tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66886914645126613032024-03-13T14:16:39.027-07:00`Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-24286842384589031142014-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:002014-11-16T14:38:22.850-08:00Pulling the Red Thread - WE FOUND HER!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>**Originally posted September 2, 2014. We have edited the publish date so that this post remains at the top.**</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet: regardless of time, place or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Chinese Proverb</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BEFORE YOU READ THIS STORY, I'M GOING TO ASSUME YOU HAVE ALREADY READ </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THIS POST: <a href="http://www.beforeweknew.blogspot.com/search/label/dreams">Dreams</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>AND THIS POST: <a href="http://beforeweknew.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-i-know.html">How I Know</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You might want to read those first. Without those two pieces of the story, you will be VERY lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Boy do I have a story to tell you. Sit back, relax. Maybe get a cup of coffee and a muffin. This is going to be a complicated story, but will leave you in awe of our Creator and His mighty plan. Again, read the two posts listed above before you dive into this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oooohhhh am I excited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With our first two adoptions we did NOT scour the internet looking through pictures. Our adoption agency matched us with our boys based on our guidelines we listed on our Medical Conditions Checklist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This time we did have very specific guidelines set up for what medical needs we are open to and what we are not open to for our family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On August 15 our social worker came to do our Home Study update. While speaking with her she encouraged me to look everywhere for our daughter. She said, "When you see her, you will just <i>know</i> she is your daughter. Just like dating. You may date several men but when you see your future husband you will just <i>know</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Following her advice, I put a post up on an adoption advocacy group on Facebook, looking for my daughter. I did not list special needs or age specifications, as I did not want to create a box for people to only work in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Within an hour there were almost 75 sweet faces in the comments below that post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the end of the day there were over 100.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was heartbreaking to look at all of those sweet babies needing a mother's love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There was one little girl who caught my eye... I'll name her Anna. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anna had a 5 minute long video that was just ADORABLE. She was 10 years old. Older than I thought I would be looking for, but she immediately grabbed my heart... AND SQUEEZED.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hubs and I were watching her video together. I burst into tears and thought:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"This could be my daughter... <i>but it's not Lili Beth</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't say a word to Hubs. If Anna was my daughter, God would have to lay her on Hub's heart, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't have to wait too long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I watched Anna's video every single day from Saturday the 16th - Thursday the 21st. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hubs said, "I can't get that little girl out of my head. I've been watching her video every day this week."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That gave me the green light to find out more about her!!! Woo hoo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I contacted the agency she was listed with and they said she was no longer with that agency and they could not tell me where she had gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First thing Friday morning (the 22nd) I called our agency and requested her file. They gave me the file. Same birthday month, same special needs, same hair cut, same facial features. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We found her!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We decided to lock Anna's file. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Right after locking Anna's file we found out that the file we locked was NOT ANNA'S!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What the what?!? We felt like a rug had been ripped out from underneath us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So <i>who was this girl's file we had in our hands</i> - and, more importantly, <i>how on earth did this girl's file end up in our hands</i>?!?!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We stopped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We prayed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We read each and every word in this mystery girl's file. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since we had already locked her file, we had until Sunday afternoon to say YES or NO to her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I noticed something in her file that hadn't immediately been apparent to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She has a foot that had undergone surgery and was now fixed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her Chinese name translates to english as Beautiful Flower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her file ended up in our hands - </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>AND IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN OUR HANDS.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Only at this point did I remember our daughter's dream from three years prior:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: #535353; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><i>What was her name?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; color: #535353; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">"I can't remember. It was either Lilly, or Elizabeth."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Later, as we were sitting at the breakfast table, she was telling her brother all about her dream, quite excitedly. </span></span><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">"... and they were all so nice! And our little sister was so nice and quiet and shy, too. She is going to be a great little sister. OH! Mom! I forgot to tell you! Her feet were fixed!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful Flower. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Feet Fixed. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">How did this file end up in my hands?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got on our knees and prayed for peace. We prayed for peace to cover both Hubs and I; and for a clear direction as to YES or NO. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That evening our oldest daughter was reading Beautiful Flower's file. She put the pages down, looked at me and said, "This is my sister."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Later that night I was reading the file to our oldest son and he burst out, "That's our girl!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I looked at him and he had big, wide eyes and a shocked look on his face. "I don't know where that came from, I just KNOW that's our girl!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By Saturday night the entire family was at peace - and all of us were completely in love with this 10 year old girl in the file in front of us. By Sunday morning - deadline day - we had an excitement and joy that we had found our Lili Beth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, September 2nd, 2014 we received Pre-Approval from China to make Lili Beth our daughter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't be more excited.</span></div>
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<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-27894350002410018562014-11-16T14:44:00.001-08:002014-11-16T14:47:54.102-08:00Some thoughts.... from one mom to another.<div style="font-family: Gudea; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">My musings were featured on the <a href="http://www.nohandsbutours.com/2014/11/05/day-5-dear-birthmother-2/">No Hands But Ours </a>blog. </i><br />
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Dear birth mom, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I am like you; a birth mom. I am also an adoptive mom. Growing up, I wondered how a family with biological children and adopted children could love each other equally. Now I know. There is no difference. My children are my children just as if they were all born to me. It is a love that goes beyond all understanding. A love that knows no boundaries, no limits. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">As I stand here watching my son, I am thinking of you, and tears fill my eyes. He has no idea I am watching him as he happily plays with his building block set. He carefully chooses each one and stacks them one upon another in a pyramid of color.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In his construction, he accidentally pinches his finger. He gasps and begins to cry. A tear rolls down his cheek. He comes to me and I am able to soothe him with one of my healing, magical mommy kisses. He happily returns to his work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Thank you for that moment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I remember the look on his face when he saw his first birthday cupcake. His beautiful two-year-old face was full of awe and wonder as he gazed upon the lit candle. The flame danced and cast happy glimmers of light upon his bright eyes and plump cheeks. As we sang <em>happy birthday</em> he looked at each of his family members in turn; with a smile playing at his little lips and a giggle daring to bubble over. He happily… and neatly… enjoyed each and every bite of his birthday cupcake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Thank you for that moment.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">His three year old brother spent almost an entire year dressed in a superhero cape, eye mask and wrist cuffs. He was proud and stood with his chest puffed out when he wore it; ready to help with anything that needed a superhero. He proclaimed his Superhero status to all who would listen. At church, the grocery store, the doctor’s office. For that year he made the world a safer place, and put a smile on the face of all who saw him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Thank you for those moments. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">My husband and I are getting ready to return to China and adopt our daughter. I imagine how our first meeting will be with her. A day full of nervous excitement and fear, signaling new beginnings; yet at the same time, immense sadness as she leaves behind the only world she’s ever known to travel to her forever home. Even though I have not met her yet, I cannot wait for that moment, and I thank you for that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Because of you I have the privilege of kissing his cheeks, rocking him to sleep, being the object of his affection and pouring Jesus into him. I can only imagine the heartache you feel when you think of your child. Your loss. Your grief. Because when I think of him I experience joy. Acceptance. Peace. I want you to know that I adore him with every ounce of my being. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Gudea; line-height: 20px;">I admire you; the courage you must have had to desire a better life for your child. The tears of sorrow, not joy, as you placed him in another’s arms, hoping and praying that your decision was for the best; that the months you carried him in your body and the sacrifices you made for him – they were worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I want you to know that he is safe, he is happy, and he is loved. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Thank you… for my child.</span></div>
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Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-30088370551203224422014-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:002014-11-16T14:33:15.063-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2 days. 800 miles. 21 hours. The best travel buddy ever, Nitz, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; line-height: normal;">and LOTS of coffee. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">All documents have been sent to the adoption agency. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">The ladies at FedEx had a mini dance party with me when they found out what I was sending.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-unY1-KtEc0Y/VGkk7geATcI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Vi4FI1ygqiM/s1600/10620134_10152786413798426_3392050393988830629_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-unY1-KtEc0Y/VGkk7geATcI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Vi4FI1ygqiM/s1600/10620134_10152786413798426_3392050393988830629_o.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">T- minus 4-5 months to get my Lili Beth. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!</span></div>
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Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-36217110280709461072014-11-08T14:24:00.000-08:002014-11-16T14:26:46.874-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4s3ws167-jk/VGkkMTmEQkI/AAAAAAAAAjk/9ukk4v2991o/s1600/10733850_10152780201488426_3316828037119660841_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4s3ws167-jk/VGkkMTmEQkI/AAAAAAAAAjk/9ukk4v2991o/s1600/10733850_10152780201488426_3316828037119660841_o.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you got this in your mailbox, you'd be jumping up and down, screaming like a little girl at the end of your driveway, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's the i800a approval we have been waiting on to get our paperwork to China! Weeeeeeeee!</span></div>
Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-85610451659873069102014-09-22T19:57:00.002-07:002014-09-22T19:57:55.142-07:00We have an update... with a smile!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">We received two videos and pictures of our precious, </span></div>
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precious daughter! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is very obvious she is quiet and shy; a beautiful flower. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfEgwHN0tqY/VCDf2Kw-xcI/AAAAAAAAAjM/0067602Kl40/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-12%2Bat%2B11.13.36%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfEgwHN0tqY/VCDf2Kw-xcI/AAAAAAAAAjM/0067602Kl40/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-12%2Bat%2B11.13.36%2BAM.png" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh how my heart longs to cup my hands around her gorgeous cheeks, look into her eyes and tell her how wonderful she is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How wanted she is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How precious she is. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bs4DbU-ywrE/VCDf62hhqvI/AAAAAAAAAjU/FDyl6dIXA0o/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-13%2Bat%2B10.58.11%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bs4DbU-ywrE/VCDf62hhqvI/AAAAAAAAAjU/FDyl6dIXA0o/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-13%2Bat%2B10.58.11%2BAM.png" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Big sister and I are literally catching ourselves saying, "I'm ready to go to China..." while wistfully looking into space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It can't come fast enough. </span></div>
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Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-1502489415223601162014-08-31T11:03:00.000-07:002014-08-05T05:18:38.332-07:00Ways to Donate<span style="font-size: large;">I have had several people contact me asking how to contribute to our adoption fund. Apparently if you check our blog on your smart phone the sidebar of the site does not show up, so I'm putting the info here as well.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEU1_ng84xA/U8_24CZXmhI/AAAAAAAAAhg/QeBxOi0glJY/s1600/donations+lili.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yEU1_ng84xA/U8_24CZXmhI/AAAAAAAAAhg/QeBxOi0glJY/s1600/donations+lili.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first way is to go to www.PayPal.com and send a donation to fowlerjc4@yahoo.com.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you send a donation through paypal there are zero fees taken out! We will get 100% of your donation if you send it and mark it as a donation through paypal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another way is GoFundMe:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/Lili-Beth"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.gofundme.com/Lili-Beth</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go Fund Me takes 7.5% of your donation for themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Either way you choose to donate is fine with us, we appreciate all of the help we have gotten so far! God is so very good and continues to use you all to bless us! </span></div>
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Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-89783561507208400852014-08-05T05:33:00.002-07:002014-08-05T05:33:38.987-07:00Garage Sale MADNESS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pU8ys4PLwkw/U-DMrbc_4xI/AAAAAAAAAiY/NRameDB_zY8/s1600/10559936_10152545671068426_5461688716021701610_n.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pU8ys4PLwkw/U-DMrbc_4xI/AAAAAAAAAiY/NRameDB_zY8/s1600/10559936_10152545671068426_5461688716021701610_n.jpg.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Never in my life have I ever seen so much STUFF in one place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So much we took over the neighbor's garage AND driveway, AND had to borrow that trailer in the background to store all of the STUFF.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had people calling/emailing/texting left and right, wanting to bring goodies to us for the fundraiser.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I would look out my window and see random people unloading donations in my driveway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Be still my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The outpouring of love and support overwhelmed our entire little family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had support and help from people in all walks of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Donations, donations, donations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We decided to have our garage sale on two days (Friday and Saturday) since there was SO much stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Only problem: 60% change of THUNDERSTORMS predicted for BOTH days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We decided to go out on faith and hold the garage sale rain or shine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It rained and stormed ALL AROUND US. Just about all of our customers said they drove through rough weather to get to us.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">We didn't get a drop of that rain.</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had a pretty consistent gentle breeze that gently kept the storms away from our street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OH the outpouring of love and support we received! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The wonderful friends who volunteered their time (and their kids' time) to help out with all of the back-breaking work just overwhelmed us. (You know who you all are!)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Garage Sale total: $2,895</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My cup overflows.</span></div>
<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-22128325784316652602014-07-27T12:21:00.000-07:002014-07-27T12:21:00.414-07:00Thoughts about Fundraising<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You know, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not one to complain, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">or assert myself and be bossy, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">or point my finger at people and tell them what I'm NOT going to do....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>But I did.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I did that to <b>God</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You've never done that,<i> have you?</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the boy's adoption I told Him I was done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finito.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Completo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Burrito.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D-O-N-E</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No more fundraising.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ever. Never ever again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then He said Lili Beth was ready and waiting for us. He lit a fire under our feet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>... So now I fundraise....</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a HUGE blow to your pride to have to fundraise. Period. Everyone has needs, desires, wants. And here I am, in your face, saying <i>HELP ME</i>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And I don't like doing that. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I've been praying and wondering WHY God would have us fundraise. I mean, really. <i>Why</i>? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remembered our last journey to adopt. We pounded the pavement and got the word out about orphans and the need for forever families. Since then I have seen several families add to their homes because they saw how we raised funds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm cool with it. Let's fundraise. Let's shout it from the roof tops if that is what we need to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Use me, Lord. Let's tell everyone about the need. </span></div>
Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-26763343167458150582014-07-24T11:55:00.000-07:002014-07-24T11:55:00.040-07:00How I know...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How do I know my daughter's name is Lili Beth?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, actually, it's not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is Lilian Elizabeth, and the Lord gave me her name many years ago. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My now 12 year old daughter has been praying for her little sister for many, many years. She KNEW she was going to get a little sister, even when her father and I scoffed and told her, "good luck with that."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God was listening to her.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When we submitted to God three years ago to adopt, we didn't know where to start. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Ok, Lord" we said, "There are orphans everywhere. Where do you want us to go?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hubby and I separated for 1 week in prayer. At the end of that week we compared notes and realized that China had been laid on both our hearts quite heavy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Then <a href="http://www.beforeweknew.blogspot.com/search/label/dreams">THIS</a> happened.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And we didn't quite know what to do <i>that</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we pushed forward and were matched with a bouncing baby boy..... and 30 days later, ANOTHER bouncing baby boy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My precious boys have been life changing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fun with Silly Selfies:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs4-fRXP6uk/U9AA88oJBJI/AAAAAAAAAhw/M09938OWg4o/s1600/IMG_2838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs4-fRXP6uk/U9AA88oJBJI/AAAAAAAAAhw/M09938OWg4o/s1600/IMG_2838.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love in Daddy's arms:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4N7dAPXGtZI/U9ABEpaTlcI/AAAAAAAAAh4/nz-Jop907Tc/s1600/IMG_2805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4N7dAPXGtZI/U9ABEpaTlcI/AAAAAAAAAh4/nz-Jop907Tc/s1600/IMG_2805.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keeping big sister in line:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2x2_YNb_qcI/U9ABPCXWofI/AAAAAAAAAiA/toR9R_idOrw/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2x2_YNb_qcI/U9ABPCXWofI/AAAAAAAAAiA/toR9R_idOrw/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoying nature:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLffbl-4lQc/U9ABTy2XUxI/AAAAAAAAAiI/SQbwYczPuJU/s1600/IMG_3184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLffbl-4lQc/U9ABTy2XUxI/AAAAAAAAAiI/SQbwYczPuJU/s1600/IMG_3184.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These boys are my sons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> They fit in my family like they have always been here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now God says its time to go get Lili Beth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So we go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's how <i>I know</i>.</span></div>
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Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-43249987594459705142014-07-23T11:35:00.000-07:002014-07-23T11:58:06.929-07:00It's Not About Comfort, It's About Obedience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw15N7jhTXjl6V3twD0aBk_1OHH3TIcx_e8ww6DFxvg5wbGvJ742GSHkpy4PDXit-rXf9IDdbcE2adn4RASjQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-43038489544029710982014-07-13T12:27:00.000-07:002014-07-14T04:57:58.954-07:00Here we go.... again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvIWfTm6gms/U8LdB3SOCNI/AAAAAAAAAhA/IJyuGubQ1qc/s1600/lilibeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvIWfTm6gms/U8LdB3SOCNI/AAAAAAAAAhA/IJyuGubQ1qc/s1600/lilibeth.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are going to adopt again! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a lot of words rolling around in my mind. Every time I reach up to grab one or two to put them on here, I freeze. My husband put his thoughts into words, so I'm going to share HIS thoughts for now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the most common questions I get from folks is, "Why did you choose to adopt?" The answer, though to many, may seem complicated, is really quite simple. You see, we are faced with choices. Thousands of choices - daily. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do I want to hit the snooze button?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What should I eat for breakfast?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lunch?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dinner?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Should I fix my hair a certain way or wear a hat?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do I drive the speed limit?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">etc., etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The choices are endless. While on this rock, we have the choice to be comfortable or obedient. Our choice - obedient. Adopting isn't easy. In fact, it's very difficult. Mounds of paperwork, fundraising, waiting, travel- and that's all before getting our children. Then comes the re-building phase; establishing trust, bonding, sickness (physical and emotional), and healing. But in he end it all becomes worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You cross over the threshold from adoptive family to just... family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So if you haven't heard, we're going back. This time God has told us that our Lili Beth is ready for us and waiting. I'm not sure what that looks like or how long it will take, but I have a choice - comfort or obedience. Honestly, I'm nervous; make that very nervous. It's not an uncertain nervousness, it's an excited nervousness. So if you've been called to adopt and you're waiting for the "perfect" time, it will never come. If you're expecting the utopian "Annie" adoption, it's not going to happen. Prepare yourself for many sleepless, screaming, crying nights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then expect those same nights from your children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But honestly ask yourself, "Would I want someone to hand me over a championship title when I didn't work for it? Would I want heroic accolades for a job that had no meaning?" If your answer was no, then you are a perfect candidate for adoption. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hosea 6:6 says, "For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (NASB)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ben Sternke writes, "Sacrifice in this sense is actually an attempt to gain independence from God. If we sacrifice for him, then we have put him in our debt. If we sacrifice for God, he owes us something (so we think). Sacrifice is a way of "buying" whatever we want to get from God (protection, deliverance, provision, favor), while at the same time remaining independent from him. Obedience, however, is the response of someone who is in a relationship of trust with God. We trust God, we depend on him, we are interactive with him, but he takes the lead. Obedience is better than sacrifice because we are letting God be God and staying in our proper place with him, the place of dependence and surrender to his goodness."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now what? Well, our commitment is to God. And if that means discomfort now for comfort later, then so be it, because I know that even in discomfort my family will be blessed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We're coming, Lili Beth! As God's timing is perfect, we're coming!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eAGq3GnJBM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-33680336449034071082014-07-12T17:21:00.001-07:002014-07-12T17:21:10.734-07:002 Years Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Two years home. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuP9HiJggfw/U8HQZelpWLI/AAAAAAAAAgI/HEEZfiGv1NU/s1600/gotcha+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuP9HiJggfw/U8HQZelpWLI/AAAAAAAAAgI/HEEZfiGv1NU/s1600/gotcha+day.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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They have changed our lives so much. </div>
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They have shown us what the love of our Savior is all about. </div>
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We cannot imagine life without such wonderful blessings.</div>
<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-27219348223333225972013-02-14T05:27:00.001-08:002013-02-14T05:27:07.970-08:007 Months Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wow, what a difference 7 months can make!</div>
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Taken July 9, 2012</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TwKnMT8e0w/URzlNorUbMI/AAAAAAAAAWY/q6BPaTfuXP0/s1600/IMG_3582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TwKnMT8e0w/URzlNorUbMI/AAAAAAAAAWY/q6BPaTfuXP0/s320/IMG_3582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Taken February 9, 2013</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wK88S6JtRMI/URzldVWlK8I/AAAAAAAAAWg/JWK21BK5mGQ/s1600/IMG_4954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wK88S6JtRMI/URzldVWlK8I/AAAAAAAAAWg/JWK21BK5mGQ/s320/IMG_4954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-11281931058241243272012-12-20T11:21:00.002-08:002012-12-20T11:21:35.810-08:00This Video says it all...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our story....</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eAGq3GnJBM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-60446601472086774882012-12-15T16:56:00.002-08:002012-12-15T16:56:45.158-08:00Breaking the Silence....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the early days of our return from China I would update the blog in my jet-lagged state at 2 am... wide awake. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In three weeks we will have had these two little munchkins in our arms for SIX months. Oh wow. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The time has completely flown by! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you have ever entertained the THOUGHT of adopting. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please do. Really. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yes, really.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am tired and my house is a mess.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But oh, the JOY! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pure joy. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In October Eli celebrated his 2nd birthday:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ty2l5U3rOJ8/UM0WhmmWnkI/AAAAAAAAAVM/DlDLCGIQ6go/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ty2l5U3rOJ8/UM0WhmmWnkI/AAAAAAAAAVM/DlDLCGIQ6go/s320/IMG_4704.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Since their birthdays are quite literally 30 days apart, we had a birthday party for the two of them:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3_c5CgQWsU/UM0XcA6v77I/AAAAAAAAAVU/IgHjkmu7BQk/s1600/IMG_4809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3_c5CgQWsU/UM0XcA6v77I/AAAAAAAAAVU/IgHjkmu7BQk/s320/IMG_4809.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then on December 5 we had Ian's cupcake:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6m7dEj-kbuM/UM0Xs3J1ZPI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ZIfRz4S0T1g/s1600/IMG_4850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6m7dEj-kbuM/UM0Xs3J1ZPI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ZIfRz4S0T1g/s320/IMG_4850.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have had people tell us what a wonderful thing we have done for these boys. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I beg to differ. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These boys have done a wonderful thing<i> to us</i>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They have stretched our hearts and caused them to overflow with love and adoration. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8C1qrAX_2E/UM0Xz3I-bLI/AAAAAAAAAVo/QorbvFtI_GE/s1600/00Fowler+pics+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8C1qrAX_2E/UM0Xz3I-bLI/AAAAAAAAAVo/QorbvFtI_GE/s320/00Fowler+pics+051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Big Brother and Big Sister absolutely adore their siblings. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They have told us often that, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"It's like they have always been a part of our family!"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But of course, we are a very silly family:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLa3SxfRpCM/UM0X6qjYY2I/AAAAAAAAAVw/5-Yb95znJ38/s1600/00Fowler+pics+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLa3SxfRpCM/UM0X6qjYY2I/AAAAAAAAAVw/5-Yb95znJ38/s320/00Fowler+pics+072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you had asked me 2 years ago what our family would look like today, I never would have dreamed it would look like this. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When God tells us to do things that we are afraid of doing - because they are BIG things, like, oh, maybe *ahem* adoption....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is because He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My advice? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let go. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Take the leap. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be obedient and do what He says. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Because the JOY is unable to be measured.</span></div>
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<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-7501903424387670542012-08-07T19:25:00.000-07:002012-08-07T19:25:00.469-07:00Shopping and Cruising!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today we went to the Pearl Market. </div>
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There were pearls piled up everywhere!</div>
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These women string pearls every day. They didn't even have to look at what they were doing!</div>
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Next we went to Shamian Island. There are a few fun shops and gardens and such there. It was so peaceful and not-so-crowded. We really liked it there. </div>
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We went back several times before we left China.</div>
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This is one of many statues on the island. Ian hopped right in there. Eli would have nothing to do with it. I tried again later in the week... I'll show you that epic picture later.</div>
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For dinner we took a cruise of the Pearl River. The buildings lit up nicely.</div>
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I don't know who those two crazies in the foreground are. :)</div>
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<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-56541182380318617332012-08-06T07:36:00.000-07:002012-08-06T07:36:00.517-07:00Touring and Shopping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today we visited a 1,400 year old Buddhist Temple. </div>
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It was beautiful. </div>
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And hot.</div>
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Ian. </div>
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Covered in a rash. </div>
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Hot. hot. hot. </div>
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Sick. </div>
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Still Smiling.</div>
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These are the main buddhist shrines in the complex. </div>
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These statues are HUGE!</div>
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Next we went to the Chan family's ancestral home. </div>
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It was very detailed, and a very busy place to go for the locals.</div>
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Big Sister says "cheese".</div>
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Then we went shopping. </div>
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I found an artist who wrote the kids names in Chinese on a piece of artwork for them.</div>
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Then we came back to the hotel for an afternoon nap. </div>
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This is Ian laughing at us.... instead of napping.</div>
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For dinner we went with our group to a Cantonese restaurant. </div>
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I love how they feed large groups of people here. You sit at a large round table with a massive lazy suzan in the middle. They place all of the dishes in the center and you scoop out what you want. The food was YUM!</div>
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Eli decided he was done with sippy cups!</div>
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<span id="goog_379470327"></span><span id="goog_379470328"></span>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-20820134255986643232012-08-04T02:25:00.000-07:002012-08-04T02:25:00.687-07:00Medical Exam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a good nights' rest, the entire group loaded on the bus to go get the babies medical exams. </div>
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Ian checking out the locals:</div>
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Notice one shoe already pulled off....</div>
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While Eli is already too cool for words; binki and all.</div>
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This is the Medical Exam place. </div>
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The kids had to have their photos taken for their American visas.</div>
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After that, they checked the children's hearing and general well being, weight and whatnot. </div>
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This is so boring. Let's go back to the hotel!</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-34557109808894301272012-08-03T02:13:00.000-07:002012-08-03T02:13:00.752-07:00Guangzhou!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a very long day of traveling to Guangzhou, we were greeted by this gift basket in our hotel room:</div>
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And look who threw mommy's shoes away!</div>
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(And was quite happy about it!)</div>
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After this picture was taken, we went to bed. </div>
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We spent the day traveling with two strollers and a 10 year old in a wheelchair.</div>
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In a not-so-wheelchair-friendly country.</div>
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Totally pooped.</div>
<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-80938826894038490372012-08-02T02:05:00.003-07:002012-08-02T02:06:00.951-07:00Lazy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So after the Longest Day Ever, we decided to just chill in the hotel at Zhengzhou. </div>
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All. Day.</div>
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Most of the rooms on our floor were adoptive families so we just opened our doors and all hung out in the hallway with our kiddos. </div>
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It was a blast. </div>
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I think we went downstairs ONE time to eat. </div>
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Other than that, room service, baby!</div>
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Big Brother was sitting in my lap when Ian came and plopped down, too. </div>
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What precious grins :)</div>
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We have discovered Eli's "I"m naughty" smile...</div>
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Brotherly bonding needs NO words...</div>
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Eli wearing Big Brother's hat. </div>
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I just LOVE this picture!</div>
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Tomorrow we go to Guangzhou, where the American Consulate is. </div>
<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-13762580595363612172012-07-28T03:51:00.000-07:002012-07-28T03:51:00.526-07:00Longest. Day. Ever.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So today Big Brother woke up sick. Vomiting. Diarrhea. </div>
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Big problem.</div>
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We HAD to take a 4 hour (ONE WAY) van ride to Nanyang to apply for Eli's passport. </div>
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Both parents HAD to be there. </div>
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Period. </div>
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Big Brother could not leave the hotel room. </div>
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He was THAT sick.</div>
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So our guide came and stayed with Big Brother and Big Sister while another guide took us to Nanyang. </div>
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Several other families in surrounding hotel rooms checked in every hour and brought them food.</div>
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I was a nervous wreck all day.</div>
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All day.</div>
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So the rest of the family got up and dressed and ready to go:</div>
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4 hour van ride there was uneventful with sleeping children. Until we got to Nanyang and the driver decided to play chicken with the 18 wheelers coming towards us. Notice Josh ignoring the driver and looking out of the side window. </div>
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Notice Denise (another adoptive mom) behind Josh, fearing for her life. </div>
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Eli holding mama's hand in the passport office.</div>
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Two cool dudes riding back to the hotel.</div>
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One conked-out, miserable, sick baby.</div>
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Big Brother felt a million times better when we returned, 9 hours later. The only thing they suffered from was a little Cabin Fever from having been in the hotel room all day. </div>
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Mama was SO glad this day was over...</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-12481407557416140652012-07-27T03:26:00.000-07:002012-07-27T03:26:00.700-07:00Officially Official!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The next morning the boys woke up slowly. Big Brother played games while Eli watched. Ian took longer to wake up, obviously not a morning person. However, we noticed that he was running a fever when we got him dressed, and he was pulling / tugging / scratching at his ears. Thank Heavens I had brought some antibiotic ear drops. Used those and gave him oral antibiotics that the guide gave me from a local pediatrician.</div>
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After breakfast, we went back to the place we had gotten the boys the day before. There we were greeted by government officials who congratulated us and handed out the official documents stating that we were the official parents of these children.</div>
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Announcement: "You are now the official parents of these children!"</div>
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Official family photo. Notice sick Ian is totally asleep. Poor guy.</div>
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After that we went back to the hotel room to just chill / play / bond. We started to see a little glimpse of a smile from Eli every once in a while. He ran into the bathroom and grabbed Josh and laughed and laughed. Very random and abrupt for him, and I'm so glad I caught this on film. </div>
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Especially considering the sad face the night before.</div>
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Ian woke up and, even though feeling awful, always had a smile on his face. He and Big Brother played while he continually removed his shoes. (he still does that - can't keep shoes on the kid!)</div>
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We are hungry for lunch and decide to go to McDonalds. Ian in the stroller, Eli pushing him and Big Brother playing peek-a-boo.</div>
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First french fry. "Do I put this in my hair or my mouth?"</div>
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Eli's first McDonalds experience.</div>
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Walking back from McDonalds. Big Sister is holding a sleeping Eli.</div>
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That evening after baths, I looked up and saw this:</div>
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Be still my heart.</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-64985769677449132182012-07-26T02:55:00.002-07:002012-08-02T07:50:01.983-07:00Gotcha Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;">***To start at the beginning, please scroll down and see the previous post before this! Thanks!***</span></div>
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Remember I said the boys were dirty? </div>
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After we got back to the hotel room and the boys looked at us for a little while they started to decide that we were ok people. </div>
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We carefully removed their clothing (and saved the outfits they were given to us in) and took baths.</div>
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Ian absolutely loved his bath: </div>
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You couldn't wipe the smile off of that face! </div>
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He splashed so much there was more water on me and the walls than in the tub!</div>
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Eli was very curious as to what we were doing to Ian. </div>
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... and he looked as though he was a little nervous about the whole "bath" idea.</div>
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And he was. He never cried, just looked totally miserable and sad the whole time. He didn't want to sit in the water. He wanted to stand and let me splash his knees. You could tell he had never had this type of bath before.</div>
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Look at this broken heart after his bath! Made my heart break for him. He had yet to cry over all of the changes that had gone on with him that day. Shocked would be an understatement.</div>
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They slept that night silently... although I'm sure not very soundly. </div>
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Don't worry sweet babies, you've found your forever family.</div>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-13166182165461160522012-07-25T03:09:00.001-07:002012-07-26T04:19:22.833-07:00Gotcha Day! Gotcha day was like a dream come true... literally.<br />
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I have dreamed of this day for many years. <br />
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I have specifically dreamed of these sweet boys for 10 months.<br />
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Crying and praying over their picture every night...<br />
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Wondering if they are being taken care of like they should be. <br />
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Big Brother and Big Sister were excited. I felt like it was too good to be true.<br />
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And it was.<br />
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First to come in was Ian. He cried his little heart out when the strange blonde headed lady with a big nose and an even bigger smile held him. <br />
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I had him in my arms.<br />
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I. Had. Him. In. My. Arms.<br />
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!!!<br />
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The room was crowded, hot, bustling with people. Excited ones, nervous ones, scared ones. Crying babies everywhere.<br />
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But I had him in my arms and didn't notice anything else.<br />
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Ian's orphanage made him a photo album:</div>
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Then came Elijah. <br />
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I heard someone shout "The bus from Nanyang is here!"<br />
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I grabbed the video camera and ran to the door. <br />
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My heart was racing 90 miles per hour and tears and snot were flowing.<br />
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I saw him instantly and my heart melted a second time.<br />
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He did not cry. He stared. <br />
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Terrified, but unable to cry.<br />
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He felt like he had always been in my arms. Just natural.<br />
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He had a package of cookies in his hands.<br />
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And his foster mother sent him with a toy gift. <br />
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He. Was. Loved. Thank you, God.<br />
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Both boys were dirty, and eaten up with bug bites. <br />
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We whipped out the sippy cups and snacks.<br />
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When we got back to the hotel room we took their shoes off. <br />
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Look at the poor shocked faces:<br />
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They went through a lot that day. <br />
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Everything they knew had been taken away from them.<br />
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Strange people with big noses and pale skin kept smiling and talking to them in a strange language.<br />
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They will warm up to us. <br />
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Thank you, God for your two precious additional blessings to our family.<br />
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<br />Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6688691464512661303.post-87318946697069815982012-06-26T14:11:00.001-07:002012-06-26T14:11:41.176-07:00With travel coming up soon (around July 20th), please keep a few things in mind as to how our lives will change when we get back. This is copied and pasted from Jen Hatmaker's blog. You can see the entire post here: http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/02/how-to-be-the-village<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">How can you help? By not saying or doing these things:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I mean this nicely, but don’t come over for awhile. Most of us are going to hole up in our homes with our little tribe and attempt to create a stable routine without a lot of moving parts. This is not because we hate you; it’s because we are trying to establish the concept of “home” with our newbies, and lots of strangers coming and going makes them super nervous and unsure, especially strangers who are talking crazy language to them and trying to touch their hair.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">2.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Please do not touch, hug, kiss, or use physical affection with our kids for a few months. We absolutely know your intentions are good, but attachment is super tricky with abandoned kids, and they have had many caregivers, so when multiple adults (including extended family) continue to touch and hold them in their new environment, they become confused about who to bond with. This actually delays healthy attachment egregiously. It also teaches them that any adult or stranger can touch them without their permission, and believe me, many adoptive families are working HARD to undo the damage already done by this position. Thank you so much for respecting these physical boundaries.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">3.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">For the next few months, do not assume the transition is easy. For 95% of us, it so is not. And this isn’t because our family is dysfunctional or our kids are lemons, but because</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>this phase is so very hard on everyone</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. I can’t tell you how difficult it was to constantly hear: “You must be so happy!” and “Is life just so awesome now that they’re here??” and “Your family seems just perfect now!” I wanted that to be true so deeply, but I had no idea how to tell you that our home was actually a Trauma Center. (I did this in a passive aggressive way by writing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/09/06/after-the-airport" style="color: #669900; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none;" target="_blank">this blog</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, which was more like “An Open Letter to Everyone Who Knows Us and Keeps Asking Us How Happy We Are.”) Starting with the right posture with your friends –</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>this is hard right now</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">– will totally help you become a safe friend to confide in / break down in front of / draw strength from.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">4.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Do not act shocked if we tell you how hard the early stages are. Do not assume adoption was a mistake. Do not worry we have ruined our lives. Do not talk behind our backs about how terribly we’re doing and how you’re worried that we are suicidal. Do not ask thinly veiled questions implying that we are obviously doing something very, very wrong. Do not say things like, “I was so afraid it was going to be like this” or “Our other friends didn’t seem to have these issues at all.” Just let us struggle. Be our friends in the mess of it. We’ll get better.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">5.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">If we’ve adopted older kids, please do not ask them if they “love America so much” or are “so happy to live in Texas.” It’s this simple: adoption is born from horrible loss. In an ideal world, there would be no adoption, because our children would be with their birth families, the way God intended. I’ll not win any points here, but I bristle when people say, “Our adopted child was chosen for us by God before the beginning of time.” No he wasn’t. He was destined for his birth family. God did not create these kids to belong to us. He didn’t decide that they should be born into poverty or disease or abandonment or abuse and despair aaaaaaaall so they could finally make it into our homes, where God intended them to be. No. We are a very distant Plan B. Children are meant for their birth families, same as my biological kids were meant for mine. Adoption is one possible answer to a very real tragedy…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><u>after</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">it has already happened, not</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><u>before</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">as the impetus for abandonment. There is genuine grief and sorrow when your biological family is disrupted by death and poverty, and our kids have endured all this and more. So when you ask my 8-year-old if he is thrilled to be in Texas, please understand that he is not. He misses his country, his language, his food, his family. Our kids came to us in the throes of grief, as well they should. Please don’t make them smile and lie to you about how happy they are to be here.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">6.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Please do not disappear. If I thought the waiting stage was hard, it does not even hold the barest candle to what comes after the airport.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Not. The. Barest. Candle.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Never have I felt so isolated and petrified. Never have I been so overwhelmed and exhausted. We need you after the airport way more than we ever needed you before. I know you’re scared of us, what with our dirty hair and wild eyes and mystery children we’re keeping behind closed doors so they don’t freak out more than they already have, but please find ways to stick around. Call. Email. Check in. Post on our Facebook walls. Send us funny cards. Keep this behavior up for longer than six days.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Here’s what we would love to hear or experience After the Airport:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Cook for your friends. Put together a meal calendar and recruit every person who even remotely cares about them. We didn’t cook dinners for one solid month, and folks, that may have single handedly saved my sanity. There simply are not words to describe how exhausting and overwhelming those first few weeks are, not to mention the lovely jetlag everyone came home with. And if your friends adopted domestically right up the street, this is all still true, minus the jetlag.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">2.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">If we have them, offer to take our biological kids for an adventure or sleepover. Please believe me: their lives just got WHACKED OUT, and they need a break, but their parents can’t give them one because they are 1.) cleaning up pee and poop all day, 2.) holding screaming children, 3.) spending all their time at doctors’ offices, and 4.) falling asleep in their clothes at 8:15pm. Plus, they are in lockdown mode with the recently adopted, trying to shield them from the trauma that is Walmart.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">3.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Thank you for getting excited with us over our little victories. I realize it sounds like a very small deal when we tell you our kindergartener is now staying in the same room as the dog, but if you could’ve seen the epic level of freakoutedness this dog caused her for three weeks, you would understand that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>this is really something</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. When you encourage us over our incremental progress, it helps. You remind us that we ARE moving forward and these little moments are worth celebrating. If we come to you spazzing out, please remind us where we were a month ago. Force us to acknowledge their gains. Be a cheerleader for the healing process.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">4.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Come over one night after our kids are asleep and sit with us on our porch. Let me tell you: we are all lonely in those early weeks. We are home, home, home, home, home. Good-bye, date nights. Good-bye, GNO’s. Good-bye, spontaneous anything. Good-bye, church. Good-bye, big public outings. Good-bye, community group. Good-bye, nightlife. So please bring some community to our doorstep. Bring friendship back into our lives. Bring adult conversation and laughter. And bring an expensive bottle of wine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">5.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="ws" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">If the shoe fits, tell adopting families how their story is affecting yours. If God has moved in you over the course of our adoption, whether before the airport or after, if you’ve made a change or a decision, if somewhere deep inside a fire was lit, tell us, because it is spiritual water on dry souls. There is nothing more encouraging than finding out God is using our families for greater kingdom work, beautiful things we would never know or see. We gather the holy moments in our hands every day, praying for eyes to see God’s presence, his purposes realized in our story. When you put more holy moments in our hands to meditate on, we are drawn deeper into the Jesus who led us here.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Here’s one last thing: As you watch us struggle and celebrate and cry and flail, we also want you to know that adoption is beautiful, and a thousand times we’ve looked at each other and said, “What if we would’ve said no?” God invited us into something monumental and lovely, and we would’ve missed endless moments of glory had we walked away. We need you during these difficult months of waiting and transitioning, but we also hope you see that we serve a faithful God who heals and actually sets the lonely in families, just like He said He would. And even through the tears and tantrums (ours), we look at our children and marvel that God counted us worthy to raise them. We are humbled. We’ve been gifted with a very holy task, and when you help us rise to the occasion, you have an inheritance in their story; your name will be counted in their legacy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Because that day you brought us pulled pork tacos was the exact day I needed to skip dinner prep and hold my son on the couch for an hour, talking about Africa and beginning to bind up his emotional wounds. When you kidnapped me for two hours and took me to breakfast, I was at the very, very, absolute end that morning, but I came home renewed, able to greet my children after school with fresh love and patience. When you loved on my big kids and offered them sanctuary for a night, you kept the family rhythm in sync at the end of a hard week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Thank you for being the village. You are so important.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Adoptive friends, what can you add? What has been helpful or hurtful? How has your community helped you raise your children? What do friends and family need to hear?</span>Courtney http://www.blogger.com/profile/03200577843401492767noreply@blogger.com3