Monday Meditations

This week I know of several children who are having their surgeries in China. Pray that they recover fully and they find lots of hugs while they are waiting for their forever families!

Pray that those who need their surgery, get it soon!!


Praying for those waiting!!!!!

the post that follows

So how does one follow up on a post like the one below?? Michael did a great job sharing our story.

As far as I know, this blog will stay the same as of right now. After referral, I guess my mind went into momma thinking and I contemplated how much we will be put on here.

We are in love. Yes to each other and to this sweet baby.

I wanted to share my thoughts on this. Getting LynnMarie's referral was far better than I had ever dreamed of. She has a story. Her referral has a story. From the time I read about her for the first time, God orchestrated events and literally opened doors in front of me the night before Thanksgiving. I do not exaggerate. I could have hear him saying "Hello Amy, Im right here, Could I be any clearer?" For those of you a part of that night and the week that followed, you rock and will always have a place in our hearts. You were more than amazing.

God showed Himself in my house that Wed before Thanksgiving. That is all it could be. I can not explain it but it was far more than I could have dreamed. Over the past few weeks, I have had some fears, some doubts but then those doors close and I have reassurances right in front of me. I can now say that LynnMarie Chun Ai is a Christopher. She is a part of the Waiting Child Program and hopefully next post I will share some of her needs with you.

We love her already. I am totally mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. I have no idea what I am doing but thats what my friends are here for.

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments below. I will be printing them in putting it in her first of many books.

I love the one with her hand in the air. She is saying ROCK ON! Definitely our daughter!!!!

A Most Wonderful Christmas gift

Introducing Miss LynnMarie Chun Ai Christopher Born 3-13-08
PA TODAY!!!!

About 2 years ago Amy and I started a journey.
Today, the end is in sight!

Two days before Thanksgiving Amy received notice that a few babies had been added to the CCAI waiting child list. It was pretty late at night, so she took a look at the website and sent an email requesting to see the file on one of these children. The next day I was at work when Amy called me and said we had a referral. She promised not to open the email until I got home which would be about 2 hours later.

So here we are, the night before Thanksgiving. We gathered together at the laptop and opened the email and the files upon files upon files... there were about 20 pictures and several medical documents. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we were given until the following Monday to accept or decline this child. It did not take long to decide.

Our referral is for Lu Chun Ai, born March 13 in the Henan province. She is in the care of an American-run orphanage where she is being treated for two different physical special needs. We have researched these needs and feel the prognosis is excellent for Lu Chun Ai to grow to be a fully-functional independent child. If all goes as planned, she will officially become LynnMarie Chun Ai Christopher in March or April. She will be a year old on March 13th. We would LOVE to be in China by that day, but we'll take what we get.

We ask that you continue to pray for our family, for the people caring for our angel until we can come and bring her home, and for LynnMarie herself.

Here are a few more pictures!

Monday Meditations

My prayer for all of us this Christmas is that we remember the real meaning and go back to basics of this Holiday. Had their not been a baby Jesus there would not be this wonderful Holiday. I am thankful for this adoption journey and all the friends we have made. I am thankful for some of you letting us be a part of your journey and watching you bring your babies home from all over the world!

Merry Christmas

I am sooo excited for those of you who are spending your first Christmas with your children.

But I hate thinking about the children around the world that are alone. I really try not to dwell on it. When I begin to get sad about not having LynnMarie home this year, I switch gears and put the focus on those who have much less than we do. It's so heart breaking.

I am so thankful for those of you who have dedicated your blogs to promoting awareness for those in need.

Merry Christmas my friends. You really have made this year of waiting just a little bit sweeter.. You rock!!!

Paperwork Update

Amy received her updated (second) 797 form today. We can hope/assume that mine will arrive tomorrow or Thursday.

Its almost Christmas time for some, its a first. A first Christmas with their new little ones. For others, we hope this is our last without our children.

I am thankful for those whose families have together.

This is not a weekly prayer. I want this to be a daily prayer. That the orphans around the world will find homes. That they will find peace and love.

I have been dwelling on the Nativity tonight and what it was like for that beautiful family. Joseph adopted Jesus as his own and loved him. We saw an awesome video at church that demonstrated some awesome love..

My prayer is that the world will find Jesus, experience Him and run like crazy to Him

Psalm 10:17

17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Adoption Option

Our monthly meeting of Adoption Option was this past Friday and it was at our house!!! What a fun time and great turnout..New friends arrived and we celebrated the arrival of 2 new little ones!!!! This months topic was how to incorporated your child's culture into every day life and we had a great discussion. It was a great time, and we cant wait until January to see everyone again. If you live in the Atlanta area, I hope you will join us!!!

Prayers

Praises, The Straight family is complete. Faith found her beautiful, wonderful family today.. Go and see how beautiful this family is here.
I am thankful that friends new and old are going back to China and other parts of the world to make their families complete.

I am praying. I don't think I realized how many orphans there are around the world. Kids that just don't get hugged or played with nearly as much as they should.
Is it too much to pray that everyone finds a family??? I pray that during a dark time in this world, that families will follow when they doors opening in front of them.
I also pray for the birth families of our babies. We may never know their story, but for whatever reason, they had to give up their children. I pray for them today.

I know some of us waiting are discouraged. You have emailed me. We have chatted. I also pray for our hearts that we find a peace that can only come from God!

All I Really Want For Christmas Music Video

Just another reminder how much we have to be grateful for. I can not imagine not having a family!!!!!

Monday or Tuesday meditations

Simple. There are so many orphans out there. All over the world. Orphans who have not experienced the love of a family. Pray that every child finds a forever family!!!

also praying for Faith as she gets her Forever Family soon. Pray for safe travel for all of them