Day 99......but it's OK!

Yep, today is day 99 of waiting for our LOA. Yes, this is far above the average, yes, it's hard and yes, there are days when I want to scream but today........it's OK! I know God has a plan and I know He knows far more about what is best. What is best for Josie, for us, for our boys, for everyone. So today, it's day 99 and it's OK.

Our agency did check on our LOA and everything is fine with our paperwork. It seems it got "caught up" somewhere between translation and review so it could be a few more weeks. So, if we do the math, we won't travel in March and probably won't travel in April. I'm hoping for sure by May! Please continue to pray for us and that we can bring Josie home as soon as possible. My parents will be the primary caregivers for our 3 boys when we are in China so for their sake, I want to travel before school gets out. As always, we appreciate all the prayer and support throughout this journey. Nobody said it would be easy but I know it will be worth it!!

Look at that precious face!!!

90 day wait and another snow day!

Well, this crazy winter we're having just keeps on giving.......to the boys that is! They have another "snow" day today due to icy roads. They are thrilled and actually I don't mind since I don't want them out on the roads if they are unsafe. One of our neighbors was killed in a car accident yesterday. They have 6 kids and ride our same school bus. It is so, so sad. Please say a prayer for the family.

We are on day 90 waiting for our LOA. I was reading the blog of another adopted family and reminded that there may be several reasons why God doesn't want us to go yet. He may need us here, she may need to be there, we may need to meet someone in China when we finally do go, etc, etc. I need to trust. I know God is in control of this. He lead us to Josie and He will bring her home at the perfect time!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".

DAY 83!

That's right, we've been waiting 83 days for our LOA! I never expected to have to wait this long and today has been a hard day. I really, really thought it would come today but just emailed with our agency and they did receive some..........but not ours.

I want to bring Josie home. I was originally hoping for February, now I'm praying for March! Please pray it arrives soon.

A TEENAGER in the house!

13 years ago today.....our world changed forever when Noah Joseph entered the world and taught us what faith is all about. Happy Birthday Noah - We Love You~! To quote his Aunt Tammy "He has been through so much and is yet always so positive and ready for anything. He's awesome!" How did we get from this tiny baby to this adventurous teenager over night?

ANOTHER Snow Day!

That's right folks, the boys have another snow day today and we are completely snowed in. We got back from California just in time for another few inches of blowing and drifting snow. It's been nuts! Let's look back to a happier time. Here's a photo of Ben and the boys on the beach in San Diego on Ben's 40th birthday.

New Photo and Update!

No LOA yet but today we received a sponsorship report from Holt with this picture included. She's giving us her standard pose and it's so stinkin' precious!! This is a report that Holt sends to the family that is currently sponsoring Josie's care. I'm not sure who this family is but I am so thankful for them. If you go to Holt's website http://www.holtinternational.org/ and click on "sponsor a child", you can pick a country and a child to sponsor. Some wonderul family did this for Josie and they are sent a sponsorship report every 4 months updating them on how she is doing. Now that we are adopting Josie, we receive the reports as well. It sounds like she is doing great! She is such a little peanut - she weighs about 31 lbs and is about 35 1/2 in tall at age 4! This is about the size our boys were at age 2!!

The report also says that she enjoys singing very much and that she is "a little bit spoiled and will cry bitterly if unsatisfied". Isn't that cute? It sounds like she has quite the personality and will be ready to take charge of those brothers of hers!

Please, please pray that we receive all of our approvals soon so that we can bring her home. I was originally hoping to travel in February but that is looking less likely. Please keep her in your prayers.