New dates and a happy baby

March 25 - We sent our I800 to USCIS.  We had a little delay that was extremely hard to accept.  However...

April 23 - We were thrilled to find out that we were issued I800 provisional approval!

May 1 - We were issued a needed PDF from the National Visa Center.  We should have Article 5 paperwork ready on May 19th.  Then all we lack is travel approval!

Whew.  Patience is so hard but worth it.  Willow Mei, we are almost there!  We pray for you every single day many times in the day, and we love you more with every passing moment!

May 13 - 

We got an official update today on our 21 month old!  Look at this precious child.  They said she likes eggs, bananas, and biscuits.  She is outgoing and gets along with the other kids.  Her health has been great.  She can walk and run, and she follows directions. She can be impatient.  She likes toys with wheels, and she sleeps 'stale'? at night with a two hour nap during the day.

To top off this incredible day of getting the update, we met with all of Willow's doctors at Children's and the International Adoption Clinic.  We cannot believe how much support she will have once she's home.  They were all so warm.  We even made her first cardiology appointment... It made everything so real!

Now the trick is waiting about one more month.  How will I remain sane?  

Friends Make Life Better

Sweet and timely devotional our great friend in D.C. wrote that gave us courage for this hard part of the wait...

http://www.burkecommunity.com/worship/devotional/

My best friend and his wife are about to board a plane to Hong Kong, China where they will, for the very first time, be introduced to their adopted daughter, Willow Mei.  This road has been windy and rocky, containing five years of struggle and pain.  Yet, now that we see where it has led, to this beautiful, smiling toddler, it’s hard to deny God’s hand behind the entire process.  

As Ashley and I have walked this road with them, one scene has replayed in my head what seems like a thousand times.  I catch myself dreaming of this moment and weeping over its beauty(though, I do understand that this scenario is unrealistic).  Here’smy dream.

Kyle and Amber have travelled halfway across the world andhave finally arrived to the little orphanage in Luoyang, China.  They are nervous, excited, and ready.  I see Kyle opening a door to see sweet Willow arms crossed, waiting patiently for her parents.  The moment she lays eyes on Kyle, she runs to him, wraps her little arms around his neck, and whispers in his ear “daddy.”  

Can you even fathom the feeling a moment like that would bring?  I consider myself to basically be an emotion-less dude, but man, that picture and its soon reality causes me to cry.    

This scene replayed in my head the other morning when I was reading Romans 8:15-17.

 

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him

 

We sometimes get so tangled in theological titles that we forget one of the most simple and beautiful pictures of God.  He is our dad and we are his children.  He has adopted us and given us the opportunity to call him “Dad!”  Soon, Willow Mei will take our friends’ last names and with that name, she will have all the benefits of being in that family.  Likewise, God has adopted us and given us a new name.  With this name we have become royal—loved by the King and heirs to an unimaginable inheritance.      

 

In light of this reality, we should respond in two ways.  First, we should allow the beauty of our adoption to propel our love for theFather and dispel our attraction to our former ways.  Don’t be deceived.  Your self-driven ways are dead end ways that will lead to utter disappointment.  Second, spend some time talking to God like he is your Dad.  If our hearts beat faster when we are embraced as “mom and dad,” imagine what God feels.  Lose the superlatives and just talk to him about life.  If you are scared, tell him.  If you are sad, cry.  Wherever you are, address him as your dad, and lethim take care of you.      

We could use your prayers!

We have a paperwork delay that was unexpected and is extremely frustrating.  

Please pray with us that God will move mountains to quickly move things through the rest of the steps and get us to our little girl!

To learn more about international adoption and the Hague, watch Stuck, a documentary on Netflix.  It's very informative!

It's Raining Toys and Diapers! Our Showers for Willow...

First we had a sweet shower with all of my family friends from childhood and precious people from First Baptist Irving.  We were blown away by kindness and well wishes for our daughter.  We even had people come from out of town.  Thank you to all of my incredible childhood friends/family that are an enormous source of joy in my life.

Side note: 

This next picture was not actually at a shower, but it's very special.  My aunt had two quilt tops from her father's mother's house in Emery, TX.  Judy (a kind lady I go to church with) offered to work with us on finishing out the quilts.  They are both beautiful!  We had such a fun time making memories together.  I adore my family!

Our second shower was at my fantastic, one-of-a-kind elementary school.  The Glenhope Gators really blessed us with anything else we could possibly need!  The people I work with are so loving and kind, and they always want to know the latest on our adoption.  Of course I'm happy to talk about it anytime people ask!  :)

Last but not least, we had a wonderful time with our life group at church as they threw us a toy shower (including delicious Chinese food) for Willow one Sunday night.  Let me just say that I cannot wait to play with these things with her.  Not only do you bless us with deep and meaningful friendships and encouragement in Christ, but you also buy our daughter Fisher Price, Dr. Seuss, and things of that nature.  ;)  Amazing!

 

(Tim Rost claims that says Welcome Willow!)

And so the nesting continues!  Her (very small) room is pretty much done at this point.  I have a few more finishing touches, and then I'll share a picture of that.  

Now we're just missing one extremely important family member....and the reason why our hearts have expanded more than we could've ever imagined.  

"But they who wait for The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

-Isaiah 40:31

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."

-Hebrews 11:6

We are clinging to our faith in God and in His timing for this thing!

Update as of 5/21/14...

Today my favorite counselors ever (elementary school counselors in GCISD) spoiled me!  I just had to share these three pics from people I adore and respect so much.  Thank you, friends, for always being there for me and for sharing in our joy.  

About 8 more weeks...

We got our hard copy of the Letter of Seeking Confirmation, and we were able to send stuff off as well as start our visa applications!  It's been wonderful to have movement in the process.  We hope to travel in May, but it could also be June depending on how paperwork goes.

Either way, it will happen.  She will come home, and we will finally be together as a family!  God, we are overwhelmed with how wonderful your plan for us turned out.  Thank you, Lord, for our precious daughter!  

Kyle and I loved getting a chance to send our daughter a care package!  We couldn't include much, but we sent:

-a small ball

-a lovey stuffed dog

-pictures of us

-dum dums for all of the kids at the care center

-a card

-a personalized book introducing Willow to her family

If you are waiting for something like us, I hope our story brings your heart encouragement today.  Who knows what is right around the corner for you?  

"Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."

Isaiah 40:28

Every Life Matters

Lately, whenever I have a minute to be still, there are some thoughts flying around in my head.  I keep thinking about what the 'old me' would have thought upon hearing our adoption story.  I would have thought it was cool, but I also would've thought, "Well, good for them, but if it hadn't been this little girl, it would've been someone else."  I know that is a very obvious statement.  

Anyway, I keep mulling over that.  I want to say that the love we have for her is personal and unique, and He has woven this story of our family together.  I would never say to someone that if they didn't get to keep their child (for some reason), there would always be another around the corner.  So, why is it tempting to think that way when someone adopts?  It was for me, before adoption.

I don't think that way anymore.  This has taught me more about how much each life is worth.  There is inherent, God-given value in her life, in your life, and in mine.  Each of us is a child of God, a treasure, and worthy of love and a family.  We are each irreplacable.  

"But even the hairs of your head are all numbered."

Matthew 10:30

Okay, now for a big moment...

I finally get to 'introduce' our daughter via the internet!  We got the Letter of Acceptance today (the day after our 7th anniversary)!  Everything else is stateside, and our best guess is that we will travel 8-10 weeks from today.  

It is really happening, people.  :)  

This is the first picture we saw of Willow Mei back in December.  She is about 11 months in this one:

We got our update very soon after sending a letter of intent.  Here she was in late December 2013:

FAMILY!

Happy 19 months, Willow!

We love you so much, baby girl!  XOXO!