One Year Later: More Big News

So much can happen in a year.

12 months ago on June 19th, 2014 we received some amazing news from China.  We were given Preapproval, or preliminary permission, to adopt our Frannie Joy.  Also on that day, our little boy (that we wouldn't commit to adopt until September) turned two.  We celebrated like crazy that day and shared our excitement with our 5 biological children.  I'll never forget how that news felt.  After 10 years of following our hearts, we were finally going to adopt!

This has been probably the second most stressful year of my life.  The year Myra was born with a brain injury and collected so many scary diagnoses still ranks #1.  But, that hard year is what led us to this hard year.  God never promises that we won't have to go through tough times, He just promises He will be there with us.  And, no doubt, He has been here every step from Myra's birth in 2009 to the year of crazy adoption stuff!  And also helped provide $52,000 for this adoption!  We only need a few thousand more!!

Well, a year later, we have good news again!

WE HAVE TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!

After a 32 day wait, which normally takes only 7 days, we finally have that piece of paper that gives us a GO to plan our trip to China!  And I hope to travel there with my mom in as little as a WEEK!

It's happening, people!!  I cannot believe it's really going to happen!  Soon I'll be snuggling these two hurting little people that I've been dreaming about for a year now.  I.cannot.wait!!

I'm coming Frannie and Finn!  I'm really truly coming!!
Happy 3rd Birthday Finton!  Enjoy time with your foster family.

We should know travel dates and details next week!

Waiting STINKS

We are now 15 days into our Travel Approval wait.  Average wait times are 7-10 days.

Sigh.

The first week I checked my email hourly.  Last week I woke up in the mornings anxiously hoping to find good news, but was disappointed each day.  This week...I haven't even asked my agency whether there is news at all.

Anytime you get a date in your head, it's often hard to let it go.  Kind of like my pregnancies I talked about in my previous blog.  I'm feeling like I'm about to pass my due date (June 4th was my original travel date) and go waaaay overdue.  Usually there is nesting involved up until that point, but after my due dates my motivation always took a nose dive.  And I was just stuck waiting.

That's where I am.

Waiting stinks.

But, I know in my heart that God's timing is best and I can hold onto that.  He has planned this for longer than I could fathom and I can trust His judgement.

For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

Ecclesiastes 8:6

So, that's my depressing update.  No news.

I hope next time I blog I'll have an awesome itinerary to share!!

Until then, I'm praying for peace for myself and continuing to pray for Frannie and Finton and all the changes they are about to experience.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. 

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

John 14:27