December 9, 2006 - Our referral!!!!!! HOORAY!!!
After waiting for 14 months since China received our paperwork, we finally got our referral. We are thrilled!!! This is Emma, our new daughter. We can hardly wait to get our hands on her.
SHe's from the Hainan Province, an island off the southern coastline of China.
One year old in this photo (July 06). It stays green here all year long. Her province is also known as the "Oriental Hawaii."
A family of four now.. soon to be five !!!! December 12, 2006
Here's our Christmas photo. This is the cabin at Pigeon Forge that we were staying at for a few days when we got "the call" that Emma's photo and info had arrived at our agency in Utah. We cried tears of joy and relief on the trolley from Galtinburg to Pigeon Forge. The bus driver wanted to know what we were so excited about. I was more than happy to tell her!
We quickly had the photo emailed to the lodge's main office; the ladies in the office were SOOOO nice to go the extra mile for me and print off the first photo that I would have of our daughter. I'll always think of this happy event when I think of Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg.
The secretaries surprised us with a beautiful flower arrangement to congratualte us on our good news.
Here's our Christmas photo. This is the cabin at Pigeon Forge that we were staying at for a few days when we got "the call" that Emma's photo and info had arrived at our agency in Utah. We cried tears of joy and relief on the trolley from Galtinburg to Pigeon Forge. The bus driver wanted to know what we were so excited about. I was more than happy to tell her!We quickly had the photo emailed to the lodge's main office; the ladies in the office were SOOOO nice to go the extra mile for me and print off the first photo that I would have of our daughter. I'll always think of this happy event when I think of Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg.
The secretaries surprised us with a beautiful flower arrangement to congratualte us on our good news.
Getting Closer.....January 17, 2007
We've got her room all ready!!! It feels so weird to see pink and lavender in our house! :)
The small island touching the southern border of China is the Hainan province, where Emma lives right now We finally have our dates to travel.... We'll be leaving Alabama on Feb. 2 and arriving in China on the 4th. Then we finally get Emma on the 5th.... GOTCHA DAY!!!!! (as it is called in adoption circles) We'll spend 3 days in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, and then we travel to the southern most coast of the island, to a fabulous beach resort called Sanya. Ben's 9th birthday will be there, so we'll have plenty of reasons to celebrate on this trip! On Valentine's Day, we'll receive Emma's visa and passport in Guangzhou, then we start the journey home. What a great time we expect to have!!!!!
Endless Miracles January 17, 2007
Our next beach picture will include one more smiling face.
I keep telling myself that I must write down this incredible journey that God has chosen for us; it has His fingerprints all over it. We are the first to say that this adoption is a "God-thing." It's not something that we decided to do just to make the world a better place. No, He ordained it for our family; we are sure of it. In quiet yet powerful ways, He whispered to our hearts in 2004, "This is for you. This is for your family."
Back in 1995, while still engaged, we had mentioned that it would be great to adopt someday. Now, fast-forward to 2003, when we began to talk about adoption again. After praying for almost a year, we were ready to start the process, yet one obstacle stood in our way: the cost. How could we afford it? It seemed too big to even fathom. Of course, we know that no problem is too big for God, yet were we ready to put our faith to the test? At this point, we still kept our plans to ourselves.
In October of 2004, Pat was preaching one Sunday morning about the ten lepers who were healed. It doesn't seem that they were healed at the moment Jesus spoke, but instead got up to go to the priest, trusting that the miracle would happen along the way, simply because Jesus said so. And then it hit him.. like a ton of rocks! He continued to say that if the lepers had to act in faith, not knowing all the details of how it would play out, then our family must do the same. We must "get up" and start the adoption process, trusting every need to Him.... God wanted us to adopt, then the miracles would come.
So, that month we signed our first signature on the homestudy papers, which also required a $99 fee. No more than a few minutes passed by after signing the check, that the door bell rang. A dear church member handed us a $100 check as a gift to our family for pastor appreciation month. WOW! God is good, isn't He? Our whole adoption process is full of miracles just like that one!!!
Our family began praying soon about the child that China would chose for us. We asked God to guide their thoughts and give us just the specific little girl that would fit so perfectly in our family. Even though our waiting time extended from 8 months to 17 months, we NEVER doubted that God was sovereign through it all. Of course, we wanted to have her last year, but knowing that God is on the throne and His plans are perfect kept us strong.
What a faith builder this experience has been for us! And that God would let us be a part of adoption is very humbling! I came across this quote today as I was thinking about our journey, and it rings loudly with truth!
Stop telling God how big your storm is - Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is.--- unknown
Our next beach picture will include one more smiling face.I keep telling myself that I must write down this incredible journey that God has chosen for us; it has His fingerprints all over it. We are the first to say that this adoption is a "God-thing." It's not something that we decided to do just to make the world a better place. No, He ordained it for our family; we are sure of it. In quiet yet powerful ways, He whispered to our hearts in 2004, "This is for you. This is for your family."
Back in 1995, while still engaged, we had mentioned that it would be great to adopt someday. Now, fast-forward to 2003, when we began to talk about adoption again. After praying for almost a year, we were ready to start the process, yet one obstacle stood in our way: the cost. How could we afford it? It seemed too big to even fathom. Of course, we know that no problem is too big for God, yet were we ready to put our faith to the test? At this point, we still kept our plans to ourselves.
In October of 2004, Pat was preaching one Sunday morning about the ten lepers who were healed. It doesn't seem that they were healed at the moment Jesus spoke, but instead got up to go to the priest, trusting that the miracle would happen along the way, simply because Jesus said so. And then it hit him.. like a ton of rocks! He continued to say that if the lepers had to act in faith, not knowing all the details of how it would play out, then our family must do the same. We must "get up" and start the adoption process, trusting every need to Him.... God wanted us to adopt, then the miracles would come.
So, that month we signed our first signature on the homestudy papers, which also required a $99 fee. No more than a few minutes passed by after signing the check, that the door bell rang. A dear church member handed us a $100 check as a gift to our family for pastor appreciation month. WOW! God is good, isn't He? Our whole adoption process is full of miracles just like that one!!!
Our family began praying soon about the child that China would chose for us. We asked God to guide their thoughts and give us just the specific little girl that would fit so perfectly in our family. Even though our waiting time extended from 8 months to 17 months, we NEVER doubted that God was sovereign through it all. Of course, we wanted to have her last year, but knowing that God is on the throne and His plans are perfect kept us strong.
What a faith builder this experience has been for us! And that God would let us be a part of adoption is very humbling! I came across this quote today as I was thinking about our journey, and it rings loudly with truth!
Stop telling God how big your storm is - Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is.--- unknown
Just a Week Away - January 25, 2007
Wow, just one more week before we board the plane to get Emma. It's almost unbelievable! We hope to get some Zzzzzzz's on the flight from LA to China, since we leave at midnight and arrive the next morning in Guangzhou. Then we hop on a short flight to Haikou, the capital of the small Chinese island. What a treat to go from 40 degree weather in Alabama to 60-70's! Too bad I don't have a tan :) But that's Ok..... We'll be on the beach anyway.. tan or no tan :)
I was reminded of a prayer that we began to pray back in 2003, while we were still living in Gordo. We asked that God would do whatever He needed to do in our lives so that He might receive glory from each of us as individuals and also as a family unit. I wonder if this whole adoption is a part of His answer to that. This is all so much bigger than us. And we know that the path He takes His children on is not always easy or smooth, but it's worth it. We have alot of learning to do and adjustments to make. Pray for us during this transition time for Emma, that she will bond to us quickly and feel loved from the very start.
Wow, just one more week before we board the plane to get Emma. It's almost unbelievable! We hope to get some Zzzzzzz's on the flight from LA to China, since we leave at midnight and arrive the next morning in Guangzhou. Then we hop on a short flight to Haikou, the capital of the small Chinese island. What a treat to go from 40 degree weather in Alabama to 60-70's! Too bad I don't have a tan :) But that's Ok..... We'll be on the beach anyway.. tan or no tan :)
I was reminded of a prayer that we began to pray back in 2003, while we were still living in Gordo. We asked that God would do whatever He needed to do in our lives so that He might receive glory from each of us as individuals and also as a family unit. I wonder if this whole adoption is a part of His answer to that. This is all so much bigger than us. And we know that the path He takes His children on is not always easy or smooth, but it's worth it. We have alot of learning to do and adjustments to make. Pray for us during this transition time for Emma, that she will bond to us quickly and feel loved from the very start.
We Made It - February 4, 2007
After 40 hours from the moment we left our house in Northport, we have finally arrived at our hotel in the Hainan province. We are pretty exhausted, even though we did get a few hours of restful sleep on the flight from LA to Guangzhou. Now we must meet with the other adopting families in the hotel lobby for our first meeting with our tour guide, "Jojo." She's been a blessing ever since we arrived!!!
After 40 hours from the moment we left our house in Northport, we have finally arrived at our hotel in the Hainan province. We are pretty exhausted, even though we did get a few hours of restful sleep on the flight from LA to Guangzhou. Now we must meet with the other adopting families in the hotel lobby for our first meeting with our tour guide, "Jojo." She's been a blessing ever since we arrived!!!
GOTCHA DAY - February 5, 2007
Today was GOTCHA DAY!!! We had butterflies in our bellies all morning, knowing that Emma would soon be with us.
We met at a local registration office that was a 20 minute bus ride from our hotel. After filling out more paperwork in a tiny room that was holding 6 anxious families, someone came in and said, ”The children have arrived.”
We totally lost track of what we were supposed to be doing with the paperwork. Our guide, Jojo, said we could go meet our children now. Rushing down the hallway to the front entrance of the building, we were met by a whole group of ladies (nannies) with 6 adorable kids surrounding them. I glanced around, looking for which one was Emma. The only photo we had seen was taken back in July 2006. I searched each sweet face til I finally saw her. She had grown more hair and was a little bigger, but I immediately recognized her. What a precious face!!
Like the other 5 childern, Emma was very hesitant to come near us. The nannies placed Emma in my arms; I could hardly believe it. We were finally meeting the little girl who had consumed so much of our thoughts and prayers. She cried a lot, but Cheerios can do wonders for stifling tears. Zane even helped me feed her.
After “sealing” our signatures with our fingerprints—literally putting our red-inked thumbprints on top of our name— all 6 families hopped back on the bus and headed to the nearest photo stand for our first family picture… yet another requirement for the adoption to be final according to the rules in Hainan Province.
Emma is still crying off and on, but is taking naps and drinking her milk without problems. She clutches to her orange coat, as if it were her favorite blanket or stuffed animal. I suppose it’s her way of holding on to her life in the orphanage. I wish there was some way to let her know that it will all be OK. But since she doesn’t understand our language, we simply hold her and sing to her. She seems to like that a lot.
Today was GOTCHA DAY!!! We had butterflies in our bellies all morning, knowing that Emma would soon be with us.
We met at a local registration office that was a 20 minute bus ride from our hotel. After filling out more paperwork in a tiny room that was holding 6 anxious families, someone came in and said, ”The children have arrived.”
We totally lost track of what we were supposed to be doing with the paperwork. Our guide, Jojo, said we could go meet our children now. Rushing down the hallway to the front entrance of the building, we were met by a whole group of ladies (nannies) with 6 adorable kids surrounding them. I glanced around, looking for which one was Emma. The only photo we had seen was taken back in July 2006. I searched each sweet face til I finally saw her. She had grown more hair and was a little bigger, but I immediately recognized her. What a precious face!!Like the other 5 childern, Emma was very hesitant to come near us. The nannies placed Emma in my arms; I could hardly believe it. We were finally meeting the little girl who had consumed so much of our thoughts and prayers. She cried a lot, but Cheerios can do wonders for stifling tears. Zane even helped me feed her.
After “sealing” our signatures with our fingerprints—literally putting our red-inked thumbprints on top of our name— all 6 families hopped back on the bus and headed to the nearest photo stand for our first family picture… yet another requirement for the adoption to be final according to the rules in Hainan Province.
Emma is still crying off and on, but is taking naps and drinking her milk without problems. She clutches to her orange coat, as if it were her favorite blanket or stuffed animal. I suppose it’s her way of holding on to her life in the orphanage. I wish there was some way to let her know that it will all be OK. But since she doesn’t understand our language, we simply hold her and sing to her. She seems to like that a lot.
Zane feeding Emma Cheerios..
Pat calmed her down by singing to her. She eventually fell asleep with a cookie in her mouth.
Our first family photo together
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