Crib Time

Each night, after dinner and bath time, we have this ritual at our house. The boys get their last bits of energy ALL out by running between their room, chasing each other, giggling, hiding under covers, and jumping into Ezra's crib together. The other night, as they were laughing in the crib, I started thinking about our girl, wondering for the hundredth time how much time she spends in her crib each day. There is a big possibility that the answer is a lot of time, maybe even most of her time. Our world and hers, at this moment, are two very different places.

This was already on my mind when I read this blog post today. So so sad. And pretty tough to digest, knowing that our child could be there, or in a place very much like it. Please pray for our baby girl and all the rest waiting.

Audrey Bunny Book

It seems so unreal right now, but I know there is a day coming soon when we will have our baby girl in our arms. It will be such a great honor to be the ones who get to show her how beautiful she is, and how precious she is to God.

This book looks so sweet, I can't wait to share it with all my babies! 

LID Monthaversary!

We have now been logged in for TWO months! We are one month closer to knowing who our girl is, and we are just so excited! Just 2-4 months left now before we expect "the call"!  This time of the adoption process is a little weird, because after all the crazy work work work we've come to this point where there's really nothing to do but wait. It makes the whole thing seem a little surreal!

But while we wait, we are gearing up to celebrate the boys birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We are also slowly filling up a closet with little girl clothes, making plans on how to get the boys together into one room, creating her adoption announcement, and making up a packing list for China - among a lot of other little things.

I have also really been enjoying this time of ignorance, before we see her face for the first time and I will inevitably become obsessed (there is really no way around this) with getting our baby girl home as soon as possible!

A Vast Sea

I read a blog of a fellow China momma today, who is in China as I write this to bring home their little boy (you can read her blog here). She wrote that a few days ago they were able to visit their son's orphanage - which looked from her photos to be pretty large. In talking with the orphanage staff she learned that on average only ten children are adopted from the orphanage every year. And in this past year, only five have been adopted. Out of what I can only guess is hundreds of children in that particular institution.

I was just reminded again of the vast sea of orphans (see this list of all of the orphanages) in China (Americans, who adopt more than any other country from China, provide families for only .4% of the orphaned children there).

Sometimes, in the midst of waiting, its easy to forget that there isn't any lack of need for families, just a long process to work through. But for one little one, we're on our way! And before we know it, she will be an orphan no more.

Our Adoption Interview

A couple of weeks ago our church hosted an Orphan Sunday, and they asked if we would be willing to share our adoption story. Here is the interview that was shared with our church! It's such a blessing that we will have this to share with our little one one day, and most importantly, for her to hear how God has been making a way for her since long before she was born.

Oh, how He loves her! 

Three Little Boxes

One of our family's favorite Christmas traditions is packing a shoe box of toys, school supplies, and other personal care things - to a child in need through Samaratan's Purse. I send one for each of our kids - this year we have three ready to send! Two boy boxes and one little girl box.

Our little girl is sending love even though she doesn't know it yet! :)
 

Where it all Began...

These are the faces... the ones that God used to start a stirring in my soul... that would become our lives today.

In 2003 - over TEN years ago, BJ and I were in this orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Holding and playing with kids that were desperate for attention and love. To know that they MATTERED.

It was at THIS moment that I realized I could give a child a home, a family, and show them love. Even as a college student with not much to speak of (we weren't even engaged yet, living in our college houses and borrowing money for pizza.)

I see now so clearly how God used this trip to help shape our family and show love to this little girl in China that we still don't yet know. 

These are children trying to get into the van with us as we left - event CLIMBING INSIDE - with people they just met. My heart still breaks for them and wonders where they are now. Whatever happened to these little ones within nothing and no one?