bright future. We believe he could bring more happiness to his future family." Even his nannies know that an orphanage is no substitute for a family.
We are incredibly excited to bring Elijah home and make him part of our family! We've waited so long to meet the boy that stole our hearts long ago. He needs parents to take him in a warm embrace, read stories before bed, snuggle after waking, give him guidance, provide for him, and create a sense of belonging. He needs family to enjoy fun activities, cheer him on, take him on vacations, and encourage his dreams. He needs a community to help educate him, model citizenship, and demonstrate leadership.
But before all of this, Elijah needs to make it home. He needs to learn trust of parents he has never met. He needs surgery for cleft palate repair. He needs to learn to speak, and in a language he has never heard before.

(Circa October 2015)

We are so grateful that you've joined us on this adoption journey. We are asking you to be part of his new family, new community, and new identity. One day he will ask us why he was abandoned, why he was born with a problem, and why he spent well over a year in an orphanage. He will ask us why we persevered through the long paper chase and why we chose him. He will ask who helped us through this journey and who wanted him brought home to the Hanks family. To help him see the big picture, we will give him piece after piece, trying to show him just how much he is loved.

Please be a part of Elijah's puzzle. Phillip and I will write your name on the back of a piece to be treasured forever. One day Elijah may realize he doesn't have a birth story or even an accurate birth date. He may notice that he doesn't have a baby book or know his first given name. When Elijah starts to forget how much he is loved and where he belongs, we can pull out this puzzle and assemble it again and again, to show our collective affection for this cherished little boy.

Elijah's Puzzle Page
(Donations are tax deductible)

This puzzle fundraiser is to help pay for the $10,000 trip to China to bring Elijah home. Elijah appreciates your generosity! We are thankful for your prayers!

Restarting The Paper Chase

Today I mailed our Immigration Application (I-800 plus I-864W and G1145) along with our signed soft LOA, five other documents, and two checks to our agency in Colorado. Everything should arrive by Tuesday. CCAI will review it all and send our Immigration Application to USCIS in Texas. Moving right along!

MATCH DAY!!!

Sorry for the delay... Being matched is like winning the lottery. You have to make sure the numbers match before you can tell the world the amazing news!
On October 30 at 4:59pm, we received the call. My heart stopped when the unrecognizable number from Colorado showed up on my ringing phone. I had just pulled into the parking lot at Ethan's daycare. Adam from the Waiting Child Team at CCAI introduced himself and gave me the most incredible news. We have a match!!! He told me about our child and I told him about the huge smile on my face. I told Adam that people tell me all the time what an awesome job I have but his is even better! It was all I could do to keep it together while picking up Ethan. I wanted to shout from a mountain top! When we got home, Phillip was cooking dinner. After settling in and waiting a few minutes for Adam's email, I opened a picture of our newest addition on my phone. I asked Phillip if he was ready to see his youngest son. He turned around and we both started crying while admiring that sweet little face. We were already in love! We reviewed the file over dinner, including pictures, a video, descriptions, and a medical report. We noticed several similarities in this child to Ethan. I think Ethan will enjoy having a sibling. :)

Seeing the face and learning about our child has definitely made all the paper chase craziness worth it. Oh, child of mine, you are long awaited.
We love you little Lovebug. We'll pick you up as soon as we can!

11/3 - accepted referral from CCAI
11/4 - sent Letter of Intent to CCAI
11/5 - LOI sent to China
11/6 - Soft Letter of Acceptance from China
11/9 - Official LOA from China to CCAI (We completed 2-3 months of paperwork in under 2 weeks!)

Stay tuned for more on our littlest one!

Dreaming

"Life is a journey, not a destination."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

This waiting stuff is for the birds. But at least we're on the journey.
Adoption has been a dream of mine for so long that I can hardly believe we are waiting to be matched with a child. A real life person that will join our family forever!
I believe dreams and goals are incredibly important. They say a lot about our personality, priorities, and beliefs. What is your dream? Are you just thinking about the destination or are you already on the journey? I'd love to hear how you are pursuing your dreams!

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."
Proverbs 13:12

If we had not started this adoption journey, I believe it would always tug at my heart and be on my mind. It is difficult, but it is meant to happen. It is a part of who I am. Instead of being sick over a missed opportunity, this mom will forever be grateful for a dream fulfilled. And our child will have a much better life.
Take heart in knowing that God wants your dreams to be fulfilled. Sometimes our dreams seem intimidating or impossible, but we can accomplish anything with God. Have faith in His promises and believe in yourself. You have the power to make dreams come true!

"You're the one who conquers giants
You're the one who calls out kings
You shut the mouths of lions
You tell the dead to breathe
You're the one who walks through fire
You take the orphan's hand
You are the one Messiah
You are I Am

The veil is torn
And now I live with the Spirit inside
The same one, the very same one
Who brought the Son back to life"

You Are I Am, Mercy Me

Panda-monium

No news of a match yet, but we're still thinking about and praying for this little one. Not long ago, Phillip and Ethan were shopping when Ethan spotted something he wanted. It was an adorable beanie Panda with a red ribbon around its neck. Coincidence? Pandas are native to China and are proudly called the national treasure. The color red represents luck, joy, and happiness in Chinese culture. I think he's looking forward to a sibling. ;)

On Sunday, my friend Nikki visited with us. She lived in China for three years while teaching English, building relationships, and showing the Father's love. Oh the stories she can tell! Nikki traveled quite a bit while in China and was able to give us some tips. We talked about the language and culture of China, as well as the smog. I was concerned that the Chinese would look down on us for taking a child out of the country. But Nikki said that the people are excited when children are adopted and the new parents are treated like celebrities in China. I can't wait to discuss China with Nikki again! Nikki gave our little lovebug his/her first present. It is a beautiful piece of artwork from a shop in Beijing. I cannot think of a better start for this little one's journey. We're getting more excited by the day!

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice abd be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Legacy

Have you ever thought about leaving a legacy? What will it be?
At Daystar Church we’ve been talking a lot lately about legacy. Not just acquiring earthly things and leaving an inheritance after we’re gone, but having a vision and creating a legacy while we’re still here. In order to create a legacy, one needs a vision or a plan. You’ll know it is a legacy-worthy vision for your life when you realize there is no way you can accomplish it without Him.
My vision has always been adoption. People ask “Why China?” All I can say is that God put it on my heart a long time ago and I’ve never let it go. Adoption is a long, frustrating, expensive, amazing journey. I know that if God brought us to it, He’ll bring us through it. I believe our vision of adoption is leading us to our Legacy.
Chinese orphans that are never adopted eventually age out of the system, becoming outcasts of society. They don’t have a family name or belong to anyone. These children never know the love, security, and closeness of a family. My God rescued and adopted me into His family and gave me a new name, prompting me to do the same for a child.
I am finding it very difficult to come up with a name for the child we are waiting to meet. This child will already have a given name that was lost at abandonment. This child will likely have a generic orphanage name. But I want this child to know that we chose this name specifically for him. That this name comes with the new identity of a child that is loved in a forever home. One day this child may struggle with origin, abandonment issues, or lack of biological ancestors. Yet this child’s name should remind him that he is forever part of our family and our legacy. And that just like our first born, we wanted this child before we ever met.
May our name be remembered for loving His children. May our legacy live on well after we are gone.

A good name is more desirable than great riches.” Proverbs 22:1

"So let my life be the proof,
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You and what You're made of
How You lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
When it's all said and done
When we sing our final song
Only love remains"

The Proof of Your Love, For King & Country