Not planning on any news until after the New Year

The Christian World Adoption offices are closed until January 3rd, so I am not planning on receiving any news until that time.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  Thanks for all of the support.

CCAA and Travel Approval

My agency is doing everything they can do to expedite our TA (travel approval).  This usually takes 2-4 weeks.  They are trying to have the CCAA put our paperwork with families from our agency that are already in process (speeding things up for us) at the CCAA.  One of the gals who works for Christian World Adoption will be in China on January 4th.  If we do not have our TA by then, she will visit the CCAA for us personally.  The chances of us traveling before the Chinese New Year are very grim.  Once we get our TA, you usually travel in 4 weeks.  (2-4 weeks plus 4 weeks does not equal mid January)  I believe the Chinese New Year starts on February 3rd this year.  All offices will be closed for around 2 weeks.  I am still asking for the miralce.  Either way, things look soooooooo much better than they did on the 16th of December.  If God does AMAZING things we will travel mid to late January.  With what God accomplished yesterday, we will atleast travel mid to late February.

Thank you all for your support and prayers!  I know all the abbreviations are confusing.  I have been at this for over a year, and I am still learning all the adoption lingo.

Praising God For Miracles

Yesterday was a difficult day, you see, it was my birthday.  We have received most of our adoption milestones on birthdays and anniversarys.  So in my mind, I was going to wake up to good news to what happened in China while I was sleeping.  Needless to say, I didn't.  I complained, blamed and continued to be frustrated at everyone and everything.  By midday, my spirits were lifted.  Nothing like a Starbucks, my husband and God ordained moments to change my attitude.  God had not only been working in my mind that day, he was also doing amazing things in Brett's.  Once again, I gave it all over to God.  He showed me (again) to rejoice in all circumstances.  Once again, teaching me in the midst of the trial.

Today, today is the day when I can't thank the Lord enough.  He did bring me the miracle, and on my birthday!  Our first round of paperwork was signed off on yesterday.  I just didn't know it until today.  What a great and mighty God we serve.

I am checking with my agency to see if we can ask for our next step to be expedited.  Regardless or not, I am still praying for the miracle of traveling before the Chinese New Year (February 3rd).  Please continue to pray for protection over our family (Daniel is part of our family) and paperwork.  There is a true battle going on.

No News, Hopefully Good News

We are still waiting........
We haven't been rejected or accepted for the request to expedite our paperwork.  Please continue to pray that this process would move quickly.  I guess I should have learned by now, that I should never expect a certain timeframe.

I want to thank you for all your prayers.  They mean so much to us.  Please continue to pray for protection over our family as we are desperatly waiting on the Lord's perfect timing.

Seeing God work through trials and Praying for Miracles

Ove the past several days, I have seen why God said wait.  I had the opportunity to truly morn and grieve for Daniel.  I was sad that he was not with us, sad that we had to wait longer to make him a part of our family.  I have been greiving a loss, but only a temporary loss.  He will be joined with this family in God's perfect timing.  This time of sorrow created a deep love that I had not yet experience for him.  I haven't ever held him, but he is my son.  I have never rocked him to sleep or soothed his cry, but I love him.  I have never met him, but I miss him.  I can now say thank you for this trial.

Although I am thankful again, I am still waiting for a miracle.  As I was reading last night, I couldn't help but wait with anticipation as I read the words out of Micah 7:15.  "Yes," says the LORD, "I will do mighty miracles for you like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.  I am still waiting and praying for a miracle.  Please continue to pray for protection over our family and paperwork.

Emotional Week

This week we has been very difficult.  We have been expecting our Travel Approval to arrive the last 3 weeks.  This week we found out that the paperwork that began the waiting process on Oct. 15th got lost.  So as of December 16th we start the whole wait period over.  The good news is that we have applied to have our paperwork expedited due to the medical concerns of his hands.  We will find out on Monday if the US Embassy will accept the expedited request or if we have to go through the regular procedure.  Asking for prayer for favor over our paperwork and protection for Daniel and the paperwork.