For All My Daughters

Caught by surprise

By the wave of emotion when I look in her eyes
What I long to see there as years go by

Tears of joy and gleam of laughter
Strength and peace and happy ever after

Guess I was never quite sure of my place in this world
Until I looked in the eyes of my little girl


I have been trying to put together these words for almost two years now. Actually since right after we started the adoption process. It became easier after we watched Hope's E-mail photo scroll down, starting with the crown of her head. It was a large photo and took several seconds to load. By the time her eyes were fully revealed, I was overwhelmed with the same emotions that I had been for each of my three older daughters. If you zoom in on Hope's picture in the yellow sweater with the pink bow, you can see a little tear below her left eye. Every dad wants to dry those tears of sadness and try to see that they don't come back.

Ronnie

Merry Christmas

Our last year celebrating Christmas without our sweet Hope Marie....

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a very special New Year. May God give you and your family much love, happiness, peace, security, and HOPE in 2008.

Slowing Down...Finally

The paperwork is done for now. What a relief!! Today we had a conference call with the CCAI Travel Department and it was very interesting. We have done extensive research in the past so we already knew a lot of the information discussed. It was very exciting to be listening to our agency acutally finally discussing our travel plans. Until we get our Travel Approval from China they will not be able to finalize anything but we could be traveling as early as the second week of January. Yeah!! We are so ready.

I would like to share a little more about Hope. We will be getting a translated history of her time in the orphanage soon but we do know a little. In August of this year they did her medical evaluations and we do have that. She looks to be very healthy although a lot of her blood work was just a tiny bit high or low. Probably can fix all that with a multi-vitamin!! We are so thankful. She weighed 22 pounds in August and was 30.31 inches tall, so she is quite small. Looking at the height and weight guidlines listed on a lot of the toddler size clothes at Wal-Mart it really looks like 2T will be the correct size to take along...even if she gained several pounds and grew a couple inches in the last 6 months. The picture of Hope in the yellow sweater with the cute pink bow was taken about the time of her medical exam which would be at about 2 1/2 years. We actually think she was at least 6 to 9 months younger in the picture where she is in the pink sweater. It appears that her head had been shaved in the photo in yellow......you can probably figure that out.....

Hope has been in the Huainan Social Welfare Institute since December 14, 2004, so she was about 2 days old when found. Her name is Huai, Dong Tan. Huai is the last name given to all the children from that orphanage, they are given the surname of the orphanage where they reside. The name Dong means Winter in Chinese and the name Tan means Night, although it is just a guess we are thinking she was found on a "Winter Night". That is typically the way they name the babies...just something related to the way they look or where they were found.

The Province her orphanage is in is Anhui and according to the facts we have learned about this orphanage only 20 or so children have been adopted through our agency from there. We may be the only family traveling to this province. Often families who go to this province enter the country through the port city of Beijing. We had hoped to go to Beijing but really thought it would be during a warmer time of year! It is possible that we may go through Hong Kong. We will know more after our Travel Approval comes in. It generally takes 2 to 5 weeks for that to happen. This means we could have as little as 7 days notice before traveling. We better get ready!!!!!!!!

I'll relate more later when we know more for sure. The one thing we do know for sure is that we are falling more in love with our sweet Hope everyday. Please pray for her that she will be safe, warm, not hungry or scared while waiting for us.

We are so thankful the Lord trusts us to raise another daughter and so thankful He saw fit to bless us so richly with this beautiful little girl.

I will praise thee, O Lord among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth:

Psalm 108: 3-5

Becky

So Much To Share

There is so much I would love to share right now, a little something is preventing me from having much time to even think....Paperwork.......... and more Paperwork. As soon as we finish the really important things that have to be done I will tell you a few more tidbits we know about Hope. We will actually get a translated history soon are really looking forward to that and hopefully some updated pictures of our sweet little girl. God is so good. He knew exactly the little girl who needed us and put us together at the perfect time.

Promise more later. Tomorrow the last 2 packages will be mailed. One to the agency with more notarized documents and one to the Huainan Social Welfare Institute where Hope lives. We are sending some warm clothes and socks ( probably too big ) a couple of toys and some candy for the nannies. ( I do not think they give candy to the children...just not sure about that ) A couple of toys and books and disposable camera with hopes they will take some pictures of Hope in her surroundings and return those to us on the day Hope becomes forever a part of this large crazy wonderful family of ours. Please Please...take some pictures we want to have as much history about her first three years as possible.

Becky

Happy Birthday Hope!!

December 12 was our little Hope's third birthday. We really wished we could have shared that special day with her but that was impossible and so we celebrated for her here in Texas. Her Grandma bought her a cute little "Peter Rabbit" book with little windows she can open and we bought her a book I love called "First Words." The weather was terrible here that day so we did not ask our girls to get out and come to celebrate with us. We made a cake and took some pictures so that Hope will know in the future that we were thinking of her and loving her on her birthday. A couple of pictures......We Love You Hope...Happy Birthday!!! Do we look a little tired...this has been a busy busy week. More paperwork and so much excitement!!!

Also we made a very small cake that we placed in the freezer, we plan to share that with one special little lady soon!!!!!!!!

Becky

More Pictures

We are so blessed.
Mom and big sisters are headed shopping for her more later.......

Our Precious Hope

A picture without all the pink and fluff attached. This is what we saw when we opened our email. It was a precious moment for our family.

Now.... She Has A Family

We are so in love with this little girl. She is a precious gift from God.

Which Hat Is Going To Fit?????

The BIG queston of the day is "Which Hat Is Going To Fit?" Her age is the biggest mystery to us. She can be anywhere between about 6 months old and 6 years old!!! From the very start Ronnie has insisted that when she steps on American Soil for the first time and becomes a citizen she WILL be wearing a Texas Longhorns hat. I did manage to get him to agree that a Pink Longhorns hat would be just fine. Hope's Aunt Patty and Uncle Red bought the Little Girl size hat and her Big Sister Misty bought the Baby Girl size hat. If she is ready for the Little Girls size we will probably give the Baby Girl size to my Cousin Ben's baby girl Lily who they brought home to Texas last month. If she fits the Baby Girl hat then she will get to wear her Little Girl hat when she grows into it. Either way we find out TODAY!!!

I put up a poll over on the right side of this page....Cast your vote now..........Not much time left!!!!!!!

It's Official CCAI Has Our Referral

Today the Yahoo Group we belong to for CCAI families posted confirmation that CCAI has received all the referrals for December 9, 2005 and December 14, 2005. We are so happy and thankful. We just wanted to share our good news and to let all our friends and family know that we will be getting THE CALL tomorrow. They will start making calls around 10 AM Colorado time so our call will probably come around 11:00 or 12:00 Texas time.

Her room is almost ready and our hearts are fully ready. God's timing is always perfect and the wait will just be a distant memory this time tomorrow night.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support, and to all our family and friends we love you very much............


Ronnie and Becky

Matches Have Arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Psalms 103: 1

No other words can express our feelings right now.

Ronnie and Becky

Our Little Secret

Drum Roll Please..................Her name is Hope!!!

Packages Expected Today

We still do not know for sure, but some agencies are telling their families that they are expecting a package from the CCAA today!! Whether or not those packages are this months referrals remains to be seen. If they are referrals then we would be getting THE CALL tomorrow!! It is almost unbelievable that after waiting since May 11, 2005 when our agency called to tell us that we met all of their requirements for adoption from China we could see the face of the little girl who is there waiting for us to bring her home.

We will update during the day with any new information that we get so check back with us later. We hope for and appreciate your prayers for her.

Ronnie and Becky

A Little Bit Of News...Nothing For Sure

Well...I am officially EXCITED now!!! One of the CCAI families that has our same LID talked with our agency today and said that they told her that although they do not know for sure they are hoping to see this months referrals by about Thursday. YES!! Anyway that is no guarantee but just knowing that we are so close now is great. Today Ronnie was off work too and everytime I checked in on one of the sites where families post information I would start crying in the middle of trying to read it to him. Bethany called this morning to say that she is getting very excited to find out about her little sister and I nearly cried then too.

Yes...I am officially a basket case and will remain so indefinately!!

Yesterday in church we were singing "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him" and when we got to the part where it says "We'll give Him all the glory" I nearly lost it...

Thank You Lord, for trusting us with another precious daughter.

Becky...

One of Your adopted daughters...

Update

According to the "rumors" floating around the internet the referrals have not yet been mailed for December. I will probably drive everyone crazy over the next few days making post after post about every little thing I hear or do not hear. Indulge me OK!! I am really getting excited!!

Her room is almost ready ( about time huh! ). We should be posting some pictures this weekend.

Becky

THEY ARE MATCHING

Our Agency CCAI just posted on their website that the China Center Of Adoption Affairs is matching!!!!!! Usually by the time that this is posted on our Agencies site they are almost ready to mail them out!!! We are so excited!! Probably sometime next week we will get THE CALL!!

Still waiting patiently!!
Becky and Ronnie

December Is Just A Few Days Away!!

We should hear something from our agency in early December. Oh my!! We are so excited. Usually around this time each month we start to hear a few rumors about what the cut off date will be. Although we were really hoping for our referral last month, it has been nice knowing that our date will be included this month since they stopped at December 8, 2005 last month.

Since our adoption application was approved in early May of 2005 we have had quite a long wait to see our little girls face. Every day we have thought of her and prayed for her and are looking forward to the day that our agency calls to tell us our wait to see her is over. They will tell us a little about her and email her picture to us during the phone call. The next step will be returning our acceptance to the CCAA in China. We will then be waiting for our "Travel Approval" from China and our "Consulate Appointment" with the American Embassy in order to plan our trip and bring our little girl home. Usually families travel within 2 months of getting their child referral. That sounds so nice. All the planning, waiting, paperwork and excitement are leading us to our ultimate goal of sharing our day to day lives with the precious little girl the Lord has caused the CCAA to match us with.

Waiting with Hope and anticipation for referrals to arrive soon!!!!!!!!!

Becky

Thankful

We are so Thankful this holiday season. Thankful for our daughters, our son-in-laws, our grandchildren, Ronnie's mom, my step-dad, our brothers, and sisters, and extended family all over the world, in Japan, Hawaii, even in the ones who live in the Sooner State, our home, our health, our happiness, our little daughter waiting for us in China, but most of all Thankful for Jesus who makes our future so secure.


Becky

Hopes, Dreams, and Prayers

A family in China adopting a special needs toddler experienced a tragedy this last week. After the adoption had been completed and the family was in Guangzhou for the child’s visa, the father unexpectedly died. The mom is desperate to finish the adoption process and bring their new daughter home to America. At last report, after the intervention of congressmen and senators, they have obtained a visa for the child, and are headed for home. Our hearts go out to the mom, and all of the family. We have been praying for them, that this sorrowful loss would not mean the end of the new beginning hoped for by the adoptive dad for his new daughter.

From a dad’s perspective, I can testify that a father’s hopes and dreams for his children do not end when he dies. On the contrary, I believe that they continue on into the future, through space and time, and into eternity, like the light from a star that may have burned out long ago. When Becky and I were approved for adoption, the very first order of business for me was to take out more life insurance. There was an inner urging within me that I had another child on the way, and that I might not live to see her into adulthood.

When I am sitting on a church pew beside my grandkids, or feeding the catfish with them down at the pool, or enjoying a vacation outing with my daughters and their families, or when I have found a person in need that I can bless in some way, I know that I am living out the hopes and dreams that my Dad had for me. I feel his influence in everything that I do.

We pray for comfort and healing for this mom and loved ones. We pray for the daughter, that she will grow up knowing that a special dad invested all of his being to make her his daughter, and that he had hopes and dreams of a wonderful life for her. We pray that those hopes and dreams will be fulfilled for her in a joyful, abundant life.

Ronnie

Just 17 days left in November.

November has 17 days left and then comes December. December....the month we will see our daughters face for the first time. After waiting almost 2 years from the date our Dossier was submitted to the the China Center of Adoption Affairs they will be sending us a packet of information and a couple of pictures and that is how we will be introduced to her. Sounds so simple...

We are so grateful to be allowed the privilage of raising another daughter and just cannot wait to meet her.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High

Psalms 92:1

Happy Birthday Ronnie!!!

Today is Ronnie's birthday!!! Happy Birthday to the best Dad and Husband in the world. We all love you very much.

Not that I am wishing away the month of November...just thought I would remind everyone that we are one week closer!! I have really enjoyed the referral pictures this month and will try to link to a few later that are public. One thing of note in this round of referrals a couple of families that I know of were referred older children. A family about our same age was referred a 5 1/2 year old daughter. Another younger family received a referral for a 3 year old. So really we have no idea how old our little girl will be. That is one of the exciting things we are thinking about this month. How old will she be? She could be anywhere from probably about 12 months old to 6 years old. We are really hoping for somewhere in between!

Becky

It Is Official!!! December 8th Cut Off

WE ARE NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise the Lord!! We were pretty sure...but now it is official. There were times when I wondered if they could ever get to December and now the next day they match will be our LID. Sure, it would have been great to have been matched this month, but we are just thrilled to know that we will make the cut off in December.

Congratulations to all the families who will be seeing their precious children's faces for the first time tomorrow. What joy!!

We have always said that we would be matched when the time was right and that time is here!!!! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to us over the past 2 years.

Becky

A Little Hidden Secret

We have a little secret hidden somewhere on this site!! We HOPE you can find it.

Referrals May Arrive Tomorrow

It appears that the cut off for November's referrals is December 8, 2005. A couple of days ago we heard that we had probably missed the cutoff and I was a little upset. I did not realize I had convinced myself that the CCAA would make it the 9th. I was really only upset for about an hour. I wasn't as much upset as I was shocked. I have guarded my heart for so long and felt a little silly. God's timing is always perfect and we trust Him completely.

One thing is certain, if the cut off is December 8th then we can safely say WE ARE NEXT. The only way we would miss out in the December referral batch would be if they had misplaced our file or if they did not send out any at all.

I have 6 weeks of vacation time I need to take before December 31st. I have saved it up all year and have to take it or loose it. (I think that is one reason I had pinned my hopes on getting matched this month) I really do need some time off. I have only taken 5 days this year and they were taken 1 day at a time...I really need a break. It will be good to have lots of time to get prepared for our trip to China. We are making some progress on her room. Today I got the fabric I ordered for the curtains in her room. It is black and white check taffeta. The checks are a little smaller than I thought they would be but it will be perfect.

Hopefully before the 2 year anniversary of our Log in Date we will know what our little girl looks like and how old she is. Wow...that is exciting and simply wonderful. We are so thankful for the faithfulness of God through this long, long, process. The end result is what matters and even though we are a couple of years older than we thought we would be nothing has changed for us. We are more committed to raising and loving her every day. She will be such a blessing to us and I do believe we will be a blessing to her.

Check back tomorrow night. If referrals arrive I will create some links to some of the early December babies. Ben and Carla are still in China with their beautiful little baby girl Lily and beautiful daughter Marley...big brother Luke is waiting patiently at home for his new sister. There is a link to their blog on the right side of this page. The pictures are great!!

Becky

Looks Like We Wait Another Month

Nothing official yet ( from our agency ) but according to all the rumors floating around the internet we missed the cut off by 1 day. I have to admit that I was upset and disappointed but am fine now. The Lord Jesus is in control and I trust Him. Enough said.

Becky

They Have Her!!!

They have Lillian Cen Mei....click on the title to check out their post from China.

Praise God...What a blessing.


Becky

Do you like the new title design??

I just designed a new title for our Little Girl's Blog. If you will notice there is an empty photo frame included in the title now. Guess what I plan to put in there? As soon as we get all the Little Girls information (whenever that might be) I will add her photo to the design!!

Cute Huh!!

The month of October is almost over which means that soon the matches will be sent from the CCAA. If they continue to match at the same rate they did over the last few months we will not get matched until December. There is some talk though in the internet adoption community that some agencies are expecting them to send out a higher number of matches this month.

We are sure hoping that will happen. Our agency has told us that they will attempt to get our travel in this year if we are matched in the month of November. That would be wonderful!! It would mean higher airline tickets and higher hotel bills but after waiting since May of 2005 I think we could handle that. To have her home by Christmas would be wonderful, although we could wind up having to travel during Christmas. I asked our girls what they would think if we were given the opportunity to go and get their little sister during the holidays and they all said GO!!

We have a tradition around our home on Christmas Eve. We turn on the Christmas tree lights, and light all the candles in the living room then Ronnie reads the Christmas story from the Bible. The grandchildren love it and so do our girls. One Christmas Eve a couple of years ago my Mom was very sick and not expected to live. Our girls drove up to OKC for the day and we enjoyed a different sort of Christmas Eve. They left in time to be home before bedtime and we suggested they stop by our house light the candles and then have one of the son-in-laws read the Christmas story. A few hours later we got a call and they told us they were at our house, that the candles and fireplace were burning and they wanted Ronnie to read the story over the phone so that we could all be together. Wow how special that was. We went down to the intensive care unit into my Mom's room and my neice Raina and nephew Garrett went with us. Here at home they put the phone on speaker and Ronnie read just like we were all together. I loved the fact that we were with Mom on her last Christmas Eve and that we were also able to continue our tradition and share that with her and my neice and nephew.

So we might have to do the same thing this year, except this year we might be calling from CHINA!! Of course the ideal thing would be to be home with our Little Girl by Christmas but if not we can still share in this precious tradition with our family.

Becky

Gone To Get Miss Lillian Mei

Ben, Carla, and Marley are on their way to CHINA!!!!!!!!! They left earlier today and should be arriving in Hong Kong sometime tomorrow. How exciting!! I cannot wait to see their pictures of the first time seeing little Mei. I'm about to cry...

Please pray for them and for Mei and for Luke who is waiting at home.

You can follow along with them as they make their way halfway across the world to bring this precious little baby girl home.

http://www.meetingmei.blogspot.com/

We are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooHappy for you!!!

Thank you Lord for making this possible for their precious family.

Becky

Looking Forward to November

November is just around the corner and we still know absolutely nothing!! We do not really expect to know anything about whether or not we are going to be matched this month until the referrals arrive in early November. Sometimes Agencies will let families know ahead of time if they are sure that they are going to be in the next group. Our agency is very conservative and I really do appreciate that. They are careful to tell you only what they know to be facts.

If I told that you that I am not excited about the next batch of referrals it would be a BIG FAT LIE. I AM excited and really HOPING that we will be included, but I am also trying to be realistic and remind myself every day that unless they do 9 days worth of LIDs this month we will not be included. Probably the cut off will be somewhere in the neighborhood of December 6th or 7th of 2005, if the CCAA continues at the present pace.

I can be excited and hopeful that we will see our little girl's face for the first time in early November and still have the confidence that God is in control. If He chooses to have us wait another month or two I will trust Him completely.

"Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Psalms 37:4 KJV

He knows that the real "desire" of my heart is to be in His perfect will. I just really, really, hope that His perfect will is NOVEMBER!!

We also desire your prayers for our Little Girl to be warm, fed, and comforted by someone who loves Jesus during her wait for us.

Becky

November 30th It's Official

It's official. The CCAA posted on their website after their holiday that the cut off for the October matches is November 30, 2005. They did 5 days this month. I really hope they speed up this next month. We are 9 days away from being matched so if they do 9 days we are in if they do less we are not.

Please help us pray that the CCAA will make it through December 9 in their next group of matches. We are getting really excited and know that we will get her when the time is right, but we really hope that the right time is the November batch.

Becky

October Referrals

Well rats, that's about all I can say. I have to admit that I am somewhat disappointed about the referral batch this month. We are soooooooo close but it just seems that every month the batches are smaller. As of right now we are really not even sure what the cut off date for October is. The referrals began arriving on October 2. The one thing we do know is that December 5, 2007 was not included in this batch. December 5th has a lot of families logged in and we thought that if the CCAA matched through that date then we would have a much better chance of being included in the November batch.

I'm the type of person who when something like this happens and I am discouraged I do not just dwell on it and remain upset. I was allowing myself a little bit "whine " time at work this morning and I suddenly looked at the bottom of my computer monitor where I have a hand written scripture that my friend Ronda gave me one day. I had written down the same one for her on a day when she was going through a tough time. Anyway there it was right in front of me just what I needed!

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Ronda added her own note at the end. Keep Praying...Prayer Changes Things !!

We have had faith from the beginning of this journey to our little girl that we will be matched with the exact one God has chosen for us at the time He has chosen. It's all planned. It's done. My thoughts about possibly missing another Christmas with her and feeling sad that the CCAA only matched X number of days this month are selfish. Yes it is sad to know that Christmas may come and go before we actually have her with us but I stand on my faith and believe that we will have her when the time is perfect for her and for us and prayer DOES still change things. The CCAA may not be planning to get as far as December 9th with the matches that will be sent in November but if that is the month that is "ordained" for us to get her then they will and that's that!

For now I am praying and believing for November!

Becky

What a Jewel!

We can finally start to say now that we are getting close to our trip to China. We can actually allow ourselves to get excited, and to begin some plans. My cousin Jewell is going with us. This has been planned since we first were approved for adoption. Jewell had planned a few months before then to go on a mission’s trip to an orphanage in Russia. Because of a series of circumstances beyond their control the trip was canceled on the day of departure. It was a very disappointing and sad for their entire group. When she heard that we would be going to China she volunteered to go with us. Just like us, she thought that we would be traveling within seven or eight months. She has faithfully waited all this time and is getting excited again along with us.

It is a real blessing to have someone from the family to be able to go with us. There will probably be many times that we can use an extra pair of hands, and Jewell is fun to be with. She and her husband Tillman were over at the house a while back and Jewell said there was only one concern that she had about the flight to China. She wondered if the pilot would be sure and have the fuel tanks topped off before we left. I told her to feel free to remind the pilots just to be sure.

Now we are really curious about our referral and where our daughter’s home province is. It looks as if we will be traveling in the winter, and much of the northern part of China is really cold. Becky and Jewell have high hopes that we will get to see the Great Wall. I would like to see it also, but only if it is during moderate weather. I would not be too disappointed if we didn’t travel to Beijing if we had to go in bitter winter temperatures. It doesn’t matter though, I know that after I see that picture I would go to the north pole if that’s what it took to get that little girl home.

Thank you Jewel, we are so thankful you are going to be able to share this precious time with us.

Ronnie

Ben and Carla's Little Baby Girl

MORE PICTURES!!

She is almost smiling!!!

"Precious"

Lillian Mei

Here she is and she is BEAUTIFUL. Her Chinese name is Cen Li Wen and she was born on November 18, 2006 so she is about 9.5 months old. Congratualtions!!!!! We are so happy !!!!



Her American Name will be Lillian Mei and she has a beautiful big sister Marley and a cute and sweet big brother named Luke.



We love you guys.



Ronnie and Becky

Ben and Carla's LID is IN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Ben, Carla, Marley, and Luke. We are so excited for you. This long wait is almost over for your family, and Mei will soon be home with her forever family. We know you must be a little nervous about everything until the adoption agency actually makes the CALL to give you all the information about your little girl. What a blessed family and blessed little girl!

The CCAA posted today that they matched through November 25. Ben's familys LID is November 24th, so unless something weird happens Ben and Carla will get a call sometime Tuesday or more likely Wednesday with all the information about their little girl. When the CCAA says matched before a certain date...that date is included.

What the means for us? Well it's really hard to say except this leaves us at 14 days away when you count the LID dates between November 26 and December 9. We will most likely not get matched in October and now since they only did 4 days this month we may not make November's referrals. If we were to get matched in November we might have her home by Christmas but that is not really very likely. We could be in China at Christmas. We are not discouraged one bit! We will be matched to the perfect little girl when God's time is perfect.

Thanks Rumor Queen for making that little CCAA box so easy to add to our post!

Hope

"O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together."

Psalm 35:3

Today is our 34th Anniversary and I am so thankful for you Ronnie. I love you more every day!

What a wonderful day to read an exciting "rumor" on the Rumor Queen website. If you are not familiar with this site, I have referred to it several times previously. It is sort of gathering place for adoptive families on the internet. Rumor Queen has a lot of contacts, keeps up with all the chat groups and different sources out there. Then she takes the time to analyze and research what she hears and shares that on her website. She is careful to inform the readers that these are rumors. She has a scale that rates the information and it goes from R1 to R5. At an R4 she puts her reputation on the line and R5 is pretty much a fact. Well, this morning she is giving an R3 1/2 to a statement from a European Agency that some of December 2005 LID's will be included in the September batch that should come out early next week.

OH MY!! If this "rumor" becomes a fact then that would mean our chances of getting matched with our little girl in October are much greater. Our LID is 12-09-05 so we once again have HOPE of having her home with us before Christmas. Also we both have several weeks of vacation saved up that we will need to use by the end of this year. If we have to wait to travel in early '08 then we will be using up next years vacation time early in the year after having just used up our '07 time. Despite all the above I trust the Lord and His timing in this journey of a lifetime. He knows and loves our little girl even now so we put all our Hope and Faith in Him.

Becky

Faith

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

I know that Ben, Carla, Marley, and Luke are very excited and really anticipating this next week when they will see the first pictures of their little Mei. It has been a long long wait and I am sure that from time to time just like us scripture like the one above was the only way they managed to keep from getting discouraged.

Mei will be so blessed with such a wonderful Dad, Mom, Sister, and Brother and all those sweet aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ronnie and I are praying for you all as well as that little girl who has no idea what a wonderful turn her young life is about to take.

We love you .....call as soon as you calm down and be sure to post that sweet little face on your website.

Becky

Morning in China

We love to look at the sunset here on Wolfhill and over the past couple of years we usually say something like now the sun is rising in China or now it's morning in China. We recently had a unique looking cloud pattern that Ronnie photographed and it looks almost like a dragon...

Just cannot wait until we can hold our little girl and watch the sunset here on this little farm !!!

Becky

Looking Forward to September

This next month will be very exciting for some of our extended family members. My cousin Ben and his family are expecting their referral. They have been patiently waiting for their new daughter and sister for many months. Their LID is November 24,2005 so they should be included in this months matches. They will probably see their little Mei's precious face soon.

We are praying for you all and believing that September will be your month!!!!!

At one time we actually discussed that we might luck out and get to travel to China together...but that was back when the CCAA was matching many more days per month than they are now. A couple years ago the wait from LID to Match was about 6 to 8 months.

Best Wishes You Guys... more to come!

August Referrals

Click on the title of this post to go to the Rumor Queen Website. RQ is a really neat resource for families interested in adoption. She always posts a list of the families who were matched and want their website listed. I love this time of month and someday soon it will be our turn. Time for a new Little Girl to join our family. Our little one will probably be quite a bit older than most of these but then again maybe not...that is going to be a really big surprise for us. She could be anywhere from 6 months to 6 years old and we are really fine with whatever age our Lord blesses us with.

Remember that this time next month I will probably have a new cousin. Ben and Carla should be matched this month. They are really in love with their little Mei cannot wait to welcome her into their family. I will post her picture as soon as possible.

ENJOY THE PICTURES

Becky

WE ARE 7 LID'S CLOSER!!!!!!!!!

The CCAA has sent out the matches for this month. We are 7 days closer. They sent out referrals for November 14, 2005 through November 21, 2005. YEAH. We were really hoping for them to get past November 22 which has a huge number of families logged in. Regardless we are so excited to think that we will probably get matched with our little girl within the next 3 months. My cousin Ben and his familyhave a November 24 LID are NEXT (probably)!!!!! We are so excited for them.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

Caleb Tyler
Caleb, Tyler and our daughter Carmen

The next few months will be pretty busy for us as we wait, wait, and wait a little longer. We still have a lot to do. We need to finish our Little Girl's room. We still do not know if we need a "Big Girl" bed or a "Little Girl" bed. The other day when we read on the RQ website that there was a rumor out there that there could be a bit of a speed up Ronnie said "Oh well I work better under pressure." You would think that with 2 years of waiting we would have that room ready!

I thought it would be fun to post a little about the things we do with our time!! We are in a wonderful place in our lives. We have a great family that lives really close and we get to spend time with at least some of them each day.

Almost everyday Ronnie and some of the kids go on a bike ride. If it's late when Ronnie is finished with the work at the barn then it is a short ride, if they have more time they might actually ride 2 or 3 miles. It is really creating some wonderful memories and bonds with the grandkids. Ronnie taught Sunnie to ride this past winter and spring and now there is no stopping her. He is looking forward to the future when he can teach another special little girl to ride.

Enjoy the pictures!

REFERRALS HAVE ARRIVED!!!!!!! No not ours..not yet

The CCAA has updated their website and we are 1 month closer. This month they matched 7 days. That is better than 6. I looked at the past year or so of referrals and the average number of days matched since January of 2006 is 11. That does not really mean anything though because some dates in a given month will have many families logged in and other dates only a few...so it sort of averages out.

At the rate they have been matching the past few months we are thinking it could be November or December but are praying for October or before because of the vacation days we have saved that will have to be used by the end of this year.

We are getting really really excited!!!!!!!

Becky

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!

Seems unreal that we have made it to July 4 and still do not have our little girl. Maybe it will not be much longer. I really really wanted to buy a little red, white, and blue outfit with a bow to match!!!!!! I've thought about buying one for Consulate Day when she is sworn in but since we have NO idea if she will be 6 months or 6 years old that would be a little hard to do.

I am so thankful to be an American. I am thankful for our freedom and our beautiful country. I am thankful for our Troops who spend today in harms way to protect and defend our freedom and for those who served this country in the past.

We have several family members who are currently serving in the Military. Gary in the Air Force, Jeremy in the Navy, and Zack who is serving in Iraq with the Marines. God bless you and keep you safe.

Becky

Rumor Time Again

Update to the rumor below: There has been another November 17th family indicate that their agency told them they are not included in this months matches. Sound confusing? That's how things go in the world of international adoption. One day things look rosy and the next not so rosy.

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The Rumor Queen has posted that some families with November 17, 2005 LID's have been told that they are "IN" this month. That would be just wonderful. The past few months have been difficult for waiting families like us and my Cousin Ben.

We continue to put all our trust and faith in the Lord and know that He will give us the patience we need to continue our wait and lead us to the perfect "Little China Girl" (still no name!!!)

Ben and Carla have a blog now. Here is a link to it.

http://www.meetingmei.blogspot.com/

Ben has written some beautiful posts...he is quite the writer!!!

Becky

A Child's Right

I found a link on Rumor Queen to a wonderful organization that is providing clean water for some orphanages in China. Our family for one is going to support this organization and I hope that you might consider at least a one time gift. Clean water is a precious commodity in some parts of the world. They have well over 150 pictures from orphanages in China. Please click on the Title of this post and it will take you there. Then click on the China photo and enjoy...maybe you should drink a glass of cold water while looking through the pictures and maybe you will be in a wonderful "giving mood" when you are finished.


Loving those pictures!!!!!
Becky

It's That Time Again!!!!!!!

Referrals have started arriving in the USA for families who have early November 2005 Log In Dates. We are not sure yet what the cut off date is but so far we have not read about any referrals past November 7, 2005. As always we try to look on the bright side and remember a couple of months ago when they only referred 2 days. If the cut off is November 7 then that will be 2 months in a row that they referred only 6 days. If this trend continues then we should be receiving our referral in early December. Quite a change from about 3 months ago when we were thinking August or September. One thing we try to remember is that with International Adoption things can quickly change. We could actually get our referral earlier than expected or later.

We know that our timing is in the Lords Hands so for now we continue to wait!

Becky

The Truth is Out There

As a teen in the late sixties I was enamored with rock music. I often wondered if there were hidden messages in rock music and sometimes tried to decipher lyrics. The only trouble was that I usually couldn’t understand the lyrics, and alas there was no internet back then to help find them. I was usually way off base as to what the words to a song actually were, so that made finding the hidden meaning a lot more difficult.

As a mature adult now, (who just happens to have listened to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon while watching The Wizard of Oz several times), with years of experience to guide me and the power of the internet to research song lyrics I am even more certain that most rock songs are full of hidden messages, and you don’t even have to play them backwards. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at what I found pertaining to us adopting our precious daughter of China in Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”. I will give a portion of the lyrics in quotation marks and the hidden meaning in parentheses. Prepare to be amazed.

“Hey Mr. Tambourine Man” (China Center of Adoption Affairs), “play a song for me” (please send us our referral)
“I’m not sleepy and there ain’t no place I’m going to”, (we lay awake at night wondering why it is taking so long)
“Hey Mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me,
in the jingle jangle morning I’ll come following you”, (We’re waiting on that morning phone call)
“Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship”, (Airbus, Boeing 747, whatever)
“My senses have been stripped”, (preparing the dossier)
“My hands can’t feel to grip”, (the fingerprinting)
“My toes too numb to step” (we’re on pins and needles)
“Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering”, (just tell us which province)
“I’m ready to go anywhere”, (we have our passports)
“I’m ready for to fade, into my own parade”,

(we're ready to join our travel group)
“Cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it, (we will do the Happy Snoopy dance when we get the news)

Well there it is, as plain as the nose on your face. How could Bob Dylan have known? I knew you wouldn’t believe it unless I spelled it out. Becky says that I need to quit writing this stuff, she’s afraid that our social worker might see it and reconsider our home study report. I have to quit for now, I have been searching the lyrics of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, and I expect to find a treasure trove of hidden meanings.

Being Prepared

Saturday morning as I was praying, once again, as I have so many times in the last two years I prayed for the little girl that God is preparing for us in China. I prayed for her health and safety, for her comfort, and for someone to hold her and love her. I prayed that God would prepare her little heart and mind to become part of our family.

It suddenly dawned on me that it is possible, maybe even likely, that the little girl I was praying for was not even born yet, especially two years ago, and maybe not even today. I started thinking about destiny. In my imagination the child already existed, but maybe not in fact. If something were to occur that caused Becky and me to have to abandon our planned adoption, then I suppose the child in my imagination never would exist.

These kinds of thoughts make me realize how everything is in God’s hands. We can make plans, but unless God wills it, they will never become reality. I believe that a little girl in China does exist that we will adopt, love, and cherish, otherwise why would the Lord give us this desire. If it is His will, then she has existed in His mind long before we ever dreamed of adoption. The Lord told the prophet Jeremiah, “before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee.”

Now I wonder, who is it exactly that God is preparing? Is He preparing a little girl in China for us, or has He been preparing us all of these years for that special child that He has known before she was ever conceived?

They are MATCHING

The CCAA has started matching again. It is usually about 1 to 2 weeks after we hear that matching has started that families start getting THE CALL. Although we will not be matched this time we are really hoping for a BIG batch. The rumors are leaning that direction but we will know nothing for sure until the referrals arrive.

My cousin Ben and his family are very close to getting matched. Their Log In Date is 11-24-05. They will probably be matched the month before us. Unless there are more 2 day batches. We hope that never happens again.

Check back later in the week for more news!!! I'm sure I will be posting a lot more on this site over the next few months.

Waiting Patiently!!!

Becky

A Fun Rumor!!

There is a little rumor floating around on Rumor Queen that the batch this month might be a larger batch than what we have come to expect as the norm. I love her website. She shares what she hears from a lot of different sources and is always careful to remind the reader that what she posts is a rumor. It would be so great if this rumor turned into a fact.

Our agency is great about keeping us up to date on any facts that they have and we really appreciate them and always feel we can trust and depend on them. Waiting has been so hard and we have appreciated reading blogs and adoption journey websites to help pass the time. We are looking forward to holding that little girl in our arms and looking into her eyes and we are getting closer each month.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day and I am looking forward to the next Mother's Day when I feel sure we will have our "Little China Girl" home.

Becky

A Beautiful Video

I just watched an amazing video. A young man visited China and it changed his life and the lives of many Chinese Orphans. This was my first time to see this video althought it has been around for a while. Take the time to watch the entire clip. It is precious. Click on the title above and hopefully it will take you straight to the video.

Becky

It's Referral Time Again!!

Last month was a bit of a let down for us since the CCAA only matched 2 days. This month they Matched Log in Dates through November 1, 2005. We actually thought they would make it that far in April. We are excited because they Matched 6 days while that seems to be a small number of days it is much better than last month.

We are getting closer!!!!!! With a December 9, 2005 LID we should get our Match sometime within the next 6 months. Probably the earliest month that our LID would be included would be August and that would a miracle. That would mean that they complete the month of November during June and July...probably will not happen. October took about 4 months.

Maybe September will be our month...seems like just a couple of months ago we were saying maybe June or July. One thing I know for sure is that International Adoption is complicated and unpredictable. And so once again we continue to wait.

Becky

What's Her Name?

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All the grandkids came over today and we colored eggs. It was great fun...I even coerced Caleb and Bradley who were playing computer games rather than coloring eggs to at least dye one Easter Egg. Our girls were here this afternoon and tonight. I really love times like this. If you have read very much of this blog you know that we do not have a name for our "Little China Girl" yet. Our entire family loving calls her by that name. We are waiting to see what her Chinese name is and also her age. At our age we could be matched with a little girl up to six years old and the older she is the more we feel that we will should give her a name that relates to what she has been called previously. Above you will see a few of names we are considering on EASTER EGGS!!!

Alaina Hope

We both like the name Alaina and I have a cousin I really love named Hope, and the word Hope is just so meaningful in this situation.

Ellieanna Marie,
I love the name Ellieanna (Ronnie is not to crazy about this name he thinks it sounds pretentious). Marie would be honoring Ronnie's dear aunt Bessie Marie.


Jami Hope
Ronnie likes Jami, (after his Dad which is sweet and a precious sentiment but I am just not wild about the name).


Ronni Malia
This is my other favorite name...of course after Ronnie and I just love the name Malia. Carmen suggested using Ronni when we were first approved. Let's see how long ago was that. Almost 2 full years, it was in early May of 2005.


If you have time leave a comment and let us know what you think about our names...which do you like the best???

Happy Easter

Becky


UPDATE: 11-02-07

SHE HAS A NAME!!! Well one name anyway...drum roll please........................................................

Her name is HOPE !!!!!!!

We have decided to use the name Hope for so many reasons. We decided about a month ago that we wanted to name her Hope. We kept is quite for about 30 minutes. HA! Actually we did tell our girls what we had decided and a few other people but really wanted to wait until we had a chance to visit with my cousin Hope and share the news with her and be sure she would want to share her name with our little China blessing...of course her answer was YES!!! She was thrilled. I pray that our little girl will have the same love of life that Hope has and that she will live her life in faithfulness to God and family just as Hope has done, and if she can be just 1/2 as sweet and fun loving she will have a wonderful life.

Hope will be one of her names and Ronnie will be choosing her other name...I do retain VETO power and the only way to overide a VETO is with the support of all three of our daughters. So if Ronnie picks something I am not fond of and all three girls agree with him then I am going to have to learn to like it.

Another reason we love the name Hope for her is that it is just so fitting. She will be coming to us from circumstances where hope is all that some of the little ones will ever have. Hope of a family to love and share their lives with. Hope of being warm and fed and supported in all the dreams she can dream and given a chance to be all that she can be.

And last but certainly not least, the greatest hope of all...the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

We cannot wait to meet you Hope and to see your sweet face. We already love you and pray for you every day.

Perfect Timing

When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt it took drastic measures. After nine plagues of increasing severity He prepared for the final one that would break the will of Pharaoh. All of the firstborn in the land of Egypt would die. The believing Jews were to kill a lamb, one without a blemish, and put its blood upon their doorposts. They were to eat the lamb, roasted with fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The blood on the doorposts would be a token, which when God saw, he would pass over that house and spare the firstborn within.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial: and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Fast forward about fifteen hundred years; a Jewish teacher that has spent the last three years traveling through Israel, proclaiming God’s love, with miraculous healings, even raising some from the dead, is observing Passover with His disciples. Knowing that one of His chosen disciples was about to betray him, and that He would be given over to His enemies to be scourged and crucified, He took the unleavened bread and broke it saying, “this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. He took the cup of wine also, saying, “drink all of it, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sin, this do ye as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Talk about perfect timing. The real Lamb of God, the one that was prefigured in ancient Egypt in the blood upon the doorposts, the unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, was about to be sacrificed so that God could pass over the sins of all mankind. And it was happening not a month away or a week away from the memorial that had been observed through the centuries, but on the very day. No amount of human effort, no amount of planning, scheming, staging, or manipulation could have brought the necessary mix of people, place, and events to make the crucifixion of Christ coincide with the annual Passover observance.

Was it happenstance, or coincidence, or was it the hand of the Almighty, working in omnipotent wisdom, working His will, while allowing individuals to do what they thought was their will. It was the work of Jehovah, the great I Am who appeared to Moses in a burning bush and said, “Go and tell Pharaoh to let my people go.” His ways are beyond our understanding, His timing is perfect.

We don’t like having to wait so long for our little girl from China. When we applied in May of 2005, we expected a wait of about a year. It is almost a year beyond that now, with several more months to wait in a best case scenario. We have had to remind ourselves that our times are in His hands, and that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are the called according to His purpose. The child that we will be matched with, and when that will occur is not in the hands of someone in China, it is in the hands of the Master Planner whose timing is perfect.

Oh yes, the rest of the story. Jesus rose again, Happy Easter everbody!

Ronnie

We have our new I171

The coveted new I171 has arrived in our mailbox. There were a couple of delays in its processing, which I think were a result of the actual packet of information being transfered to the Oklahoma City USCIS. Our original I171 was processed through the Dallas Tx USCIS. Our very professional and prompt social worker Beverley Lewin took care of everything for us. I highly recommend her to anyone wishing to adopt. You can tell she has a great committment to and love for children living in orphanages and to helping prospective parents through the very complicated process of International Adoption. Thank you Beverley.

Now we continue to wait but with that valuable document safely stored and peace of mind that the Lord will continue to help us be patient. (and believe me He has to really help me a lot).

Becky

Update on Breann

Misty called early this morning and asked me if I had looked at the website for a precious little girl from China that we have been praying for who is in need of a heart transplant due to Cardiomyopathy which was a result of a cold and ear infection. She is now in surgery for her transplant. (you can click on the link and see her website updates are posted at the left side under Brea at Arkansas Childrens Hospital) If you are reading this and believe in the power of prayer please join us in prayer for her. She is a beautiful little girl adopted in 2006 by her forever family who love her very much.

It is also a joy to have a daughter who is tenderhearted and a prayer partner with me for a little girl who we have never met but feel connected to because of the internet community of adoptive families.

Becky

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!!!

Referral time has rolled around again. Excited, waiting families will be receiving their life changing calls soon. Hopefully the CCAA will get into November but you can never tell. Since our date is 12-09-2005 I REALLY hope that they do.

The wait has been overwhelming at times and knowing that we are getting closer each month is great. I will not question the Lord's timing and I do believe that it is His timing. I only know that He has been so faithful to us and I feel humbled that He has led us to this journey, and thankful that He has confidence in us to allow another precious little girl to be our daughter.

I will post more news when I have it.

Becky

Looking Ahead

Soon the matches for this month will be sent out to the agencies. It is a very exciting time when you are waiting like we are. The CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) will be starting out with October 25, 2005 and working forward through the month of October and hopefully into early November. With our date being December 9, 2005 we really really hope they get into November. I believe it could take as long as 3 months more after this month to get through the large amount of dossiers logged in for the month of November 2005. May, June, July, and then we should be next. It seems that it gets farther away instead of closer. We were actually thinking a couple of months ago that we might get our match in May or June and to keep from being disappointed I am thinking it will be July at the earliest and probably August.

We are getting some work done on her room this weekend and beginning to make packing lists and researching a lot of stuff about the trip. I know the trip will be exciting and a once in a lifetime experience but what I am really looking forward to is the joy of sharing our lives with the precious little girl that will be joining our family. Please continue to pray with us for her health, safety, and peace while she is waiting for us to come for her. One of my special prayers that I pray for her is that the Lord will send someone who loves Him to hold her and whisper His name to her.

Becky

Blessed Assurance

I’m still thinking along the lines of what are the things that a child, adopted or natural born, needs most. On a previous post I talked about a good inheritance. I am thinking now in the terms of the child’s immediate and day to day sense of well being and peace of mind.

Becky tells me that once when she was little girl, she got out of bed and found her Mom and Dad in the dimly lit kitchen slow dancing to soft music. She said that she remained hidden for several minutes, just watching, and enjoying one of the most joyous feelings that she can remember in her tumultuous childhood. There was a feeling in her heart that this is the way things are supposed to be.

I remember when our girls were little, and one of them would happen upon Becky and me in a warm hug. Almost without exception they would run giggling to us and begin inserting their self between us. We would cling closer together and make them struggle for a bit before they managed to get between us. They didn’t want to break up the embrace; they just wanted to be in the middle of it.

These reactions from children point to what I believe is the most needful element in a child’s psyche and that being the sense that they are under the protection of a covenant. They don’t know what a covenant is and they don’t have to. There is spiritual power in a home when the parents are truly covenanted together that resonates in the heart of the children bringing them peace and assurance.

I believe that this is the primary, but not the only, reason for Biblical prohibition of sex outside of marriage. Sexual intimacy can lead to a child coming into this world, and God’s ideal is, if that happens, that the child be under the protection of the covenant of marriage. Of course we know that we often miss God’s ideal standard. The good news is that even a single parent can give their child the blessings of a covenant by making Christ the head of their family.

Throughout the Bible, from Noah to Abraham, Moses, King David, and on through history God has instituted covenants. When ancient Jews made covenants with each other, they were binding agreements, usually assuring the safety and well being of the participants. When Jesus observed Passover with His disciples the night before His crucifixion, He said “this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.”

A couple can enter into marriage without a belief in God as part of the equation. Many will be faithful to their covenant for all of their lives. As you know by the statistics, or from personal experience, many more will not. A covenant is only as good as the power and ability of those involved to uphold their end of the bargain. Sometimes one partner tries their hardest and the other partner doesn’t. I can tell you from experience that neither I nor Becky had the inner strength to uphold our covenant before we entered personally into covenant with our Lord.

There are many things that we can’t guarantee our little “Daughter of China” that I wish we could, such as us staying healthy and active until she is a mother herself, or that we will be able to leave a wealthy estate to inherit. We are thankful though that we can be sure that she will have the security of a covenant. We are in covenant with the Lord Jesus and each other. With His help we can uphold our part of the covenant. Our little girl will have that blessed assurance.

There may be couples that read this who are about to be parents for the first time. It is an awesome responsibility that can sometimes be overwhelming. There may be fears that arise about what the future holds. We would like to encourage them, that this wonderful privilege of living in covenant is available to everybody. God wants every family to have the blessings of His covenant, and every child to have that inner peace that can be fully known only under the shadow of that covenant.

Ronnie

Precious Little Ones

Here are some links to some of the precious little one who were matched up with forever families this month. Congratulation to all the families who are now anxiously awaiting Travel Approval (TA in adoption lingo)

The Story of You

This is an Adoption Journey Website and I read it nearly every day. When you click on this link it will take you to their "What's New" page and the new referral for this month are on a slide show. It is really cute. If the slide show has been removed you can click on Waiting to Travel and read about those families who are waiting for TA.

myadoptionwebsite

This is another Adoption Journey Website. Look under Families Waiting to Travel. We will probably be using one of these 2 sites when we travel. We have heard that it is difficult to update your blog while in China.

In a few more months we will be sharing our Little China Girl with you.


Becky

Referrals have arrived in the USA

The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) has sent out the next batch of referrals. They started arriving in the US today. The cut off date for this batch is October 24. That is not as many days as we were hoping for. We were hoping they would get through most of October. Unless they get through quite a few in the next batch it will probably add another month to our wait. It is always disappointing when they send out less than we had hoped but that does not change our committment...we will continue to wait, plan, and pray. Our little girl is waiting for us and we will see her soon.

Each month I love to look at the possible scenerios for getting our referral. They only matched through October 24 and we know that the end of October and all of November are large LIDs (Thanks to the Rumor Queen and the Polls that she does to try and help us waiting families know where we stand). The next batch of referrals should come out at the end of this month or the first of next month and could go as far as into early November. Assuming they match at least 11 days going forward the upcoming months could look like this:

Late March/Early April Batch November 4
Late April/Early May November 15
Late May/Early June November 26 (YEAH Ben and Carla would be included)
Late June/Early July December 7
Late July/Early August December 18 (WE would be INCLUDED)

So if they continue to refer at least 11 days and one month they refer 13 days (or any combination that equals at least 11 days for 3 months and 13 for one month)we will get our referral in late June or early July...and that family and friends would be WONDERFUL!

Our Adoption Agency CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) has given us a very similar timeline. We really appreciate them and all the help and support they give us. They always are honest with us and encourage us. That is what you want in an Agency. So if it seems like I am recommending them I am. Just in case you ever feel like you may need a Chinese Adoption Agency!!!

Tomorrow I will try to post some links to pictures of Precious Little Ones who now have been matched up with forever families.

Becky

Red Thread of Destiny

It is a widely held belief in China folklore that an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to be together. I notice that there is a fascination with the color red in China, that is much older than the expression "Red China."

For Becky and myself, we also see a red thread of destiny in our lives. It is the blood of Christ that He shed on the cross. This is the power that has changed our hearts, our lives, and our destinies. The power of the cross is the means by which we were adopted into God's family, with all of the blessings and joy that He intends all of His creation to experience. This red thread of destiny is strong enough to reach all the way to China, to unite us with a special little girl and see us all the way home.

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:4-7

Ronnie

A Letter From Sunnie Kay

Dear Little China Girl,
We don't know what your name is yet, but we will name you soon. My name is Sunnie. I will play with you everyday, I will spend the night with you when it is Saturday, and go to church when it is Sunday. When you come home to us we will love you and take care of you. We love you because we are going to be family.

Love,

Sunnie

Please pray for Breann

A little girl who was adopted from China in October of 2006 is very sick and needs our prayers. Her name is Brea. Click on her name and you can read more about her. Thank you for praying.

Becky

Joy in Africa

I was watching James Robison on Friday while I was eating breakfast. He was showing film footage of people in Africa where his ministry goes and digs water wells. He showed some of the terrible water holes that people had to get water from and presented facts about the number of deaths in Africa due to waterborne illnesses. I almost broke into tears when they showed water gushing up out of a new well and little children jumping up and down with joy as drops of water splashed over them. I decided we should start to support that ministry.

As I was still watching the broadcast, I was opening yesterday’s mail, one of which was from another foreign missionary ministry that we had made a modest donation to. The letter inside thanked us for the support and went on to describe how they were working in China, helping Chinese Christians to serve their nation. I almost choked up again, thinking that perhaps this ministry in China might come into contact with the family of the daughter we are adopting. I realize that there are about 1.3 billion people in China, but I am struck recently more and more with an awareness of how we are all connected in some way with people all over the world. I believe that the Gospel of Christ and His love in action is the only force that can and eventually will, unite all of the world.

Ronnie

HELP For The Wait

When we started out on this magical mystery tour all we really wanted was to hold her hand. I know that money can’t buy me love, but felt sure that when she experienced all my (our) loving, that she would love me (us) do. We just wanted to travel across the universe, say hello goodbye, get our little oh darling and get back to where we once belonged. I should have known better.

We worked eight days a week, on the paper chase, and some hard day’s nights. There were times that I thought you’re going to lose that girl. A day in the life was helter skelter at times, but we’re getting by with a little help from our friends. I guess that when I’m sixty four it will seem just like yesterday. Hey Jude, it may actually be yesterday at this rate.

I read the news today, oh boy. Maybe now we can say here comes the sun, unless they have another revolution. I’ve got a feeling that something is changing. To our little child I say, got to get you into my life, and please mister postman don’t be late when it’s time for us to get a ticket to ride. I pray let it be soon that we come together and this long and winding road leads her safely to our door.

Ronnie with help from Paul, John, Ringo and George

The Long and Winding Road

Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still. -- Lou Erickso

John Lennon: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

A Good Inheritance

What do we want for our children? I have been reconsidering this recently as we endure the long wait from LID to referral. Do we want them to be popular, to become famous, wealthy, or successful? I never gave much thought to these things when our children were being born. Becky and I were young, in love and had our hands full with the day to day of working and parenting. We only knew that we wanted them to be happy, to grow up loving God, and to become loving, compassionate people.

One day Becky opened a Bible to show me a scripture that she had read that day which seemed to have tremendous meaning to her. We had been married about ten or twelve years, our daughters were around the ages of ten, twelve, and fourteen. Becky said that she wasn’t sure that she fully understood the scripture, but she felt that it described her feeling about her life. It is found in the book of Psalms, chapter sixteen, verse six: “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes I have a good inheritance.” I have remembered that scripture through the years and it has come to mean very much to me also. It has special meaning to me now as we, in the autumn of our lives approach the adoption of a precious little girl. Now I ask, "What do we want for our little girl"?

The scripture’s last five words are key, “I have a good inheritance.” Before anyone assumes that this is referring to riches and wealth, we need to hear the words of Christ in the gospel of Luke chapter twelve, verse fifteen…”for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” I can affirm that although I am far from rich in material wealth, I have a good inheritance, and I believe that “the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.” It may help to understand these words better if we look at the preceding verse in the book of Psalms chapter sixteen, which is verse five. It reads: O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot.

What these verses mean to me is that I am happy to be who I am, where I am, and with what I have. I can say that I am thankful for the inheritance my parents left me, an inheritance not of abundant possessions, but of spiritual life, a healthy attitude, and hope for eternity. I realize that not every person has been blessed to have parents like mine, or a secure childhood like I had. Becky’s home life was one of turmoil in her childhood. She changed schools five times during her first grade. Eventually her parents divorced and Becky went back and forth between parents and grandparents for several years. Her greatest feeling of security was when she was with her grandparents, from whom she received most of her spiritual training. In her maturity Becky enjoyed closeness with both of her parents and now with her stepfather.

The phrase “the lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places” may have been referring to the way that the Promised Land was divided and allotted to the tribes of Israel. The modern day equivalent would be to say, “I am pleased with my lot in life.” The secret to being satisfied with our lot in life is found in verse five, to paraphrase: the greatest portion of my inheritance is God, and He maintains my lot. I believe, and Becky agrees that the events of our past, some pleasant, some unpleasant, some very wonderful, and others very difficult, have worked out for good by the Grace of God. He has formed our character through these events. He has taught us how to live, and how to treat others. What a blessing to know that we belong to Him and that He has set our boundaries.

What I want for my children and my grandchildren is for them to be able to say, “I have a good inheritance. God is first in my life and He directs my ways. I am blessed to be who I am, where I am and with what I have.” With help from the Lord I will do all that I can to make my children and grandchildren’s lives secure and happy, to further their education, to encourage them to believe for great things, to teach them compassion, and understanding, but it is only by His Grace that they will enjoy the fullness of that inheritance.

No one chooses their parents, their nationality, or the times in which they are born. These things are decided by a higher power, some may say fate, and others may say God. Our Chinese daughter has come into this world and is now without parents or family. The China Center of Adoption Affairs will match her to us, and our agency will coordinate our joining together. I believe that the mighty hand of a loving Creator will oversee these events. My fondest hope is that one day, when she is grown, our daughter will read that scripture: “the lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places, yes I have a good inheritance” and say yes, I am happy with my lot in life, God has set my boundaries and guided my steps.

Ronnie

Happy Valentines Day Little One

Somewhere out there, somewhere in China, wishing you were here, hoping that someone will hug you today, that you will know that you are loved, that you are chosen, that you have a home and family waiting for you.

Dad

Top Ten

Top Ten Reasons You Know This Wait Has Lasted TOO LONG !!!!!

10. The lucky bamboo you bought on your LID is nearly touching the ceiling.

9. USCIS fingerprint tech knows you by sight

8. Librarian warns you've exceeded recheck limit of books about China.

7. You can actually eat a meal with chopsticks.

6. You can name more Chinese provinces than U.S. capitols.

5. Had to get more hard drive storage for China adoption pictures

4. "Chinese for Dummies" CD is worn out

3. Friends have stopped asking, "have you heard anything?"

2. Catch yourself worrying that it looks like the Red Couch is fading.

1. You have made Rumor Queen your homepage !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aching for Christmas

Last December about three days before Christmas, Sunnie, my granddaughter, brought me a game piece that was a multi-sided die with letters of the alphabet on it. When rolled or dropped one letter would be on top. Sunnie wanted to make up a game to play, so we started rolling the dice and then thinking up three words about Christmas that started with the letter we rolled. We went through several letters fairly easily, and then I rolled an A. I said "angels" and then went blank. I said, “Sunnie, I'm stumped, what begins with an A concerning Christmas?” With very little hesitation Sunnie said, “how about ache?” I wasn't sure that I heard right. "What did you say?" She replied, “You know, ache, like when you're aching for Christmas to get here.”

I had almost forgotten what it felt like when weeks seemed like months and a month seemed like an eternity. I had forgotten what it was to ache for something to come to pass. Waiting for our little girl from China is the closest I have come to that feeling in many years. I can tell from reading the blogs of the many waiting families that they are experiencing this feeling more keenly than I am. Perhaps many of the young waiting moms feel almost pregnant. Its not that I am not impatient, it is just that when you’re my age and as busy as we are, that the time flies even when something is delayed. I am starting to reach that age when we truly realize that time is THE MOST precious commodity that we have. Partly because we don’t know exactly how much we have and because it has finally become clear to us that we have a limited supply of it.

I guess it is the aspect of the limited time that we have that makes me most impatient to get our little girl. Even though we look forward to the trip to China and all that we will see, if I could have my way, she would already be here. If we could have her teleported here like in Star Trek, that would be even better because it would be faster. I expect that China will be awesome, but it’s not China that I want to see most, but the little girl waiting there for us. So, I suppose that for the first time in a long time, I am aching for something to get here.

It's Been a Long Wait

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. Confucius

If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand. Confucius, The Confucian Analects

Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire. Arab Proverb