Updates, Haircuts & Learning Chinese

Y'all, we are so very blessed. I just can't even. I cannot wait til the day our daughter is old enough to understand, to fully grasp just how loved, just how fought for, just how prayed over, she has been all these years. I pray that it is even more of a blessing to her than it has been to us. Our prayer time last night, with the ladies there, the ones praying from far away, the quiet of the house (because HELLO the kids were gone!). It was pure awesomeness. A much needed healing for my soul. So thank you. We would not be where we are now without each of you.

I had about 15 emails back and forth with our caseworker yesterday. We were apparently emailing at the same time (I know, a phone call would've been faster!) because the minute I would respond, she had emailed me again, so I'd email her and the cycle continued. I had mentioned in one of the emails our prayer time we were going to have and she was so gracious to send me updated pictures!!! When the China staff visited to ask questions they were given pictures taken from just last month. I will say, I praise God because our girl looks healthy and HAPPY. So at least, in this awful wait for us, she is completely unaware. And I want that for her. This transition will be brutally difficult. So for now, I am thankful that she is well.

That being said--they cut her hair again. UGH. It was finally becoming a cute bob and looking like I could maybe do something fun with it!!! Now it's just a rather choppy pixie. It truly looks as though she cut her own hair!! LOL. But those same pics came with more smiles than I have ever seen on her beautiful face--so although I wish they'd let her hair grow, it's just hair. And she rocks it no matter how it's cut.

In the update, we also did confirm that they have the CORRECT file (Praise Jesus) and that it has two more steps to go through--the Provincial Civil Affairs is next, then it's on to the CCCWA, the main government. These can EACH take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 or more months. Won't you join us in praying for only a matter of weeks? From the time we get the file, we won't travel for around 10 weeks, so even if each of these steps only lasts 2 weeks each, we are still looking at 3.5 MONTHS till we get our girl, and that's not accounting for Chinese New Year, which knocks out another 2 weeks. So if you add that all up, you guessed it! We are currently looking at June travel at the earliest. Hello high priced plane tickets!! The good news is, with the funds we've raised and the time remaining, even though I don't want to pay higher prices for travel, we have the time to save to make up the difference. So I'm counting that as a blessing!

I'm also committing to doing everything I can, to taking every free moment possible, to learn Chinese. It's not easy and I definitely won't be remotely fluent, but my prayer is to be able to know enough to calm my girl, to soothe her in her pain, even a little, by speaking her native language. So if you see me in person, text me, or even talk to me on the phone--ask me how my Chinese is going. PLEASE!! It will help keep me accountable if I know I have people asking me!

Also, this. This is for my daughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50ygAc2qP5A

Sweet friend, whatever you've got going on, whatever you're facing, whatever you're struggling with right now, let me be the first to say, GOD'S GOT THIS. HE'S RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. AND HE WILL NOT LET YOU FALL. I know. I'm living proof that you can keep going even when you feel you've got nothing left.

Blessings,

Prayer & Patience

As a wise writer once penned, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Truer words have never been spoken...

So it seems there's been a little confusion on our part. We believed that the process a file takes to be SWI (Social Welfare Institute), then Provincial Civil Affairs, then CCCWA (main government). So when we were told it had left her city, we were thrilled. We were also confused. Apparently, the process is City, SWI, Provincial CA, CCCWA. Meaning, when we thought her file was headed for the Provincial CA level, it was really only headed to the SWI. So we are further behind in the process than we thought. Obviously (and understandably) this is quite disappointing.

However, we have been asking, repeatedly, for months, and we've been told--REPEATEDLY, that it should move to the Provincial CA in "about two weeks". So after the last update of the same old thing, I emailed our agency again and just poured out my heart and my frustration. I admitted that I was very discouraged and quite weary of waiting and nothing seeming to change. I think at that point they finally looked back at all of the updates we were receiving and realized that they had repeatedly been told the same thing. I can understand how, with so many adoptive families, the details of one can be easily overlooked...

So today I received an email out of the blue, explaining that our caseworker emailed China and basically said, "Can we figure out what is going on because the family is frustrated, we're being told the same thing with no changes, and this child has waited long enough!" GLORY HALLELUJAH, finally I feel like my exact thoughts were sent to China!!!! Until now it's been more of a "hey would you mind checking on this file for us please?" type of email. So for that, I am thankful!

Also in the email was the response she had received telling her that two of the China staff would be TRAVELING TO HER CITY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS. I cried. Big 'ol mama tears. I feel as if an extension of myself is actually actively pursuing our girl--as if they finally get it--as if they are finally FIGHTING for her. So my frustration over the confusion is also covered in hope--the hope that we may finally get some real movement, or at least some real information on where her file is.  It is a baby step, for sure. But I pray that this is just the push they need (and maybe the desire to clear their desks before Chinese New Year!!) to get my girls file further down the road.

So now we wait. But we also pray. Won't you join us? Here are our specific requests:

1. Pray for answers. This journey to her city will be happening TONIGHT our time!! Pray they meet the right people to spur the process forward.

2. Pray for clear paths in China, and for her file to land in the hands of people who believe that she is loved and cherished and needs to come home soon.

3. Pray for me. My mama heart is weary. My anxiety builds the longer we wait. Pray for peace and continued patience throughout the rest of this journey.

4. Pray for our family. Pray that we will be using these last few months as a family of 6 to prepare our hearts for Mei Mei's arrival and all that she will need from each of us, but that we would also be enjoying this time together and not wishing it away.


God has heard my cries and He knows my heart. Even in the struggle, the wait, the pain of not yet holding my daughter, He brings friends, and worship, and divine appointments with others--just when my soul needs them most.  When I am at my lowest, when I feel I've reached the end and I am consumed with it all--He is there. And He renews my hope, and my strength, to go yet another day. My God is good. ALL THE TIME.

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."    --Isaiah 40:31