Still Waiting...

We still haven't heard anything on our pre-approval from China. We have been chipping away at our paper work. We all had physicals and Brandon was fingerprinted for DCFS last week,we meet for our 2nd visit with the SW on Tuesaday and July 8th, we go to the Immigration Dept for re-fingerprinting. Time is really going quickly. Summer is flying by. Brandon leaves for his mission trip with church on July 3rd. Please pray for him and his team as they bring the word of God to the poverty stricken areas of St. Lucia. Two weeks with no contact with him is going to be rough for me. Hopefully, we will get some adoption news in those two weeks. Until then I give it all to the Lord for he knows best!

AHHHHHHH!!

Well,we had our home visit yesterday and it's all a little overwhelming! We basically are completely starting over with the home study,we have important documents expiring,issues with "switching countries", paper work coming out our ears,Brandon becoming an "adult"in September,which is a whole other problem as far as paperwork is concerned.
Last night I went to bed and cried. I am already exhausted from all we have gone through for the past few years,the paperwork,the disappointments,the waiting and then I saw this glimmer of hope. I now feel as if overnight someone has dropped a brick wall in front of it. I prayed that God would give me strength and direction and he has answered. I called a friend who has already adopted from China and basically had melt down. She is amazing in her knowledge and clarity of it all. She is helping me(a lot!). I feel like she is truly heaven sent because I don't know if I could do it all by myself.Thank God for the angels among us!
As much as I am excited and eager to hear about pre-approval,a part of me hopes it takes a while because as soon as we have that,the 3 month clock starts ticking. I know I have to just give it all to God and let his plan and timing happen. Whew- I feel better already.

coincidence or a "sign"??

The other day I was surfing the web. I made a stop at eBay and was putting in random words that came to mind. I decided to put in "Lian" since that is technically the waiting girl's name we are hoping to adopt and up pops this Cherished Teddy named Lian. A bear designed from China with "Our Friendship Spans Many Miles" stamped on the bottom.As some of you know I used to collect Cherished Teddies. I stopped after they had made a bear with every member of my families name. I sat their dumb founded at the thought that A) there was even a Chinese bear made and B) of all the names that it could have it has the same name as "our girl". I know to some it is nothing,just a coincidence but for me it was a moment that my heart skipped a beat.
I had another moment today that my heart skipped a beat. I called the agency because I was wondering when we could start the process for the pre-approval. She told me it has already been sent with our letter of intent to China. I guess the financial info we filled out and agency application, along with family photos have already been sent to China requesting pre-approval. We could know in as little as a week whether we are pre-approved or not. WOW! We have our home visit on Thursday. I am little nervous. I'm not sure why,we have had two before with the other agency but this is a new person. I guess I'm afraid she'll check a closet and decide it's too messy and we're not fit to parent a child LOL. I'm really trying to stay grounded and not let my heart get in too deep but it's hard. I find myself daydreaming about her all the time.
Every night when I pray I give this adoption to God and trust that he knows what is best for everyone involved. Hopefully,that is this very long,hard journey has all been so we could find this child and bring her home to her forever family.