No news yet

We have not heard yet if the adoption agents that are in China have been able to find out any additional information.  I inquired today but the agency says they have had limited communication with them. 

Waiting and praying. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Hat, hats and more hats

I received a package in the mail today, something I purchased for Noel before we received the news of her being pulled from the adoption. I debated on not opening it, knowing what was inside but the more I think of her the more I can pray for her - so I opened it, cried and prayed to my Heavenly Father about how badly I wanted the little girl who is meant to wear these to come home to us. That she deserves to have a family who can love on her and care for her.  To show her just how precious she is in our eyes and in His. That she deserves to have a life.

My intention of these hats weren't to hide her but to help her blend in.  My thought was with her hair so short, you could easily see the large Nevus spots on her scalp, these would lessen the staring eyes and many questions (not that I have a problem with people asking, would rather that than the stares).  These would help cover and protect the Nevus until her hair has time to grow out.

I also have a package coming with a bunch of Daisy flower clips to put on these hats to fancy them up. How cute that will be. It will give me another chance to think about and plead to our Lord about her health and joining our family (on top of the many times I will continue to do this between now and then).

Not what we wanted to hear....

I received updated info on Noel today and it’s not the news we wanted to hear.  The agency found out that Noel is ill but no specific details were given to them.  I do know that for them to pull her from being adoptable means it is pretty serious.  The agency is going to continue to try to find out details and see if whatever it is she is battling is “fixable” and if so, if we (we and the agency) can assist in providing the care she needs.  It is possible that they will not provide that info to the agency. 

Please continue to pray that the Lord will comfort her, hold her in his arms and that His will be done.  We are keeping our faith in the Lord and that he knows what is best for her, even if it breaks our hearts.  Maybe we were brought into her life just to flood God with prayers for her. I hope his plans are bigger than that.

Thank you for your continued support in this ordeal.

We are all blessed despite the hardship of this. Something like this could make or break your faith, make you turn and run the other direction. Even though I don't understand all this, I continue to choose to fall on my knees and hand it all to Him.

Philippians 4:6-7  - Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Care Package sent - will she receive it?

Last week, I ordered a care package to be sent to the orphanage for Noel. It has been delayed in being sent because of Chinese New Year/Spring Festival Celebrating. After the call on Wednesday, I contemplated not having it sent but felt regardless of what comes of this I want her (if she receives it) and the children there to have some new stuff.  We also included a note stating how excited we were to be adopting ZCG (Noel) and how thankful we are for their taking such good care of her. Perhaps we can win some "brownie points" with them and they'll change their minds. I can hope, can't I?

I received this picture this morning of the items that were sent off for Noel/the orphanage. 

• A beautiful Spring Celebration dress intended for Noel
• Kylan doll intended for Noel
• Musical toy for orphanage
• 9 pair of pants for kids at orphanage
• Candies/snacks for kids and nannies
• Camera for them to take photos
• Letter stating our thanks and asking questions about Noel

I cried when I opened this picture and saw the cute doll, wondering if she will ever even receive these items. Could this encourage them to change their minds? Is she ok? I at least want to know that much is she ok?

At some point this afternoon yet, I should be receiving our documents via UPS from the Chinese Consulate in Chicago. To think at one point I was so excited to receive them and now it just makes me wonder if they will ever be used for the purpose they are intended for?  I'm not saying we won't pursue another child but right now I'm not sure I could feel as attached to another child.  She felt so right for us and the way this whole adoption process came about just made it feel like it was so meant to be.  Where did we go wrong?  Did we read the signs wrong?  I have been constantly asking God these questions over the last 48 hours.  I have the right to, don't I?  I haven't lost faith in Him, I know there is a reason for all of this but right now I'm having a hard time seeing what that could be.

I know that I am blessed beyond my knowing because blessings never come easy and many times occur in our darkest times. I look forward to the day that I see the blessing in all of this.

Please continue to pray for our precious ZCG (Noel), I will always feel she is ours.

Heartbreaking News - seeking prayers

Yesterday began with much excitement, I was told by our social worker that our home study was complete and ready to be finalized.  I was very excited we were going to have the final copy in hand today and be able to send it off with the I-800A to begin then next step in our adoption process.

And now, the process has been put on hold.  I received a call yesterday at noon from our adoption agency.  They received an e-mail from, the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs), that contained only three sentences, something like the following:

We regret to inform you that the orphanage of ZCH (Noel’s Chinese name) has pulled from adoption.  We are sorry to the family who was pursuing her.  The family will need to find another child, if they wish to pursue adoption.

My first question was why and the agency has no answers because all they received was the above.  They plan to find out more details and advocate for us, and I know they will.  We will probably not know more for a week or more.  

My ultimate prayer is that Noel is not seriously sick/ill and that is why they have removed her from adoption.  If it’s anything other than that, I pray that the agency is able to advocate for us.  I pray you will pray these same things for her.  I know that whatever God’s will is, will be – though I’m struggling with it.

Hopefully, I will have some answers in the next week or so.

My heart is heavy with this loss.

Fingerprints have cleared!!!!!

I am so excited to share that I just received an e-mail from our social worker stating she has received our fingerprint reports and both cleared!!!!!  Really glad mine didn't need to be redone.


Waiting on our agency to approve the home study draft so we can finalize it and send a copy off with the I-800A next week.


So very excited.


God is Great!!!!

One month down...

As of tomorrow, it has been once month since we began the process to adopt Noel and we've come a long way in that time. 

Today, I sent off all, but two, of the documents needed for our Dossier to the Chinese Consulate in China to be authenticated.  This is the third and final stage for these documents. Upon their return, they will be fully complete, ready and waiting for the final two to catch up.

One of the final documents we need are the home study, which is fully written and is being reviewed by our agency.  The hold up for completion is we are still waiting on our fingerprint results to come back.  Please pray that we get these soon. It has been 3 weeks since they were submitted.  Once we have those and we are "cleared" our home study is complete. 

We need the completed home study to for the second item, which is the I-800A application that grants us "permission," from the US, to adopt a child. It will take about two months to receive, the "approval" letter.

Once approved, we can submit our dossier to China and wait for our Official Letter of Acceptance to adopt Noel.

Oh how I pray, some of these processes go quicker than expected.

We are one month closer to brining Noel home and for that I praise the Lord!!!

The Miracle of Life

I had the opportunity to visit with a friend of mine, last night, who is beautifully 8 months pregnant. I am so excited for her; this is her first child, a girl.

On my way home, it got me thinking about our precious Noel waiting for us in China and the miracle of life. How she too was a wonderful miracle and how grateful I am that her parents loved her.  I know her parents loved her because they cherished her life enough to know that for whatever reason they could not provide for her and left her in a public location so she would quickly be discovered.

I can't imagine how hard it must have been and my heart aches for them yet I am so very thankful that they wished for her a better life than what they could provide her.  We are so blessed to have been chosen by God as her family. 

A family is God's Masterpiece and our family is even more perfect with her in it!!!!



So you've seen the one of these pictures already, but these are the pictures we have of her at this point.  They were taken last June so I'm sure she has grown so much since then.  I am hoping to get a care package sent to her soon and pray we get some pictures and updates in return.