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,