This is just a short video of our Wedding Day.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Saturday, March 07, 2009
He's Always Listening
I have something personal that I just wanted to share with everybody. As you all know, Robbie and I are in the very long process of adopting our daughter from China. We made this decision in August of 2006. This was the best decision we have ever made. At the time we made this decision, the wait time for a child was 12-14 months from the time your paperwork was "logged" into China Center for Adoption Affairs (and it takes 6 months to get to that point). So when we started, we were looking to have our daughter home around May of 2008. Well as all of you know the wait time has doubled and that did not happen. We have been "logged in" for 24 months now and no Emma Rae. Now, there is no definite way to know when we will meet our daughter, but they are saying that it could be another 2 years. Needless to say, this is so very frustrating. A lot of people ask me why we are still waiting and why don't we just drop out. Well, that thought could never cross my mind. That would be like a woman being pregnant and having the baby and then going to the nursery and saying um no I don't want that one, I think I'll take another one. Emma is our daughter and she is in China whether she is born or not or even conceived yet, she is OUR daughter and God knows who she is.
Which brings me to the point of this post. Going through this LONG and ever-increasing process has really put me through some tests. It has tested my patience. It has tested belief in myself. And most of all, it has tested my trust in God. I have had many heated conversations with God over the last several months. But through it all, He has been there, and will remain to be there. He proved that to me yesterday! I was on my way to work. I got in my car and I turned the radio off and I said "OK WE HAVE GOT TO TALK".......and that is what I did. I told God that I was frustrated, tired, upset, aggravated, and just plain MAD at him. How could he do this to me? How could he give me such a strong desire to be a Mom and then make it so blooming hard!! Then I told him, I am going to need something, anything, some kind of sign that you are still here with me, that you haven't forgot me. I pulled up at work and I said "Well, that's it, AMEN".
I went in to work and went about my day like normal. After work I went and met Robbie at Costco we looked around, got a few things and then we left to go home. We were in separate cars, so I got in my car and I pulled off. After I was on the road I realized I never turned my radio back on, so I did. And well, there it was like a ton of bricks...MY SIGN. It was a song that I have never heard before called Yours (new verse) by who else but Stevan Curtis Chapman. The song says that everything is God's...Everything!!! That includes ME. I belong to God!!! I matter, my feelings matter, my pain matters, because I belong to God. He knows what he is doing. He is not going to put me through anything by myself. He has a plan for me and he is standing right beside me every step of the way. Yesterday, I just needed a little reminder and he gave it to me.
You know like I said earlier, I have had a few heated conversations with God over the last several months but I talked to my Mom the other day about that and she reminded me that, that's OK. God understands. He knows how we feel. He knows that things get tough and it is OK to get mad. God is a mighty God and He can handle it.
Before I go, I just want to say Thank You to all of the people that are going through this journey with us, our family, our friends, and even the people that have never even met us. I know that there are a lot of people praying for us and that means more than you will ever know.
I also posted a video at the very bottom of my blog page for the song that I mentioned in this post, just listen to it. It's a good reminder for all of us.
Which brings me to the point of this post. Going through this LONG and ever-increasing process has really put me through some tests. It has tested my patience. It has tested belief in myself. And most of all, it has tested my trust in God. I have had many heated conversations with God over the last several months. But through it all, He has been there, and will remain to be there. He proved that to me yesterday! I was on my way to work. I got in my car and I turned the radio off and I said "OK WE HAVE GOT TO TALK".......and that is what I did. I told God that I was frustrated, tired, upset, aggravated, and just plain MAD at him. How could he do this to me? How could he give me such a strong desire to be a Mom and then make it so blooming hard!! Then I told him, I am going to need something, anything, some kind of sign that you are still here with me, that you haven't forgot me. I pulled up at work and I said "Well, that's it, AMEN".
I went in to work and went about my day like normal. After work I went and met Robbie at Costco we looked around, got a few things and then we left to go home. We were in separate cars, so I got in my car and I pulled off. After I was on the road I realized I never turned my radio back on, so I did. And well, there it was like a ton of bricks...MY SIGN. It was a song that I have never heard before called Yours (new verse) by who else but Stevan Curtis Chapman. The song says that everything is God's...Everything!!! That includes ME. I belong to God!!! I matter, my feelings matter, my pain matters, because I belong to God. He knows what he is doing. He is not going to put me through anything by myself. He has a plan for me and he is standing right beside me every step of the way. Yesterday, I just needed a little reminder and he gave it to me.
You know like I said earlier, I have had a few heated conversations with God over the last several months but I talked to my Mom the other day about that and she reminded me that, that's OK. God understands. He knows how we feel. He knows that things get tough and it is OK to get mad. God is a mighty God and He can handle it.
Before I go, I just want to say Thank You to all of the people that are going through this journey with us, our family, our friends, and even the people that have never even met us. I know that there are a lot of people praying for us and that means more than you will ever know.
I also posted a video at the very bottom of my blog page for the song that I mentioned in this post, just listen to it. It's a good reminder for all of us.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Out of Review
We are finally out of the review room!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was posted on the America World blog and on Rumor Queen. Now we are in the matching room. We still have a long time to wait but this is really good news. The wait time at this point is 37 months from LID (log in date) and we have been 22 months 1 week and 4 days. So if the time did not increase any more we would have 15 more months. But the time is increasing a half to a whole month every month. I know this is all confusing but we just have to deal with it. It is going to be so worth it when we get to China and they hand us our daughter. Oh what a day that will be!!!!!
'For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5
'For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas
Merry Christmas Everybody!!!!!!!!!!!! You know, when we started our journey to Emma I never imagined that we would celebrate Christmas 3 times and still no Emma yet. I know that it is gong to happen in God's time but that still doesn't make it any easier sometimes, especially on holidays when family is all together.
Well on to other things. Our spice fund raiser is going really good. Don't forget by the way, if you want to order some just e-mail or call me. It is just $5 a bottle. We still have to sell a lot more before we get Emma.
I hope everybody had a great Christmas. We did. My family came here to Myrtle Beach. We have had a really good time. My sister and her family left on Tuesday and my parents are leaving tomorrow. Emma got several things for Christmas. When I get the pictures downloaded I will post them.
I hope everybody has a good rest of the year and a happy New Year. I'll post again soon.
Well on to other things. Our spice fund raiser is going really good. Don't forget by the way, if you want to order some just e-mail or call me. It is just $5 a bottle. We still have to sell a lot more before we get Emma.
I hope everybody had a great Christmas. We did. My family came here to Myrtle Beach. We have had a really good time. My sister and her family left on Tuesday and my parents are leaving tomorrow. Emma got several things for Christmas. When I get the pictures downloaded I will post them.
I hope everybody has a good rest of the year and a happy New Year. I'll post again soon.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
This Morning in China
This morning in China a mother cries
She'll never forget her daughter's eyes
Her heart is broken and filled with pain
The tears run down like the falling rain
She has no choice but to leave her there
The cost of keeping her is to much to bear
She hopes her daughter will one day know
True love can be found in letting her go.
She hopes her daughter will one day know
True love can be found in letting her go.
This morning in China a baby cries
Hungry and scared as tears fill her eyes
Her mother has left her in this public place
Another lost daughter of the Chinese race
Someone passing by her has heard her soft moan
She's soon quickly be taken to a foster home
It's there she'll reside in the care of another
Untill she's adopted by a brand new mother.
That very same moment, in the U.S.A.
A woman cries as she starts to pray
Her heart is heavy but filled with much love
She prays for a daughter she thinks the world of
"Dear Jesus I ask that your arms would be
Wrapped tightly around the one picked for me
Guard her in China 'till I make my way
And then in my arms forever she'll stay.
author unknown
Friday, August 01, 2008
Update
Hi everybody! I know it has been a while since my last post.
We are still waiting for Emma. It has been 16 months and 10 days from our log it date (that is the day that our paperwork was logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs in China). So if the wait time does not increase we are looking at another 14 months. But nobody knows what will happen. There are rumors that the process will speed up after the Olympics, but there are also rumors that the wait time will continue to increase. Of course we are hoping for thing to speed up, but it will happen when it is supposed to.
Currently we are in the process of updating our paperwork. Our Social worker had to come to the house for an update visit. We have to go to the doctor again for another physical. We have to have our fingerprints redone, and several other things. I hope this will be the last time we have to do this. But if the wait keeps increasing we might have to do it one more time.
We have been working on Emma’s room lately. We changed our minds about the grass and the bamboo mural on the wall. We have put up 4 foot boards on the bottom of the wall and it will be painted white. The top will stay pink. It looks really good so far. I will post pictures when we finish painting. I just can’t wait to finish the painting and to get all of her furniture in the room. I know we still have a while before she gets here, but being able to look in there at her room will help keep me going.
Well that is all the news I have for now. I will try to write sooner next time.
We are still waiting for Emma. It has been 16 months and 10 days from our log it date (that is the day that our paperwork was logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs in China). So if the wait time does not increase we are looking at another 14 months. But nobody knows what will happen. There are rumors that the process will speed up after the Olympics, but there are also rumors that the wait time will continue to increase. Of course we are hoping for thing to speed up, but it will happen when it is supposed to.
Currently we are in the process of updating our paperwork. Our Social worker had to come to the house for an update visit. We have to go to the doctor again for another physical. We have to have our fingerprints redone, and several other things. I hope this will be the last time we have to do this. But if the wait keeps increasing we might have to do it one more time.
We have been working on Emma’s room lately. We changed our minds about the grass and the bamboo mural on the wall. We have put up 4 foot boards on the bottom of the wall and it will be painted white. The top will stay pink. It looks really good so far. I will post pictures when we finish painting. I just can’t wait to finish the painting and to get all of her furniture in the room. I know we still have a while before she gets here, but being able to look in there at her room will help keep me going.
Well that is all the news I have for now. I will try to write sooner next time.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
3 Months Down!!!
Well, we are 3 months closer to bringing Emma Rae home!!!!! This is a very long journey and I must admit, the wait is really tough. But I would not trade a minute of it. We know that God has "Our Emma" picked out for us and we will get her in His time. I never imagined that I could love someone so much that I have never even met. I can't wait to go get her and bring her home to her "Forever Family".
"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it"
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Encouragement
Don't loose your courage or be afraid. Don't panic or be frightened, because the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies and save you.
Dueteronomy 20:3-4 (NCV)
Dueteronomy 20:3-4 (NCV)
Thursday, September 07, 2006
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