We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:12 (NIV)
Wow! It's been 2 years and 3 months since we've started this journey, and we've still got a couple of months to go before our referral. That is a very long time! When we started the adoption process, we were told that the entire process should take about 12 to 15 months; still a pretty long time. Doubling this estimated time wasn't even a thought in our minds. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV) says "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." We've begun a beautiful thing, but the end will be even more so.
Everyone asks "So how old is your baby now that you've had these delays?" The answer is, "We don't know!" That is what the referral will tell us. The referral letter/pictures gives us all the vitals on our baby that they (CCAA) has available. Carla and I qualify for the youngest child available. The average age last match was about 10 months, and someone received a 5 and a half month old baby.
People ask with all this uncertainty, "Why do you go on?" Simply put, "It's in God's hands." As humans we are accustom to instant gratification. Carla and I both we're disappointed with the delays and uncertainties, and for a long time we were really down. But after many discussions between the 2 of us and even more prayers, God has given us the answer. His timing is perfect. His ways are perfect. He is perfect. Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) says, "He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." It's not what we want, or when we want it. It's His. The Lord has a special child selected for us, and we will wait for her. In His timing!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
What's in a name?
"The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:3 (NIV)
Our little China baby will be named Lillian Mei. We are giving her the name Lillian because of Odell. Odell is a dear friend of the family, but she's really much more than that. She's my grandmother. Odell lived with my grandmother (my mom's mom) for years. As long as I can remember and probably longer than that, it's been "We're going to Mamma and Odell's!" Lillian Odell has been unoffcially adopted in to our family as our grandmother. So, I could think of no better way to honor her than to name our adopted child after her. We chose the name Mei (pronounce May) to keep part of Mei's Chinese heritage. Mei means beautiful. This is the first part of the name that Carla and I agreed on.
We were going to call Mei...Lilly, but after months of us calling her Mei and before deciding upon the first name of Lillian, the name had stuck. Carla and I were determined to still call her Lilly, but our two kids, Marley (10) and Luke (6), were not budging on the name Mei. So, after much deliberation and discussion, she will be called Mei. We love the name, too!
Our little China baby will be named Lillian Mei. We are giving her the name Lillian because of Odell. Odell is a dear friend of the family, but she's really much more than that. She's my grandmother. Odell lived with my grandmother (my mom's mom) for years. As long as I can remember and probably longer than that, it's been "We're going to Mamma and Odell's!" Lillian Odell has been unoffcially adopted in to our family as our grandmother. So, I could think of no better way to honor her than to name our adopted child after her. We chose the name Mei (pronounce May) to keep part of Mei's Chinese heritage. Mei means beautiful. This is the first part of the name that Carla and I agreed on.
We were going to call Mei...Lilly, but after months of us calling her Mei and before deciding upon the first name of Lillian, the name had stuck. Carla and I were determined to still call her Lilly, but our two kids, Marley (10) and Luke (6), were not budging on the name Mei. So, after much deliberation and discussion, she will be called Mei. We love the name, too!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Our Little Mei
We're a couple of months or so away from getting our referral (pics and info) for Lillian Mei. After we get our referral, there is a 4 to 8 week waiting period to travel. So we're getting closer.
Carla and I appreciate all of your prayers and ask you to continue to pray for our baby girl.
Our prayer is for God to wrap His loving arms around our baby to let her know that she is loved by Him and by a family that cannot wait to have her and hold her; for Him to wrap His almighty arms around her to protect her from harm; for Him to wrap His comforting arms around her that she might have a peace knowing that she is wanted and is already a part of our family; for Him to wrap His healing arms around her so that she stay healthy; and for Him to wrap His compassionate arms around her that she may know the tremendous sacrifice that her birth mother has made by allowing her to be loved by and adopted into our family.
Carla, Marley, Luke, and I are so in love with this baby that we can hardly stand the wait. Thanks again for your continued prayers for Mei and for everything to continue to go well with the adoption.
Love in Christ
Ben, Carla, Marley and Luke
Carla and I appreciate all of your prayers and ask you to continue to pray for our baby girl.
Our prayer is for God to wrap His loving arms around our baby to let her know that she is loved by Him and by a family that cannot wait to have her and hold her; for Him to wrap His almighty arms around her to protect her from harm; for Him to wrap His comforting arms around her that she might have a peace knowing that she is wanted and is already a part of our family; for Him to wrap His healing arms around her so that she stay healthy; and for Him to wrap His compassionate arms around her that she may know the tremendous sacrifice that her birth mother has made by allowing her to be loved by and adopted into our family.
Carla, Marley, Luke, and I are so in love with this baby that we can hardly stand the wait. Thanks again for your continued prayers for Mei and for everything to continue to go well with the adoption.
Love in Christ
Ben, Carla, Marley and Luke
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