Traveling to China in 2 days!!!
We officially began this adoption journey about 16 months ago by sending our application to All God's Children adoption agency. After all of these months of 'labor pains'; praying, paperwork, waiting, praying, finger printing, notarizing, praying, more finger printing (because I have no finger prints apparently), crying for joy, crying from fear, praying, researching, picture staring, imagining, waiting, more paperwork, more prayers and more waiting...the day is soon to be here!
Now we are in packing mode and let me just tell you that I have never packed for 2 weeks, I have never packed for 7 people, I have never packed for 2 separate weather climates, and I have never packed for an international flight of 14-15 hours. You could say that I am feeling slightly overwhelmed right now.
However, the excitement and joy is keeping everything in perspective.
Our family is soon to be 7! Everything is about to change!
I also know that everything is about to change for Lily, too. As I type L-i-l-y I am reminded that even her name is about to change. From Wei Ya Bei to Liliana Lee Painter. We are praying for her. She will no longer be an orphan. She will be a daughter and sister. She will be a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin. She will hear a new language, see a new culture, taste new foods. She has already taught us so much about God's love and it has been an amazing journey. God loves us so much and He loves this little girl. John Piper has said that 'adoption is the visible gospel' and as we have followed this call to adopt, we have seen the gospel more clearly. Without Christ we have no hope. Jesus Christ is the redemptive plan for us orphans. God in His mercy and grace has sent his son, Jesus, to rescue us and adopt us as heirs to His kingdom. Thanks be to God who has allowed us to be a small part of His glorious plan! He will not leave us as orphans. (John 14:18)
"In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he has lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."
Ephesians 1:5-10
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
36 Puzzle Pieces To Go
It's not too late! We only have 36 puzzle pieces left in our puzzle fundraiser! Thank you so much to all those who have participated to help complete our puzzle. We cannot wait to put it together, and see all of your names on it! Thank you once again for your giving to help bring Lily home.
It's not too late! We only have 36 puzzle pieces left in our puzzle fundraiser! Thank you so much to all those who have participated to help complete our puzzle. We cannot wait to put it together, and see all of your names on it! Thank you once again for your giving to help bring Lily home.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
God Speaks Chinese
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of ALL COMFORT, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. " 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
As I read this scripture verse I love that God shows me not just that He is the Comforter of all affliction, but He comforts ALL. I have been praying that God would be there for Lily. That she would feel His presence and that He would fill her small and tender heart with a peace that only He can provide. I prayed that He would be the 'Father to the fatherless' as He says in His word. (Psalm 68:5). However, sometimes my mind would shift and I would begin to think...How Lord? How will You be there for her when she has not heard your name? She does not know you, Lord. Then God gently reminded me that there was a time that I did not know God. However, He spoke to my heart. He drew me near to Him before I had ever heard the gospel. Before I had ever opened His God-breathed Word, God spoke to me. In my own language. He began to whisper His truths to me. He was there for me in the hard times. He comforted me when I felt alone and when I was hurting. As the angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, "nothing is impossible for God." There is no language barrier for Him...for God speaks Chinese.
"Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."
Psalm 68:5
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of ALL COMFORT, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. " 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
As I read this scripture verse I love that God shows me not just that He is the Comforter of all affliction, but He comforts ALL. I have been praying that God would be there for Lily. That she would feel His presence and that He would fill her small and tender heart with a peace that only He can provide. I prayed that He would be the 'Father to the fatherless' as He says in His word. (Psalm 68:5). However, sometimes my mind would shift and I would begin to think...How Lord? How will You be there for her when she has not heard your name? She does not know you, Lord. Then God gently reminded me that there was a time that I did not know God. However, He spoke to my heart. He drew me near to Him before I had ever heard the gospel. Before I had ever opened His God-breathed Word, God spoke to me. In my own language. He began to whisper His truths to me. He was there for me in the hard times. He comforted me when I felt alone and when I was hurting. As the angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, "nothing is impossible for God." There is no language barrier for Him...for God speaks Chinese.
"Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."
Psalm 68:5
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Travel Approval!
We received a call this evening from Tiffany at All God's Children with the news we have been waiting for. We have travel approval (TA) and are planning on traveling to China on March 2nd!! We are so excited and can't wait to meet our little Lily face to face. As we count down the days to be with Lily, I am also aware that Lily's foster family will be letting go of her. We have confirmed that Lily will have to go back to the orphanage now that we have travel approval. We are praying for Lily and her foster family as this will most likely be a difficult transition for all of them.
We received a call this evening from Tiffany at All God's Children with the news we have been waiting for. We have travel approval (TA) and are planning on traveling to China on March 2nd!! We are so excited and can't wait to meet our little Lily face to face. As we count down the days to be with Lily, I am also aware that Lily's foster family will be letting go of her. We have confirmed that Lily will have to go back to the orphanage now that we have travel approval. We are praying for Lily and her foster family as this will most likely be a difficult transition for all of them.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Puzzle Fundraiser Update
You all are AWESOME!! Thank you to everyone who has participated in our puzzle fundraiser to help us bring Lily home. We can not say thank you enough. We are a little over half way there and hope to complete the puzzle before we travel which could be in approximately 3 weeks. We are just waiting for travel approval (TA) which we should get any day...YEAH!! We can not wait. Thank you again for your giving, your prayers, support and encouragement!
You all are AWESOME!! Thank you to everyone who has participated in our puzzle fundraiser to help us bring Lily home. We can not say thank you enough. We are a little over half way there and hope to complete the puzzle before we travel which could be in approximately 3 weeks. We are just waiting for travel approval (TA) which we should get any day...YEAH!! We can not wait. Thank you again for your giving, your prayers, support and encouragement!
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