Blessing #6 (and today's Grandma's B-day!)

Deanna is with our agency; click here to go to Deanna's Blog.
We exchanged an email about something...I'm not sure what, but it was adoption related! In a 2nd email she asked what we were naming our baby. Then she said she was going to send me something...and asked for our address. When I opened the gigantic envelope she sent me I was overwhelmed and cried! Look at all the things she has made and embroidered for Mattie! I carried the envelope around with me for months showing friends and family!Deanna has been sending things off and on for over a year. In fact, I couldn't get everything to fit in the photo! She has been so good to us and has never even met us! I have enjoyed getting to know her while we wait; talking about her mission trip to Mexico, what the Lord is doing in our lives, and our churches. Her LID is Dec. 5th, 05. Her turn is coming soon, and they asked for Twins!!
Thanks for everything Deeanna - you are a very sweet and special person! You have blessed us and our baby tremendously! Your baby (or babies!) will be home before you know it... keep the faith and hang in there!!

No word yet on Mattie's photo. Keep checking back! We're close!

In My Opinion...

I believe CCAA has already began matching families for this next group. Why? We are at the end of July...and we are expecting the July batch at the beginning of August. That means at the very least a CCAA official has our file and Mattie's file on their desk. And it's possible that he/she has already put us together...

So, we are praying for:
The official to gather and send as much information about our girl and as many photos as she/he can send to our agency. If any information is missing, that the official will locate it. We are still praying for our friends that live near us, with a LID of 11-21-05, to get their daughters photo too, in hopes we can travel together.

Most of all we pray for God's will and we continue to pray the best we know how for Mattie. I've made one minor update on her prayer b/c it is HOT in PR China.

We are continuing to praying this for Mattie, if you would like to join us....
Dear Lord, You can do all things b/c of who you are, and all good things come from you. Therefore, we ask that when Mattie is hungry send someone to feed her; when she is cold provide a blanket to be put around her; if she is too warm send someone give her a cool bath; when she cries dear Lord, please let there be someone to hold her; if she is sick send a doctor to visit her and give her the medicine she needs; please keep our precious baby safe and keep her from any harm. Once she's in our arms dear Lord we pray you will help us bring her up in the way she should go and she may grow in the grace and knowledge of you. {Proverbs 22:6, 2Peter 3:18}.
We ask everything in accordance to your wisdom and perfect will. Amen

What If CCAA Only Covers 2 Calendar Days?

I sure get this question a lot b/c we are 3 calendar days away...it's a fair question since CCAA only covered 2 calendar days in March. What CCAA does month to month gives us a mathmatical idea; we can be 99% sure we will see Mattie's photo in the next couple of weeks. I'm SO excited!!!!!! And mindful of JAMES 4:14 at the same time.
So, I guess this post is really about some of the expressions and comments that have come with this question...and I found something that says it better than I could say it on my own...

I can count a million times

People asking me how

I Can praise You

With all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly,

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed

Long before these rainy days

It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord

My only shelter from the storm

But instead, I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus,

Bring the rain

I am yours regardless of

The clouds that may loom above

Because you are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me

Suffering your destiny

So tell me, whats a little rain?

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus,
Bring the rain

by Mercy Me

Blessing #5

Click Here to Read Preface and Blessing#1; Blessing#2; Blessing#3;

After meeting Blessing#4; Adam, Patti and Elisa...

I rounded the corner of a bookshelf in a Christian bookstore and there sat a tiny Asian girl on the floor. Right then she reached over to the lady sitting next to her, that was looking through a Homebuilders book from Family Life, and she said “mama look!”. So, I said to the lady “Hi, we were logged in, in China, November 17th, 05”. There was a pause and then her demeanor became excited and she asked “what agency are you using?!” When I answered, she said “aaaahhhhh, we used CCAI too!” Lee Ann and I exchanged information, and as soon as I arrived home I had an email from her, and she wanted to get together!

We have spent countless hours with Denny, Lee Ann and Mesa over the last year...I do believe Lee Ann and I could talk endlessly about the Lord and His hand in our lives. This family has blessed us so much I could write about them for hours....they are very dear to us and I am sure we will be, forever friends...

This has become one of my favorite photos of all time...

Tressa and Mesa - Asian Festival, 2007

GOOD NEWS

Each week our agency updates their secure site; where I find out the latest news about referrals and...a bunch of stuff.
For the last 1.5 weeks the site said "CCAA matched families with LID's between 11-08-05 through 11-14-05....We received them July 9th, 2007...".
That was current news...until yesterday, Wednesday, 11-18 they changed it!
It says exactly what it says every month at this time: "Waiting For News: We do not have any news on the next group of matches. We will update this website when more information becomes available. We hope to hear something soon!"
Every month these same 2 sentences are on there, for about 1-3 weeks. Those weeks of no information drove me nuts for the last 2 yrs. But not this time! Why???? Because they are talking about us!! Our agency is waiting to hear the CCAA is looking at our file and Mattie's file! It's only a matter of days before they put our files together.

Fasten your seat belts ladies and gents...we are on the count down...

In Memory And Honor Of Ruth

The news on June 14, 2007 - the passing of Ruth Graham - was sorrowful for me. Many may not know that Ruth Bell Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, was born at Qingjiang, Kiangsu, China, on June 10, 1920, as Ruth McCue Bell. Her parents, Dr. and Mrs. L. Nelson Bell, were medical missionaries at the Presbyterian Hospital 300 miles north of Shanghai. As a young girl there in the small hospital compound, Ruth first sensed the great calling to abandon all for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her childhood was spent on China’s mission field...click here, then scroll down to keep reading

After 9-11, Billy Graham led a prayer and memorial service at Washington National Cathedral and it was the first time I realized that Billy and Ruth Graham would not be here my entire life; I had taken their profound ministry for granted...who could accomplish what they had accomplished? Who would carry on their ministries? With 9-11 fresh, it was reason on top of reason to look at my own life. What am I doing that others will want to carry on? What legacy will I leave behind?

Ruth Bell Graham a woman who loved the people of China. And a role model for women with her love and commitment to the Lord, her husband, and her children. A woman that was willing to abandon all for the sake of the gospel. She will be missed by many, and left a legacy to remember and an example to follow.

The End Is In Sight

Today I celebrate my last Birthday

without my daughter!

How am I celebrating? Alan and I are SHOPPING!

You may be confused if you know, I do not like to shop...I loathe it unless I'm buying something for a friend (then I love it).

I do like to visit Antique Stores and Home Goods. Have you been to a Home Goods? They are fantastic. Also, notice the word 'visit'. I rarely buy anything but LOVE to look around!

So, why am I excited about Shopping today?

We're getting stuff we need for China!!!!!

Like?

Baby Carriers

Travel size in everything they make that we need

Battery Travel Clock

Electric Adapters

Chinese English Dictionary

Thermos

Table Cloth and Flip flops (dollar tree!)

Mail tube for Chinese Art work...

Etc etc etc etc etc

Today there will be progress!

I will try not to wig making all these decisions...

you know, pink or blue? One or Two?