Let's Revisit August 2008

I thought it would be fun, at least for me, to repost some of the events of this time last year. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by. August 7, 2008, after all we had been through last spring/summer, was one of the best days ever! Just read about it below!

Please sing the words Hallelujah as sung in the chorus of Handel's Messiah!!!

Because, guess what???

WE ARE GOING TO CHINA!!!!!!

2 years, 7 months, 7 days, trip after trip to FedEx,

lots of prayer, buckets of tears, and hundreds of phone calls later.... we finally got to hear the words we've have dreamed about... your travel approval is here!!!!!!! You can go get your daughter!

The dates still need to be confirmed but it looks like we will leave about August 27. Approximately 24 hours later, we will seeBeijing, China

We will tour there for a couple of days. Then we will fly very south to Nanning in the Guangxi province (it borders Vietnam).

It is there that a stranger will hand us one of the four most precious gifts we have ever been given!

Then, we will fly to Guangzhou where everything will culminate in an oath at the US Consulate on September 8. Bringing us back to the good ol' USA about September the 10th. When that plane touches US soil, Emme will be citizen of the United States of America!

I have very few other words at this point. I am overwhelmed with God's goodness. 3 years ago this was a dream that, to be honest, I thought it would always be a dream. God has so far provided every single penny we needed. When we started, we barely scraped together the application fee. And, although through some of the last few months God seemed absent, he really had me in the palm of His hand protecting me. From what, I don't know. I may never know this side of Heaven. But, as I watch things come together now, he was taking all my desires and putting them in a beautiful package. Sometime soon, I'll unwrap it for you.

Until then, I'll give you a sneak peak.

Adoption draws together people who are on the same journey. I have been blessed to have been given several friends to encourage me. Friends I have never met in person, just communicated with online. One of those dear people has been a lady named Sharla. I want Sharla to be my neighbor and my REALLY good friend. I'd settle for just having her in the same city. Or, heck, the same state would be okay too! Anyway, I just wanted to share the email she sent me tonight. She always makes me cry when she writes. I followed her on her journey to pick up her precious daughter, Abby just a couple of weeks ago. (Followed her online. I wasn't stalking her.) I cried for two weeks reading her posts! To me, she has been a glimpse of heaven on earth.

Hi E-mail, wish you were near, friend!

I was SO EXCITED to see your announcement on RQ! What wonderful news!! I can’t wait to follow your journey, I know it’s going to be amazing because the “enemy” has tried so hard to de-rail it. God must have something incredible in store for you and your family and this precious child.

I love Habakkuk 1:5, “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

I can’t wait to watch and be utterly amazed!

Hugs,
Sharla