Could the China Adoption Manual BE Any More Overwhelming?!

Let me start by saying, "AAAAHHHHH!" D'! How did you do all this?!!! I received a couple emails this week from Lifeline with documents attached. Some I had already read and downloaded from their website and some I had not. I just was given the link to our CAM today. Our China Adoption Manual. Are you kidding me?! I mean I realize that they need to really know the people who are applying for adoption, this is afterall a child's life we are talking about here. But I just didn't realize exactly how much there would be. I don't mind all the forms, I am my father's daughter, I see a form...I must complete it. I'm good at document gathering, like it actually, in a sick sorta way. It's the blasted short essay questions! I was talking to Eric about it and trying to voice that I felt so "blahhhh" about all the short answer essay stuff. I finally landed on; it's because I already know I'm a good parent! To which my loving husband responded, "Yep. Now you just have to prove it to total strangers." Which is exactly it. Of course they need all the essay stuff to determine if we are psycho or not, but wow, it is gonna be so time consuming and draining. However, our little girl is worth it!!! (or boy...we are going to ask for a girl but are open to whatever child God has for us.)

And so...here we go. Our eldest child, our sweet son, is already announcing to the world that we are adopting. He apprently had a prayer request for his little sister in China last Sunday. Now all the Children's Ministry is buzzing about Noah's little Chinese sister. Which means, now their parents are approaching us. Guess it's time to formally tell the church. Which is a good thing considering they are such a prayerful and giving church. We can use large quantities of both, he-he.I just need the Lord to guide my footsteps according to his word and let no sin rule over me. (Psalm 119-133) Because I am already racing ahead and tripping. I need to slow down and focus calmly on one thing at a time. NOT try to do 20 things at once and screw half of them up and freak out with stress over it. Speaking of freaking out with stress...the money. This is my other area of prayer. I CAN NOT freakout over money. If God has called us to this, he will help us fund it. I recently heard a guy on the radio say, "If God orders it, he'll pay for it." I am gonna take heart and rest in that. We are re-working our budget and tightening up, I am back at work and will likely work more, we will apply for grants, and eventually raise support. God will work out the fine details, as he lights my path I will take a step and when the light doesn't move, neither will I. Lord hear my prayer.

Journey to Our 2nd Little Girl or Boy

Today is Jan 13, 2011. On the night of Jan. 11, 2011, Eric and I submitted our Statements of Faith, Application and Fee, to begin the adoption process through Lifeline Adoption, to bring home our 3rd child from China! It is so surreal, I mean I know what we are doing, but then I have no idea what we are doing! As I begin to think about having a 3rd child, likely a second daughter, I can't help but wonder where she is and who is taking care of her or if she is even alive yet. If she isn't, I wonder where she will be left...to be found. In China you are not allowed to put your children up for adoption. So, the children in the orphanages are children who were abandoned and then found and taken to an orphanage. But she likely is alive and so I wonder what medical issues she is having and how they are affecting her. Who is loving her and cuddling her, if anyone. I pray she is loved and that she knows she is loved. I have so many new prayers now. I pray that she will quickly bond to us. I pray that her medical situation is easily managable without too much pain. I pray that her and Noah and Eden will become fast friends and siblings. I pray that Eden will have a wonderful relationship with her new sister, and not be to terribly jealous and put out. I pray for Eden's adjustment and that she won't feel slighted and hurt. I pray for Noah that he can manage with 2 little sisters and our time even more divided. I pray for myself that I will really come into my own with 3 children! I never thought I'd be a mother of 3! I worry that Noah will feel slighted but he seems excited! We asked him if he wanted a brother or a sister and he said he wanted a sister because two boys would be to rough and tumble and he thought Eden would like it better to have a sister. How unbelieveably sweet is my boy?!!! I love that kid!

We got a response from our agency at 6:10 am! They were just letting us know they received our application and that they are moving offices so our social worker won't be in touch with us till next week. They are the nicest people and we have heard nothing but amazing things about them. I pray it is a good relationship, a good fit.

We told my parents and they are ecstatic! I was so shocked for some reason. I called Mom and told her and she was so supportive. Then she called back 15 minutes later and was like..."I need to know everything!" I'm gonna be a grandma again! Tell me everything! When do I get the baby?!" It was so precious. Then Dad called me and left me a message congratuating us and telling us how excited and proud of us he was! It was the best response we have gotten yet. It was good. God is good!