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
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
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
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
Friday, March 23, 2007
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
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
Thursday, March 15, 2007
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
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
Thursday, March 8, 2007
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
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
Monday, March 5, 2007
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
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
Friday, March 2, 2007
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
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
Thursday, March 1, 2007
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
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
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