The Ethica website has posted some good information on their website at the link below.
http://www.ethicanet.org/item.php?recordid=vietnam&pagestyle=default
It sounds as if the US is trying to reach a temporary agreement to bridge the program until Vietnam signs on to the Hague Convention. They are implementing the DNA testing and they are still stating that dossiers will be returned after Sept. 1. However, all families with dossiers already logged in were asked to write a letter to Dr. Long requesting that dossiers be honored after the Sept. 1 deadline. The problem is that Vietnam wants to make sure that the US is on board because, they do not want to release referrals and families not be able to recieve visas. So this is definitely a matter of prayer. But, our agency does report that the letters that were presented from our agency were received very well by the DIA.
There seems there may be some referrals coming through next week. Let's hope there is at least one infant girl referral so we can move off this number 10 and into the single digits. Hey, wouldn't it be fabulous if there were 10 baby girl referrals?! hehehehehehe! Anyway, we will be rejoicing with all the families that will receive their long awaited referrals.
On a personal level, Vacation Bible Schools starts on Sunday and runs through Friday and as the director, I will be busy all week long, not to mention tired, so I don't know how much blogging will get done next week, but I will at least let you know if there are any referrals next week.
I am feelin' kinda dizzy from blowing up 159 balloons for VBS decorations, so I am going to rest my head. PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO MAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS NEXT WEEK TO THE POWERS THAT BE. IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE A BAD IDEA TO MENTION THEM SUPPORTING VIETNAM IF THEY AGREE TO ALLOW DOSSIERS AFTER THE SEPT 1 DEADLINE.
Keep praying for our Kaylee, and send a special prayer please for my sweet friends Lauren and Gina and Heather to please, please, please get their approvals to travel. Sam and Eli and River and Darby and Lyla, we love you and want you home!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
I wonder
I wonder if this child that we don't even know yet know how much she is already loved.
I wonder if this child knows how many people are rooting for her to make her appearance.
I wonder if this child knows she has a family.
I wonder if I will be a good mommy.
I wonder if we will get our referral soon.
I wonder why we are having to wait so long.
I wonder what I will be doing when we finally get "the call".
I wonder what our baby will look like.
I wonder what she is doing right now.
I wonder what my daughter will do the first time she sees me.
I wonder whay I will do the first time I hold my daughter.
I wonder what it feels like to be somebody's mom.
I wonder when my friends Gina and Lauren will finally be able to hold their children.
I wonder if God hears ALL my prayers.
I wonder how God picks out each little child for each family.
I wonder when Vietnam adoptions will get back on track.
I wonder if all my adoptive friends know how special they are to me.
Just a few things I have been wondering about.
I wonder if this child knows how many people are rooting for her to make her appearance.
I wonder if this child knows she has a family.
I wonder if I will be a good mommy.
I wonder if we will get our referral soon.
I wonder why we are having to wait so long.
I wonder what I will be doing when we finally get "the call".
I wonder what our baby will look like.
I wonder what she is doing right now.
I wonder what my daughter will do the first time she sees me.
I wonder whay I will do the first time I hold my daughter.
I wonder what it feels like to be somebody's mom.
I wonder when my friends Gina and Lauren will finally be able to hold their children.
I wonder if God hears ALL my prayers.
I wonder how God picks out each little child for each family.
I wonder when Vietnam adoptions will get back on track.
I wonder if all my adoptive friends know how special they are to me.
Just a few things I have been wondering about.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Together our experiences make us strong
We go through what we go through to help others go through what we went through.
I often find myself wondering why we are having all the trials that seem to be before us in this journey. I have always been a particulary strong person, not physically, but emotinally. I think adoption is so much more than achieveing motherhood. Lately I have found myself more concerned for the other families for which I have come to know and love through this blog. I pray each day that God give them the strength they need to endure what ever lies before them in their stage of this journey. I am praying for those waiting for approvals, like Gina and Lauren, to be strong at heart and know that their children are going to home soon. I pray for my friends that are right in line with us that we all get our referrals real soon. And I pray mostly for those beloved friends of mine,like Carra and Laurie ,that they will also be strong-hearted to stay the course and wait for the children that they are meant to be with. I thank God for giving me the strength to hold on until we get our referral for Kaylee. When she is born in to my heart, then I will be changed to a mother. Something I have waited my whole life for. I try so hard to use this blog as an outlet to uplift those who are also on this journey. There is no possible way on earth that this journey was meant for anyone to go at alone. We all know and understand the heartaches that come before the joys. We all know how hard it is to wait for the one thing that you just have to wait for because there is nothing else to do but wait.
In 663 days, I have grown closer to God in trust and faith because there was something huge in my life that was out of my control. In 663 days, I have fallen in love with this amazing little girl that I can't even put a face to yet, but trust that she is out there somewhere waiting for me. In 663 days, I have learned to put everything at the feet of God and know that He will give me the desire of my heart, He will not leave me or forsake me. In 663 days, I have discovered more things that I want to share with my daughter that I may not have otherwise known. In 663 days, I have come to know the most wonderful friends, all of which would never have been in my life without the waiting. (You know who you are!) In 663 days, I have learned that there are so many of you who are hoping for Kaylee's referral as much or more that we are! In 663 days, I have learned that nothing on this journey is set in stone and you have to be able to roll with punches and take everything as it comes, the bad with the good.
Only God knows how much more time we will have to wait. The waiting is within His purpose. I hope our very near future holds a sweet little girl. I am thankful to God for allowing us to go through what we are going through so that we will be able to help others who will go through what we went through, and are still going through.
I often find myself wondering why we are having all the trials that seem to be before us in this journey. I have always been a particulary strong person, not physically, but emotinally. I think adoption is so much more than achieveing motherhood. Lately I have found myself more concerned for the other families for which I have come to know and love through this blog. I pray each day that God give them the strength they need to endure what ever lies before them in their stage of this journey. I am praying for those waiting for approvals, like Gina and Lauren, to be strong at heart and know that their children are going to home soon. I pray for my friends that are right in line with us that we all get our referrals real soon. And I pray mostly for those beloved friends of mine,like Carra and Laurie ,that they will also be strong-hearted to stay the course and wait for the children that they are meant to be with. I thank God for giving me the strength to hold on until we get our referral for Kaylee. When she is born in to my heart, then I will be changed to a mother. Something I have waited my whole life for. I try so hard to use this blog as an outlet to uplift those who are also on this journey. There is no possible way on earth that this journey was meant for anyone to go at alone. We all know and understand the heartaches that come before the joys. We all know how hard it is to wait for the one thing that you just have to wait for because there is nothing else to do but wait.
In 663 days, I have grown closer to God in trust and faith because there was something huge in my life that was out of my control. In 663 days, I have fallen in love with this amazing little girl that I can't even put a face to yet, but trust that she is out there somewhere waiting for me. In 663 days, I have learned to put everything at the feet of God and know that He will give me the desire of my heart, He will not leave me or forsake me. In 663 days, I have discovered more things that I want to share with my daughter that I may not have otherwise known. In 663 days, I have come to know the most wonderful friends, all of which would never have been in my life without the waiting. (You know who you are!) In 663 days, I have learned that there are so many of you who are hoping for Kaylee's referral as much or more that we are! In 663 days, I have learned that nothing on this journey is set in stone and you have to be able to roll with punches and take everything as it comes, the bad with the good.
Only God knows how much more time we will have to wait. The waiting is within His purpose. I hope our very near future holds a sweet little girl. I am thankful to God for allowing us to go through what we are going through so that we will be able to help others who will go through what we went through, and are still going through.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Waiting, waiting, waiting,.......
Yowzee! 660 days! Oh, where oh, where is my little Kaylee? Oh, where oh where can she be?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A Hopeful Future
Wow, in my blog browsing, things seem to be happening in the world of Vietnam adoptions. There have been travel approvals issued and referrals made. JCICS has made an official launch to their Vietnam campaign. You can read it here. There are specific instructions to be carried out on June 2, so please put an effort forth to allow Vietnam adoptions to continue our we could be looking at a two year delay! Please follow ALL instructions as laid out. You do not have to be an adoptive parent to participate. If you are willing to participate on Kaylee's behalf, please do so.
Somehow my heart is full of a hope for a future with my daughter. I truly believe she awaits us in Vietnam. I know that she will be for us what God wants her to be. I know she will be this truly amazing little girl, more amazing than I have imagined. She will somehow be the one thing my life has been missing but in the same instant my heart will lack nothing because of her. In her eyes I will see innocence and trust, reflection and gratitude. I will lift her up to God everyday and allow Him to have the glory for her existence. I will be humbled on my knees in thankfullness for the most amazing awesome gift one could ever receive. When you are faced with not being able to bear biological children, you learn in a very short while that becoming a parent is privilege. So many times, I see young parents that just take having children for granted and I want to stop them and say, "You need to thank God the Father for allowing you to be the parent of this child. There are many of us that do not have the luxury of being able to bear our own. Just thank Him, and treat child like it is the most precious thing you could ever have."
All around me are young mothers, soft tiny babies, and stories of child/parent relationships.My heart breaks so many times at wanting to be a mother. I so want to experience the joy that comes from being a parent, nuturing a child, and growing her toward Christ. My heart is at peace with this journey, I am trusting God to take all this dreaming and wishing and turn it in to reality and circumstance. I am SO ready to be a parent. I as SO ready to share my life with such an incredible little girl. Maybe, just maybe, our time will be soon.
Somehow my heart is full of a hope for a future with my daughter. I truly believe she awaits us in Vietnam. I know that she will be for us what God wants her to be. I know she will be this truly amazing little girl, more amazing than I have imagined. She will somehow be the one thing my life has been missing but in the same instant my heart will lack nothing because of her. In her eyes I will see innocence and trust, reflection and gratitude. I will lift her up to God everyday and allow Him to have the glory for her existence. I will be humbled on my knees in thankfullness for the most amazing awesome gift one could ever receive. When you are faced with not being able to bear biological children, you learn in a very short while that becoming a parent is privilege. So many times, I see young parents that just take having children for granted and I want to stop them and say, "You need to thank God the Father for allowing you to be the parent of this child. There are many of us that do not have the luxury of being able to bear our own. Just thank Him, and treat child like it is the most precious thing you could ever have."
All around me are young mothers, soft tiny babies, and stories of child/parent relationships.My heart breaks so many times at wanting to be a mother. I so want to experience the joy that comes from being a parent, nuturing a child, and growing her toward Christ. My heart is at peace with this journey, I am trusting God to take all this dreaming and wishing and turn it in to reality and circumstance. I am SO ready to be a parent. I as SO ready to share my life with such an incredible little girl. Maybe, just maybe, our time will be soon.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Giving up
When you feel like giving up, remember why you were holding on in the first place.- Unknown
No, I am not giving up, although there are many days that I feel like I want to. I never knew that this adoption journey was going to be so hard. And I don't recall anyone saying it was going to be easy, but sometimes, you just feel like everything is holding on by a thread and it won't take much to break it. That is where I am right now, my heart hanging on by a thread and it won't take much to break it. But when I get down in the dumps, or decide to pull out the 'Oh-woe-is-me" card, then I do remember this little girl that I am desiring to bring home. SHE is why I am holding on. SHE is the one who needs me so how can I give up on her and bail out just because things are tough right now. But I think back to just two weeks ago, when things looked so grim, and even in two short weeks things are slowly on the up turn.
I guess what I am trying to say is, that although alot of the time I am upbeat and positive, there are many days of tearful exhausting cries and swarms of doubting thoughts in my head. But through all of this , I have learned to lift up the One who brought me to this exact place. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord". Yes, He does, but sometimes I just wish He would let me in on those plans so that I can breathe a little easier. But, He keeps giving me strength for each new day, renewing me and refilling my cup.
I do know that this particular adoption journey is not for the faint at heart. Since one day you are rejoicing with the news of referrals for other families as these precious children have found their home, and in the next instant, your heart is aching wondering when it is going to be your referral day. So, I just buckle my belt and laugh a little, and scream a little, take a little Pepto Bismal and get back on the ride for another round of unexpected excitement.
So, the next time you feel like giving up, just remember the child that waits at the end of the struggle. Pray a little, laugh a little, scream a little and hold on, because we are on the biggest ride of our lives. Oh, and you might want to stock up on Pepto.
Dear Kaylee
My dear sweet Kaylee,
I am sitting here today thinking so much about you. I long to see your deep dark eyes and brush your soft black hair. My heart has loved you for more than two years now, we just have to find you. I can't begin to tell you how much you mean to me already. I cry for you so many times that God would place you in our arms. Have so many things that I want to teach you. I have already adopted you in my heart. You are already my daughter. I want to kiss your sweet cheeks before putting you to bed, I want to take you outside and show you your first flower or first ladybug. You have already consumed my heart. I love you soooo much. I imagine in my mind what you will look like. You are already loved by so many people you could never imagine it so. I want to rock you to sleep and sing you sweet lullabies. I know that you are waiting for us. Hold tight, sweet little one, for your dream of a mommy and daddy is just around the corner. God will bring us together soon. Just remember that I already love you and will love you forever. You are my angel. You are my dream come true. I am desperate to meet you, but until then, I will ask God to wrap his arms around you and hold you until we are able to. I love you, my darling, maybe it won't be too long until we can be together.
Love,
Mommy
I am sitting here today thinking so much about you. I long to see your deep dark eyes and brush your soft black hair. My heart has loved you for more than two years now, we just have to find you. I can't begin to tell you how much you mean to me already. I cry for you so many times that God would place you in our arms. Have so many things that I want to teach you. I have already adopted you in my heart. You are already my daughter. I want to kiss your sweet cheeks before putting you to bed, I want to take you outside and show you your first flower or first ladybug. You have already consumed my heart. I love you soooo much. I imagine in my mind what you will look like. You are already loved by so many people you could never imagine it so. I want to rock you to sleep and sing you sweet lullabies. I know that you are waiting for us. Hold tight, sweet little one, for your dream of a mommy and daddy is just around the corner. God will bring us together soon. Just remember that I already love you and will love you forever. You are my angel. You are my dream come true. I am desperate to meet you, but until then, I will ask God to wrap his arms around you and hold you until we are able to. I love you, my darling, maybe it won't be too long until we can be together.
Love,
Mommy
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