What she must be thinking!

According to Angela, the orphanage should have received Faith's package yesterday (China time).  I thought
about her all day long.  Just like every other day, except yesterday was different (and today).  If she received
our package, what did she think?  Was she excited?  Happy?  Sad?   I'm sooooooooo happy that God has
given us another daughter.  He as comforted me in so many ways in the last 18 months through this adoption.  It's certainly taken longer than I would have ever imagined, but it's all in God's perfect timing. 
I pray now that God will comfort Faith.  That He will give her courage and strength to leave all that she has
known for the last 11 years.  I can not even imagine what that must feel like.   How sad it must be to say
goodbye to all your friends.  And to the foster parents whom she must have come to love.  I remember
the day we visited Emmi's orphanage (Dec. 2000).  Emmi was only 13 months old.  We were leaving the
orphanage and a man walked up and squatted down in front of Emmi's stroller.  He spoke to her clearly
in Chinese.  We learned then that this was Emmi's foster dad.  He had become very close and fond of our
Emmi.  My heart just melted.  I was so thankful that she had had someone to care for her and love her
for her first year.  I have a picture of that moment in her photo album and it will always be embedded in my
mind. I get so emotional just thinking about our kids and what they have been through and those whom's
lives they've touched. 
   When we were on the plane in Hong Kong waiting to take off in 2006 with Jacob (3 3/4 years old) I clearly remember looking out the window and thinking that Jacob's life will never be the same.  What he
has known is now in the past. Tears ran down my face.  It's just like I'm sitting in that airplane seat now.  That's how vivid it is.  I'll never forget it.
   We still have several weeks/months of waiting until we finally meet our sweet Faith.  Her birthday is November 20th and we plan on sending her a birthday cake with more photo's.   Praying that during this
wait she will come to know us as her family and be comforted as she waits.
  

Blessings,
Anita

Faith's care package.

I was so excited to receive an e-mail this morning from Angela regarding Faith's care package.  I ordered
it late Sunday night from Ladybugs 'n Love, http://www.ladybugsnlove.com/  I received an e-mail almost immediately with the details of what to do next.  I gathered our pictures and the letter I had already written our daughter and e-mailed those to Angela on Monday.  To my surprise, I opened an e-mail at lunch today and Angela had sent a picture of the items she had purchased for Faith.  I'm so excited!!  She commented
that the package should be mailed tomorrow (the e-mail was written last night - so I think that was actually
today) and that the orphanage would receive it the next day.  So I'm hoping that they will receive it Friday.
I wish I could see Faith opening her package.   I have to add my two cents about Angela.  She is absolutely
amazing!  When we first saw Faith, I had some questions and Angela was able to get me some updated photo's and some answers to my questions.   She is so quick with her responses too!!

We are so hoping that we'll get some updated pictures of Faith.  What a wonderful surprise that
would be.   At least the wait is shorter than what it was.  We are certainly getting closer as we almost have
1 week under our belt for LOA.  Yippeee!!  About 7 more weeks to go!!

LID

So happy to announce that we received our LID and it's 9/16.  Wooohoooooooooo!!!

I'm so excited.  I sent photo's and a letter to Angela (Ladybugs 'n Love) last night.  I can't wait til
Faith gets it.  Praying she will be excited and happy that she has a family.  She's 11 years old which
is quite older than any of our previous kid's adoptions.  Praying God will comfort her and give her
peace and courage.

DTC!!!!! Yayeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

O.K.  I can not believe I forgot to post this on my blog.  I posted that we were DTC everywhere else
and thought I did here too!!!!!  We are finally DTC!!!  September 7 our documents left MAA's office
and made their way to China.  Now we are anxiously awaiting the next acronym, LID (log in date). 
By other families timeframes, it looks like we could get that this week!!  Now we're making some progress.
I wrote Angela with Ladybugs 'n Love and hope to get our package ordered this week to send to
our daughter, Faith, in Tianjin!!!  I don't think she knows she has a family yet and can't wait until she
does. 

Woooohoooo!!!  It certainly feels good to be getting closer to travel.

Almost DTC!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally!!!!  We received our documents back from D.C. late Wednesday, 8/31.  I made the necessary copies Thursday and got 'em back in the mail the same day.   Now they are being carried, flown, and delivered by U.P.S.  They are scheduled to arrive next Tuesday.   I'm so excited I just can't hardly stand it!!   We should be DTC by next Wednesday!!  Maybe even Tuesday.  Woooooooooohoooooooooo!!!  What a great feeling!!! 

Now that our documents are on their way to China!!!  We have to ramp up the fundraising again.  I have
several items I've found (some from our last trip from China) for our next auction.   I'm hoping to get all the
pictures taken and listed sometime next week.  Please stay tune and check back!!!