Puzzle Results: Finished!

With incredible gratitude we joyfully 

share with you our final puzzle update!

 Just four short months ago we put together the first two pieces of Logan's puzzle, and now, a week before we leave to get our precious new son,

the last two pieces have been put into place.

Logan's puzzle will be framed in double-sided glass and displayed in our home; a constant visual reminder of all who prayed, encouraged and supported us on this journey.

So humbled.

So blessed.

So thankful.

Thank you.

Travel Dates!

We received a rainbow in the midst of all the rain today,

we have our travel dates!

We are leaving the USA on August 8th

and return August 24th!

We leave in 16 days!!!

I'll post more details soon, but wanted to share the good news with everyone.

Travel Approval!

We received Travel Approval from China!

 We were thrilled when we received the call from our agency letting us know that one of the last pieces of the puzzle had been put into place.

The next step is for our agency to make our visa appointment with the 

US Consulate in Guangzhou and then we can schedule travel. 

We assumed we would be part of either the August 16th or 30th travel group.  Being part of either group would still give us plenty of time to finish up our long to do list before we traveled.

However, along with the wonderful news of travel approval, our agency also let us know that they are hoping to schedule our travel date for August 9th, 

if not sooner.

If not sooner?

Click. Click. Click.
I felt myself slowly moving up the first hill 

of an emotional roller coaster.

As I reached the top, I teetered on the hill for just a moment

before I plunged into a rush of adrenaline.

 Thrilled, exhilarated, excited.

We may be getting our sweet, little guy sooner than we anticipated!

 Nervous, anxious, uncertain.

There's so much to do and I'm not sure where to start!

On my knees.
Pray first.
A perfect place to start.

"God, you are my God
and I will trust in you and not be shaken..."
The lyrics from the song "Still, My Soul Be Still" are now running through my head.  Moving me from the fast curves of the roller coaster to a smooth, calmer ride through the pre-travel phase of our journey.  

"Lord, of peace renew
a steadfast spirit within me, to rest in you alone..."

  It's so easy to fall into a state of frenzied uncertainty,
jumping past the certainty of prayer.
Getting wrapped up in the varied details that don't really matter.
Losing site of the One who does.
How faithful He is to reign me back in each and every time.
I'm so thankful for His faithfulness.

And I'm so thankful for the beautiful lyrics of Keith and Kristyn Getty's amazing song...

Article 5!

We received wonderful news this morning!

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has issued our Article 5!

Receiving our Article 5 means the US Consulate has reviewed Logan's visa application, made sure it met the qualifications for an immigrant visa and

has signed off that everything is in order for our adoption to be completed!

It was really important that we received our Article 5 today because the US Consulate in Guangzhou will be closed between July 15 and July 23 as they move their offices to a new location.

We needed to have our paperwork submitted and processed by today, otherwise we would have been caught in the delay of the move and our adoption process would be on hold.

But God is good and our journey continues!

Next stop, Travel Approval!

We now wait for our adoption agency to schedule Logan's visa appointment and for the agency to receive our travel approval from China!

This last step was a real nail-biter.  

But a curve ball every now and then helps draw us closer

to the One who is truly in control of this journey.

The One whispering that constant reminder 

that we so desperately need, "trust".

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight."

 Proverbs 3:5-6

Adoption 101.

When I was pregnant with Olivia, our first child, I read through every baby book I could get my hands on.  By my eighth month of pregnancy I was re-reading many of them, studying them as if preparing for a final exam.

However, there was nothing that could have fully prepared me for the incredible responsibility a beautiful new baby brings.

When we brought her home the books were a wonderful reference, but the maternal instinct that God so generously implants in a mother's heart, became the foundation of my parenting style.

And now, here I am again...

 

 ...reading through as many books about adoption as I can. 

Hoping they will hold the key to making this transition easier for Logan, as he leaves the only home he's ever known. 

 Hoping to glean enough from each book to help him learn to love and trust a family he's never met before. 

And praying that the gift of maternal instinct will shine through...

You Are Here.

I'm a planner.

I love organization, lists, outlines and Excel sheets.

On this journey there have been plenty of lists and outlines,

but there's also been plenty of unknowns, estimated and varying timeframes and lots of waiting.

I also like "you are here" signs,

those helpful little signs on amusement park maps or mall directories.

I like to know exactly where I am, so I can plan exactly where I'm going.

But on this journey, sometimes I'm not sure where we are.  There are times when I don't completely understand the paperwork or the next step.

But it's okay.

This journey has strengthened my trust in Him.

I only need to remember that this is God's plan and we just need to do our part.

  

And look how far He's brought us:

  We received our cable (approval letter) from the National Visa Center (NVC)!

This means that the NVC has "cabled" our file to the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China.  This is approval of our visa petition for Logan!

Now we wait for our Article 5.

The Article 5 letter lets the CCCWA know that our immigration file is complete for the adoption.

After that, travel approval!

Because God is in control,

I don't have to be.

But I'm so thankful for the "you are here" signs He leaves along the way.

Puzzle Results: Weeks 12 & 13!

Another 58 pieces have been added to Logan's puzzle!

 776 sponsored pieces to date!

The puzzle is over 75% complete! 

Just three short months ago we put the first two pieces 

of the puzzle together.

And today, over 60 names have been added.

It is truly a beautiful sight.

Thank you.

Nesting.

Nesting: the urge to clean, arrange and improve things around the house in preparation for a newborn baby.

My house was never cleaner then when I was pregnant with one of the children.  Each time, I was overcome with the nesting instinct; the incredible need to reorganize closets, alphabetize the spice rack and scrub every square inch of the house.

  I always thought nesting was a unique phenomenon that only affected pregnant mamas-to-be,

but it actually happens to adoptive mamas-to-be too!

I realized that the nesting instinct had fully set in this past weekend, when I 

deep-cleaned the living room armed with a toothbrush.  

Last night I organized and vacuumed the garage and

today, a brand new cleaning project awaits!

With Olivia, Julia, Ross and Ella, I cleaned, organized and prepared as they grew in my womb.

With Logan, I will clean, organize and prepare as he grows in my heart.

Teresa

When we began our adoption process we didn't know that our journey would become part of a greater journey, joining other adoptive families as they each travel their roads to adoption.  Our blog has been shared with many other families who are considering adoption or just beginning their journey, as well as those who are just a bit behind us in the process.

We also cross paths with veteran adoptive families; those who have been down the road multiple times.  Their blogs have been an amazing help and blessing to us as we continue our journey to Logan.  This is the case with Teresa's family, the Bartlinskis.

Teresa's mom and dad have nine children, five of which were adopted from China.  Teresa is their youngest child, adopted in 2010 at three years old from an orphanage in Beijing.

They adopted Teresa knowing she had a terminal heart condition, to them it didn't matter.  They knew that it wasn't about them, it was about her, about God's path for this little girl.  They wanted her to know the love of a family with sisters and brothers.

Two weeks ago Teresa received a much needed heart transplant...

On Thursday her body rejected the donor heart.  

Today the doctors replaced the donor heart with a Berlin heart device, hoping it would sustain her long enough while she waited for another donor heart.

Today we prayed for little Teresa and the entire Bartlinski family.

Today from their family blog, "At 3:23 pm on July 1st, Teresa has ridden her princess bike into Heaven to meet Jesus. She had her ears pierced shortly before her last breath. While we were not there when she took her first breath,God blessed us to be there when she took her last."

Before adopting Teresa, many wondered why they would adopt a terminally ill child, knowing the heartache that would eventually come.  Their Pastor's advice to them was..."GOD will not lead you where HIS grace will not sustain you" . This is what they held onto, this is what they continue to hold onto...

Please join us as we continue to pray for the Bartlinski family.

You can visit their blog here "Our Place Called Home".