Package should arrive tomorrow morning - we will mail it back in afternoon and then it will be off to CCAA on Friday.
So thankful today...we're coming Bella!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
DAY 97 AND ITS HERE!!!!!!!!
We got a call this morning (I was on the Skype with Stacy) and it was LeighAnne telling us they got BOTH OF OUR LSC's TODAY!!!!! YYYYEAAAHHHH!! Looks like we will be bringing the girls home in February TOGETHER!! I can't wait. Feels like so much has to get done yet but actually very thankful that we are busy ---- time will fly!!
Package should arrive tomorrow morning - we will mail it back in afternoon and then it will be off to CCAA on Friday.
So thankful today...we're coming Bella!!
Package should arrive tomorrow morning - we will mail it back in afternoon and then it will be off to CCAA on Friday.
So thankful today...we're coming Bella!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Day 96
Christmas was wonderful. We sent a package with a blanket, doll, letter, bracelet, candy and an art kit. Received a email that she got the package and was "happy, happliy" AND we also got 2 updated pictures!! What a present that was for us. I could deal with not getting the LSC much better with update pictures! We were planning on between 60-90 days and we are here! GW was closed Christmas Eve thru monday so we are praying that our LSC will be on waiting for them on Monday. That would make it day 97 :-) we're good with that!!
Ok, so now for Monday..... thinking around 11:00 we will get the call????
Thursday, December 18, 2008
DAY 86
hmmm, yes I am counting now. Saw a LOA come in for a 9/3 log-in-date which means we are close ---- we are LID 9/23. Would like it for Christmas if I may ask :-) Sending a care package tomorrow so that she will get it for Christmas.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Day 75
We are day 75 waiting for our LSC (letter seeking confirmation) The average is still taking about 90 for people with LID after LOI. Soooo Stacys guess is December 11.... which is our girls day :-) I just hope it is soon. After that we will be waiting for TA (travel approval). We need to get it soon in order to get thing rolling if we ever expect to leave before Jan 11, or we will have to wait until after the Chinese New Year - which would be February travel. I'm ok with February travel but of course would love to leave December 26 :-)
Heard that the donation fee is being raised to $5000.00 - $2,000.00 than we planned on.... We shall see.....
Caillie's birthday party tonight & Lilys next week!! Caillie turns 8 & Lily 5. Thanking the Lord for these little girls - they are just precious!! We are truly blessed.
Heard that the donation fee is being raised to $5000.00 - $2,000.00 than we planned on.... We shall see.....
Caillie's birthday party tonight & Lilys next week!! Caillie turns 8 & Lily 5. Thanking the Lord for these little girls - they are just precious!! We are truly blessed.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Day by day...
We are atill waiting to get our log-in-date (LID). Thinking it will be September 24. Based on that date we are on day 9 on our wait to our letter of acceptance (LOA). Still praying for a December travel for so many reasons....the first and biggest reason is to get Bella HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!! Also, it would work wonderful for time off from work (would not lose $$) & able to use tax credit. Well, its not in our control but I can still pray for that.
Also, we are still working on saving the rest of the $$ due before travel. We are going to have another G-Sale and Dan is still going to market on Sat's. So thankful for jobs that got us this far. We took part in a adoption awareness program last week. After being on a panel, we both know we will make it one way or another to bring this little girl home where she belongs.
Can't wait to meet her!!
Also, we are still working on saving the rest of the $$ due before travel. We are going to have another G-Sale and Dan is still going to market on Sat's. So thankful for jobs that got us this far. We took part in a adoption awareness program last week. After being on a panel, we both know we will make it one way or another to bring this little girl home where she belongs.
Can't wait to meet her!!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
I-797C, Certification, Authentification OH MY
September 15…… how the day began and how it ended were nothing but further proof of HIS way not our own.
We had planned on running to Chicago to get our I-797C paper authenticated. We had a 15 passenger van ready. two DVD’s set for the girls. I had maps of exactly were the consulate was, where China town was, where the post office was, where the expressway ran, hours of the consulate were double checked and called on. We THOUGHT we had it all set…. perfect. We were going to get to the consulate before 11:30 drop off our form, go to China town, lunch, pick up form after 3:00, mail completed dossier to China, head back to Michigan, clean school and EVEN make our hair appointment.
Welll, go figure – it just did not happen that way BUT God made it work perfect!!
First after about 30 mins out in the van, Dan got sick and we had to turn around and take him home. Steve said he still would drive and we decided we still had time to make the deadline. THANK YOU STEVE!!
Then starting back out 1 hour later, the closer we got to Chicago – the wetter things got and eventually we hit a detour. Not great when we did not even have a state map because Dan knew where to go….. and he was home. ANYWAYS, we made it through the detours and started watching the clock…. getting closer to our deadline of 11:30. Between bringing Dan home and the detour, we were cutting it very close.
So finally we make it to downtown, found a exit that I had on my map and headed to the consulate. Steve was a incredible driver in that huge bus!! In and out of traffic and able to turn at any street that I told him. RED lights? After running one I asked him "did you know you ran that" He said "YUP, and I'm going to run this one too!!!I bet he could drive in China!! We made it to the consulate with 15 minutes left in our deadline only to find the door locked!! WHAT??? We called and double checked that they were open. Well as we just looked at each other like “what to do” a mailman came and rang a bell and was let into the building and we followed right behind. The lady behind the window gave us a card and pointed down the road. The mailman said just go 3 streets up to their other office!! So, we ran back to the van, directed the crazy driver and he pulled that van on our way. When we got close to the corner where we should be Stacy, and I jumped out of the van, I saw the address and ran in, asked directions inside and hit the elevator for the 5th floor. Once we followed the signs we had to pick a number…. 281 they were on 251 - and it was 11:24. Not only that but they closed for lunch at 12:00 We sat and wondered, do they sent everyone away at 12:00?? I was calculating how long it took one person to get done (3-5min) and then we called Steve. He was circling the block with the girls thinking we could just drop off the papers and be out – NOT!! He found a parking spot (after 4 laps the girls said) and we just sat wondering what to do. We knew if we came back after their lunch we would not be able to pick up our authenticated papers the same day. We knew we did not have a mailing envelope for them to even mail it to us. We knew any delay in getting the I-797C authenticated today would make our dossier have to wait 1 more week for the log-in-date AND we would be 1 month behind AND China closes for a couple of weeks in October and we would have to wait even longer.
Sooo, as we sat there and contemplated what to do… praying for a miracle to make the deadline yet, we noticed a lady that just came out with lots of passports and paperwork in her hands. We joked that maybe it was “Denise” the currier we had used before to run our papers to the consulate. I said to Stacy “call her name” thinking maybe she could help us. Stacy looked at me and thought WHY NOT!! So she did,… “Denise” and Denise looked around and it WAS HER!! We introduced ourselves and our dilemma and she pulled us over to the counter and said to Stacy “run and get me a number” We thankfully had
* cash for the fee
* a passport picture so that she would be allowed to pick up the papers for us
* a mailing label all filled out for Great Wall
* a copy of the form that GW needed along with the completed I-797C
She took everything, ran to the window minutes before they closed for lunch and they took it. She said she would pick up the completed forms, mail it to GW for us, mail us a copy and we could just reimburse her for the mailing fee. WHAT?? HOW could that have been more perfect?? We had everything we needed for a currier to pick up the form for us and just happened to find one there, at that moment, that we knew her name, that would even put her own money out for us!!
Tell me that the whole day was not orchestrated by HIM!! Stacy and I ran out the building with the cell phone in hand to call Steve and at the very second he happened to pull up right in front of the building, I mean just like in the moives!!
Then we had a incredible lunch in China town, walked the streets a little while and left for home - Steve wanted to head back to beat the rush hour. We then pulled off in Michigan City (still an hour behind Michigan time) and mailed the rest of our dossier from the post office. It felt wonderful to have that on its ways… knowing that the I-797C would arrive in GW’s office one day later but everthing would be in Texas before their 10:30 am Wednesday deadline for mailing to China that week.
I keep telling Stacy and I know she agrees. Nothing on this earth can stop HIS plan to bring these two little girls home!! Not only to a home, our home, not only one but both… TOGETHER!! Can I say it one more time …. God is so good!!!
Oh, and yes, we made it to our hair appointment… thank you Rhonda for taking us even though we were a little late and yes, after that the school got cleaned.
slept good that night!!
September 19, 2008
Got our long awaited call from Stephanie that the dossier was on it’s way to China!! We waited months to hear those words!! Felt wonderful. We now have about 60-90 days to wait for LOA (letter of acceptance) and then 30 days for TA (travel approval) and then 30days for travel arrangements and we hold our long waited daughter and niece!! Heres praying for faster time frames so that we could travel in December. We would not have to miss much work & the tax credit would help with the bills AND WHAT A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT!! We shall see what is in Gods plans - HIS timing is flawless.
A special Thank you should also go to Debbie our USCIS person. She went beyond the call and has a heart for the children and the families that she helps. She was at her position until one day after she completed our I-797C. Can not imagine where our file & Knopers would have been had she not been our reviewer. I know the timing was perfect to have her work on our files!!
We had planned on running to Chicago to get our I-797C paper authenticated. We had a 15 passenger van ready. two DVD’s set for the girls. I had maps of exactly were the consulate was, where China town was, where the post office was, where the expressway ran, hours of the consulate were double checked and called on. We THOUGHT we had it all set…. perfect. We were going to get to the consulate before 11:30 drop off our form, go to China town, lunch, pick up form after 3:00, mail completed dossier to China, head back to Michigan, clean school and EVEN make our hair appointment.
Welll, go figure – it just did not happen that way BUT God made it work perfect!!
First after about 30 mins out in the van, Dan got sick and we had to turn around and take him home. Steve said he still would drive and we decided we still had time to make the deadline. THANK YOU STEVE!!
Then starting back out 1 hour later, the closer we got to Chicago – the wetter things got and eventually we hit a detour. Not great when we did not even have a state map because Dan knew where to go….. and he was home. ANYWAYS, we made it through the detours and started watching the clock…. getting closer to our deadline of 11:30. Between bringing Dan home and the detour, we were cutting it very close.
So finally we make it to downtown, found a exit that I had on my map and headed to the consulate. Steve was a incredible driver in that huge bus!! In and out of traffic and able to turn at any street that I told him. RED lights? After running one I asked him "did you know you ran that" He said "YUP, and I'm going to run this one too!!!I bet he could drive in China!! We made it to the consulate with 15 minutes left in our deadline only to find the door locked!! WHAT??? We called and double checked that they were open. Well as we just looked at each other like “what to do” a mailman came and rang a bell and was let into the building and we followed right behind. The lady behind the window gave us a card and pointed down the road. The mailman said just go 3 streets up to their other office!! So, we ran back to the van, directed the crazy driver and he pulled that van on our way. When we got close to the corner where we should be Stacy, and I jumped out of the van, I saw the address and ran in, asked directions inside and hit the elevator for the 5th floor. Once we followed the signs we had to pick a number…. 281 they were on 251 - and it was 11:24. Not only that but they closed for lunch at 12:00 We sat and wondered, do they sent everyone away at 12:00?? I was calculating how long it took one person to get done (3-5min) and then we called Steve. He was circling the block with the girls thinking we could just drop off the papers and be out – NOT!! He found a parking spot (after 4 laps the girls said) and we just sat wondering what to do. We knew if we came back after their lunch we would not be able to pick up our authenticated papers the same day. We knew we did not have a mailing envelope for them to even mail it to us. We knew any delay in getting the I-797C authenticated today would make our dossier have to wait 1 more week for the log-in-date AND we would be 1 month behind AND China closes for a couple of weeks in October and we would have to wait even longer.
Sooo, as we sat there and contemplated what to do… praying for a miracle to make the deadline yet, we noticed a lady that just came out with lots of passports and paperwork in her hands. We joked that maybe it was “Denise” the currier we had used before to run our papers to the consulate. I said to Stacy “call her name” thinking maybe she could help us. Stacy looked at me and thought WHY NOT!! So she did,… “Denise” and Denise looked around and it WAS HER!! We introduced ourselves and our dilemma and she pulled us over to the counter and said to Stacy “run and get me a number” We thankfully had
* cash for the fee
* a passport picture so that she would be allowed to pick up the papers for us
* a mailing label all filled out for Great Wall
* a copy of the form that GW needed along with the completed I-797C
She took everything, ran to the window minutes before they closed for lunch and they took it. She said she would pick up the completed forms, mail it to GW for us, mail us a copy and we could just reimburse her for the mailing fee. WHAT?? HOW could that have been more perfect?? We had everything we needed for a currier to pick up the form for us and just happened to find one there, at that moment, that we knew her name, that would even put her own money out for us!!
Tell me that the whole day was not orchestrated by HIM!! Stacy and I ran out the building with the cell phone in hand to call Steve and at the very second he happened to pull up right in front of the building, I mean just like in the moives!!
Then we had a incredible lunch in China town, walked the streets a little while and left for home - Steve wanted to head back to beat the rush hour. We then pulled off in Michigan City (still an hour behind Michigan time) and mailed the rest of our dossier from the post office. It felt wonderful to have that on its ways… knowing that the I-797C would arrive in GW’s office one day later but everthing would be in Texas before their 10:30 am Wednesday deadline for mailing to China that week.
I keep telling Stacy and I know she agrees. Nothing on this earth can stop HIS plan to bring these two little girls home!! Not only to a home, our home, not only one but both… TOGETHER!! Can I say it one more time …. God is so good!!!
Oh, and yes, we made it to our hair appointment… thank you Rhonda for taking us even though we were a little late and yes, after that the school got cleaned.
slept good that night!!
September 19, 2008
Got our long awaited call from Stephanie that the dossier was on it’s way to China!! We waited months to hear those words!! Felt wonderful. We now have about 60-90 days to wait for LOA (letter of acceptance) and then 30 days for TA (travel approval) and then 30days for travel arrangements and we hold our long waited daughter and niece!! Heres praying for faster time frames so that we could travel in December. We would not have to miss much work & the tax credit would help with the bills AND WHAT A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT!! We shall see what is in Gods plans - HIS timing is flawless.
A special Thank you should also go to Debbie our USCIS person. She went beyond the call and has a heart for the children and the families that she helps. She was at her position until one day after she completed our I-797C. Can not imagine where our file & Knopers would have been had she not been our reviewer. I know the timing was perfect to have her work on our files!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
WOW - so much to update, its just been too long.
8/22/2008
Well, so much has changed since I last updated the blog but the biggest new is WE GOT HER FILE AND KNOPERS GOT YAN!! Thank you Leighanne for your dedicated HUNT for the girls on the lists!!
On July 10, we (Knopers and us) got a email with forms to complete just in case their files showed up. Of COURSE we read way more into it than that but only could dream it would be happening soon. Well on July 11, a Friday I got a call from Stacy in the morning as I was having coffee with Marcia. She said she just got off the phone with Leighanne and that they GOT YANS FILE!! I was sooo happy. What a long weekend waiting to find out where was Bellas file. They were sent to CCAA at the same time! Well on Sunday as everyone was taking their nap and about 2:45 the phone rang. I could not find the phone – normal occurrence in this house – ANYWAYS, my mind kinda wandered if it were Leighanne but I would not let myself think that. So about 15 mins later when the phone rang, I ran all over the house looking for it. When I finally found and answered it, it was Leighanne. I started to cry and could hardly breath. I knew she must have found her. She was watching all weekend and finally SNATCHED her file on Sunday!! What another blessing! Well after quickly sending her the letter and forms she needed I waited for her email with pictures and info. It came at 2:52 with a email heading “GOT HER” Ran upstairs to wake Dan up and he had already heard me on the phone and was crying tears of joy! We are soo happy. I ran back downstairs to email the info to Stacy and then back upstairs to wait for her call. FINALLY I called her, Dan called his family and then we called our dear friends.
Well what a celebration we had that night. When we first thought we would be celebrating Yan, we now could celebrated in full force with Bella’s referral also. We spent all that night looking at pictures and comparing the girls files.
So our Letter of Intent (LOI) went out to China on July 15. Our Pre-Approval (PA) came back on July 23 stating that we had till October 22 to get all our papers in or we would lose Bella’s referral. We were so happy that we had already had our home study completed and mailed along with the I-800A form to Immigration because we had 90 days to get all the papers done and in China in order to keep Isabellas file.
THANK YOU LORD for Debbie at USCIS who not only did our papers but also Knopers in plenty of time.
We are still working on the $$ of the adoption. Had our furniture appraised that we can live without and Dan is still hitting the markets on sat. selling plants etc.
I look are her picture daily and just can’t wait to meet her! It has been since 2004 – 4yrs since I first met her and she has been in my heart ever since. I dream of meeting Bella and Yan at Civil Affairs and wonder what they will think! I’m sure they will be conforted that they get to stay together – what a gift that is to be able to give them.
August 18 was Bella’s 7th birthday and Coty’s 17th. We had a party and teased Coty that his birthdays will never be the same. I hope Bella was able to receive the gifts we sent her for her birthday. We sent a build-a-bear which was (actually a bunny) and the girls recorded “Happy Birthday Fu Xiang, we love you” It was so precious! Along with the normal party supplies, we sent some $ in order to purchase a cake and also picture for her in a album. I hope they received it and she had a wonderful birthday. We will have to make next years even more fun!!
Well, so much has changed since I last updated the blog but the biggest new is WE GOT HER FILE AND KNOPERS GOT YAN!! Thank you Leighanne for your dedicated HUNT for the girls on the lists!!
On July 10, we (Knopers and us) got a email with forms to complete just in case their files showed up. Of COURSE we read way more into it than that but only could dream it would be happening soon. Well on July 11, a Friday I got a call from Stacy in the morning as I was having coffee with Marcia. She said she just got off the phone with Leighanne and that they GOT YANS FILE!! I was sooo happy. What a long weekend waiting to find out where was Bellas file. They were sent to CCAA at the same time! Well on Sunday as everyone was taking their nap and about 2:45 the phone rang. I could not find the phone – normal occurrence in this house – ANYWAYS, my mind kinda wandered if it were Leighanne but I would not let myself think that. So about 15 mins later when the phone rang, I ran all over the house looking for it. When I finally found and answered it, it was Leighanne. I started to cry and could hardly breath. I knew she must have found her. She was watching all weekend and finally SNATCHED her file on Sunday!! What another blessing! Well after quickly sending her the letter and forms she needed I waited for her email with pictures and info. It came at 2:52 with a email heading “GOT HER” Ran upstairs to wake Dan up and he had already heard me on the phone and was crying tears of joy! We are soo happy. I ran back downstairs to email the info to Stacy and then back upstairs to wait for her call. FINALLY I called her, Dan called his family and then we called our dear friends.
Well what a celebration we had that night. When we first thought we would be celebrating Yan, we now could celebrated in full force with Bella’s referral also. We spent all that night looking at pictures and comparing the girls files.
So our Letter of Intent (LOI) went out to China on July 15. Our Pre-Approval (PA) came back on July 23 stating that we had till October 22 to get all our papers in or we would lose Bella’s referral. We were so happy that we had already had our home study completed and mailed along with the I-800A form to Immigration because we had 90 days to get all the papers done and in China in order to keep Isabellas file.
THANK YOU LORD for Debbie at USCIS who not only did our papers but also Knopers in plenty of time.
We are still working on the $$ of the adoption. Had our furniture appraised that we can live without and Dan is still hitting the markets on sat. selling plants etc.
I look are her picture daily and just can’t wait to meet her! It has been since 2004 – 4yrs since I first met her and she has been in my heart ever since. I dream of meeting Bella and Yan at Civil Affairs and wonder what they will think! I’m sure they will be conforted that they get to stay together – what a gift that is to be able to give them.
August 18 was Bella’s 7th birthday and Coty’s 17th. We had a party and teased Coty that his birthdays will never be the same. I hope Bella was able to receive the gifts we sent her for her birthday. We sent a build-a-bear which was (actually a bunny) and the girls recorded “Happy Birthday Fu Xiang, we love you” It was so precious! Along with the normal party supplies, we sent some $ in order to purchase a cake and also picture for her in a album. I hope they received it and she had a wonderful birthday. We will have to make next years even more fun!!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Hurry up to wait
Well, we are waiting now on Immigration. Papers were sent in and received on July 1. We were told that it take about 30-90 days from receipt of the papers to receive the NEW I-171H which is called I-787H. Soo we shall see and PRAY that they have everything they need. We are also getting the other documents ready for the seals so that we can just express the I-787 form when it comes in. Should hear something anyday with the fingerprint appointment... that would be a good sign ..... I think :-)
Also, working on the financing. Have applied for a grant - Dan selling plants at the Market on Saturdays - getting pictures and prices of any furniture that we could see that we don't need..... hmmm and just trying to save all that we can in any way we can :-)
Somedays I feel like this is going to happen..... somedays no :-( She is the only little girl that we are working to bring home and if we can't get her file... we will have just figure the costs involved were all to get her and her friend into a family... just figured she was meant to be in our family!!
So keeping the prayers going for Bella, finances and that it all works out and the wait will become a distant memory!!
Also, working on the financing. Have applied for a grant - Dan selling plants at the Market on Saturdays - getting pictures and prices of any furniture that we could see that we don't need..... hmmm and just trying to save all that we can in any way we can :-)
Somedays I feel like this is going to happen..... somedays no :-( She is the only little girl that we are working to bring home and if we can't get her file... we will have just figure the costs involved were all to get her and her friend into a family... just figured she was meant to be in our family!!
So keeping the prayers going for Bella, finances and that it all works out and the wait will become a distant memory!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
All in His Plan
What a mighty and all knowing God we have. His plan is so much better than I would ever dream up.
Going back to Chloe, Thank you Lord that infertility caused us to look at adoption!
Thank you Lord, that I was able to keep calling Adoption Agencys/Homestudy Workers until someone would tell me it was possible to adopt from China if the husband did not travel. Well, one phone call to the right Home study Worker Joan, and she told me it could happen. God moved that mountain.
Incredible now that even Dan’s ear surgery was a blessing. It caused Stacy to travel with me because Dan could not fly with his ear problem. Without that Stacy would not have had the gift of seeing the adoption from the start. To have Chloe love her so much that she dreamed of having a little girl like Chloe.
Thank you Lord for Caillie, for the name we were given of a precious girl from the same orphanage as Chloe. She was such a sweet and gentle nature that I could dream of just one more…..Also, Stacy once again came along to help. Yup, she would have been a huge help to Dan by staying at home but knew she had to come again to bring Caillie home. Without her there, I would not have had Zoe for my niece. Stacy needed to see Zoe in person, hear her cry and know her story. Then before we left China , know for certain that she had just met her daughter.
Thank you Lord, for opening Dan’s eyes to just one more little girl Lily. Thank you for hearing the right sermon and instantly knowing that we had to go back to China for Lily.
Thank you Lord, that the request we made to have another daughter from Huazhou did not work as we requested. It worked out in Gods plan just perfectly. We received Lily. Without that perfect “NO” to our request we would not have met Isabella and Yan. Without that perfect “NO” to our request, we would probably not be waiting to bring our fourth daughter home and also the joy of being an aunt to her best friend in all the world Yan.
God is so good.
Thank you Lord, that you answer prayers based on what YOU know is the best for us.
I dream of the day that the little girls so close together in all the pictures and when I met them in 2004, will walk hand in hand to their new moms and share together the joy of a family. They will become cousins, how perfect is that!
me
Going back to Chloe, Thank you Lord that infertility caused us to look at adoption!
Thank you Lord, that I was able to keep calling Adoption Agencys/Homestudy Workers until someone would tell me it was possible to adopt from China if the husband did not travel. Well, one phone call to the right Home study Worker Joan, and she told me it could happen. God moved that mountain.
Incredible now that even Dan’s ear surgery was a blessing. It caused Stacy to travel with me because Dan could not fly with his ear problem. Without that Stacy would not have had the gift of seeing the adoption from the start. To have Chloe love her so much that she dreamed of having a little girl like Chloe.
Thank you Lord for Caillie, for the name we were given of a precious girl from the same orphanage as Chloe. She was such a sweet and gentle nature that I could dream of just one more…..Also, Stacy once again came along to help. Yup, she would have been a huge help to Dan by staying at home but knew she had to come again to bring Caillie home. Without her there, I would not have had Zoe for my niece. Stacy needed to see Zoe in person, hear her cry and know her story. Then before we left China , know for certain that she had just met her daughter.
Thank you Lord, for opening Dan’s eyes to just one more little girl Lily. Thank you for hearing the right sermon and instantly knowing that we had to go back to China for Lily.
Thank you Lord, that the request we made to have another daughter from Huazhou did not work as we requested. It worked out in Gods plan just perfectly. We received Lily. Without that perfect “NO” to our request we would not have met Isabella and Yan. Without that perfect “NO” to our request, we would probably not be waiting to bring our fourth daughter home and also the joy of being an aunt to her best friend in all the world Yan.
God is so good.
Thank you Lord, that you answer prayers based on what YOU know is the best for us.
I dream of the day that the little girls so close together in all the pictures and when I met them in 2004, will walk hand in hand to their new moms and share together the joy of a family. They will become cousins, how perfect is that!
me
April 13, 2008 – STAY WITH TODAY
As I sit and think about you Isabella, I thought I would tell you a little bit about your story – coming into our family. I did not entend this story to be about my faith, but more about bringing you home. After sitting for a while I decided that I could not write your story without telling about faith.
Now FAITH is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
Bella, without faith we could not have prayed and worked so hard to bring you home. Without faith, mountains would not have been moved. When we were asked to put a large amount of $ down on only faith that they would “try” and get your papers – it was hard. We do not have extra money but we knew we had to take that step of FAITH. That God would not have brought us to this point in order to stop us. We needed to take that huge step of FAITH, leap from what was comfortable and physically put FAITH to our words. TRUST that you God, have the plans all worked out and will be there for us when we take this jump.
Our sermon today was on worry. That sermon could not have been placed in our lap at a time when we needed it the most. It was taken from Matthew 6:25-34 The girls had this for Bible memory and we know it well. God already has it all planned out.
Isabella Danielle I can't wait to hold you in my arms. I can't wait to tell you about the master plan GOD had in store for you before you were even born. How He knew you would be making a trip ½ around the world to find your family. How you would wait for 7 years for us to come and get you. How we were able to make the trip to the orphanage when you were only 3yrs old. How we were able to help with your schooling and visiting families would take pictures of you and Yan. The hours I spent looking at them….. dreaming… and then the moment when Dan said "yes"
Please guard and protect Bella till we can bring her home. Also, Lord if it is YOUR will, let the Knopers know that Yan is their daughter… waiting along with Bella to come home.
mom
As I sit and think about you Isabella, I thought I would tell you a little bit about your story – coming into our family. I did not entend this story to be about my faith, but more about bringing you home. After sitting for a while I decided that I could not write your story without telling about faith.
Now FAITH is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
Bella, without faith we could not have prayed and worked so hard to bring you home. Without faith, mountains would not have been moved. When we were asked to put a large amount of $ down on only faith that they would “try” and get your papers – it was hard. We do not have extra money but we knew we had to take that step of FAITH. That God would not have brought us to this point in order to stop us. We needed to take that huge step of FAITH, leap from what was comfortable and physically put FAITH to our words. TRUST that you God, have the plans all worked out and will be there for us when we take this jump.
Our sermon today was on worry. That sermon could not have been placed in our lap at a time when we needed it the most. It was taken from Matthew 6:25-34 The girls had this for Bible memory and we know it well. God already has it all planned out.
Isabella Danielle I can't wait to hold you in my arms. I can't wait to tell you about the master plan GOD had in store for you before you were even born. How He knew you would be making a trip ½ around the world to find your family. How you would wait for 7 years for us to come and get you. How we were able to make the trip to the orphanage when you were only 3yrs old. How we were able to help with your schooling and visiting families would take pictures of you and Yan. The hours I spent looking at them….. dreaming… and then the moment when Dan said "yes"
Please guard and protect Bella till we can bring her home. Also, Lord if it is YOUR will, let the Knopers know that Yan is their daughter… waiting along with Bella to come home.
mom
April 08
April 9. 20008
WOW, I stand in AWE of the power of God when he wants something done!! He has moved mountains before my very eyes….. mountains that I never even knew existed!! Got a call today from Stacy. She left a message with Chloe that said a heart is changing. WHAT!! I called her back in like 2 seconds and she said Steve said Yes for YAN!! I could hardly handle that. A week before he came home and said “I wish I never knew that Isabella had a friend in the orphanage that was like a sister to her”. A family visiting the orphanage emailed me that info with pictures of the two girls. I know Dan also said that made him very sad to think about separating them. I knew at this time I had to just concentrate on one but after I was home, THEN I could see if any family was interested in her…. thought I could take lots of pictures of her while I was there. Thought Bella could call her every week and keep in contact. BUT who would have every thought that this would/could happen. More perfect than I ever even dreamed of!! Yes, so not a done deal yet. We are still waiting for the go-ahead for the homestudy but I can’t stop thinking about it. HUGE financial obstacles for both of us, but we are not afraid of working.
WOW, can not even image that both girls could be cousins, well that would be just incredible. The writer of our lives is so amazing! Can’t wait to hear more from Stacy tomorrow to see what is going on in her head. Still in AWE. Never knew I could have imagined such a sweet story!!
WOW, I stand in AWE of the power of God when he wants something done!! He has moved mountains before my very eyes….. mountains that I never even knew existed!! Got a call today from Stacy. She left a message with Chloe that said a heart is changing. WHAT!! I called her back in like 2 seconds and she said Steve said Yes for YAN!! I could hardly handle that. A week before he came home and said “I wish I never knew that Isabella had a friend in the orphanage that was like a sister to her”. A family visiting the orphanage emailed me that info with pictures of the two girls. I know Dan also said that made him very sad to think about separating them. I knew at this time I had to just concentrate on one but after I was home, THEN I could see if any family was interested in her…. thought I could take lots of pictures of her while I was there. Thought Bella could call her every week and keep in contact. BUT who would have every thought that this would/could happen. More perfect than I ever even dreamed of!! Yes, so not a done deal yet. We are still waiting for the go-ahead for the homestudy but I can’t stop thinking about it. HUGE financial obstacles for both of us, but we are not afraid of working.
WOW, can not even image that both girls could be cousins, well that would be just incredible. The writer of our lives is so amazing! Can’t wait to hear more from Stacy tomorrow to see what is going on in her head. Still in AWE. Never knew I could have imagined such a sweet story!!
March 08
March 23, 2008
Sunday: Made a little comment to Dan about what he was thinking and he told me to he made an appointment on April 2 to update our life insurance, we could go ahead!! WOW!!! Still did not dare think that it was real!
Wrote my first letter to the Agency that said it was “a GO”
Dared to order pictures of Isabella.
Dared to make a slide show
Dared to start a book with pictures
Sunday: Made a little comment to Dan about what he was thinking and he told me to he made an appointment on April 2 to update our life insurance, we could go ahead!! WOW!!! Still did not dare think that it was real!
Wrote my first letter to the Agency that said it was “a GO”
Dared to order pictures of Isabella.
Dared to make a slide show
Dared to start a book with pictures
Feb 08
February 2008
Dear Little One,
As the girls and I get ready for Valentines Day, I sit at the computer and type up a "wish" application for you. I pray for you and also Dan. I pray for the funds to bring you home and for Dan to understand you have waited long enough. I pray the year 2009 will bring you home Finally. In order for that to happen I am praying for a change in Dans heart so that we can start the papers to bring you to the home I so feel the Lord wants you to be in. I know HE is more powerful than anything and if it is His desire, then it will happen. Please wait and know that you are loved before we met, dreamed of before you knew us, and created to be our child. I know that in my heart and I pray that I will be given the gift of you for a daughter. Please wait for us, please keep healthy and please feel our LOVE. Love your mom
Dear Little One,
As the girls and I get ready for Valentines Day, I sit at the computer and type up a "wish" application for you. I pray for you and also Dan. I pray for the funds to bring you home and for Dan to understand you have waited long enough. I pray the year 2009 will bring you home Finally. In order for that to happen I am praying for a change in Dans heart so that we can start the papers to bring you to the home I so feel the Lord wants you to be in. I know HE is more powerful than anything and if it is His desire, then it will happen. Please wait and know that you are loved before we met, dreamed of before you knew us, and created to be our child. I know that in my heart and I pray that I will be given the gift of you for a daughter. Please wait for us, please keep healthy and please feel our LOVE. Love your mom
Pictures!
I was able to ask families visiting the orphange to check on these two little girls who were growing so dear to me. I LOVED the pictures that some were able to send back. The two were always together and always smiling. I remember one saying that "she had a heart as big as China" I just cherished every little thing I heard about them.
Ok to check
April 2007, Dan said it was ok to check to see if she was available. I think he felt that if "they" told me no, it would be all over. Well, I called our agency and they checked - nope she was not registered at that time. So, I knew it was not possible then...... but I just could not stop praying about her.
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