Make Room For Acceleration

Once we received our Article 5, I had a wave of relief consume me and felt the confidence to contact my dear cousin's wife and order our airline tickets. She found the seven of us a good deal for May travel. Our agency was concerned because they have never had anyone order tickets before receiving Travel Approval, but I trust God can accelerate this part of the process. Our agency liason always said at this point he could make a recommendation to speed up TA and I have seen those expedited TA's coming in one weeks time. And so, completely free-falling into God's loving arms, I am believing this will be the case for us.

Seeing the World covered in cans

When our oldest played volleyball we fundraised her club fees by collecting Christmas trees, hundreds and hundreds of Christmas trees. The Christmas tree had new meaning for me and it wasn't always positive. I couldn't drive down a street without looking up people's driveways and alongside their houses wondering when the Christmas tree would appear. Fortunately this obsession would only last a few short weeks.


When our boy played club soccer I volunteered for the job in the clubhouse doing inventory, the job that got me to the football games before anyone else and kept me there after everyone else had gone home. I was energized by knowing that the longer I was there the more money would go into Simon's account. Never mind that I probably never made enough in a day to make up for the lost time. But Simon was able to play soccer all year round.

When our youngest decided her money raising endeavor for her China airfare would be can collecting my obsessive behavior kicked in again. Everywhere we go I glance around for cans. Today on my run I not only found five cans, but I found a dirty bag to put them in. Thank goodness our trip is almost here!

Lydia has made about $500 toward her airfare thanks to all you who have collected and saved for her. If there is anyone out there that has cans and would share give us a call.

Adoption Super Saturday Sale

Huge thanks to my dear friends who spearheaded a garage sale to help fund our adoption. It was a grande success due to fun friend time and money earned. I was dragging my feet, but Tori's energy spurred me on. Thanks ladies!

Lydiaism: Confiscating a little duckie bank on one of the tables, Lydia walked over to Tori and asked to borrow her permanent marker. She had cut a small piece of paper and proceeded to write "tips" on it. She then took the duckie bank over to the kiddy cash register we were using, set the bank in front of the register, sat down to collect money and hopefully solicit some tips.

Article 5
   Article 5
      Article 5
         Article 5
Article 5

Heart Touched!

I am constantly "heart touched" (as Lydia would say) by this woman! Thanks to Stephanie on our Xinyu Yahoo Group I contacted Tiffanie about meeting our little boy when she visited his orphanage. She not only brought him gifts and sent us many photos and his finding ad she also is arranging our visit to Nanchang. She has made amazing connections and most recently found a beautiful apartment for us all to stay in in the month of May. I can't even tell her to secure it because I have no control over our timing...I think May, but now, maybe June, I wail! And she always responds to my e-mails with words of encouragement. I know though our timing is absolutely a mystery, the people God has placed in our journey are incredible. Below is Tiffanie's letter I received this morning.



Dearest Diane and family


Thanks for the pictures, you make my smiling face with them. you are sooooooooo special... please don't worry, you are always in my prayers,...now I read Bible everyday that has become my habit , I am happy with God watching me every moment. it is good feelings for me to be a kid in Father's care, I really feel safe and peaceful with him . so please rely on heavenly Father, he surely makes your kind wishes come true.. he has great mercy you !

With love,

Tiffanie
 
 

But now...

Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
   I will bring your children from the east
   and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
   and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring my sons from afar
   and my daughters from the ends of the earth--
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.'

This was Sunday's message at church.

Through this frustrating process I am reminded of God's incredible universe and His exquisite precision for our life.

Glorious visit

DSC_6546
Originally uploaded by dileob

We were all excited about an April visit from Grandma and Grandpa/ Mom and Dad. And we are even more excited they are coming back in July to meet our newest family member, Yu Lei. Hurry up, Travel Approval!!! PLEASE remember our process in you prayers.

Work Party Saturday

Years ago when Leo and partners started their business we began work parties to help each other out. We have officially begun the 2010 work parties at our home. What a blessing.

Charlie, Leo and Jonathon tilled the front yard, beginning the lovely new green grass process. Beautiful day ending with rain to make the yard currently a muddy mess.

Emily, Nathan, Dan and I sanded and painted the back porch. I have a bit of trim to finish up but they made huge progress. We re-roofed last year after noticing the leaks coming through to the back porch ceiling.

Theresa and Feather cleaned bathroom grout. It looks perfect!

Karen sewed up the back cushions on our couch after ripping due to plenty of kid wear and tear.

We ended the day with lunch and prayer, including prayer for this China process and our little guy.

Hurry up and move over!!

I was listening to a great speaker today on my run who spoke to my heart and my head. I have been in a "Hurry up and wait" mode with this adoption. It's been very up and down, with still more uncertainties to come. This message was a "Hurry up and move over" message, a positive spin to what we are experiencing. God can do the extra in our ordinary. He can add the super to our natural. He can do what we cannot. Instead of the crazy waiting and helplessness, move over, BELIEVE and let God add His miraculous touch. I just really liked that!

Another Lydiaism. Went to bed Easter Eve and saw Lydia had place butterflies above our bed. Woke up Easter to discover she had placed them on all the doorposts and bedposts.

 

The kid's room

Something Old

          We painted blue over the pink and found an old light fixture Leo's parents had given us years ago. And, of course, we had to keep up Grandma Jeffrey's sweet needlepoint.

                                                       
                               Something New

We went blue to include Yu Lei and added some fun wall stickers.

Something Borrowed

Simon gave up his bed because it is the lower portion of the bunkbed. This is Yu Lei's bed. Leo is working on finishing up the floor board. There was an old wall heater there. Note Lydia's snake weaving out of the top bunk.

Something Blue

           
The walls are a mist blue. And the girls are pretty pleased with the color.
                                                              

Let's try it again. Everything's in China but us.

The document came in the mail today. Praise God! It will be in China when the offices open up Monday morning and all can proceed.

Feels like 2 steps forward, 3 steps back

E-mail received this noon from agency:

Not so good news. I’m currently on hold with NVC(National Visa Center) trying to clarify the letter issue. Consulate said they were not announced by NVC, and I suspect the people we talked to didn’t understand what kind of letter we were talking about.


I’ll call or email you as soon as I’ll have some answers.

PS. Our facilitator emailed me, confirming the Consulate needs the letter before they will issue the
article 5

2nd e-mail from agency:

Ok, that was interesting. I talked to another person at NVC who told me they are still sending these letters!!!!!


We’ll have to wait, you’re probably going to receive the letter in the mail soon.






Apparently, everything's not in China.

Everything's in China except us!

After calling NVC(National Visa Center) once yesterday and once today I contacted our agency liason and told him I got three different people(inc. a supervisor) who had no clue as to why we needed this slip of paper before our Article 5 would be issued. They said sure they'd send a notice to us that they sent all our visa information to the American Consulate in China, but why? So she did and he(our liason) had the same discussions when he called NVC, and agreed to get our Article 5 pushed through hopefully by the end of next week, without this infamous sheet of paper. After the Article 5 passes inspection our paperwork is issued to the China people and they issue travel approval

So God-willing we will be in China next month.