Waiting.....

Waiting patiently is not something I do well.  I am sinfully inpatient.  Therefore, this whole "waiting in the dark" aspect of the adoption process normally drives me insane.  In our prior adoptions I've been crazy over timelines.  I have stalked other people's blogs trying to calculate the timing of my paperwork approval, travel notices, etc. 
This time, however, has been different.  Maybe because I am so consumed by the busyness of our family and my job that I don't have time to think about it.  Or maybe, by God's grace alone, I'm getting better at this waiting (and trusting) thing.
Maybe I have realized that I am not in control.  Maybe I've realized that this will all happen in God's timing regardless of my incessant phone calls to USCIS, or my obsessing over travel dates, or my perfect idea of when we should travel.
Pearl needs to come home faster than Mia or Lainie because of her heart issue.  But somehow, I am at peace.  Maybe because I've been following this family's blog this week, or maybe because I am finally realizing that patience is much more peaceful than inpatience.  God's faithfulness is never going to end.  He has this.  He has her in the palm of his hand.  Her very heart is in the palm of his hand.  So, at least for today, I'm operating at a high level of peace and patience.  No promises about tomorrow.  I do know however, that thanks to God's grace, I can fall short tomorrow and start all over the very next day.  Thank goodness.

Please Pray for Elisyn

Visit this family's blog and pray for their precious daughter as she has very complicated, very risky, but necessary heart surgery on 10/24/2011.

This iPad Can Be Yours!

Thanks to some very generous friends - we have 2 iPads to raffle for Pearl's adoption fund !!!  Just use the side bar button to purchase tickets. The deal is $2 for 1 ticket OR $10 for 6 tickets.  Drawing will be December 1st.   If you purchase online, be sure I have your phone number in the "instructions to seller" space at checkout.  I'll fill out your tabs for you and place them in the ticket box. Thanks for supporting our family.  Good luck y'all !!!!  Oh, and if you think you can sell some tickets contact me and I'll get them to ya.

1st Prize - 32 GB iPad

2nd Prize - 16 GB iPad

Lainie and Lilly

If you've been a long time blog follower, you will remember that Lainie and Lily were roommates in the Chenzhou SWI. We used the same agency as Lilly's family and thus traveled to China together to adopt these precious girls.  We are so blessed that Lilly's family lives just 2 hours away and we are able to get together and keep the relationship between this girls in tact.  After all, they knew each other before they even knew us.

Here are some pics of Lilly and Lainie over the last 4 years.

This picture was taken this weekend when Lilly and her family came to visit.

The picture above was taken as we left China. 

Lilly had spent  the last 2 weeks sick in the hospittal.

The giggling girls in this pictire are in such stark constrast from the picture taken as we left China. 

This my friends is what LOVE can do.

Happy Birthday Cole

I would never have considered myself an animal lover until we got this dog.  I must admit, he's so cute that he's hard not to love.  I didn't EVER want an inside dog - but so glad we gave in.  This dog makes us laugh every single day.  He was Jillian's Christmas present, but he's been fun for everyone.

She Found Her.....

In my post about how we found Pearl,  I mentioned that the story began as I was trying to find a daughter for my friend.  I didn't finish her story.  She found her precious daughter.  Little Tulah will be coming home not long after our Pearl.  We happen to be neighbors as well as friends, so we can't wait to follow their journey.  Isn't she lovely?  You can read about their family here.

A Family For Julianna

This is Julianna.  She needs love.  She needs a family.

Little Julianna is 2 years old.  She has some pretty serious and complicated heart defects.  She's had two surgeries and will need another.  Her prognosis is unclear.  She breaks my heart.  It is so sad to me that because her condition sounds so scary this child will most likely wait a very long time for a family to come forward for her.   If they ever come at all.  This little girl needs a mommy and daddy to love her through her journey.  No matter how difficult it may be.  Could it be you ????   I have her entire file.  I'd love to share it with you.  There is a very recent update in it.  Please, somebody, please !!!!