One step closer --- LID!!

So happy to report that we have a log in date (or LID) of March 22, 2012!!!!  Talk about wonderful gifts!!!  I am so happy. This happens to have been the day we had our wonderful date to see the Shen Yun show at the Kennedy Center. I did feel closer to her that night, but didn't realize we were actually one step closer in the adoption process!!!  For those of you that aren't sure what LID means... this means that our dossier (our "all about us" collection of documents and pictures) has been verified and logged into the Chinese Chlidren Welfare system.  Now we once again wait for the next step.... our LOA (letter of acceptance).  This next step could take any where from 60-100+ days!!!  Please pray that our next step, our LOA comes quickly, but more importantly with the blessing and timing of our Lord.

Each of our children have a special song that we sing to them when we tuck them in at night.  Clare's is a verse I prayed when I was pregnant with her.  It is a special song to our blessed mother, Mary.  Jon's song is "Your song" by Elton John.  Anna's song is "All I ask of you" from the Phatom of the Opera.  By the way, she pick that one out!  And Thomas' song is the blessing song we learned at a youth retreat, TEC.  We sang it over each other at our wedding, and we sing it to Thomas every night.  For a while I was searching for Ellie's song, and I found it about two months ago.  The words speak so profoundly to me.  It represents this wonderful journey we are on to each other, and of the depth of the love we have for her today and always. Today is a great day to share with you "Ellie's song".  It is "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perry.

Here is the video

Here are the words ---

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Gifts

We have been under a bit of stress lately, Steven trying to finish his first year in CRNA school, finding a house to rent in Nevada, getting ready to move across country, preparing documents for grant applications and for our new homestudy agency in Nevada....ugh! yet God's has graced us abundantly.  In the middle of my worry of "how will all of this work out".... our amazing God has proven to me over and over again that He is working it out!  I wanted to share with you some of the amazing gifts we have received recently. Gifts that He used to teach me that He is here walking with us, taking care of each of us (all seven)!

First of all we had an amazing fundraiser last weekend.  Our friends, Michele and Steve, hosted a paintinng party for the children at their art studio, ArtventureUs! here in Maryland.  Michele is an amazing artist.  She designed an adorable picture of a Great panda surrounded by a red thread (I love that part) to be used at this event.  She lead the children in painting their own versions of this panda.  We had an amazing turnout, and the kids did a wonderful job!!!  Check out the pictures---

Clare creating her masterpiece

Anna painting the ears of her panda

Everyone with their finished panda paintings! Thank you for helping us to bring Ellie home.

Outside of the White House.  And yes, my children picked out their own clothing!

The next gift happened last weekend.  This is our first and only year here in Maryland and we have enjoyed so many of the amazing things there are to do here and in the surrounding areas.  We have been excited about seeing the Cherry Blossoms bloom, but were concerned they would not do well this year because of the crazy weather.  Well it just so happened that God opened up these amazing trees with their glorious blooms this past week....earlier than they had predicted!  The best part about this was that Steven had just started his Spring Break from school. So..... we were able to spend some much needed family time together enjoying the beauty of the Cherry Blossoms.  Last Sunday we visited them in DC.  This year is the 100th year celebration of the Cherry Bloosom trees in Washington DC!!  Then last Tuesday we had a wonderful "date" together peacefully wondering around the quiet and beauty of the National Arboretum.  The trees there were breathtakeing.  I have official decided I LOVE cherry blossom trees. Of course they make me think of my sweet Ellie.  Their beauty is breathtaking, revealing the amazing grace of God (just like our Ellie)

In the middle of the Cherry Blossoms in DC.  We even had a picnic under the trees.

Jon and Anna.  And they did find these blooms on the ground....no picking them from the trees!

Picture of us courtesy of Anna

Clare and her daddy

Some of the amazing colors at the National Arboretum

This one is from the field in our back yard!  I get to awe at the beautfy of this Cherry Blossum in the morning with the sunrise.

The next gift was a wonderful surprise!!  Back in December Steven and I saw an advertisement for the Shun Yun Chinese Cultural show coming to the Kennedy Center in DC.   We both really wanted to go, but after looking at the prices of tickets, we decided that it was not a possibility for us right now.  Then after visiting an amazing Christmas light display in a local park, we entered a trivia contest.  One of the prizes for this contest was two tickets to this show.  Guess who won the tickets?  That's right, we got a call in January that we won two tickets to this show.  I was still a little nervous, because with Steven's school schedule, it is hard for him to take an evening off.  But not only did we receive these great tickets, but when they arrived in the mail, they were for the Thursday evening of his Spring Break!!!  Wow! We had an amazing time together.  And watching these outstanding performers on stage made me feel closer to our daughter.  I truly am falling in love in more with the beauty of the Chinese culture.   

So....lesson learned... why worry about today?  or the things that are out of our hands?  God is working everything out for us.  We just have to let go and let Him work!

An update

I wanted to share the gift we received the other night from our amazing friends at CCAI... an update!

We found out that Ellie enjoys to scribble, paint, and look at books!!!!  Is she going to fit in or what?  For those of you that know us well, know we have an art cabinet stocked with supplies.  The kids and I are always doing some sort of project.  I cannot wait to hang her art and creations on the wall next to the other children's work.

For now we will awe over the beauty we see in our newest picture of our sweet Ellie...

DTC - This means so much.

So happy to let you all know that we were DTC as of yesterday, March 9.  DTC in the adoption world stands for Dossier To Ch*na.  We are so very happy with this wonderful news that arrived via email yesterday evening!!   So now this means that the ball is in Ch*na's court.  We have done everything we can to get all of our approvals, and paperwork together.  Now we wait to be officially logged-in (or to receive LID) in the Ch*nese Children Welfare system.  From our LID it could be anywhere from 4-6 months to travel!!!  Still praying for early Fall, but would LOVE to travel in the summer!

DTC meant so much more... another confirmation that our amazing God is working everything out in His time, the best time.  Yesterday morning, Thomas and I went to a local children's consignment fair with some wonderful friends.  There I found lots of things for Ellie, and became so very excited about her being home. It felt "real" that we are adopting, not just a dream.  My absolutely favorite item that I found yesterday was a beautiful Christening gown to have Ellie baptized in when she is home!!  It is 24 months and just stunning!  As soon as I saw it I could picture our beautiful girl wearing it on the day of her Baptism.

So today DTC not only meant Dossier To Ch*na... but more....Dress To Christen!  I cannot wait until the day that we are able to share in the special day with our little girl.

Ellie, we are one step closer to bringing you home, baby girl!  We love you so much! Thank you, Lord, for this day full of wonderful gifts.

I love being a mommy!

I do.  I LOVE being a mom.  I've always wanted to be a mom.  Growing up I had 13 Cabbage Patch kids,  each one was named and loved very much. I pretended to be a "mommy" all of the time.  Well except when I would set up my pretend hospital and play "nurse".... two dreams God has already fulfilled!

This morning I couldn't help but think of the little (and big) things that I love about being a mom...
  - the fact the Thomas still thinks Mommy kisses fixes all boo-boos
  - the way that each of the children come crawl into my lap (or bed) first thing in the morning
  - when they are sick, or sad, they want me to wrap my arms around them
  - watching them learn new skills, like reading and riding their bikes
  - watching them grow and become the amazing people God has designed them to become

Now I have an opportunity to grow as a mom... to parent a child who has had more loses in her tiny life than I have had in my entire 34 years.  One day she will realize that I will not be able to kiss away her boo-boos.... that she will have challenges that I cannot fix.
  I have been given the privilege to be in this sweet girl's life....as her mom!  Please Lord, help me to love Ellie as you love her, to show her that you are the great healer of all hurts.  Right now, please help her to learn that you have been with her always , and very soon her mommy, who loves her so much, will be with her too!

I am so blessed to be a mommy to these amazing children!

Dossier -Done!!!!

I have a huge "praise report" to share with you --  our dossier was complete as of yesterday and off to our agency for final review!!  This is such a huge blessing.
For those of you that have not yet traveled this roller-coaster ride of adoption, please allow me to explain the reason behind my excitement ---  Since September we have been working hard at completing our homestudy (which included interviews, inspections by our social worker, the fire department, and the sanitary department; reports of everything about us - from Molly, our dog, to our fiances, birth certificates, letters of reference, fingerprints, police reports, FBI clearances, on and on and on!)  And then we needed to wait for US Immigration approval to adopt a child from Ch*na.  Soooooo we have spent the last 5 1/2 months working hard at compiling this treasure, our dossier --- proof that we are capable and safe to adopt a child.  Just as a side note, if we were not crazy before we started this process, we might be after we are complete! Just kidding!   So then as I have stated in earlier posts, each document needs to be "sealed" or certified and authenticated by the US State Dept and Ch*nese Embassy before it arrives in Ch*na.
  While we were waiting for our homestudy to be finalized and for our Immigration approval, I had sent over all of our other documents that were sealed along with our family pictures to our agency.  So all I had to do was to complete the steps with our homestudy and I-797 (Immigration approval).  Needless to say, I was a little nervous yesterday -- (if you haven't read the story of why I was nervous, check out my previous post "trust".  It explains my previous encounter with this "process".)
    The first HUGE praise report is to give God the glory for His timing.  He called us to Ellie and this adoption right now, right here, in Maryland.  That being said there are HUGE advantages to living this close to DC.  Normally, families have to travel long distances or pay large amounts of money to have couriers complete their "sealing" for them.  But I have been able to do everything myself and within close distances. Thank you God!
     Since our homestudy was notarized by a civilian (and not the military jag) I needed to go to Annapolis to have it certified by the clerk of court, and then by the MD Secretary of State.  I was overjoyed on the day it was finalized.  So Thomas and I drove to Baltimore and then to Annapolis to have the first three steps done for this document.  Then I put it to the side while we waited for our I-797.  It arrived in the mail Tuesday afternoon (only 36days since I put our application in the mail)!!!  Happily I went to the base on Wednesday and had a military notary put their stamp on the copy of our I-797.  We were done at 10:30 and I thought briefly about going to the State Department.  But flashbacks came rushing back of the anxiety of trying to be there before it closed at 11:00- NO way! So yesterday morning, Thomas and I headed over to Washington DC to the US State Department....praying along the way.  It was a breeze, praise God! Then we went to the Ch*nese Embassy.  It was a breeze, praise God!  The lady told me that the documents could be ready by 2:30 -What?!!? - praise God!!  I was so excited!  After hearing this great news, Thomas and I needed something to do for 3 hours.  It was a gorgeous day yesterday - a taste of Spring! So we decided to take a walk and check out the area.  Just three blocks away in the middle of this busy city was an amazing playground, complete with a sandbox and a huge messy, mud puddle!  Thomas LOVED it!  Again, praise God!  As I sat there and watched my beautiful boy playing, I awed at the graces and blessings the Lord has poured over us, not only with this adoption process, but in our entire life.  God IS so good.
       We had so much fun at the park and even made some new friends, praise God! Hello Sarah!  When we were finished playing and having lunch, it was time to go back to the Embassy and pick up our paperwork.  No problems there, praise God!  Then I had noticed a Fedex office right across the street from the playground. So we quickly headed over there after leaving the Embassy and sent off the remainder of our documents to our agency.

All of our dossier documents and pictures (minus our homestudy and I-797)

       Can you believe it?  We are half way there, now.  After our homestudy taking forever... I thought that we would not be able to get our dossier to Ch*na until the middle of April.  Now I have just sent everything off on the first day of March, praise God!!!!
      Now what?  Well now, our agency will review the last bit of our documents, then translate them.  They will send our completed dossier to Ch*na.  Then we wait for our family to be "logged in".  This is when the Ch*nese Children Welfare Department registers our family to be able to adopt a child from Ch*na.  Since we are already pre-approved to adopt Ellie, we will not have to wait for a referral.  With other familes, after being logged in or having their LID, this is when they would wait for a referral of a child.  So after we have our LID, we have to wait for our LOA.  (I know, love the acronyms. What can I say I'm a nurse married to a military man, I'm used to it!)  The LOA is our official approval to adopt Ellie... this will be a very happy day!
      How much longer?  Well still only God knows this answer.  Every step is an unpredictable amount of wait time... sometimes two weeks, sometimes 4 months!  So we are still expecting to travel in September/October.  But with God, ALL things are possible.  He knows my heart's desire is to be with our daughter as soon as we can.  So now we continue to trust in His timing and praise Him for His graces!  Thank you, my Father God, for taking care of us and loving us so much.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever."          Psalm 136:1