Join the prayer team

Here is an update on the prayer team. We have asked that you pick a day to pray for the Christopher's Journey to China. We appreciate daily prayer but wouldlove to see people focus on a day for us. I will be posting specific prayer requests soon. To get on her prayer list, email me at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com If you see a day that someone has signed up, go ahead and sign up. We want to be covered in prayer as we bring LynnMarie home as its one of the first gifts we can give her!!!

Thanks friends!!!!
March
11- Michelle, Jay and Angela Mary L
12- Amy
13- Mandy Leah
14- Mandy Amy
15- Christine
16- Kacy and family
17- Jenny and family Awaiting Miss Emily
18- Alyson Kim
19-Lovell
20-Laura The Oatsvall Team
21-Pam
22- Lynn
23 - Aunt Kelly, Neal, Janie, Seth, Owen, and Joe
24 - Don, Be, & Joannmei
25 - Jaymie
26-Monica, Melanie
27- Lisa Kat Kim
28 - Tammy
Our Daily prayers
RMJ
Team Radicci
Team Ladman

question and prayer

In less than 2 weeks, we will be in China with about 7 other families. Some of us are getting our first child, a few of them will be a bit more experienced.Wow, I cant believe this is happening. Am I freaking out? Well, I am not sure. I just know that a little girls life is going change forever and we are blessed to be a part of it.

1) Don't forget the post below asking for prayers

2) need help. Click on this site. this is something I want on one of the walls in LynnMarie's room. So I need your help in deciding what I should have on it. Her walls are yellow if that helps. Click on baby rooms on the site for suggestions.Let me clarify. I dont need any of the ones with decorations, I just want a saying or a few words or lyrics above her crib. Her room is yellow and will have pandas and a few other animals sprinkled around!!!!

praying her home

Michael spent time on the phone today and got our tickets booked and I got it approved with our agency. We are going to China!!!

So here is the plan

Leaving on March 11th very early in morning flying into Newark
Leaving Newark and heading to Beijing

March 27th we leave Guangzhou and head to Los Angelas. We will stay overnight and head straight to Atlanta that evening. We have most of the day to hang out in LA!!!

So, we are going to need some prayer and we are asking not only that you pray for us during our entire trip but will you pick a day from the 11th -27 and just really pray for us??? From safety to silly issues that may come up to attachment with lynnMarie, we will need your prayer!!!!

Just leave the day you want to claim in the comment section and I will post them. We can totally use as many people to lift us up daily so its okay if more than 1 sigh up!!

Pray today and CA

Ok, I have to go to work and don't have a lot of time but will you guys pray for LynnMarie and her mom and today!! CA arrived today and now we get to buy tickets!!
Ok, Pray its easy to use the frequent flier miles that Michael's mom gave us and the person who organizes the travel will just be kind.
Pray for travel mercies
Pray for LynnMarie to have a really smooth adjustment and for her parents to have a good adjustment too!
Pray for health of all
Pray for the rest of our travel group that we may be able to encourage one another! Oh my gosh, its really happening!!!

Oh there is a lot more to pray for but I have to go to work, to get on her prayer list, email me at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

Guess what

Guess which one of my favorite blogging friends recently found her daughter???


RMJ from The Seventh Diamond has found her Sophia Jane!!! Go see how God showed her that this was her daughter...How cool!!!!

TA

So, I totally forgot to post that we got TA yesterday and will probably be travelling March 11!!!! Yeah for TA!!!
We really are going to China!! That rocks!!!

New Stuff For LynnMarie

This is an afghan made for LynnMarie by our trivia team member Charlie's mom. She joined us tonight as we also celebrated Charlie's 37th birthday!

Amy registered for and we received a rocking Panda. It is, literally, a rocking horse with a panda head!

Today Amy found a dresser that we can put a changing pad on along with a chest of drawers at Goodwill for $85. Her friend Elizabeth brought out her 5 and 1 year olds in their truck to help bring it home for us!

this Saturday

this Saturday, Miss RMJ from Seventh Diamond is holding an online shower for me..She wanted to me to post this info and the invite..Check her blog out for more info or to contact her!!! She love to celebrate new babies!!

Travel Update

This afternoon we received a call from CCAI to ask us a few questions they needed to check off and to give us an update on our travel.

They anticipate receiving our TA early next week (Feb 23/24). Our travel group is a large one, so they have decided to break it into two trips, separated by a week. We have been placed in the second group based on our LOA and our anticipated date to depart is March 11.

While this is two days before LynnMarie's first birthday, it is not good news for us to have/hold her by or on that special day. We asked if they could consider this element and place us in the first group, but it appears they have already done some element of procedure that cannot be undone, or at least that's what they told us.

But at least we have a bit clearer picture as to when we will be on our way.

We're coming baby girl!

-Mike

Monday Meditations

Praises

People are still called towards adoption

Prayer

-There are millions of orphans around the world, some that will never have a home. I pray that God comforts those need comforting. That He will be the Father to the fatherless

-I pray for the caregivers in the different countries who do their best to love our children as they wait for their families. Some of these caregivers have made it their mission to love and serve.

-Travel for those who will soon see their families-

-those who are waiting

-for those who have felt adoption tug at their heart but are still fearfull

Join me today, won't you??

It would be soo cool to see many today pray specifically pray for the orphans around the world!!! God loves prayer!

Cause to Celebrate

Miss LynnMarie is 11 months old today!

the wait is almost over

Wow, the rest of the paperwork has been mailed. we are done with paperwork until we get to China. We are now waiting for our Travel Approval and our Visa's to get back and have started getting the nursery ready!

Michaels been painting and we have a crib. Now I am looking for a dresser with a changing table on top. I'm still searching Craigslist. Its such a fun site!!!

we are getting excited about trip! There is so much to do. I have been making lists, praying and looking at flight information.

Did you see the shower pics below?? I did do a Monday Meditations but I have no idea where it went. I think blogger ate the post..
God is so good, and has really been opening the doors during this whole adventure. We cant wait to see what else He has planned!!!!

Remember, if you want to be on the prayer update list, email me at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

What a weekend

What a great, fun, busy weekend we had and its funny because I started and ended my weekend with my friend Donna! Friday night, we headed to Dan and Liz's house for this month's Adoption Option. She served an awesome BBQ and then we talked about attachment. We are hoping this is our last AO before China but you never know. We got plenty of information and advice and it was wonderful to spend time with this incredible community!!

Saturday was our couples baby shower put on my by the adoption community. Kim, Christy and Donna you rocked it out!!! Seriously though we had the best shower food I have ever had. I had brie for the first time and it was awesome. On another note, I had 2 Weight Watcher friends there and we decided to skip some points. We even had chocolate covered strawberries. So we had awesome food, fun games and we were showered with amazing gifts. Let me just tell you, this adventure wouldn't be the same without this community. I love them all and I know they love us. We have been giving clothes, advice, prayers and promises of help. Adoption friends, you really are our second family. Thanks for being so kind to us. You mean more to me than you will ever know and you have this soo much fun for us! We spent several hours afterwards with Kim and Michael, getting advice and wisdom for our upcoming trip to China. We both got lots of info!!!!!

Sunday, we slept late and missed the service but Michael joined me for nursery duty. We only had one child, but he was 13 months old and it was. I hope Michael will join me again for some baby time and practice. After church, we had lunch at a sit down Chinese restaurant with some friends and had a really good time. To finish the weekend, we headed out to WinterJam and got to hear Brandon Heath, Newsong, Hawk Nelson, Toby Mac and Tony Nolan!! Good times but a very full weekend. Bring on LynnMarie!!!

Yellow

This is the work in progress and will allow you to see what we mean by yellow.

-Mike

Another Item Off The Checklist

This morning Amy and I went to meet a potential pediatrician for Princess LynnMarie. This doctor was recommended by friends who also have children adopted from China and his office is minutes from our house.

He is very confident that her health is good based on the pictures, video, and reports we have received. He compared the data on her weight, height and head measurements over the time we have reports and she is perfectly on course for physical development.

We are going to give him first shot at her care despite his name. Jokingly, I noticed his first and middle names are William and Robert, and he told us he grew up in south Georgia. Based on that, he's Dr. Billy Bob!

On a more serious note, please join me in prayer. I am spending time tonight painting LynnMarie's room. I am praying that it provides the warmth and the shelter and protection she will need as she grows up. Also, I wrote a post about my day and how positive it was in other ways over at http://www.valtool.blogspot.com Please visit and comment if you like.

-Mike

So you get to China and...

Ok, so the plan is to fly to China, tour, rest and the meet LynnMarie! Then what? Seriously? What do you do once you have met her?? I'm being serious. I know we will be busy with things like paperwork and stuff but . I'm looking for your experiences. Lets say she has a cold and we stay in room, what do we do all day??

I warned you that I had a lot of questions.My mind is racing. I love it!

More questions

Tomorrow, we are meeting with LynnMarie's pediatrician. For those of you who have been there done that, what questions should I ask? What should I bring besides pictures and her medical info that I have?

Thanks!!

Amy

(did you see the cute gifts she got at her first shower below?)

Disney and BabyShower pics

Starfish Needs YOUR help!!

Amanda at Starfish needs your help. Many of you have helped before. Kim at the Seventh Diamond collected so much last year and the First Friday community collected 2 large boxes this past fall. Kim was ready to collect again but Amanda has asked for a different type of help. She needs sponsors for her new 12 cleft babies. You guys know I love the cleft babies. I have worked with them for over 7 years and I know how much love they need. Some of you have adopted kids who are cleft effected. What a wonderful way to give back. What a way to do this as a family!! here are more details!!

Amanda was contacted a couple of days ago by the Director of the orphanage in her area. There has been a large group of infants left, many with cleft palate issues and the orphanage has no room to take them in. There are 12 who are due to be released from the local hospital in the next couple of days with nowhere to go. Amanda has been planning to open a Cleft Palate Home in the distant future when funds were in place, but because of these 12 little ones, she is converting the volunteer quarters into a the Cleft Palate Home and will take in these 12 babies. She only has funds to support them for 3 months, so this is where we come in. We need approximately 72 families to come forward who are willing to sponsor a child for $25.00 a month. It costs approx. $150.00 a month for Amanda to feed and care for each child, so it it will take 6 families to step forward for each child. Or if a family is willing to contribute more, that would lessen the number of families needed. This would be a year commitment. Amanda will send out updates to the families and photos of the sponsored babies. The amount is totally tax deductible and the donations will go through the STARFISH CHILDREN'S SERVICES and the tax number is 20-4682816 If you are willing to come forward as a sponsor family or group, please leave a comment below or e-mail Kim at timnkim@gmail.com If you have ever sat in your living room and wondered how you could make an impact, this is it. Amanda is moving forward not knowing where the money will come from. These 12 children need a place to heal and grow. I need help finding approx. 72 families who are willing to contribute $25.00 monthly to support these children. I don't know that many people, so if you all could help spread the word about this project, it would be wonderful.

Monday Meditations

I think I have forgotten to post my MM, sooo sorry. But I have been praying and I hope you join me today !!

Praises
Families will be united with their babies soon!!!
People are still adopting
The friendships that have been made and the differences those friendships make

Prayers
the families who are waiting
the babies who are waiting
the caregivers who love on these babies until they get their families. I know their hearts and minds must get sooo attached. I am so thankful for these wonderful people
safety for those who are about to travel
those families making some pretty big decisions and those who are thinking about adoption

For specifics on how you can pray for us and LynnMarie, send me an email over at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

In Love

Can anything else bring tears to my eyes so quickly?? I can not wait to get my hands on her. We got an update today and this picture put my fears to rest..I shouldn't have said fears. It just made me heart melt a little
LynnMarie, you are one loved little chick. Atlanta is waiting for you!!!

what we are up to

Lists,money orders, Visas, copies, organizing, cleaning, organizing, making more lists,, writing thank you cards, emotional breakdowns, these are the things that I have been doing. Thank goodness my Michael is the calm one!

Whats next? WE have our travel conference call next week. We are meeting with our pediatrician next week as well so he will know about LynnMarie and we get ready for specialists when I get back!

Her room- will be getting painted and new carpet. You would think that waiting for a baby for 7 years would make you totally know what you want and motivate you, but no, it just confuses me.

We have wonderful friends who have promised to help with paperwork, question answering and packing. This will help a ton!!

But there is more to this adoption than just going to China (can we say that again, WE ARE GOING TO CHINA)

Life as we know it will change when we get home. The house will be different, schedules will change and there will be much less blogging time.
But back to blogging, many of you have been there done that and have been so helpful in the post below. I know other friends who read this are learning as well!

Did any of you adopt a child with club foot by any chance??

What are some of the things that you bought in China?? What would you buy if you went again or what would you not buy again??

Questions and questions that need answers

This shall be the first of many posts looking for your honest and humble answers from those who have been there and done that.

Lets first say that I have no clue as to what I am doing. I can tell you that we we in fact have a crib, a car seat, stroller and 2 boxes of diapers.

This is real. We are totally going to China and bringing back the daughter we have dreamed about and prayed for for sooooo long. That in itself is a whole other post.

So, here is the beginning of my long and somewhat silly list of questions.

1) what do you do on the plane 17 hours???

2) what do you take in your carry on?

3) VISA's- when do I learn about that? I have seen people recommending certain sites but havent heard anything

4)Should you take food into China?

5)If you had the opportunity to wire the orphanage fee to China, would you?

6) what was on your list of things to do before China???

7) What do you wish you had taken to China?

8) What kinds of things did you give the nannies as gifts?

Thats enough to get you started. See, my mind is crazy and its 2:15 am at work. But today, our LOA arrives and we are sooooo excited..YIPPPEEEEE!!!

Lists

Time to get busy. No matter where you have adopted from, you had to make a list of things to do before the adoption, during travel and afterwards..

So, its time to ask for help. What was on your list?? I don't want to miss anything so add as much as you can, even the simple things..I need lists!

Time to get crazy busy!!

Go

(and thanks a lot)

"New" old pictures

LOA

Guess who is going to China in the next 2 months?? That would be us! We got LOA today!!! We may have LynnMarie in our arms before her 1st birthday
(LOA is the finally approval from China)

Special Needs

Well, most of you know that Miss LynnMarie is from the Waiting Child Program, meaning she has some special needs. There are some friends and family who read this and I don't get to talk to them very often so I wanted to make sure you know whats going on. I won't be too detailed as I want to protect her and her caregivers so if you want to know more specifics, send me an email to be on her prayer team email list over at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

LynnMarie has 2 special needs. She has clubbed feet and a joint problem with her hands. She can't stretch her fingers out completely. Where she is, they have done a fantastic job with her hands and feet and its obvious that she is loved.

When we get home, she will need some therapies and will need to see some doctors. So, we are sooooo excited about this opportunity. LynnMarie may in fact have other issues that we don't know about and will not know about until she gets home. But no matter what, this little girl is loved by so many and I can not wait to pour that love over her. I can't to help her learn and grow and to get her the best treatment as possible. We are researching medical facilities, treatments and learning from others how to share her with others.

We know that things will be difficult at times. But we are excited. This is just going to be an awesome blessing. I really can not wait to get this sweet girl home. There is a lot more to special needs than just her physical issues. We have to teach her that she is loved by so many and make her feel accepted. We have so much to learn so if you have any suggestions, advice, books we must read, please share them with us. You guys rock!
We are excited to bring our daughter LynnMarie home and share her with our family and friends. I want her to know God's love. I want her to feel God's love. We are blessed to have a wonderful support system here. We can not wait to go to China!!!!
Keep praying. Pray for those children who are still in China. Pray for those with special needs and their caregivers who are loving on them.

LynnMarie ChunAi

we are home.

I promise to have pics up tomorrow but since I can not find my camera cable thing, this will have to do.

Michael and I got back from a long weekend of celebrating our birthdays and LynnMarie.

Wednesday morning we packed up and headed to Orlando to spend some time with his mom ,his brother and his family. We had a lovely dinner and birthday cake. Thursday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom. Since we both have the same birthday and Disney is giving everyone free admission to a park on their bday, we seriously saved some money and really had a good time. It was really fun but also exciting to know that the next time, we get on that tram, there will be a stroller with us..HeeHee! My mom also reminded us of our next Disney Cruise..

Anyway, Saturday afternoon, friends and family gathered to shower us with gifts. What a wonderful time put together by my mom and sister. We got to share our adoption story, answer questions about LynnMarie, and just get loved on. We received lots of advice from friends that meant so much to us and I hope to post some of the advice one day here.

Sunday, we loaded up the car (and boy it was loaded) and headed back. We did stop off at an outlet mall and found a Carters and OshKosh store. We found lots of 1.99 and 3.99 racks with a 20% discount on top of that. So a good time was had by all.

We ended the day at Michael's Aunt and Uncles house where they presented us an old blanket that Michael's mom made for her nephew and they wanted to pass it on.
My last surprise was on Sunday morning when I got a phone call from Miss Verna who I had not seen in over 7 years. She was my very first charge nurse at my first nursing job. Her advice was to not spoil our child. I told her not to worry, she would be a very stable, non spoiled child. HAHA!! TOO LATE!
That made it a very special weekend.
I am sorry I don't have pics but what a great way to start our preparations.

So what did we get (this is for you Mandy), we got our stroller, carseat, diapers, clothes, bibs, toys, bathstuff.YIPPEEE

Just a reminder that if you want to be on LynnMarie's prayer email list, email us at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

last weeks date night

Last week, Michael and I were invited on a date night with our friends Tammy and Tony! They are experienced parental units and are also waiting on their sweet little girl from China. It was wonderful to get to know them a bit better and share their "Joy" with them! Thhanks for a wonderful evening friends!

What now???

Ok, so we know who LynnMarie is and where she, what now? I HAVE NO CLUE!!!

Seriously, I am so confused and overwhelmed with every emotion to mankind, I do not even know where to start. I love it!!!! Some of you who have been reading our blog have commented on my honesty. Be prepared for some seriously honesty in posts to come!!

LynnMarie has a story and its a beautiful one. Man, this girl turned our lives around the night before Thanksgiving. Really my thinking has like totally changed, its crazy. The Christopher's really are going to CHINA. More importantly, we are bringing LynnMarie home!

These past few weeks have been more wonderful than I could ever imagine. I hope to one day share with you how God has been all over this. I am not kidding. Every day, I learn something new. God has opened a door or given us a little surprise every single day. Its beyond amazing. Never underestimate what God can do all over the world. As big as this world is, God has shown us some really intimate moments. One day I hope to share, I can not put all of this into words.

GOd is so BIG and wonderful and amazingly cool and has been so gracious to us. Finding LynnMarie is so beyond what I ever dreamed.

So right now, we sit and wait. Just kidding. There is no sitting. We are waiting for our LOA (letter of approval) and then we wait for our TA. We really do not know when these things are going to get here, but we will be waiting for a few months I guess.

OK, thank goodness for friends. Mom, Dad, we do have people who love us here.

Seriously, people are offering car seats and offering to help paint the room and clean our house and showers we are just loving on it. It feels good. I did not not expect as much advice and help and literally walking with us on the journey. People helping with paperwork and other things has really helped.

God's hand has been so obvious in orchestrating events. LynnMarie has already touched lives and there are so many people who love her, that it makes my heart smile.

I will be totally honest. I am beyond scared. I really have no idea what we are doing. I knew this was going to happen, but not this fast. Now, I am reading books, researching doctors, treatment options, window shopping, dreaming, praying and then praying some more, worrying which then leads to more praying and I am so out of my element. I would not change it for the world.

We do know that her room will be yellow! Yeah one decision has been made!!!!

FYI, if you want to be on her prayer email list and learn how you can specifically pray for her and us, email me at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com.

New Pictures (source unknown)

more thoughts

SO life is here is going to get crazy. This blog is about to get crazy. Apparently this is all real and it just totally hit me. So here we are with amazing pics and video of this precious little girl who is about to get some serious love. She has no idea. So now we are talking showers, nursery, getting care packages ready, painting, organizing and apparently a trip to China. Needless to say we are overwhelmed but wouldn't change it for the world.

Praying for a speedy LOA

If you are interested in being a part of LynnMarie's prayer and update email list send an email over to lovingLynnMarie@hotmail.com

A Wonderful Surprise

There was a wonderful surprise and thanks to all who viewed the video and commented, but I feel more comfortable taking them down.

Sorry, but we have plenty of pics!!!

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

more thoughts

I am so glad to be on this journey. I look back and reflect on this past year and all the things I have learned and how much I have been encouraged by so many of you. Some of you have had a heck of a year. I have seen sorrow, joy, elation,confusion. But I have also seen God glorified by so many of you in regards to your attitudes.

Thank you for being a part of our wait.

happy turkey day

happy thanksgiving my wonderful friend. for those who are celebrating the first holidays with their children, treasure these memories. I hope that everyone has a special moment with God today!!!!

19 months LID

An Orphan's Prayer

Got this from my new friend Renee at Life With Special K's


An Orphan's Prayer
I am waiting…somewhere far…far away
on the other side of the world.
I may not know who you are or what you look like
But some how deep in my heart I know you are out there.
That one day you will come and find me.
It’s a long journey, and it takes a lot of time…
I wish it could be easier.
But I know that the ones who come for me
will not count the cost.
They will only see the joy of finding me.
For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless.
Day by day wondering why I was born here
and not somewhere else?
Asking…why my life couldn’t have been different?
It is so lonely…Even though I am surrounded by
hundreds of other children,
I know that something is missing…
I know in my heart I need a place to call home.
My arms long to be wrapped in a father’s embrace…
I long to be saved by a mother’s love…
Gazing out the orphanage window I offer a
prayer of hope,“Oh God please help them
come quickly.”
Even as I lay in the darkness of each night
somehow I feel assured,
That no matter how lost I appear I am not alone.
Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe
my tears, touching my lonely heart.
The one who made me,
The God that knew me before I was born
Hears me every time I call
He whispers His promises in my ear.
I listen with hope to His voice.
But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me.
The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth.
I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?
Yet He calms my heart and assures me that He will find you.
That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly.
He has promised me that He will make a way through the fields,
That He will personally cut a path and lead you right to my orphanage door.
My prayer is…When He speaks…Please don’t forget to listen…
When He calls don’t be too afraid to go
For I am waiting…somewhere, far…far…away

Prayer for the week

So many families are just heart broken over this wait. My prayer for this week is that everyone finds the peace they are searching for and they continue to follow the paths God had chosen. It's hard.

It seems like such a simple prayer but I know how hard this wait can be. Those of us waiting for our first child wonder if we will ever have the family we have dreamed of. Some of you have shared that with me, its okay to be honest.

I am thankful for this journey. I am thankful for the doors that have opened. I am thankful for the seeds that were planted for this journey so many years ago, as I look back I am amazed.

What's on your heart this week?

wishes and dreams

How do you miss someone you have never met? I never understood this. Sometimes at the oddest moments, I long to hold LynnMarie. Michael found some wonderful gotcha day videos the other night and it had me pondering. I love that word, ponder.

Want to know what I was thinking the other day? The fact that there are babies in orphanages in China. Orphanages. Babies sleeping in cribs. Babies who do not get held enough. Babies that lie their crying. Babies who have not experienced the kind of love I long to give. I don't have a picture of LynnMarie yet. There is a great chance that she is born and I pray for her specifically every day.

The day that Michael and I meet her will be like no other. It will not be perfect. She will probably squirm and cry and we will totally be stressed out but there is nothing more that I wait for.

This holiday season will be different. I hope this is our last one without LynnMarie.

It will be filled with hope. It will be full of wishes and dreams and anticipation.

April 2007 we were logged in and before we were logged in I anticipated getting a match December 2008. Boy, was my head in the clouds?

This Christmas will be full of prayers. I pray that she touches the heart of a special someone. Someone that will give her an extra hug......

Family Day

Yesterday (Saturday) Amy and I spent the day together doing fun stuff. First we attended the Basset Hound Rescue of Georgia's (www.bhrg.org) Annual Basset Bash. We hung out in a park with about 100 other basset hounds and a number of other dogs. We had a potlluck lunch and many contests including Longest Hound, Widest wingspan (ears), Chow Hound (what WON'T a basset eat?) and a costume contest. The day was also a fund-raiser for the charity and a great social event.

Speaking of social events, Amy and I participated in a blog party last night. It was organized by Heather Whittaker (www.whittakerwoman.typepad.com) and her friend Stephanie Lee (wife of Third Day guitarist Mark Lee. Heather's husband Carlos has a pretty popular blog as well (www.ragamuffinsoul.com).

We met at a restaurant in historic Roswell, GA and there were about 40 of us there including guitarist/photographer Daley Hake (www.daleyhake.com), friends of Heather's from California and followers of her blog. The really weird connections were plentiful including these two. We learned a few days ago that the sister-in-law of one of Amy's friends from Florida was to be there (the sil lives in Atlanta). The other one came when Amy saw a nametag indicating a blogger from New Smyrna Beach, FL. It turns out it was two ladies from Edgewater, the town just South of NSB and not only do these ladies know Amy's grandparents from their church, they are in a small group with Amy's sister Kelly! It freaked us all out, so we took a picture of Amy with the ladies and sent it to Kelly's phone and nearly immediately got the response WHAT?!? Where are they all together?!?!

more to follow

I WOULD have to say that last week was one of the best of the year. Wednesday, I skipped Bible Study and my weight watchers meeting to spend several hours at the zoo with new friends with Chinese children including my friend Sheridan. Not only had I not been to the zoo in years, this was a perfect day and I had a blast even after being up 24 hours.

Friday was our adoption support group.

Saturday was a family day which is how this post is getting on this blog. Pics and details coming but we did the basset bash and a blog party yesterday which was awesome. Even met a family from our church who is waiting for their daughter from China.

and its time for christmas preparation.....rock on

Adoption Option

Tonight was great. Dinner and fellowship at Donna's. I was able to visit with old friends, get to know some older friends better and celebrate referrals with new friends.
, so m
Tonight's topic was traveling tips and although we will be not be traveling for quite a while, I was able to learn A LOT.


Next month will be at our house, so mark your you calendars now!!!


Thanks again Donna, and hope to see more of you guys next month. Remember, these gatherings are for those who have adopted, those who are waiting and those who are interested in adoption in general. Tonight we celebrated referrals from Vietnam and China!

adoption option support group this friday

For those who are in the area. this Friday ( TODAY)is our first Friday of the month adoption support group. potluck dinner at 630 at Donna's house followed by a short talk and some socializing.

Click on the yahoo group link located down on the right side of the screen ( ya gotta scroll down)

Let me know if you have any questions. hope to see you there!!!! anyone involved in or interested in adoption is welcome. domestic, international or if you just have questions....

monday meditations

NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

Praises

Many people got their LOA's this week. Awesome. We look forward to more great news and seeing these babies coming home soon!!!!

i am so thankful that so many families have been united this year

prayer request
as the election is almost over, i am praying for our new president and the leaders around the world. i pray our president has a heart for adoption

i pray for the country of China.

i pray for those whose hearts are leaning toward adoption that they will continue to follow.

i pray for those babies with SN that will need medical treatment when they come home. i pray for healthy and a speedy recovery.

what are you praying for?