Waiting, Waiting, and Waiting...

June has been a good month and a tough month at the same time. We were really praying and hoping to receive our referral this month for our little girl, but it didn't happen. I tried calling our adoption agency on Monday to see if they could just check to see where the file was so that we might have an idea of whether we are looking at July or August (hopefully July!!). The lady I need to talk to is out of the office, so I will have to call back on Monday. We did receive our LID and this is a really big step (Log In Date - the date all of our paperwork was logged into the CCCWA - China Centre for Children’s Welfare and Adoption in China). Our LID is 6-21-2012. So thankful that this much is done. We had a big fundraiser last Thursday. It was a Spaghetti Dinner. We are so thankful for our friends Tom & Gina DiGiacomo who did all of the cooking for this event and donated all of the food. We are humbled by their kindness and generosity. Our best estimates are that we served around 181 people. Things are moving, it's just hard not knowing when that file of our little girl will be complete. 

With the extra time of waiting we are using the time to try to raise the funds we will need to complete our adoption. In the last few years it has become a tradition at our church in the summer time to have lunch together after Sunday morning church and not have an evening service. With this arrangement my husband has contacted a few of his pastor friends and has been invited to speak in other churches on Sunday evening. David preaches a message about the spiritual meaning of adoption and our relationship with Christ. We also share how God has called us to adopt and we share short little stories and pictures of some of the families we have met through this journey. The churches will take a love offering and this money will go toward our expenses. Another thing we are doing is a puzzle. For $2 you can purchase a piece of a puzzle (of our little girl). Your name and or scripture reference can be written on the back of a piece/pieces. If you'd like to buy puzzle pieces please click on the donate on the side of my blog. Make sure you let me know what you'd like to be written on the back of your piece/ pieces. we also have silicone wristbands for $5. We have 2 widths available, the traditional approx 1/2" wide and then the wide ones are about 1". The smaller ones are navy blue and are embossed with our message "Bringing (her name) Home". The wider ones are also navy blue with white print and the same "Bringing (her name) Home" message. If you'd like a wristband please click on the donate button and be sure to put what you want in a message to me.

I am really trying to trust in God's timing and to honor God while we are waiting. I feel (and I am sure many of you have felt this way too) like I am pregnant without a due date. Honestly I think I may understand part of the purpose of not having her yet. There are some things God is working out for us and I can already see the perfection in the timing to bring her home. What is so hard right now is knowing that she does not know that she has a family that is so excited to meet her. We have a package all ready to send to her once we are allowed. 

We have been getting the bedroom ready for our girls. All 3 will be sleeping in one room (it is a pretty big room), because the older girls wouldn't have it any other way. The other bedroom will be used as a playroom and thanks to grandma toys are already starting to fill the room. It's nice to have something to work on while we are waiting and since at this moment we have no paperwork to do.

Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying for us and for that sweet girl. I will keep you posted as to the status of that very longed for file. Pray that July would be the month!!